With Bat and Ball

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 114, 10 November 1934, Page 22

With Bat and Ball

FORM IN MERCANTILE LEAGUE MATCHES

Of the surprises in the Mercantile League*'competition matches last Saturday, the most sensational was Customs's five-point win over Sargoods in the A grade. Eleven1 Wickets for 50 runs was the ■ bowling, effort of o.' O'Connor in enabling Customs twice tol dismiss Sargoods for a win by an! innings and 18 runs. Tho feat of the Customs fast bowler was a matchwinning effort, but the supporting bowlers and the co-operation of the players as a first-rato fielding combination were also important factors. It is hard indeed, to reconcile such feeble batting efforts by Sargoods with the team's doings during last season, when they finished up second in the competi-

tiou.' '. -~' \ /". ' - In the other two A grade matches at Athletic Park, Booker-Bricks scored a meritorious victory over Nivcns, and State Fire- accounted for,--.' Overseas i Shipping. The veteran, C. Murphy, was again an outstanding performer I for Booker-Bricks, -while McKenzie, of State Tire, played an important part in his side's victory. At SVakcfield Park the.slow bowling of Cris"p (Cowans) and Koberts (Smith and Smith) had most of the batsmen guessing in the match between Cowans and Smith and Smith and low scoring was the ijosult. After it dismal beginning in their first match, Jasco returned to form last Saturday and pasted the Boseneath Bowlers to the- tune of 266 for the loss .of only six wickets. The batting of Kilby, Mejville, and Noot was pleasing to watch. Kilby did not confine his attentions solely to tho leg side. Some' of his off shots, especially into "the-cov,ers, tvero perfectly timed. Melville exploited a hook, shoir'to advantage and showed his strength in fr.ont-of-the-wicket ■ play." Noot started scratchily 'but eventually settled down to nice stroke play. • Koseneath failed, against the bowling of Donovan, who kept an immaculate length and made the >ball come- through with pace. Some of his deliveries kept surprisingly low and these usually caught a Hoseneath batsman with his bat in mid-air. OTHER GBADES. •In tho B grade tho Pastimes-Tele-phone Exchango match was pioductive of some good, keen cricket. Toms and Pringle did not waste any timo at the wickets. Tolephonb Exchango do not appear to bo as strong as in-former years. * t . • , N. Aldridge (ex-Institute) secured a good "double" of 60 and five wickets for 39 for Prestige against Taxes, who showed much improvement and now look 'like moulding into a useful side. Taubmans are performing well in the 0 grade. They have a well-balanced batting sjde and an excellent asset in tfie combination of Tonington and Bolt-as bowlers. '• .J . ■The D grtfdo should develop into an interesting competition. .At' the moment Bonds, Greys, and Abbott Qrams appear to have the strongest sides. The other clubs arc, however, well_ balanced and should supply surprises in plenty later 'on. Celtic have boen greatly strengthened by the inclusion of A. Hill, and indication point to tins club being a force in future. The performances last Saturday of Christophersen (Abbott Oram), Dixon and Fisher (Taxes),, Thompson tegß), Gridlej; (Hanaatts), gill wd King,

(Celtic), and Neal (Bonds) give nge to the belief that this grade is well equipped with entertaining batsmen. Even the G grade games were not lacking in interest. Outstanding performances by Mason and Barr were features of E. G. Kains's win over Insurance. Tho best performance of the day, however, was recorded by Carrol, of TJ.L.M. This player hit up a breezy 65, and then secured nine Seatoun wickets at a total cost of 5 runs. T. A. Guy (Atlantic Union) put up a meritorious performance in scoring 93" within an hour. The only chance he gave-was accepted. He is a very, useful acquisition to the club. Flight-Lieutenant Donton, playing for Atlantic Union, took four wickets for no>iuns in one over against J. R. McKcnzies, and just missed the "hat trick." He also scored a fast 43.