DASHING FORM DISPLAYED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 20

DASHING FORM DISPLAYED

;LAST WEEK'S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

' "''■■< Although the-weather.'was in contrast to tne gloriously fine conditions prevailing when the series commenced the previous week, interest1 in the Wellington Cricket Association's senior matches last '■■.''Saturday rose to a high level as the result of some most entertaining play. Everything was in the batsmen's favour, and the scoring both "individually and from-a team point of view was the best of the season.. Five centuries, some prolific partnerships, and two sides each totalling over 400 runs gave a zest to proceedings. Then, in addition, there was the exhilarating way some of the high scorers went for their runs. In this refepect J. R. Lamason ((Wellington College Old Boys) was a" notable example. He rattled the runs on in great style. .Another feature of the afternoon's play was the great effort made by Hutt to head Kilbirnie's,first innings total, failing to do so by only 13 runs. \ More cricket of this type will be acceptable to all supporters of • the game. ' \ ■_ ' Performances on Saturday . also ] served to add a note of greater! encouragement to the hopes that are held that .Wellington's representatives will conclude their Plunket Shield engagements with a splendid showing. They are to meet Otago at Carisbrook; Dunedin, next month, and this match will mark'the' end of this season's Plunket Shield series. Auckland, of course, have settled the issue as to this season's holders of the Shield; it. Remains in Auckland. But Ln the forthcoming match with Otago, .Wellington, judged: on the performances of Otago in this season's series, should be capable not only of winning but also of producing form more in line with the .expectations held out for the side earlier. ' One point, however, that is not to be overlooked is that for some reason . Carisbrook is apt at times to be •something: of a graveyard for visiting^ teams, and- Wellington has had this experience in the past. So far in this season's Plunket Shield matches y.. Scott (Auckland) and M. Cbnnellyt (Canterbury) have" the best battitog aggregates and averages: Scott has compiled 316 runs for four visits to the create, giving him, an average of 79.. ' ,Donkelly's tbtal is 302 runs for five innings He was once not out and his ■ av.erage\ is 75.50. .'• Scott's highest sc6re vwas 19> s and Donnelly's 104. After Donnelly's 75.50,1 the next best Canterbury; batting average is by Crpmb, 59.50. The^e is not such a sharp; drop \n the-Auckland averages, setondvphvthfe list bemg Wallace with 74.25;'' with Blandford, \. the wicketkeeper;: next, 59.50. WalVce, also h\as the ; distinction, of having, made the highest score—his 211 against Canter>bury: ' \ Among ; other features of \ the averages ;is that Carson (Auckland) and K|rr; (Canterbury) are well doXwn the list^vThe" leading Wellington and* Otago batting-averages are not on the\same plane,, as /those of the Auckland -,and Canterbury batsmen. E. McLeod, wJrio iri<?four innings was three times riot oiit,'':heads':tn;e Wellington list with aii average of 51, and .Wilson is next with an?ayeragerof 42.66. Tindill and Hepbutn are third and fourth, with averages of 36Und 32.50 respectively. All

the others have an average of under 20.

D. A. R. Moloney occupies no higher place than seventh in the Otago batting averages. His average is only 8.33. Like Kerr, he has been unable to get going in this season's series. The best bowling figures are those of Pritchard (Wellington) and Cowie (Auckland), both fast bowlers. Pritchard has taken 14 wickets at an average of 16.35 runs and Cowie 16 wickets at an. average of 17.25. Details of the batting and bowling averages for each of the four provinces are as follows: — AUCKLAND. Batting. Inn. N.O. H.S. Runs. Avge. Scott ....... 4 - 198 310 79.00Wallace ...... 4 — 211 297 74.2o K^...::: 1 - 8* 85 8:8 I'uarson ' .... 4 — 53 152 38.00 ■Sale ........4 — 97 134 83.50 'Burke 4 — 42 83 20.75 MUtlieson ... -3 — 51 59 19.00 WLiitelaw ... 4 — 72 78 19.50 Carson 2 — 26 38 19.00 ,Cow4e .. 4 • 2 24 • 31 15.50 \ClevSerley ,...3 1 8* 18 9-00 ; *Not out.. . ■•■' Bowling. ■ ' ' i Wickets. Kims. Avge. Cowie 16 271S 17.25 Weir : 1 130 18.57 Cleverley ...; 14 253 18.07 • Carson-:.. '5 103 20.00 Burke *..-. 9 240 215.66 Mathe.son ' 3 103 .51.33 WELLINGTON. . ■ Batting. • ,'• Inn. N.O. H.S. Kuns. Avge. McLeotl i 4 3 20* 51 51.00 Wilson ........ 4 1 83 128 42.0(5 Tindill ...... 4 — 69 144 30.00 Hepburn > 4 — 55 130 32.50 Pritchard .... 3 1 , 20 39 19.50 Ralnbird .... 4 — 33 59 14.75 AiTey ....4 — 28 57 14.25 Du Chateau ... 4 — 25 56 14.00 Lamason ..... 4 — 25 44 • 11.00 '.Ongley ....... 2 — 17 18 9.00 Wrigley 2 — 12 14 7.00 Ashenden 3 — 13 18 COO *Not out. / , Bowling. . Wickets. Runs. Avge. Prifcchard 14 229 1U.35 Ashauden - .,.. 9 239 26.55 Lamason...... 5 . 167 . .33.40 Hepbtrn — 22 McLeod ............ — 53 —— 'Wilson-: — 135 . CANTERBURY. :•■ Batting. Inn. N.O. H.S. Kuns. Avge. Donnelly 5 1 104 302 v 75.50 Cxomb ... 4 —,- 171 238 59.50 O'Brien 5 — 86 244 48.80 Hodlee .; 5 1 58 148 37.00 Anderson „... 4 1 70* 107 35.00 Davis 4 2 33 58 29.00 Kobarts 4 — 53 101 25.25 Menaies 4 — 29 80 20.00 Webb: 1 — 12 12 12.00 McKao 4 — 15 28 7.00 Kerr ! 5 — 28 35 7.00 Harbidge ..... 1 — 6 6 0.00 James ........ 2 14 6 (i.00 • ■ *Not out. Bowling. Wickets. Runs. Avge. Roberts 8 180 22.50 Cromb 8 283 35.37 McRae ............ 8 320 40.00 Davis .............. 9 273 30.33 v Donnelly ... P 4 207 51.75 O'Brien 0 33 Anderson 0 36 —- OTAGO. Batting. Inn. N.O. H.S. Runs. Avge. Robertson .... 3 1 83* 109 36.33 Cutler .3 — 51 97 3.2.33 Frascr ....... 3 — 47 90 30.00 Holden 2 — 36 55 27.50 Elmes ....... 3 — 51 73 24.33 Begg 3 1 16 24 12.00 Moloney „... 3 — 15 25 8.33 McGregor ... 1 — 8 8 8.00 Lemin ....... 3 1 8* 16 8.00 Mills 3 — 11 19 6.33 Monteath 3 — 12 14 4.06 Chettleburgh .2 — 3,4 2.00 *Not out. Bowling. Wickets. Runs. Avge. Lemin 7 172 24.57 Elmes 5 175 35.00 Begg „ 3 146 48.66 Robertson ......... 3 165 55.00 Moloney .......... 3 201 0J.00 Chettleburgh ....... — 15