CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 20973, 11 December 1931, Page 4

CRICKET

- NEWS AND NOTES , [By Substitute.] The third round of matches provided good cricket, and the Christian Bro-thers’-University and Old Boys’-Grango matches have been left in an open state. Albion should just about collect four points from Kaikorai, and Carisbrook has a sporting chance of doing likewise against Dunedin, with a twopointer practically assured. Still, it is the uncertain element that makes cricket so interesting, and next Saturday may witness the “ surprise of the season.” Most speculation is being caused on the possibility of Grange and University being able to maintain their position at the head of the table, INTERESTING FINISH ANTICIPATED. As both Grange and Old Boys were unbeaten in the twm matches that had been completed, and as both are expected to play a prominent part in the deciding of the senior championship, more than usual interest attached to the meeting of these two teams on Logan Park No. 4, and with an appeal against the light being upheld about half an hour before time, the game stood in a most interesting position, a close finish being anticipated. This area is regarded by players as being a “batsmen’s paradise,” and so it proved on Saturday, the wicket being and true. Old Boys adopted forcing tactics from the start, and there is no doubt that this new system of allotting points is having the desired effect of brightening cricket very considerably. It w'as attractive cricket throughout, especially while the 'earlier Old Boys’ batsmen were at the wickets, and at one stage three wickets were down for 215 runs. Up till that time Old Boys’ batsmen had definitely been on top, but the bowling never became really loose. It was the aggressive, punishing batting of A. Gale, L. ' Groves, and G. R. Dickinson that did the trick, but the departure of those players marked the turn of the tide. While they had punished the howling severely and scored by no means slowly, they did not take altogether needless risks, but some of the later batsmen made the mistake of trying _ to score off every ba,ll, which was disastrous, especially as Elmes was keeping a splendid length and Chettleburgh was trundling much better than earlier in the afternoon. The fielding, which had slackened considerably, smartened up again, and the whole side was out for 269. Old Boys did not collapse in the true sense of the word —they were there to score as quickly as possible, and some of the players got themselves out in the attempt. Gale’s innings for 105 was a charac’ teristically dashing display. Gale began quietly enough, but it, was not long before he was straining at the leash, and, getting his eye in quickly./ he started to belt the bowling to all parts of the field. Most of his runs were scored by powerful off-drives and straight drives, and his titning w'as very good indeed. Just what type of cricket it was to watch may be gleaned from the fact that eleven 4’s and five 6’s were included in the total. Frequently Gale got the ball through the gaps in the field, and when he did lift it he kept the leather out of reach of the field. The large crowd thoroughly enjoyed his exhilarating exhibition. George Dickinson is batting as well as ever he did, and though he started badly he managed to stay there, and once be got into his stride also gave the field' a trying time, finishing up with 58 before Galland held a good catch in the slips. He wms strong on .the drive on both sides of the wicket, and also made some neat leg shots. Groves wms uppish from the start, 'but played some crisp shots, especially to the off. He was hitting,Elmes and Chettleburgh just over the fence or near to it, and but for * the rather short boundary might have been more often, in danger. Leader played a solid knock for 20, but of the'others the one who • impressed most was young Ruff, who pirt together 15 and shaped well in so doing. He is a hard-hitting batsman who knows how' to drive, and he certainly gives one the impression that he believes in making the bat hit the hall. Grange’s fielding was patchy, and for a time the, ground work was very loose. Knight is one of the safest fields in Dunedin, but missed A. W. Alloo, who wms caught by Lemin off Chettleburgh after reaching dfeuble figures, however. Knight made amends a little later by taking a fine catch in the long field which dismissed Smith. Lemin has shown a good deal of improvement in the field, and as usual Galland wms always on the alert. Elmes bowled a good deal better than his figures (three for 93) indicated. He bowled steadily and kept the runs down, and when ho came on the second time sent down some triylimers. Ho commanded a fine length and was turning a shade. The left-hander has a particularly easy delivery, and if he is selected in the Otago team may meet with a good deal of success in the north, since he is howling more confidently than in previous years. Chettleburgh varied his leg-breaks with an occasional straight one, and though a trifle erratic at the start later struck a good length»aml tempted most of the batsmen to have a hit with the result that ho finished with six wickets for 71 runs. Lemin howled steadily, but without any luck, and does not seem to possess the nip of previous years. Tho wicket on Saturday was too hard for him to do anything, and he wms not swinging at all. A feature of Grange’s out-cricket was

tho smart work of C. Chadwick behind the stumps. Tho veteran can still give pointers to most of the youngsters. Boyd and Tomkinson put on IS without Joss for Grange, and the latter got the runs in a manner which impressed. He is a considerably improved batsman. This match is possessed of possibilities, and as Grange is at present out in tho load the result may have a distinct bearing on the championship. CHR IST lAN BR OTHER S IMPROVING. Since the association of Coach Badcock with the Christian Brothers’ side the team’s batting has shown a marked improvement. In tho match against University last week every member showed a keen desire to score and not merely put up a solid resistance to the bowling by allowing the ball to hit the bat. Badcoqk seems to have infused confidence /in the side, which lias improved considerably. Badcoek gave the side an excellent start. It is noticeable that he bats with more confidence as an opening man than when ho is haver down tho list. Ho played carefully, and at the same time wielded the willow freely, being dismissed only through a brilliant piece of fielding by Smith, who dived for a hot catch low down. Tho others hatted consistently, and nearly every member of the side reached double figures. Collett scored the only six of the match with a powerful shot to the near boundary. Cusack handled the bat impressively, but, like four others of his colleagues, fell a victim to an Ibw decision. Numerous appeals for Jbw' wms a striking feature of the innings, though many of the Christian Brothers batsmen looked for trouble when they continually played the hall with their legs. 'There is an excuse when A player steps out to off balls, hut it is surely a sign of weakness to play with the pads balls pitched on tho wickets. Some doiiht arose as> to whether Gilkison, tho ’Varsity left-hander could possibly get a leg-before decision when bowling round tho wicket. This can be accomplished only when the howler is able to get sufficient spin on the ball to straighten up his delivery. Gilkison wms bringing many of his deliveries back, and the umpires were justified in their decisions under the circumstances. Gilkison came out with tho howling honours, and his nice easy action impressed. He also brings his arm w r ell over, and is easily one of the best lefthanders playing in the senior ’coinpetition. M’Haffie, the former Albion star, also claimed three wickets, and he appeared to he tho most troublesome to play. Jolly was given a trial at both ends, hut was not so impressive as usual. Ho got very little work on the ball—the wicket giving him no assistance—but he wms rather unlucky in missing the off stick on several occasions. He pitched a lot of his bulls on the leg, and tho batsmen relished the treat afforded them. Haw'kcswortli provided a sound display of wicket-keeping. Only four byes were recorded against him, making the first for three innings and only nine sinc;o the beginning of the season. University_ hatted very scratchily, though tho light was bad. Priest, however, played safely, while Hanan got his runs quickly. With two wickets down for 42, tho new seniors are faced with a big task to avoid defeat. ALBION AFTER FOUR-POINTER. The inconsistent Albion _ eleven showed a decided improvement in form against Kaikorai last w r eek, and by compiling a total of 271 hoisted the largest score of the day, and incidentally placed the side in a favourable position for a four-point win. Tho fact that three of its oponents have been dismissed for 24 runs increases its chances of a decisive victory. After two gruelling contests against Grange and Old Boys, the youngsters of the Albion team w r ere well prepared for the less dangerous attack of the new seniors, and they acquitted themselves with distinction. Their showing to date has fully justified the 'selectors’ action in raising them to senior status. Furthermore, the team is showing improved form in the field, and in the Old Jloys’ match both sides scored the same number of points for Mr J. J. Clark’s fielding trophy. It was indeed pleasing to see Jim Shepherd in form with the bat, though it had to bo admitted that through hick of practice lie took risks which nearly lost him his wicket. However, for tho most part his Jutting was clean and did not lack power. He batted aggressively from the word “go,” and his handsome total of 91 was collected in quick time; it would be impossible to imagine him collecting them in any other way. His fearless attack of tho bowling must produce the necessary psychological effect for the juniors to follow his example, and his presence in tho toani has an influence which is x also apparent in the field. It is also to he noted that Shepherd is showing particularly good form with the ball, and so far lias been lie mainstay of the attack. J. Vinnecomhe, who gained distinction at tho end of last season, show'ed a pleasing return to form i scoring 39 in tho most attractive stylo. He attacked the bowling vigorously, and an\'thing loose received its full desserts. He lost his wicket when lie lifted Constable into the long field, where Ahlbrandt took a brilliant catch. R. Silver also struck form and notched 39 in tho most impressive style. He drove hard and scored some beautiful boundary shots. His running between tho wickets with L. Smith was also responsible for some additional rims, and altogether ho gave a creditable performance. Every member of tho side scored runs, though Duncan, who made his first appearance this season, Barron, and L, Smith were tho only ones to pass double figures. Kaikorai’s attack was not particularly accurate, many loose balls being sent up during tho course of tho innings.' Constable, wdio formerly played for Dunedin, was tho most impressive trundlor, and bo swung them well to tho oft. Tho fielding of Iho side was not up to tho high standard of the previous matches, and many opportunities were lost during the afternoon. So far tho Kaikorai batsmen have made a very poor showing, M‘Knight being the only player to show anything like sound defence.