CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 21055, 18 March 1932, Page 4

CRICKET

NEWS AND NOTES FIGHT FOR SENIOR SHIELD Unusual interest is attached to the concluding matches for the senior shield, as three teams —Grange, Carisbrook, and Albion —are still in the running for final victory. #■# * # Grange, with a total of 380 for six wickets in hand, has given Carisbrook a hard task. The fate of the team from the south lies in the state of the wicket to-morrow, for it is almost certain that Grange will declare and set about to get a first innings’ victory on an easy wicket and a straight-out win if the conditions are against the batsmen. Albion’s chances of a 4-point win against University have weakened, though a surprise ending may yet eventuate. * * * » The Grange batsmen took every advantage of the easy wicket at Carisbrook on Saturday, and by knocking up 380 in the course of the afternoon’s play have given Carisbrook a big task to perform to-morrow if a close finish is to bo the order of the day. Of course, much depends upon the state of the wicket. Given equally favourable conditions, the Carisbrook batsmen are quite capable of eclipsing even a score as formidable as that of Grange. Their recent big innings on the North Ground against the same team proved that this is so. Roger Blunt is just about due for another century in club cricket, while those dashing youngsters, D. Smith and Moloney, are ready for anything. Dunning and the younger Camerons are also likely to finish the season well, but the services of D. Cameron will be missed. If the sun deigns to shine for once on a Saturday afternoon four hours or so of enjoyable cricket should be witnessed. ♦ * * * The Carisbrook bowlers could do little that was effective against Grange. Neither of the fastish men, Dunning and Smith, were getting any bite out of the wicket, while Blunt’s slows were hardly turning at all. Moloney’s leg breaks were coming in nicely, but several of the batsmen managed to hook them repeatedly with ease. Regarded by some as the best_ utility bowler m the Carisbrook side, 1). Cameron was an absentee, but it is doubtful if he would have done any better. » * « ♦ In G. Rotting High School Old Boys appear to have discovered a very likely sort of wicket-keeper. Against Christian Brothers ho performed admirably, allowing very few balls to

pass him, and taking a fine catch in dismissing Cahill. Ho is only a lad of seventeen, having just left school, and the only balls he missed were some pretty wild ones from Dickinson, who scorned to bo off colour. Many hot ones were accepted by him, while his general all-round ability was impressive. More accurate. returns to the wicket would have assisted considerably in making his task easier.

For the most part the cricket provided m the Albion-’Varsity match was anything but attractive, few of the ’Varsity men showing any real signs of sound batting. A. W. Sinclair, who was a great deal more aggressive than usual, was about the only exception. Ibbotson’s stand of 58min for only 8 runs was painful in the extreme, and an undoubted compliment to the attack. It is to be hoped that things are livelier to-morrow.

Knight’s innings for Grange against Carisbrook was a forceful, stylish piece of work which leaves no doubt as to who is the most successful club batsman of the season. His 157 not out was a well-nigh chanceless effort, liberally besprinkled with nicely-timed shots to all parts of the field. Beautiful square-cutting was a specialty, and the fieldsmen could tell a tale about the tremendous power there was_ behind some of those cover and off drives. Knight, moreover, showed that ho was no mean exponent of the art of pulling. #

Albion’s crack batsman and useful bowler, Jim Shepherd, was missed against University. As a member of the attack ho would have been of great assistance, seeing that he heads the list of club bowling averages with the outstanding figures of 208 overs. 68 maidens, 385 runs, 40 wickets, and an average of 9.62. His presence in the attack might have told a different story for ’Varsity, though it lias to be admitted that the other members of the attack did well to get the side out for such a poor total (134). Shepherd’s absence in opening Albion’s strike at the crease was also felt, though lib will he available to-morrow. If he gets going with the bat a fourpomcer to Albion will not he too much to expect. 1 »• • , *

Despite a quite comprehensible lack of suppleness, A. Galland did his duty by Grange well and truly. He batted with a judicious admixture of vigour and caution, and by playing for the gaps helped himself to a useful number of rims. Had he been able to produce quicker footwork tbc slow bowlers would have known all about it. The lefthander, Tomkiuson, gave the side a lino start. None of the bowlers troubled him. and ho scored many boundaries by palling and hooking. If Tomkinson cultivates his off strokes he will go a long way in the game.

A more judicious handling of tho Albion' attack against ’Varsity might have been effective in continuing the success achieved in the earlier part of tho innings. Greater use could have been niado of J. Vinnecomb, especially before the afternoon tea adjournment, when Sinclair and Gilkinson looked like holding up the fort for some time. Vinnecomb has performed impressively on the few occasions when ho has been tried with tho leather this season, and on Saturday, after taking two good wickets for 8 runs off four overs at the start of the game, it was difficult to understand why further use was not made of him until after the tea adjournment. He is quite a youngster yet, but his success lies in the experience he receives each Saturday, and as he is showing good promise ho should be granted every opportunity to prove himself.

The bright batting of Chettleburgh on Saturday delighted many others besides Grange supporters. _ This young batsman was at homo against tho Carisbrook bowling right from the first over, and all manner of deliveries were treated alike by him. AAhelding a nice free bat, he punished loose deliveries severely, and nearly always scored off the better class of ball. He is definitely of the typo which should eomo under the notice of future Otago selectors.

Oarisbrook fielding against Grange was so-so. .Some of it was very crisp and clean, some of it slow and uncertain. Allan and Moloney were tho best in this department, and Smith, particularly • when fielding at mid-off to Knight, came through a gruelling bombardment with credit. Brocter was very fast across the ground, but Blunt was slow in his movements. The wicketkeeping of Horens was erratic. He certainly kept the byes down, and was responsible for two important dismissals ; but, on the other hand, there were several chances that ho might have snapped up.

Once again tho two Albion colts, L. Smith and 0. Dalziel, saved a somewhat embarrassing situation for their side. Against University wickets were falling very cheaply until this pair saved a complete collapse. Both presented a solid front to the bowling, though Smith frequently despatched tho leather to tho boundary with masterly execution and pleasing judgment, even in a badly failing light. Of course, if Albion is to snatch a straight out win purely defensive tactics will have to be abandoned tomorrow, when the innings is resumed, for the side has everything to gain and nothing to lose.

Dunedin arc in a strong position with 194 runs on against Kaikorai’s 49 for six wickets. Once again Ditchfield came into the limelight for Dunedin, registering an attractively compiled 50. When ho gets set Ditchfield is one of the hardest batsmen in Dunedin to dislodge, and at tho same time tho runs flow fairly freely from his blade. Coupland and Cavanagh both drove with power in making their contributions of 33 and 32 respectively, while Cherry and Symoiids also butted well.

It is doubtful if there is any better fieldsman in Dunedin than Vial, of the Kaikorai Club. Uvery member of the Kaikorai teamjs keen in the field, but they arc not ’all so reliable as Vial, whose hands seem to be well-nigh infallible. On Saturday lie added two more good catches to his list of achievements, besides getting through some good ground fielding.

If H. Balk decides to stick to cricket as against tennis Kaikorai is going to be the richer for a very keen and capable member. Balk is a sound batsman and a reliable player on the licld. His 15 not out against odds last Saturday was a well executed innings.

Success among the Kaikorai bowlers in the game against Dunedin was fairly evenly distributed. Vial, Hood, and Rcnnick wore steady, while Constable, although a trifle erratic at first, collared an equal number of wickets. M'Knight, who bad the misfortune to be run out before bo had scored, came to light with the ball and finished up a good day with three lor 13.

TOO MANY TROPHIES AND SHIELDS. “It is my contention that there are too many trophies and shields these days for sport, and too much publicity,” writes Mr G. Roy Suacknian, of Dunedin, in a letter to the 1 Hawke’s Bay Herald.’ lie says: “J. am inclined to the belief that possibly cricket is becoming a business, and not so much a game as it used to be. The desire to win the Plunket Shield or the Hawke Cup is, in many cases, an obsession. I believe the days when there were friendly matches between [provinces wore more enjoyable than the stern contests for these shields and cups. For this reason I am glad that your association is contemplating a friendly tour of the South Island, and I hope it will eventuate-. After all, the gamo is the thing, and, although it is nice to win, it really doesn’t matter as long as you have played well and with all your capacity. It worries mo when 1 see good strokes by visiting batsmen greeted with faint applause, and an effort on the part of a local player, perhaps not so meritorious, heartily applauded. I like to see each side receiving its fair share of credit. During the last in 'ngs of the Otago-Wel-lington match, when Dickinson was bowling so well, a barrackor near me commenced shouting out at the top of his voice just as the ball was being delivered; 1 Now look out for that one,’ ‘Hit that if yon can,’ ‘Look out,’ and so forth. I went over and sat beside him, and was able alter a wordy warfare to persuade him that it was not cricket. He said; ‘l’m riding Otgo to rvin, and I don’t care Avhether it is cricket! ’ ”