LEAGUE CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 22798, 5 November 1937, Page 5

LEAGUE CRICKET

NOTES AND COMMENTS (Contributed by J.V.C.W.) HONOURS LIST. BATTING. R. Halley (Self Help) 89, E. Mackenzie (Self Help) 50, E. Kerr (Pride of the Leith) 44, W. Duncan (Pnde of the Leith) 43. BOWLING. J. Beck (E.P. and L.) hat trick, W. Daley (M.C.P.) hat trick, E. Cropley (E.P. and L.) two for 1, C. Duncan (Dunedin Hosp.) two for 1, E. Ledgerwood (Glenross) five for 5, L. Quest (Standard) seven for 13, M. Faithful (Ravensbourne) two for 4, H. Cullen (Speight’s) three for 5, W. Templeton (Post Office) five for 13, W. Muir (Roslyn Mills) five for 16.

Not for many seasons has League cricket on opening day been favoured with such ideal weather conditions as those which prevailed last Saturday. Bright sunshine, with a gentle breeze, from the harbour, made it pleasant for everyone. Flannel-clad figures began to appear on the Oval (putting out the boundary flags and stumps) before 2 o’clock, and shortly after that hour 13 batsmen took strike to the deliveries of the opening fast bowlers of the opposition. At 2.30 the whole of the green sward presented l an animated and picturesque sight, one that arrested and hold the attention of many spectators for the greater part of the afternoon. • * • • It should,have been a batsmen’s day, but the score sheets indicate otherwise. True enough, in some matches several batsmen “ held the fort ” for some considerable time and started off the season with good tallies. In most matches, however, ft was a procession (in and out). * • • • Congratulations ■to Jack Beck (E.P. and l L.) and Daley (M.C.P.), both of whom performed the “hat trick.” The former is well known as a bowler of merit, and Leagueites are pleased to see him back in form again this season. The M.C.P. bowler was knocked about for a period before striking a good length. The three wickets he got were good ones. * * * * The prepared wickets, apart from playing a few tricks now and then, were in good order, 'but the outfields, particularly on Nos. 5,6, 7, and 8, were in a bad l state. They have recently been top-dressed, and some of the patches were coated with a fair thickness of loose soil, on which difficulty was experienced by fieldsmen in keeping their feet. On No. 5 the bowlers at both ends had a bad run up. On the other wickets good shots which should have gone to tho boundary had the sting taken out of them when they landed in the loose earth. It was fair in a way, as both teams had to put up with the same conditions on each, playing field. * ■ ■ • • • The benefit accruing from the early starting of matches was apparent last Saturday, when only one team out of 26 had to play out time for a draw. Indeed, most of the matches were over by 5.30. It will be on a cold, windy afternoon that the early starting, with an early closing, will be even more appreciated. • ••*.- The display of the Railway batsmen in their match with Glenross was too poor to be true form. Ledgerwood (Glenross) was on the job, keeping a perfect length. At one period he had three for 4, and finished with five for 5. With the early dismissal of their best batsmen the rot set in properly, and the whole of the Railway side was out for the small total of 22. The fielding of the Glenross team was excellent. This match was the first to finish, Glenross making 118 * ‘ , A most unusual finish—a tie—was the result of the Town Hall v. Roslyn Mills match. Roslyn Mills won the toss and batted first, making 75, Muir (28) and Ronald (13) being the only batsmen to make a stand. J. Gould kept a perfect length, and had those facing him subdued. His figures were five for 23. In his three overs Wilson took three for 22. The Town Hall batsmen did not last long against the accurate bowling of Muir and Greenwood. When K. Stevens (last man in) joined the not-out batsman (Wilson) it looked as if Roslyn would win, but Stevens opened his shoulders and hit two 6’s off Greenwood. This young and promising Town Hall player unfortunately killed his wicket when he had scored 20, just sufficient runs to make a tie of the game—7s all. Muir was the best Roslyn bowler, getting five for 16. At one stage he had an average of four for 5. Bert Berry was not in form on Saturday. • * • * Most of the batsmen of one of the new teams in the League, Lands, a team which showed good form in practices, failed in their first match against Red G. However, the apparent nervousness should disappear after a match or two. One of the Lands’ players (Hannan, not , out 28), was unfortunate in not having another batsman to stay with him. J. Densem (Red G.), who howled five overs, finished np with an excellent average of five for 10. B. Riach also did considerable damage, his average being four for 26. Lands’ total of 59 was soou passed by D. Rodger and B. Riach, who worked well together. Other good Red G. batsmen were H. Day (28) and A. Medlen (19), the game finishing when six players had lost their wickets for a total of 124. The fielding of the Lands’ team lacked anticipation.

A keen supporter of Speights’ team is Mr Reg. Dawson, who was present at the Oval on Saturday to see his team defeat Telgineers oy 13 runs. The bowlers of both teams had <£day out*

In their match with Loco, the Otago Brush bowlers were definitely on top* Reid dismissed four good Loco batsmen for 15, and Snort (a young player) had a great average of five for 25. The latter is likely to develop into a really class bowler if ho concentrates on keeping a good length* Oh Saturday, too many of his deliveries were over-pitched. Ramsay (not out 18) and Douglas (23) made between them a score equal to Loco’s total. Deans made top score for Loco and M’Fadyen took the only 0.8.C* wickets to fall, two for 21. * * * # Only three batsmen of the Tramways team made double figures. Hollander when 23 was caught when he looked not. Then Campbell and Mitchell became associated in a good partnership! of 36, the latter making 36 (top score)He hit two 6’s and five 4’s. Tho Tramways tail did not wag—all out for 80* Walker and Hill were the best of ths three T. and P. bowlers. T. and P., who, batted first, made only 60, Hogg* Ashton, and Walker being the three batsmen who reached double figures* Dixon was a thorn in the side of T* and P. In eight overs he took five wickets for 22. * »' * £ The highest score on Saturday was knocked up by Self Help, four or that side compiling 200 out of the total 218. R. Halley’s innings was a chanceless gem. His score of 89 included two 6’s and 13 4,’s. E. Mackenzie’s knock of half a .century was also sound, but his effort was attended with a measure of luck—he was dropped several times, twice when in the twenties. No. 1 wicket, on which this match was played, was a batsman’s paradise. Howard’s average of 10.3 for six wickets, was, under the circumstances, excellent. He and Morrison bore the brunt of the attack, the latter sending down 18 overs for his three wickets. He was bowling rather short in the early stages, many of his first deliveries going over the heads of the batsmen. Ninety-one runs were scored off him. Bisset kept wickets admirably, only six byes being registered against him. Self Help made a big mistake in not declaring when Stent lost his wicket. They had over 170 on the board then. By careful batting Burts were, able to play out time, losing nine wickets for 87. • • • * The opening Ross and Glendining batsmen—W. Preston and Alby Turnbull—gave their side a good start of 69 before the partnership was broken. The former was top scorer with 39. I* Craig was the only other player ‘to make a stand, the innings closing withj a total of 115. Neiper and Hayden, who bore the major portion of the attack, shared the honours of disposing of five and four batsmen respectively for good averages. Hillside responded with a moderate score of 68. W. Preston (R. and G.) had a good average' in bowling, four for 16. * **■*■' Bad fielding was excusable on No* 8 wicket, hut there was no excuse for so many runs to come from overthrows. The members of the M.C.P* team in their match with Pride of the Leith were bad offenders in this respect. Although Daley accomplished the hat trick, in my estimation Lees was the best M.C.P. bowler. He tied up the Pride of the Leith batsmen, and had them guessing on many occasions. In his seven overs he took three good wickets for 38. Daley took five for 77. Kerr and Duncan (Pride of the Leith) struck good form, both compiling over 40 runs in even time. The M.C.P. total of 99 runs wa# passed for the Joss of three wickets. The remainder of the team went in for batting practice.