LEAGUE CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 22804, 12 November 1937, Page 14

LEAGUE CRICKET

NOTES AND COMMENTS (Contributed by J.V.C.W.) HONOURS LIST. BATTING. -

R. Walker (E.P. and L.) 80, R. Rodgers (Red G.) 73, E. Manley (Roslyn Mills) 65 (not put), E. Hayden (Hillside) 47, J. Green (Ravonsbourne) 45, S. Muir (Roslyn Mills) 43, W. Preston (R. and GA 40, O. Shepherd (Inglis) 36, J, Gould (Town Hall) 35. BOWLING.

Fox (T. and P.) one for 0; Short (Otago Brush) mine lor 13; Holley (M.CiP.) one for 2; Butler (Loco) three for 2; Day (Red 6.) seven for 18; Flint (Lands) seven for 18; Lovelode (R and G.) three for 7; Clarke (T. and P.) three for 11; Quest (Standard) five for 18; Adcock (R. and G.) four for 12: Morrison (Burts) eight for 32; Riach (Red G.) one for 4; J. Beck (E.P. and L.) seven for 29; J. Gould (Town Hall) seven for 29.

After a threatening Saturday morning tho sun shone brightly throughout tho afternoon when the second matches in the first round of the League were played at the Oval. It was an enjoyable outing for those who had been shut up in offices and factories all week. • « • * Several matches resulted in comfortable wins, those teams having first use of tho wickets in 10 out of 13 matches proving to be the winners. The lam which fell during the early part of this week was not sufficient to_ do much towards improving the wickets which, last Saturday, showed a tendency to crumble, after an hour or two of play. The score-sheets again, show that the bowlers were on top in most of the matches.

To those sportsmen who give up their Saturday afternoons to act as League umpires, the players are deeply grateful. Among the umpires noticed last Saturday were those enthusiasts, “ Scobie ” M'Kenzie and “ Banjo ” 'Paterson. Both have given much time and energy to fostering the game. Their umpiring of the E.P. and L. v. Glenross match was an object lesson to those who desire to become efficient umpires. While on the subject of umpiring, it would he a good idea to have an associated body of umpires. How about it, umpires? Rest assured you will have the wholehearted support of the League executive. • * • • Then there are the scorers. A good number of League teams have keen followers who each Saturday come out to give their moral support and do anything to help their respective clubs. You will find these supporters perched on boxes for three and four hours on a stretch, with pencils and score books in front of them. Mr Perc.v Priest (Otago Hospital) had the pavilion as a backrest while he kept the tallies last Saturday. . * * * ♦

It is pleasing to unto that personal appearance is not overlooked by many teams that play on the Oval. Nothing, to my mind, looks better .than to see a well turned out cricket team. In this respect allow me to compliment Roslyn Mills, Glenross, Rod G., Inglis, Railway and Pride of the Leith.

It is unlikely that E. Cropley, a good all-rounder of the E.P.. and L. team, will play again this season. He participated in the opening match when he showed good form with the leather. On the following Sunday, however, he developed double pneumonia and was rushed to hospital. He is reported to be progressing favourably. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Many a batsman lost his wicket last Saturday when he mistimed or nibbled at those short-pitched, rising balls. A record of catches shows that 107 players gave these chances which were accepted by willing hands. But there were many catches too. Ten players were caught in the E.P. and L.Glenross match and some of these catches were real hot ones.

Cricket is one of the ball games that gives ample scope for individual display of natural gifts—speed, strength,, and clear-sightedness—but _ above all for that miraculous interaction of hand and eye. Each victory is nearly always the doing of one or two players in a side, either as howlers or batsmen. So it proved on Saturday in the Pride of the Leith (101) v. T. and P. (65) match. E. Hellyer and W. Dillon were the backbone of the Lodge side. The former made 42 (top score) and displaced five of the opposition for 36 runs. W. Dillon knocked nn 18 and followed this up with an excellent howling performance—four for 13. The best T. and P. howlers were Clarke (three for *1.1), Hill (two for 23) and Fox (one for 0).

The first match to reach finality was the Otago Brush v. Standard, in which the scoring on both sides was small. Standard batted first and were all out for 43. Short (Otago Brush) was unplayable, eight Standard batsmen falling to him before they had opened their account. His figures—nine for 13—speak for themselves. Quest and Homer (Standard) made 41 between them. In an endeavour to pull the game out of the fire, Quest did his best with the ball, five batsmen being dismissed by him for 18 runs. Only three 0.8. C. players made a stand, their total of 64 being sufficient to win the match.

The narrow margin of one run gave Lands the victory over Ravensbourne. The winners batted first and were all out for 102. Ford, an enterprising Lands player, headed the batting list with 53, and Flint, in nine overs, disposed of seven Ravensbourne players for 18 runs. After he had settled down Flint’s deliveries were difficult to play.. The Lands .wickotkeeping was

not up to scratch, too'many runs coming from weak play behind the wicket. The other fielding was bright and snappy.' Nixon’s catch in the slips was a fine effort. Green (45) and Buttar (19) were the best Rayensbourne batsmen. Of the four Ravenshourne bowlers Buttar (four for 22) had the best average. Randall, Hunt, and Sprat also bowled well. Quite a few of tho younger players in both these new teams show promise.

What a day of leather hunting the Red G. batsmen gave Otago Hospital. Their opening pair, Rodger (73) and Reid (57), made the attack look sick. Both these players are solid batsmen. The first-named scored freely with shots all round tho wicket, his perfect timing and placing being a treat to watch. When three wickets had fallen for 187 tho Red G. captain declared. The fielding of Hospital was keen, Backledge being prominent in cutting off many boundaries. Only two of the Dunedin Hospital batsmen stood up to the good-length deliveries of H. Day, w'ho took seven for 18 in his six overs. Hospital made 38. «■ ♦ * * In the match Roslyn Mills v. Hillside the side to have first use of the wicket did not win. When over 200 runs had been made No. 11 wicket was still playing well. Hillside made 101, of which Hayden (a good all-rounder) compiled 47 and Crawford 19. B. Berry and C. Inglis, w.ith accurate bowling, kept down Hillside’s total. Inglis took five for 11 and Berry four for 19. The outstanding feature of tho match was the bright batting of Manley (Roslyn Mills), who carried his bat for 65. Shortly after the third Roslyn wicket had fallen the Hillside’s total was overtaken, Muir contributing 43 and B. Berry 25. A. Eckhoffi (Hillside) took three for 31.

United took a long time to make 67 runs, G. M‘Don ald and W.Adam making a stand. When fivq wickets had fallen the side declared. T. Butler had the best howling average, three for 2 runs. Four Loco, batsmen made sufficient runs to register a win for their side. J., Bowie (21) was undefeated, and R. Munro made 28. Of the five United bowlers tried 11. Inglis had the’ best average.

The first use. of the wicket was to the advantage of the E.P. and L. team, which made 135. Walker played some beautiful strokes, in his innings of 80. The runs; made by Beck- and Wheeler brought the tally to 111.

There were three ducks. ■ ■ Ledgerwood and Bedford took four wiokotS apiece, the latter having' the best average.; The wicket started to break up after two hours’ play. Only three Glenross batsmen —G. Coxhead, Walkinshaw, and Blackwood—made double figures. Walkinshaw is a stylish bat. Jack Beck had another great day with the ball, dismissing seven batsmen for 20. A. Wheeler (two for 22) and Walker (one for 28) also deserve mention for good trundling. E.P, and L. won by 56 runs.

Tho Inglis batsmen were in great form in their match with Railway. Inglis made 151 and Railway 63. Six of the Inglis side made double figures, 0. Shepherd (36), 11. Werner (23), and J. Agnew (22) being the best. The Railway bowling was subjected to quick changes—there were nine bowlers tried out. The best average was secured by W. Smith, five for 42. Railway had a fighting chance of making a draw of the game, but the early dismissal of their best batsmen put the result beyond doubt. J. Fletcher stayed long enough to make 17. C. Shepherd also headed the Inglis bowling averages—four for 20. G. Watt and V. Gensik were responsible for the dismissal of the other six Railway batsmen.

Medium totals were made in the Tramways v. M.C.P. match played on No. 1 wicket. Of the 75 runs made by Tramways, Ray Braithwaite and J. Martin each made 14 and Campbell 12, Lees (M.C.P.) dismissed six for 28. Daley was expensive, 42 runs being knocked off him for three . wickets. Holley’s average (one for 2) was the best. The M.C.P. batsmen were not equal to the occasion, the team being out for 49. R. Braithwaite (seven for 25) and Dixon (three for 23) were the only bowlers necessary.

Another low-scoring _ game was the Turnbull and Jones-Self-Help encounter. The hefty Self-Help hitters of last week were not at home on No. 5 wicket. After 15 overs Self-Help were back at the box with a small total of 48. Five wickets apiece were taken by Winton and M'Lintock. T. and J. have a number of young inexperienced batsmen who would do-well to put in more time at the practice nets. However, two of their number, M'Lintock and Johnstone, made good scores and carried their side to victory. Wedlako and Mussen helped themselves to good bowling averages.

Town Hall, after compiling 104 runs, disposed of Telgineers . for -45. J. Gould was the mainstay of the Town Hall team. He compiled 35 runs and took seven for 29. R. Lindsay (22), R. Applegarth (11 not out), and K. Stevens (11) assisted,their side to win. Spence and Lament were the best Telgineor trundlers and Davis and Anderson their best batsmen.

First use of the wicket proved to be a decided advantage to R. and G. The best scores in their total of 104 were made by W. Preston (40), Adcock (19), and Lovelock (18). Stan Knight took six for 32 and B. Stokes three for 27. Speight’s collapsed under the barrage of Lovelock and Adcock, the former’s average being three for 7 and the latter’s four for 12, Speight's made 39.

Both sets of bowlers were definitely, op top in the match played on No. 6

wicket. N. Morrison and V. Howard (Burts’) went through the P.O. batsmen in good style, the performance of the former (eight , for 32) being particularly impressive. The P.O. total of half a century took the Burts’ batsmen some scraping to get—risks had to be taken, as the. P.O. bowlers and fieldsmen were well on their toes. Four difficult catches were taken.