CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 265, 18 November 1901, Page 1

CRICKET.

UNITED V. WEST END. [Notes by “Biffek.”] The only fixture arranged for Saturday last was that between United and West End. The afternoon was beautifully fine, and the batsmen revelled in the genial sunshine, and kept the scorers busy during the whole of the afternoon. Play was again late in starting, and it was close on 8 o’clock before a commencement was made. The United players were the worst offenders in this respect, and they had only a complement of soven players when they took the field. We again impress upon players the necessity for starting play punctually at 2 o’clock, especially as these matches are confined to one afternoon’s play. W. Gibson captained tho United, and Hodge skippered the West End eleven. The latter won the toss, and decided to bat. Dodd and liakawai took strike to Porter and Gibson. Porter soon sent Hakawai and Hodge back with good balls, but, on Vincent joining Dodd, a serviceable stand was made, and this pair took the score to 40, when Lyttelton, who had relieved Gibson, sent along a ball that proved too good for Vincent, and the batsman retired for a hard-hit score of 18. Brown and Hood did not last long, but McConnell gave Dodd, w'ho was playing soundly and well, valuable assistance, and the score was taken to 68, when Dodd was nicely taken by Hill off Lyttelton. The retiring

batsman took his bat in for a carefully, compiled score of 25. He took no chances, but waited patiently for the loose ones, and dealt with them in a business-like mauner when they came along. McConnell was bowled by Lyttelton for a freely-hit score of 16. G. Nolan, Cumming, and Charles all helped to swell tho total. Tho latter made some good strokes to leg, and was not out with 11 to his credit when the innings closed for the respectable total of 92. Lyttelton was the most successful bowler, and captured four wickets for 14 runs off 42 balls. Porter was given a lot of work, and kept his end lup well. L. C. Gouidsmith, who sent down three overs towards the close of the innings, should have boen on earlier. He bowls a good fast ball, and keeps a good length. When he has had a little practice, we shall expect to hear of this bowler meeting with signal success. Gibson proved expensive. The fielding of tho (United men was poor, and tho catching wretched. With 92 runs on the slate, the West End players were confident of victory, but the United batsmen were in a scoring humor, and forced tho pace from the start of the innings. Gibson and McCredie faced Hood and Vincent. Hood bowled

the latter when he had placed 8 to his account; but Lyttelton helped Gibson to take the score to 88, when Charles beat tho former with a good length ball, after the batsman had scored 11, including a couple of pretty cuts. Porter joined Gibson, who was hitting freely, and got to work

right away, and runs came rapidly. When he had scored 21, Gibson was beaten al 1 tho way down the pitch with one out of the box from Hood, which broke back boautiiully. L. C. Gouidsmith joined Porter, who was playing the bowling with confidence, and at once showed that ho was a batsman who had learned his crickot in a good school. He made lino strokes all round the wicket, and handled his bat with a nice free style. We were not surprised to hear that this player was a Clifton College eleven man, and had also represented Lincolnshire in tho English second grade County Championship. Porter and Gouidsmith took the score to

79, when Hodge, who was bowling well, beat the former with a good ball, when tho batsman had placed 21 ou the scoresheet. Hill joined Gouidsmith, who was keeping the scorers busy. The runs still came, and Gouidsmith had the honor of making the winning hit, amid hearty applause. His end had come, however, as Hodge clean bowled him with a ball at which he made the only weak stroke he exhibited in his score of 28. Griffin and Partridge put on a dozen between them, and when Hood bowled tho former stumps were drawn, tho score then standing at 111 for eight wickets. United thus won by two wickets and 19 runs. Considering that play was not started until 0 o’clock, the rate of scoring was high. Over 200 runs in three hours is good work on a Gisborne ground. Hood and Hodge both bowled well, and McConnell sent down some good overs though he did not succeed in capturing a wicket. The West End fielding was fair, but the catching, like that of the United players, was faulty. The wicket played well, but the grass in the outfield was much too long. Messrs Charles Evans and W. L. File officiated as umpires. The following are the scores: —

West End. Dodd, c Hill, b Lyttelton ... 25 Hakawai, b Porter ... 0 Hodge, b Porter ... 6 Vincent, b Lyttelton ... 18 Brown, h.w., b Lyttelton ... 0 Hood, b Porter ... 1 McConnell, b Lyttelton ... 16 East, b Gibson ... 0 Nolan, b Gouldsmith ... 6 Cumming, b Gouldsmith ... 7 Charles, not out ... 11 Extras ... 7 Total ... 92 Bowling Analysis. Buns. Wkts. OversPorter 24 8 9 Gibson 28 1 7 Lyttelton 14 4 6 Gouldsmith 6 2 8 Hill 18 — 8 United. Gibson, b Hood ... 21 McCredie, b Hodd 3 Lyttelton, b Charles ... 11 Porter, b Hodge ... 21 L. C. Gouldsmith, b Hodge ... ... 28 Hill, b Hodge 5 H. Ferris, c Dodd, b Hodge ... ... 3 Griffin, b Hood 7 Partridge, not out ... 5 Extras ... 7 Total for 8 wickots ... Ill Bowling Analysis. Buns. Wkts. Overs. Hood 29 3 9 Vincent 11 — 2 McConnoll 18 — 7 Charles ... ... 28 1 8 Hodge ... ... 19 4 8