SMALL SCORING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 February 1925, Page 5

SMALL SCORING.

IX FOURTH TEST.

A FSTR A LIA FOLLOWS ON

DO BETTER IN SECOND INNINGS. BY CABLE- PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPVRIOIIT .MELBOURNE, Feb. 17. To-day’s play in the fourth test saw the dismissal of Australia in the first innings for 269 runs, which was 279 behind the Englishmen’s tally. The Australians therefore followed on, and alter a disastrous start the score wan 175 for the loss of four wickets when stumps were drawn. After rain during the night the morning broke dull, and the wicket rolled out soft. Andrews (33) and Taylor (42) took up the batting burden for Australia in the first innings to the bowling of Kilner and Woolley. Andrews added two to his overnight score by glancing one from Kilner. Then be pushed the third Hall straight into Hearne’s hands at mid-on. Ihe hoard then read : 6 —35 —170. The departing batsman had contributed a useful knock. Andrews was succeeded by Kellewny. Woolley in his first over had Taylor (who yesterday made forcing tactics so profitable) in ’ difficulties owing_ to the sunshine and sticky wicket. Kelleway meantime was poking at Woolley’s deliveries. and when he got in front of Kilner he was equally at sea. He shaped poorly and was never confident, and Kilner got a leg decision, that ended his strike, the score at this stage being: 71 —172. Gregory was cheered on going to the wicket. He nearly knocked oyer Hearne while running up to the wicket, the incident causing much laughter. Gregory ‘ ‘skied” one off AVoolley to KiL nor' at long-off. hut the fieldsman dropped an easy chance. Taylor had now livened up, and reached 70 by driving Hearne to the boundary. The batsmen became daring, and ’ indifferent fielding was proving expensive. In attempting to turn one from AVoolley Taylor was smartly caught by Hendren at'silly mid-off. He had played an invaluabale innings at a critical stage, being at the wickets 140 minutes and furnishing the only bright feature in the "debacle. AY hen he left the board ,-ead: 8—86—244. The Gregory-Tnylor partnership had added 74. Oldfield joined Gregory, and the latter made a sensational hit by sending a ball .from Woolley over the fence. Chapman dismissed Oldfield by an easy catch in the slips, and the score was: 9—3—257.

Alailey and Gregory held the fort until luncheon. Then Gregory, who had given a dazzling display all round 'the wicket, was caught by AVoolley off Hearne, and the side was out for 269. Australia, with a deficiency of 279. was obliged to follow on, and Collins and Bardslev opened the- second innings to the bowling of Tate and Kilner. Collins tried to cut Kilner. and Why sail made a smart catch. The board then read: 1 —1 — -5. There was consternation when Tate “vorked” Bardslev for a duck, and two wickets were down for five runs. It was another disastrous start. Tate had now taken one wicket for one run, being at his best, and Kilner one for no runs. Gregory and Taylor got together at the wickets, the former hitting freely and delighting the crowd with leg glances which often reached the boundary. He entered the thirties, while Tavior was playing himself in hut was punching the loose stuff. Gregory gave a brilliant display, lasting 57 minutes. His score of 45 included six fours. Sutcliffe caught him at mid-off, giving Kilner his second victim. The score hoard then read : 3—45 —64. «

Ryder opened carefully, playing a straight bat to Hearne. The attendance had now reached 13.000. and the wicket was drying. Taylor was hatting solidly, hut Ryder was slow hut confident. He was going well when he cot his leg in front to "Woolley, who went on at 118. Ryder’s was a notable disnlay of forceful pulling strokes. When he left the hoard read: 4—3 B The crowd was surprised when Kelleway went in next. Taylor glanced Tate for a single and raised liis half-century in 148 minutes. An appeal by Strudwiclt that he stumped Taylor when the latter was 56 was disallowed. Kelleway was nlaying unusually bright cricket, and he and Taylor were still together when stumps were drawn. Details: ENGLAND. First Timings 548 AUSTRALIA. First Innings. A. Richardson, b Hearne 19 Collins, c Kilner, I) Tate 22 Ryder, h Tate 0 Bardsley, run out 24 Ponsford. c Strudwock, b Hearne 21 Taylctr, c Hendren, b "Woolley 86 Andrews, c Hearne, b Kilner 35 Kelleway, 1.b.w., b Kilner 1 Gregory, c Woolley, b Hearne ... 38 Oldfield, c Chapman, h Kilner ... 3 Mailey, not out 4 Extras 16 Total 269 Bowling analysis.—Tate took two wickets for 70 runs, Gilligan none for 24, Hearne three for 17, Kilner three for 29, "Woolley one for 53. Second Innings. Collins, c Whysall, b Kilner 1 Bardsley, b Tate 0 Gregory, c Sutcliffe, b Kilner 45 Taylor, not out 59 Ryder, 1.b.w., b Woolley 38 Kelleway, not out ... 23 Extras 9 Total for four wickets 175

COMMENT ON THE GAME. LONDON, Feb. 16. Colonel Philip Trevor, writing in the Dailv Telegraph, says: “Tf a hot sun succeeds the rain, the wicket may misbehave as the Nottingham and Manchester pitches would, hut one oi the peculiarities and one of the charms oi cricket in Australia is that the wickets defy prophecy. “The Englishmen secured a heavy lead, and if the Australians deprive us of tliis they may fairly claim to have done a bigger thing than the Englishmen did at Adelaide.” CHANGES IN N.S.W. TEAM. SYDNEY, Feb. 17. Gregory and Oldfield are unable to play for New Sotuth, Wales against the Englishmen,, and have b&en replaced by Scott and Ratcliffe.

NOTES BY “QUIDNUNC.” The* local cricketers were favoured ■with the best of weather on Saturday, when the penultimate series of matches for the senior competition was completed and the last round of matches for the junior competition was begun. Stratford got an easy three-point win over Paten, Midland got two points from Manaia, while Excelsior drew their game with Kltham on the latter ground. In tne juniors, Technical High School were too many for Midland B and took three points, and Stratford ti did likewise from Eltham B.

From the following table it will be seen that Excelsior have won the senior championship with ten wins and two draws. In the juniors, Hawera Technical H.S. and Stratford look as if they are going to fight out the finish. The position of the various teams is as under: — SENIOR, Points. Excelsior 26 Eltham 16 Stratford 13 Okaiawa 12 Midland 9 Manaia 8 Patea 6 The last six teams have still another series to play. JUNIOR. Hawera Technical H.S 28 Stratford 28 Midland 26 Excelsior .- 19 Eltham 9 Manaia. (withdrawn) 8 Stratford Tech. H.S. (withdrawn) 3 Hawera Tech. H.S. B 3

Some good individual performances were given on Saturday, and the honours were distributed as follows:

Batting.—C. Little (Elthaiy) 94, Lambert (Stratford) 63, McCarthy (Excelsior) 62, Philpotts (Eltham) 46, Dalgleish (Midland) 41, NiehoT (Stratford) 36. Lay (Excelsior) 33. Bowling.—Cole (Stratford) 6 for 29 and 3 for 16, Lambert (Stratford) 4 for 20. Neilsen (Midland) 6 for 66. STRATFORD v. PATEA.

Stratford were a Jong way too strong for Patea on Saturday, adn came in easy winners by an innings and 51 runs, scoring 168 to 55 and 64. Lambert 53 was top scorer for the winners, and if not in his very best form (owing to lack of practice) still plays freely enough to score plenty of runs in quick time. Nicliol was next highest with 35, and liis success was pleasing, as he iis keen and a trier all the time. Claridge 18, Cole 14, and Young 19 were the other doubles and their contributions were decidedly useful. Patea failed badly against the Stratford bowlers and to be dismissed twice for scores of '55 and 64 is not their form. Oakes (15 and 10), Palmer (16), and Smith (13) were the only players who got into double figures. Cole (6 for 29 and 3 for 16), Lambert (4 for 20 and 2 for 28), Niohol (2 for 7), .and Percy (2 for 11) did the bowline- for the winners,' while Hoult (4 for o 3). Hamel (2 for 26), Palmer (2 for 33), Findlay (1 for IS), and Oakes (1 for’ 29) captured the wickets for Patea.

MIDLAND v. MANAIA. Midland .in this game managed to get a win after a series of reverses, by scoring 160 to 102 by Manaia. The winners have to thank the first two batsmen for a, good stand, making the way easier for the remainder of the eleven. Dalgleish (42) and Davies (41), both played well and really deserved their runs. They have been getting into doubles without going very far so often that a. little success was not out of its turn. Graham (16) was the only other double figure scorer. Manaia on batting had' a, similar experience to Midland inasmuch that the first three batsmen made the major portion of the runs. H. Hughes (30) and Stephenson (31), both batted well and freely and looked to he good for more. Bairstow’ got 12 and hats well enough to score many more runs. The Midland bowling was done by Neilson (6 for 56), Inch (3 for 21). The former has got a, good crop of wickets with his slow off breaks and, except for a tendency to pitch a bit short, would get more. Inch is rather inclined tO' be a bit wild with his bowling, lint now and then sends a good one along For Manaia, A. Hughes took 4 for 30, Bairstow 3 for 29, H. Hughes 2 for 45, and Watson 1 for 28. The two first named are both capable howlers who can send along some good stuff._ EXCELSIOR v. ELTHAM.

This game was a draw and was noticeable for some very free scoring for the Eltliam ground. The wicket played fairly well, although an occasional one rose a hit. Excelsior hatted first and even batting saw 21 < put on the slate. McCarthy led the way with a. well played 52 and showed that he can still hold , his own; he hit nine fours. Stan Lav with 33 maintained his recent consistent form and is developing into a reliable batsman. Little (24), Cromhie (22). .Monaghan (20), and Galvin (21 not out). All showed "ond form and made the howling look" easy. Bernard (10) was the other double figure scorer. The first three Eltliam wickets went very cheaply and then C. Little, being let off early, set to work and hit up 94 in quick' time. Included in his score were five sixes, two off Lay and three oil Machin. Philpott (46) rendered able service and hit*seven fours while at the wickets. Johnson (13) and Priest (13 not out) were the only other doubles on the side, Prest (4 for 59) was the most successful of the bowlers, Little (1 for 38), and Han <2 for 45) getting the rest of the wickets. For Excelsior Lav got the first three wickets vety cheaply, but then got rater freely

nit about by Little and ended with 3 for 68. McCarthy bowled very steadily ill getting 3 for 36. Monaghan got 2 for 21, but Mach in (1 for 49), only, bowled four overs and met with severe punishment. NORTH TARANAKI TEAMS. In the matches, for Saturday v next, between North and South Taranaki, the former’s representatives will be as follows: A team. —Bottrill (rapt.), Lash, Palmer. Pearson (Old Boys), Grayson, Haughton, Rev. Gosnell, Fuller (4\ estern Park), Nasmith, O. G. Clarke (New Plymouth). Terry (Country). B team.—Papps (captain), Osborne COld! Boys), Jones, Sheppard, M. •■!>. Clarke. ’ Cottier (New Plymouth), Lovcridge, McLean (High School). N. Gibson. Sarten (Country), Edie (Western. Park). Umpires: Messrs. E. Whittle and J. Brown. Juniors. —Cameron, Prior t Harbour Works). Duff, A. McDonald. Tkorburn (Western Park), W. Girling, Norgate (New Plymouth B), L. Harris, C. Dinuiss. A. Petty (Old Boys), Ewart (High School). Reserves: McClymont (Harbour Works) and Groombridga (New: Plymouth B). Umpires; Messrs. E. S arte it and W.V Hughes. JUNIOR CRICKET. With the matches begun on Satuß day the junior competitions entered on a most interesting stage, and the result of the games point to Hawera Technical H.S. A or Stratford landing out ultimate winners.

The match in. Hawera between the Technical High School and Midland saw the latter well and truly defeated by five wickets. The scoring was on the small side, and except for one spasm in the school second innings the bowler! held the whip hand. .Midland did not shape too well with the bat. excepting Dowdle in the second innings, who got 40 by brisk- batting. This- boy has been the most consistent- by far of the Midland team, and is coming through the season with a very creditable record. The school batting was not much better, but Mien in the second innings, in getting 34, hit 22 off one over from Mahoney. Busing (five for' 25 and three for 32) and Fail-weather (four for 17 and three for 16) both bowled very steadily for Midland, while Chevers (five lor lid) and Allen (five for 17 and five for 48) were on the spot for Technical. The whole four are very straight in direction, although inclined to -be on the short side at times. .Stratford B has a strong junior team, and showed it in their match against_ Eltham. They ran up 205 for four wickets and declared-, and then dismissed the opposition for 54 and 71. Cottier (61), .Beere (49 not out), Fowler (34), Gatton (22), Richardson (IS not out) and Rudkin (17) all hit with the utmost freedom, and if the style—ls not pretty it is at least very effective. The Eltham bowling is notstrong, and was no match for the batting. Lewis, in getting 30 out of a total of 54 in Ellthnm’s, first innings, did more than his share of the runget,ting. The Stratford howling ,is quite good for the juniors, and Beere (six for 33), Trottep (four for 16) and Gatton. (four for 13) all got good, figures by .steady bowling. The chief weakness in the junior grade is the fielding, and it- would be a good tiling if more attention was naid to this important department- of the game. A closer study of the placing pf the field would also make for more success by some of the teams. Some of the fields look as if the players had ecattored themselves about in the hopes of getting into the lucky places.