CRICKET.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 15 January 1927, Page 6

CRICKET.

HAWKE CUP.

CHALLENGE MATCH

HAWKE’S BAY v. TARANAKI. “Honours even” is the verdict of the first day’s play in the challenge match being played for possession of the Hawke Cup at New Plymouth. Taranaki, with two wickets to go. were still six runs short of the small total set them by Hawke’s Bay, and that was the position when play was resumed this morning. Fine fielding and safe catching by the Taranaki men were largely responsible for the dismissal of what was considered a strong side of challengers. No less than five were caught and one brilliantly run out, while Cole, keeping a fine length, clean bowled three, and Clarke, though he got only one wicket, sent d-own very few loose balls. Penny with his * slows- trapped three to catches and with a change of pace beat one more. Hawke’s Bay opened very badly, and had it not been for the tail would, have been in very sorry plight. The last two wickets, however, put on 31 runs and retrieved the position somewhat. On the contrary, Taranaki opened exceedingly well in comparison, and 41 appeared before the first wicket Fell, both opening batsmen- showing care and confidence. Then commenced -l. procession, varied only by a stand hv'M. M. Brown. Kingston and Bottrill. and eight wickets had. fallen 99-hen time was called. Bottrill and T-T. TV. Bi'own being at the wickets to open this morning.

THE PLAY CONTINUED

HAWKE’S BAY BATTING. L.uwry, ..on unuing, opened out to Loie anti put ium to the on boundary, a somewliat Ricky snot. \v orlter surviveil a confident appeal for i.O.w. by Clarke, who bowled anotner maiden. Lowry late cut Goie annost to the ooundary, and three were run. \\ orker pasted Col© for tiiree to leg, and singles und a four to Lowry Drought up 20. With the score at 24 and Worker being six, Cole sent aim a beauty breaking from leg, and lie was clean bowled. 24 —2—6. Elliott filled the vacancy, and was clean bowled first- ball with, a beauty that took his middle sturnp. 24—3—0. Reaney was next, and opened with a single. He followed it with a couple off Clarke. Cole beat Reaney with a beauty that kept low, just off the stumps. Singles followed, and 30 was up after 42 minutes’ play. # The fielding was sure, and many boundaries were prevented. The score mounted steadily, and of the 30 Lowry had got 20. In his next over Cole scattered Reaney’s stumps. 36 —4—7. It was perfect in length and came in from the off a trifle. Cole had now three wickets for 20 runs. M. Beuth came in, and Lowry brought up 40 by a drive to long-off from| Clarke. Lowry tried another two halls later, and Clarke took a hot catch. It was a fine effort. 40—5—26. Davis, the next man, opened with a snick to leg off Clarke, and followed it with a leg glide off Cole for two and another to mid-on. M. Beuth opened his account wit-li a single from a snick off Clarke, and just afterwards Davis almost played Clarke on to his wicket. Singles to both batsmen, and 50 was hoisted. Davis was playing with more confidence, and pasted Cole for a two and four, and then Brown just failed to hold a possible catch. Penny took the hall from Cole, and Lash stopped a hot drive to the off that would have gone to the boundary. Two balls later Penny, with a change of pace, trapped Davis, and he gave the howler an easy catch. 59- —6—15. Stephenson came in and played out the over from Penny, a maiden. Clarke howled another maiden, the third in sue ession. A single to Stephenson, and 60 went up. Then Penny with a pretty leg break, perfect in length. clean bowled M. Beuth. It was a beauty, bail high. 60 —7—3. O’Brien came in next, and with the score at 63 Penny took a brilliant catch off his own bowling. 63 —B—l. Pine followed, and opened with a single. The score mounted by singles, and 70 was hoisted with a four hv O’Brien to long-on. TVith the score at 73. Pirie mishit a short pitched hall from Penny, and Brown took a simple catch. 73—9—4. He had got four wickets for six runs. Mitchell, the last man. opened streakily. and O’Brien got int- double figures with a single off Clarl-e. and the score mounted to 80 by singles. Eggleton took Clark©’ at the howling crease. The latter had howled 15 overs for 38 runs, with one wicket and four maidens. O’Brien pasted a short one from Penny to mid-off. and the latter evoked annla>l s© hv a smart hit of fielding. O’Brien then hit Pennv elenn out of the around +o the on. briiming 90 up nnd his own score to 20. Next oveoff Pgfileton’s first hall. Nasmi+h took a simple catch at point, nnd the Details were: HAWKE’S BAY. First Innings. Worker, b Cole b

B. Beuth, run out 0 Lowry, c and b Clarke 26 Elliott, b Cole 0 Reaney, b Cole 7 M. Beuth, b Penny 3 Davis, c and b Penny 15 Stephenson, e and b Penny 1 O’Brien, not out 25 Pirie. c H. W. Brown, b Penny 4 Mitchell, c Nasmith, b Eggleton 4 Extras 3 Total 94 Bowling analysis : Penny, six overs, one maiden, four wickets, 18 runs; Cole. 10 overs, one maiden, three wickets.' 34 runs; Eggleton. nine balls, one wicket, one run; Clarice, 15 overs, four maidens, one wicket, 38 runs.

TARANAKI BATTING. A I’toi* the afternoon tea adjournment. Grayson and Nasmith opened for Taranaki lo the bowling of Pirie and Stevenson, and off the latter seven were scored in his first over. Mitchell came on in -his place and alter • ne over, in which six were w>r«e and ten went up the scoring -steadied down. By singles the total went to 20, alter twenty-two minutes’ play. M. Booth relieved’ Pirie and opened with a maiden. Grayson playing well got to twenty and took the total to- 30. with a fine souare cut, to the boundary. Just afterwards Grayson had a let off. Stephenson missing an easv catch at mi-cl-on. He showed his gra-

titudo by pasting Bouth to the off Boundary, a pretty carpet drive and a brace to Nasmith, brought ut> 49. One run later be hit a full toss from Mit-I c hell into Stephenson’s hands at lon,Lion, a catch that was accepted. 41 M. M. Brown was next and opened with a four U> leg, a nice pull off a short ball. A few balls later M. ]tenth completely beat Nasmith_ with a good length ball. 46 —2b —10. I . ha,sli came in only to retire clean bowled bv Beutli. -16—3—0. Kingston 101 l owed and pushed a beauty past first .slip for 4, bringing 50 up. After surviving a confident appeal for stumping, he hit Mitchell twice to long leg boundary, getting into double figures. But a. few balls later lie went out to Mitchell and was easily stumped. —i—,l2. Penny, next man. got a lucky four over slip’s head, bringfug up 60 Another boundary and a single were bit by Penny. Brown was badiv missed at the wickets, and then got. a single and a leg bye, which brought up 70. Without further addition Penny cocked up one to Stephenson at short leg and retired. 70 —5 9. Bot trill came in and snicked Beuth to leg boundary. Both bit short pitched bails off Mitchell to the on, but good fielidng .saved two boun daries. Bottrill late cut one, a prettvsliot that nearly reached the boundary Two were run and 80 was signalled. Brown .smacked the slow bowler hard to leg but Worker saved the boundary. ” Stephenson, with the score at S 3, relieved M. Beuth at the south end and Brown, with a smack to leg, got into double figures, and a few balls fater he touched one from Stenbenson, and G. Beuth held the catch. 87—6 —-12. Clarke was next and after taking two halls, was easily caught b;v Worker. 87—7 —0. dole came in and after playing one ball, put Mitchell into the .safe hands of Elliott. 88—8—0. H. W. Brown came next and was nearly out, Reaney just failing to get to one in the slips. Time was then called with the score at 88 for eight wickets.

Play was resumed this morning. Punctually on time Bottrill 11) and IT. W. Brown (0), the not out men, opened to. the bowling of Mitchell and M. Beuth. Bottrill opened with a snick tO' long leg, a single. Brown did the .same, and 90 was signalled. Bottril got a couple from a similar stroke, and a ysingle off Mitchell. At the southern end M. Beutli bowled and Bottrill put his first ball to the lee boundary. The third, however, lie played on. 97—9—19. The outgoing botsman, had played a very useful inn- » till' •

Eggleton, the last man, came in. and played out the over. Brown drove Mitchell hard to the on, and good fielding saved a certain boundary'. A leg live, and a. single to. Brown brought up the century. Eggleton broke his duck with a 2 to leg. and Brown snicked one to fine leg for 3. Brown a.gain hit Mitchell hard to leg, and a couple resulted.' Three balls later Mitchell conin'etelv heat him with an off-break the “wrong ’un,” and the innings concluded after 19 minutes play to-dav. 109—10—-9. Eggleton was not out- 2. Details were:

TARANAKI

Grayson, c Stephenson, b Mitchell 2b Nasmith, b M. Beuth 15 M. M. Brown, c O. Beuth, b Stephenson 12 Lash, b M, Beuth 0 Kingston, st. Lowry, b Mitchell ... 12 Penny, c Stephenson, bM. Beutli 9 Bottrill, b M. Beuth 19 Clarice, c Workei, B Stephenson 0 Cole, c Elliott, b Mitchell 0 H. W. Brown, b Mitchell 8 Eggleton, not out 2 Extras 7 Total 109 Bowling analysis: Mitchell, 15 overs, four wickets, 54 runs; M. Beuth, 10 overs, two maidens, four wickets, 33 runs; Stephenson, two overs, two wickets, eight runs; Pirie, three overs, no wickets, seven runs. NOTES ON THE PLAY. There was such a sorry collapse on the part of both teams that comment is scarce. The main feature was the absolute want of enterprise on the part of nearly all the batsmen and the evident want of knowledge of how to play' the slow bowling. The ball, generally .speaking, was much the superioi to the bat and this seems hard to explain on wliat was acknowledged by close observers to be a fairly easy wicket. It certainly must have suffered to some extent by the rain of the previous day' and the morning and by the hoi .sun and wind drying it during the day. The best part of the Taranaki play was the fielding and catching and in this respect they easily held,their own with the challengers. La,shi Nasmith. Kingston, Penny, Clarke and IT. W. Brown were specially good.

VISIT OF SELECTORS. Durign the day Messrs W. R. Patrick (Christchurch) and F. Williams (Dunedin) were present. They are two of the selectors for the team to- tour England. Needless to say neither was impressed with the form shown. TARANAKI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE MEETING. At a. meeting at New Plymouth last night of the Taranaki Association there were present: Messrs T. H. Bates (president), R. L. Cooper. CL G. Bottrill, S. Jones (northern division). W. G. Walkley, J. Nielsen and L. CL Watson (southern division). A challenge was received from Gisborne, but it was explained that Wairnrapa was the first to be received. Tn the event of Taranaki liol din ,r the cup the match with- Wairarapa will he played on January 21 and 22 ami Gisborne, February 18 and 19. The former match will be played .at Hlive ra.

A motion was carried asking the council to- allot a- match against t l ’" touring Australian team to Taranaki.

Permission was granted the North ami South country clubs to- plnv a match. Messrs N. Gibson (Northern) ■>m| T... (1. Watson (Southern) b 0 ’ 1 "- lennled to make the necessary nrrangeeimifs. Tlie match will he played in '’orthem end.

CONDITIONS FOR N.Z. TOUR. RY CARLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION -COPYRIGHT MELBOURNE. Jan. 14. The Victorian Cricket Association has given its consent to the Melbourne Cricket Club to send a team to New Zealand, on condition that the consent of the Board of Control be obtained.,

that a Melbourne Club player chosen to play in intor-State matches must represent his State, and that members of the team must be actual players of the Melbourne Cricket Club. Mr Trumble says the conditions will be carried out. This probably means that Hendry will be unable to accompany the team.

MARYLEBOXE TEAM IN INDIA. DELHI Jan. 14. The Marylebone cricketers have played two matches at Rangoon, the first against the Gymkhana Club, which was drawn (Parsons making 169, which is the highest score either for or against Marylebone during the Indian rtour). Tate took 10 wickets, and Hubert Ashton made 48 and 60 not out.

The second match was against an All-Rnrma, side. Marylebone won by 10 wickets on the stroke of time. Tate took 10 wickets for 72. Rangoon is the first place where Sandham has not made a century.