Cricket.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 19 February 1915, Page 3

Cricket.

PATEAROA VERSUS NASEBY.

(By Our Correspondent.)

Played on Saturday, 13th inst., at Patearoa. A strong, cold wind made things unpleasant, but the game was a well contested one. Naseby hatted first, ?nd Drake and Beechey led off like tbe good batsmen they are. They played with great care, but did not fail to take advantage of anything ecoreable, Beechev especially taking tht; eye with some lovely square cuts. At 47, one of W. Pearce's peculiarly difficult ones reached Beechey's stumps and Fraser came in. Captain Drake began to open out hereabouts, and, when the score was 89, l'Hylor, with a smart catch at point, closed Fraser's case for the defence. From thia onwards, the performance was almost a eolo by Drake. Wicket after wicket fell, but the skipper, with pulls, forward cuts, and beauliful leg-hitting, kept the score mounting rapidly. When in the eighties, he varied hi:, skilful placing by sending one to Wil■on at Bquare-leg. It was fairly h«»rd and about head-high, but our-skipper, also by way of variety, only partl> stopped it and had consequently to get steam up at once. The batsman, reckoning tr<at he was morally out, lifted the next one gently to Schrick at deep mid-on, but the latter, noi wishing to rub it in, also declined the offer. Drake's conscience wai now clear, and he went for the bowling in the most cheerful man ler until, witb the score at 191, he carried his hat for the fine score of 126. He was heartily applauded for his capitm exhibition. Three batsmen and sundries contributed 177 to the total, leaving 14 as the Bhare of the oth«r eight men. Taylor fielded brilliantly, tuking three fine catches and doing dome rare ground work.

At the fall of the first Patearoa wicket the score was 48, one better than Naseby at the same stage of their innings. Chirnaide and M'Lean opened, the latter putting Drake's first ball away for 4. After lotdng Cbirnside (14), M'Lean kept on in his steady, hard-hitting way until he put np the good score of 64; it was a capital, straight-batted innings. Taylor, Wilson, R. Ctirrand H. and W. Pearce increased the score by an average of 1.40 •ach, but L. Pearce (11), M'Skimming (10), E. Carr (28), and Schrick (10, not out), played up resolutely and the score reached 153. Nassby therefore won by 38 runs, and secured the championship for the neaBon (the two clubs have yet to play a postponed game, but the result cannot affect Naseby's position). Brown was the moat successful bowler, four good wickets falling to him for 15 runs.

Messrs Crerar and Daniels umpirsd and Messrs F. Schrick and Titchener Bcored accurately. Naseby. Baechey, b W. Pearce 19 Drake (capt), not out 126 Fraser, c Taylor, b H. Pearce 14 Norrie, c Taylor, b H. Pearce 4 F. Brown, b H. Pearce 1 B. Marslin, c Taylor, b Carr 4 Jacob, b Carr 2 Paisley, b M'Sk'mming 2 Brown, b Taylor 0 Strode, b Taylor 1 W. Hore.b M'Lean 0 Extras 18 Total 191 Bowline; Figures. Chirnside, 0 wickets for 24 runs; H. Pearce, 3 for 38; Taylor, 2 for 19; W. Pearce, 1 for 28; Schrick, 0 for 10; R. Carr, 2 for 12; M'Skimming, 1 for 29; M'Lean, 1 for 10.

Patearoa. W. Chirnside, b Brown 14 M'Lean, b Drake 64 Taylor, b Brown 1 Wilson (capt), c Paisley, b Fraser 0 H. Pearce, b Bruwn 4 R. Carr, c Paislay, b Brown 0 L. Pearce, b Beechey 11 M'Skimming, c Brown, b Drake 10 W. Pearce, c and b Drake 2 E. Carr, c Beechey, b Fraser 28 C. Schrick, not out 10 Extrai 9 Total 153 Bowling Figures. Drake, 3 wickets for 64 runs; Beechey, 1 for 32; F. Brown, 4 for 15; Fraser, 2 for 33.