CRICKET

Northern Advocate, 10 April 1928, Page 7

CRICKET

AUCKLAND V. NORTH AUCKLAND, t

• DRAWN GAME RESULTS.

An important step in the progress of North Auckland cricket was-reach-ed on Friday last, when for the first time a team representative of the whole peninsula was seen in action. Arranged by Mr W. J. Dunning at the invitation of Mr E. C. Beale, who selected the Auckland side, the fixture was a two-day one, concluding on Saturday. The team originally selected to represent the North has been somewhat altered. Bridgens, of Mangenui, was unable to make the trip, and was replaced by Wrathall, and Metgc, of Whangarei, by Kemp, Owing to a camp of his squadron of the Mounted Rifles, Wyatt, the brilliant Rodney wicket-keeper and effective bat, was unable to play, and at the last minute Thompson, of Mangonui, who was present as a spectator, was called upon to play. The game was played on No. I wicket, which had 1 rolled out much better than for the test match a fortnight before. The weather for the first day was ideal. W. J. Dunning, was elected to captain North Auckland, and called wrongly when tossing with Duncan, the Auckland skipper. At 10.45 North Auckland took the field, and were followed by Whitelaw, the ex-Grammar School Captain, and Smeeton, who opens for University. Farman, fast left, sent down the first over, a single to each batsman resulting. Smeeton made a boundary shot off Dawson’s first ball, but the remainder of the over was scoreless. Both batsmen soon swung into their stride, and scoring was brisk, 50 coming up after half an hour’s play. A very safe bat, who usually takes few risks, is Whitelaw, and it was a surprise to everybody when he jumped out to hit a ball on the off, and was smartly stumped by A. E. Dunning: 72 i 22.

Bennett, of Eden, followed and scoring continued at a good rate. The sixth bowler tried, Anderson, effected a separation in his second over, clean bowling Bennett: 115—2 —l3. There was a thrill when the following ball beat Cooper, who gave a fairly easy stumping chance, which was missed. At this stage Smeeton, wielding a very finished bat, was. practically monopolising the scoring, gaining runs from shots all round the wicket. He looked set for his century, when, in attempting to hit' s sixer off Anderson, he skied the ball to Dunn, fielding near the boundary, and was caught: 128 —3—77.

Two of Auckland’s best batsmen became associated when Player joined Cooper. They treated the bowling with more respect than ii received' at any stage of the innings. Twice Player nearly ran his clubmate oht by faulty calling, but the partnership had realised exactly half a hundred when Player failed; to get quite under a ball from Dunn, and was out to a brilliant catch by Wrathall, fielding almost on the chalk-line. No further success attended the Northerners before luncheon, the mtout batsmen being Cooper (47) ami Prater (20). Vipond was given his second spell at the bowling crease upon resuming, and soon disturbed Prater’s timber; v 237 —5—30. Brilliantly driving, nad placing shots in. front of the wicket, Cooper was commencing to atone for a somewhat unimpressive opening, when he was led into mis-hitting a ball to mid-off. The retiring batsmen was given an ovation by the fairly large crowd: 260—6—71. 1 Duncan arrived only to see Wrathall clean bowl Taylor. Saunders then joined his captain, and the partnership carried the score to 303 before Farman bowled the latter, who had, played scratchily for his runs. With Browne, Duncan carried the score to 322, and was then bowled by a particularly good ball from Wrathall. With but two added Dunn snapped up Coates in the slips, and the innings came to a close at the afternoon tea adjournment.

W. J. Dunning accompanied Kemp to the wickets to open North Auckland’s batting. In Coates’ second over, with but eight on the board, the Rodney crack got in front to a straight one.

Opening with a three, White, of Mangonui, played a refreshingly free innings, repeatedly getting the fast bowlers through the slips. He was dismissed by a ball, which swung right round his legs. With two down for 38 the hopes of the visitors did not appear to be bright, but Kemp, batting stubbornly and' refusing to touch anything at all dangerous off the wicket, and A. R. Dunning using craftsmanlike scoring strokes, retrenched the position, and although five bowlers |rere tried in an attempt to break the partnership the pair remained not out at stumps. Kemp took over 100 minutes to score 21, including one four, and A. R. Dunning included seven fours in his 43.

The not-out batsmen played defensively upon resuming, and defied the attack for over an hour before the partnership, which had realised 111, was broken, A. R. Dunning being clean bowled by Player with his score at (59.

Vipond filled the vacancy, but was run out after making one scoring shot: 152“:—4—2.

I The next man, Anderson, got Play

e; away fur a brace, and then cocked up an easy catch, to Duncan.

Wrathall stemmed the tide for a while, but Coates, who was swinging the ball in from the score-board end, took away his leg pin, and three balls later clean bowled Dunn with a yorker. Kemp, meanwhile had been scoring steadily, and brought his 50 up after 2 hours 40 minutes at the wickets. Ho then drove Coates to the pickets, and a little later turned Taylor nicely to the rails.

At the luncheon adjournment North Auckland had lost nine wickets for 198.

On resuming, Kemp swung Cooper to the rails twice in one over. When Smeeton reappeared at the bowling crease Kemp swung him for four, and brought his own score to 94, and the total to 225 by pushing Coates for a single. The follow-on was thus averted.

Kemp brought his century up by a well-run single off Saunders. He had batted patiently for four hours. In the same over he glanced a ball for Coates, at short leg, to take a good catch.. The last-wicket stand added 40.

Smeeton and Taylor opened Auckland's second innings at 2.45. The former was dismissed by a brilliant slip catch with the total at 3. Scoring continued at a good rate, and 51 was on when Vipond completely beat and bowled Taylor. Player and Cooper batted until the afternoon tea adjournment, when the closure was applied, leaving North Auckland 198 to get in an hour and a half’s play. Fifteen were on the board when A. R. Dunning was bowled, by Smeeton. Vipond then joined White and scoring continued at a good rate. Saunders’ fourth over was' sensational. White hit six-four-four off successive balls, but was caught at leg off the next. From then on the batsmen just went for a hit, with the result that when stamps were drawn on account of the failing light North Auckland had lost seven wickets for 112.

Appended are the details, of play.—

AUCKLAND. First Innings. Whitela>(f, st P. Dunning, b W. Dunning 22 Smeeton, c Dunn, b Anderson . 77 Bennett, b Anderson 13 Cooper, c Thompson, 'b W. Dunning 71 Player, c Wrathall, b Dunn .... 18 Frater, b Vipond j 30 Taylor, b Wrathall 15 Duncan, b Wrathall 22 Saunders, b Farman 21 Browne, not out 13/ Coates, e Dunn, b Wrathall .... 0 Extras 22 Total .324 Bowling.-'-Farman 1 for 55, Dawson 0 for 24, Vipond 1 for 4(5, White 0 for 20, W. Dunning 2 for 51, Anderson 2 for 57, Dunn 1 for 27, Wrathall 3 for 22. i Second Innings. Smeeton, c Wrathall, b Farman . 2 Taylor, b Vipond 21 Cooper, not out 53 Player, not out 24 Extras 11 Two wickets for 11l Bowling.—Farman 1 for 22, Wrathall 0 for 30, Vipond 1 for 20, W. Dunning 0 for 12, White 0 for 3, A. R. Dunning 0 for 13. NORTH AUCKLAND. First Innings. W. Dunning, 1.b.w., b Coates 5 ’ 1 .. 7 Kemp, c Coates, b Saunders ... 100 White, b Saunders 24 A. R. Dunning, b Player 69 Vipond, run out 2 Anderson, c Duncan, b Saunders . 2 Wrathall, b Coates 10 Dunn, b Coates 0j Dawson, c Frater, b Taylor .... 4 Thompson, 1.b.w., b Coates .... 01 Farman, not out 6 Extras 14 Total 238 Bowling.—-Coates 4 for 60, Smeeton 0 for 29, Player 1 for 32, Saunders 3 for 62, Cooper 0 for 35, Duncan 0 for 3, Taylor 1 for 5. Second Innings. White, c Prater b Saunders ... 47 A. E. Dunning, b Smeeton 4 Vipond, 1.b.w., b Frater 17 Farman, b Bennett 18 W Dunning, 1.b.w., b Prater ... 10 Anderson, run out 2 Dunn, c Duncan, b Frater .... 1 Wrathall, not out 1 Extras ; 12 Seven wickets for 112 Bowling.—Coates 0 for 22, Smeeton 2 for 11, Saunders 1 for 30, Player 0 for 6, Duncan 0 for 9, Taylor 0 for 4, Frater 3 for 12, Bennett 1 for 6.

NOTES ON THE PLAY. The North Aucklanders had every reason to rest satisfied with the first day’s play. Although the turf conditions were strange, they had dismissed a very strong bathing side without their bowling once appearing to bo mastered, and had then laid a foundation for a big score, against five of the city’s best bowlers. * * « * A long spell of dry weather had made the wicket very fast, and it

played not unlike concrete, although showing signs of wear in the last hour, • • • • Three of the North V main bowlers, Dawson, Wrathall and White, are very similar in style, and in this lay the reason for Wrathall not being used before lunch, Afterwards he proved to .be the most successful trundler tried, maintaining a very steady length and making the ball bump at times. Farman sent down 18 overs for his one wicket, and Vipond proved almost equally as expensive. Smeeton and Player got themselves out against the slow bowling.

The fielding of the visitors was the subject of much eulogistic comment, and It was certainly keen, if ndt as finished as it could have been. Thompson at rnid-or. got through a lot of work well, and Wrathall had the crowd on its feet tor his catch which sen! I’iayer back.

A number of difficult chances were missed, Smeeton, Cooper and Taylor each having escapes. It was noticeable that the Aucklanders seldom attempted to employ the cut, and almost the only stroke which was made intentionally between point and the wicket was that off which Coates was caught out. • » * • It was very unfortunate that A. R Dunning had to take the unaccustomed position behind the sticks. He got through his work very soundly, and Jus stumping of Whitelaw was an excellent piece of work but the wicket suited break bowlers, who can also spin the ball, and his bowling was missed.

• •• • • A surprising number of leg-before decisions were given in favour of the batsmen, and this proved an education to the Northerners, who realised that on practically every occasion the batsmen would have been given out in their own country cricket. A very confident appeal made against Duncan off the first ball he received, and in this case there is no doubt that the batsman was under a lucky star.

’When North Auckland went to the wickets W. J. Dunning did not appear comfortable, and it was not surprising that he went out l.b.w. after making three scoring strokes. White played dashingly, cutting and driving with great force, and A R. Dunning, who followed, adopted similar tactics. It is doubtful whether any man in the province can hit the ball hard*er than A. R. Dunning when he is in the mood, the out-fieldsmen discovering this to their cost, after a preliminary live minutes of cautiousness on the batsman’s part. Playing a real opening batsman’s game, Kemp on Friday, rarely attempted to score off anything but a very loose ball.

0 • * • Player and Saunders bowled finely, and Coates is as fast as ever.

Play on the second day, when the weather was again ideal, did not have the same interest. After A. B. Dunning and Kemp had demonstrated how the bowling should be treated, the rest of the side went to pieces. Dunning was not as aggressive as usual, being content to play the good bowling for what it was worth. The Aucklanders had to' fully concentrate before he was dismissed.

Kemp took no risks, and with the exception of the last quarter of an hour, when he raced fot the century, his innings was a dour struggle. Against the class of bowling he had to contend with his century was a very fine effort indeed. Except for an uppish stroke when in the nineties his innings was a chanceless one. It is a great pity that the North is soon to lose such a fine cricketer.’

Of the other *batsmen who went in on Saturday, Wrathall gave a taste of his true form, but unfortunately did not stay. •«# * ♦ . Farman, who is not recognised as a batsman, played the “rock” to allow Kexnpj to score his century, and save the follow-on. • • » • Coates (20 overs) Player (19) and Saunders (12) were the most worked bowlers. Of these Coates commanded great respect. His extremely fast iu-swingers were something quite new to the majority of the batsmen. • • 9 9 Saunders was not afraid to pitch them up, even when ho was being hit, and like Player turned the ball a lot on a wicket which suited him.

When Auckland went in again they succeeded in rattling on the runs quickly preparatory to declaring and sending the visitors in again. Forcing tactics did not suit Cooper, who popped up a couple of catches just short of fieldsmen. The fielding of North Auckland was not as keen as it had been in the first innings.

A. K. Dunning and White were sent in with the faint hope of achieving the formidable task of scoring 200 runs in the hour and a half remaining. The early dismissal of the former had a restraining effect for a time, but when it was apparent that it was impossible to lose the game, White commenced to hit. The following batsmen attempted to do likewise, to the great delight of the spectators. However, these tactics did not result in a very creditable showing on the score sheet, and when stumps were drawn, after a few minutes of overtime had been played, seven wickets had fallen.

NORTHERN CRICKET

BRIGHTER PROSPECTS AHEAP

During the luncheon adjournment on the last day, Mr A. C. Beale took the opportunity of welcoming the North Auckland team, and congratulating them on their good showing. The Auckland Association intended to foster country cricket more in the future than in the past, and in this he trusted support would be forthcoming from the North Auckland Association. Although 88 years had elapsed since the time cricket first started in the North and a representative side was seen at Eden Park, he hoped that in future the fixture would be played at much more frequent intervals. Messrs H. Duncan and W. J. Smeeton also added words of praise of the performance the visitors had put up.

Messrs W. J. Dunning and E. White returned thanks on behalf of the North Auckland team.

HOLIDAY CRICKET.

WHANiGAEEI BEAT PUK.EHUIA, The joyous spirit of holiday cricket was in the air when a Whangarei (team entertained visitors from Pukehuila at the Kamo Ground yesterday. The fixture was arranged by Mr B. Jennings. On account of holidays and illness, Pukehuia arrived three short, and the vacancies wore filled by three Whangarei players. Luncheon and afternoon tea were provided by the local team.

From the outset the batsmen went for a hit. J. Souter used the long handle to advantage in both his innings, striking the ball with tremendous force and three times sending it out of the ground. Broomfield also played a sound innings for his side. The moat successful bowler was It. Jennings, whose length and accuracy proved too much for the batsmen.

Grove and Millar opened Wihangarei’s innings in more subdued vein, and 28 were on before they were separated. Grove went on to make a creditable 3b and Thomas made 25 in quick. time. The opposing tally was passed before the fall of the seventh wicket.

The Pukehuia attack was particularly strong. In Souter, Gould and Windelborn ithe club has three bowlers of distinct merit. Ten bowlers were tried when Pukehuia went to the wickets again, and the number of catches dropped by ■ the Whangarei fieldsmen must easily constitute a record for the ground,' Whangarei won by 46 runs- on the first innings. Details are as follows:

PUKEHUIA.—First Innings. J. Sowter, e Neild b Jennings 35 Broomfield, mot out ............ 37 Gould, b Jennings ............. 0 Brown, b Jennings 0 Findlay, st Mcßeth b Aim 2 Einhards, c Lett b Joinings .... 3 Windleborn, b Aim 0 Dunn, c Neild b Aim 0 H. Souter, b Jennings 2 Hedditch, b Jennings .......... 0 Mann, c and b Jnnings ........ 6 F. Jennings, st Mcßeth, b Aim 3 Extras 2 Total 90 Bowling Aanaiysis.—Thomas, 8 overs, 14 runs; B, Jennings/ 8 overs, 46 runs, 7 wiekets; Aim, 5 overs, 1 maiden, 28 runs, 4 wickets. WHANGABEI. First Innings. Millar, b Gould 11 Grove, c and b Windleborn .... 30 Aim, b Sowter 7 Thomas b Windleborn 25 Tupp, b Dunn 7 Neild, c Soutor b 3}unn 2 J. Collins, b/ Bicharda 3 Meßeth, c and b Windleborn ... If Gray, c Brown, b Soutor 14 Lett, b Gould 0 E. Jennings, e Mann b Souter .. 10 S. Jennings, not out .'... 2 Extras 3 Total 135 Bowling.—J. Souter, 13 overs, 2 maidens, 50 runs, 3 wickets; Gould, 13 overs, 3 maidens, 25 runs, 2 wickets; Windelbom, 7 overs, 21 runs, 3 wickets; Dunn, 4 overs, 13 runs, 2 wickets; Bichards, 3 overs, 11 runs, 1 wicket. PUKEHUIA. —Second Innings. Hedditeh, c B. Jennings b Aim . 26 Bichards, run out 49 Findlay, b Aim 4 Gould, e Grove b Gray 33 Windleborn, run out 14 Broomfield, e S, Jennings b Thomas 4 J. Souter, c. Aim b Thomas 26 Brown, b Millar 4 H. Souter, not out 17 Dunn, at Grove b Lett 9 Extras 12 Total (for 7 wickets) ..... 198 GAME IN THE PAR NORTH. OKAIHAU V. BBOADWOOD. What was probably the last match to be played here (this season eventuated at the local football ground on Saturday, when the home team met an eleven from Broadwood. After quite an match, th«

latter team proved, victorious by 59 runs. Details of the scores arc as follows: — OKAIHAU. —First! Innings. W. Kinnard, run out 10 A. Dadson, b Mansbridgc ....... 21 F. Brown, cG. Fergusson b Mans- ' bridge B. Arnold, b J. Fergusson 2 H. Jordan, b Mansbridgc 0 L. McCartney, b Fergusson 13 F. Smith, b Miansbridge 0 W. Davies, b J. Fergusson 12 C. Beare, not out 7 J. O’Leary, c N. Fergusson b 4 Hansen • 0 E. Sraeale, b N. Fergusson 0 Extras 5 Total I« Bowling. —Mausbridge, 4 for 21; J. Fergusson, 3 for 27; N. Fergusson, 1 for 1. BROADWOOD. R, Wiggins, retired ...43. L, Fergusson, b W. Davies 10 Mansbridge, b Dadson 7 Welsh, c and b Davies 10 Hansen, b Davies 0 J. Fergusson, c Beare, b Davies 8 N. Fergusson, b Davies ........ 11. H. Hansen, b Dadson ...... 10 G. Fergusson, mi out .......... 28 C. Newman, b MeCantney ........ 0 W. Fergusson, not out ......... 7 Extras 5 Total ' V.... 145 Bowling;—'Davies, 5 for 40; Dadson, 2 for 28; McCartney, 1 for 36; Kinnard, 0 for 3; Arnold, 0 for 13; Jordan, 0 for 15. Apparently a great deal of energy will be put into sport by local enthusiasts during the winter season. The first practice .of ■ Rugby will take place at an early date. Polo and Soccer football clubs have > been formed, and a meeting to form a golf club is being hMd this week.

)| 1 PLAT AT NAPPES. 3! NAPIER, This Day. In the match with Wellington, Hawke’s Bay answered their opponents’ ) 313 with 4 for 264. Lowxy, affer an uncertain start, batted finely for 341. Hawke’s Bay began a game •.with > Mauawatu, and made 344. —Elliott 117. I —Press Assn. I ' 1 DRAWN GAME. | , NAPIER, This Day. In a cricket match against a Wellington team, Hawke’s Bay made 347 I (Lowry 141, Beuth 49, Shepherd 46). 1 McGirr took 7 for 83. Wellington’ I with 323 for the first innings, lost 3 wickets for 0 in the second; strike. I The match was drawn. The match with Mauawatu' was 1 also drawn, the latter making 211 1 and 5 for 133 against 344.—Press Assn.