CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11644, 4 May 1901, Page 7

CRICKET.

The cricket season was brought to a close on Saturday last, when onlookers were treated to a couple of sensational finishes, Gordon upsetting a, presumed " good thing" in Parnoll, while Auckland, who appeared to be having just a bit the best of it, collapsed in their second innings against United, thus leaving the last-named team | winners of the first grade championship for a second year in succession. In the Auckland-United match, Stemson, who on the previous Saturday had 30 to his credit, carried his score to 85 (not out), thus largely contributing to the success of his i*ido. Though not devoid of chances, the United batsman played a good innings, and at times hit out with freedom. Poster (16, was associated with his clubmatc during the compilation of the bulk of his runs, and the stay at the wickets was therefore a valuable one. Although it must be said that tho wickets were a bit slow and both Lusk and Stemson were trundling very well, there was really no excuse for tho collapse of tho Auckland side, and the dismal procession to and from the wicket? cannot be ascribed to anything but want of confidence. Holland and Henius were tho only ones to make a stand, and both batted very well. No others scored double figures, and the ground fielding of tho eleven was by no means up to the mark. A great surprise was in store for cricket patrons on Saturday last, when the senior grade matches were concluded. Tho Parnell-Gordon match was assumed to be such a sure win for tho former that no one seemed astonished when the Parnell skipper declared tho innings closed at (he commencement of tho day'e play, leaving Gordon 160 runs to get to win. Gordon, who often rise io the occasion when opposed to Parnell, fairly excelled themselves, and thanks to a brilliant, though not chanceless, innings by Kallender for 73, a carefullycompiled 16 from Lusk at a critical time, the lucky innings cf Fish (2.8), and a pretty and effective 19 (not out) by Gillies, the bluo and golds won by six wickets. Parliell's bowling Seemed to have no sting and the Gordonites seemed to find little trouble in negotiating the deliveries of Void), Resteaux and Co. The fielding was bad, tho chief offenders in this respect being substitutes, but even the Parnellites themselves threw away a lot of runs which might have been saved. RESUME OF THE PAST SEASON'S PLAY. The cricket season just concluded in Auckland requires remarkably little summing tip. From the donning of the flannels in tho end of last October until the "laying past' of the summer garments, a moro melancholy season has never been seen. Firstly, there was that disastrous tour of the Auckland provincial team at Christ.mastiJo; secondly, the three Weeks' break necessary through the demist? of our late lamented Queen, and thirdly the frequent " Saturdays off" caused through the Domain being occupied by sundrv athletic clubs—gatherings which are certainly not on the decrease as regards numbors. Putting all these things on one side, however, there is one fact apparent to anyone who has closely followed the game, and that is the grave mistake of playing three Saturdays in senior grade matches. The innovation has now received a fair trial, and has been found wanting, and it is to be hoped, in the interests of the game, that the two-Saturday matches, which for years were considered satisfactory, will once again be reverted to. Coming to the various clubs which competed for the senior championship, pride of position must once again be given to United, champions for five years past, except in 1893 99, when they were bracketed. Many arc found contending that the black and whites have won luckily, and that other teams in the competition wore quite as good, but this seems to ma to be the outcome of jealousy. The team was undofeated, and in each department of the game held its own against all-comers. Their batting was fair, their bowling up to trie average, and their fielding, as a rule, excellent. Certaimy in the latter branch of the game they had no equals. I heartily welcome the team as champions for the past season. The main factors oil' their success were Stemson, who seems to improve with age; N. B. Lusk, who, besides batting well, has displayed unexpected prowess with the ball: P. Hay, and in the. latter end of the season, his brother, Douglas, who, up to the time of the Southern tour, was extremely unfortunate.

Parnell and Auckland, who are bracketed equal for second place, seemed extremely well matched, but I take Parnell to be. if anything, the stronger team, not because they defeated the Aucklanders, but because they seemed to be possessed of moro stamina than their rivals. Parnell undoubtedly disappointed {heir supporters on two occasions against Uritcd, and on Saturday last against Gordon, when, through an error of judgment, a certain draw was converted into a loss. The team was strong in batting, and with the good example set by their captain (Ohlson), scoring on the whole was high. Resides Ohlson, I. Mills, Elliott, and occasionally Lusk, Lawson, Gavin and OlitTe. batted extremely well. The team fielded well at times, but their bowling previous to the arrival of Youll was much weaker than usual.

Auckland opened the season in a most ] promising manner, but finished in a way l which lw>tokeneri " funk." The juniors, MacCormick and Hemtis, both did fairly well, ) MacCorroick having an exceptionally fine j average, but when it came to the pinch in- I experience fold its tale, and tiny, along j with most of their clubmates, were out al- , most before they went in. R. Ncill once again proved the shining light of the club, ; and as long as the Aucklanders have his | services, they must be credited with having , the l>cst bowling in Auckland. Clayton showed good form with the ball at the end ; of the season, but seemed to be too keen . to score to do himself full justice in bat- ; ting. The. other members of the team showed good form occasionally, but with one ex- j ception did nothing to merit special men- | tion. That one exception was Pert. Holland, who has shown himself to be quite in the front rank of batsmen. Gordon, who tie with Ponsonby for fourth place, improved upon their previous season's performance, and are evidently on the upgrade. Commencing with a disastrous defeat at the hands of Auckland, the team pulled themselves together and won two out cf the last four matches, only succumbing by a narrow majority of runs in the fixtures they lost. A regrettable feature in connection with tho team was the way in which certain members absented themselves when counter attractions were being held. It is to be hoped that Gordon will, nejet year, let such nlayers stand down and find a.place for some of the more regular attendee in the second eleven. Kallender lias, as usual, proved a tower of strength to the wearers of the blue and gold, and this season heads both batting and bowling averages. It is pleasing to see Lusk, the energetic captain, so well up in batting, and also to find that Norman Williams, who has borne the brunt of the attack, also takes a high place, as of yore. Among the others who have shown good form should bo mentioned Gillies and Moore-Jones. Pon«onby also did better than in the previous season. Their batting, however, lias been weak, notwithstanding the fact that the team put on a three-century score in the last match of the season. W. Mills has done fairly well with the bat, and probably would have greatly increased his average if he had anyone to materially assist him. The two ox juniors. Harris and Wallace, have also batted well, but none of the others are specially worthy of mention in tins department, although several have made big scores on one occasion. In bowling, the club was stion" W. Mills a"' l Lundon both keeping up their reputation. The fielding was fair, but might have been improved upon. Of North Shore, the less said the better. The marine club lost every match, and only once showed any form at all. Certainly. with the exception of Wynyard, Denby, McNeil and perhaps S. Mills, no one displayed form worth- of a game in senior cricket. Daley, a new-comer, showed fair form on one occasion, but was d,sppoint,ng otherwise, and the same might bo said of Barron. North Shore, unless the extraordinary happens, will find themselves drift; to junior ranks at no very distant dale. Unfile the other clubs they have few promising juniors, but a long pull and a strong pull .nay yet get them together. THE LEADING AVERAGES. The appended tables show the 11 highest baiting and six highest bowling averages m the competition, but it may be *"d mat several other more consistently good batting averages figure further down in the li,t, as ay be gathered from the club statistics which will be published at an early date.BATTING. ! Inn N.O. H.S. R'ns. Aver. ! ftKS=%tV=l 1 fl I! p J. Ohlson ll'ar.) ... 8 1 104. ?-£ £° J H. 11. bmith (N.S.) ... I | i., ,„ g 7 2 71 I. Mills (far.) ... 81£ $ a T. tiV, ? n (Pari ... 6 1 M 163 31.60 T. T'illiott (I'arj ... o a . T. Harris (Pen.) ... 3 J 36 61 .U. X. Wallace (N.S.) ... 3 * f •'> g.bu . ,i. a. Kallender (G.) ... 9 0 W m -^ I It. Neill (A.) 6 1 100 It* * B - ,U ■ ♦Signifies not out.

BOWLING.

The matches plt'.yed, together with the results and points scored by the first grade teams in the championship matches are as under : — Pl'd. W. L. Dr'n. Pts. United 5 5 0 0 10 Auckland ... 5 3 2 0 6 Parnell ... ...5320 6 Gordon 5 2 3 0 4 .Ponsonby ...5230 4 North .Shore ... 5 0 5 0 0 .Since the commencement of the cup competitions in Web the honours have been held by the following teams: —■ 1835-86— Gordon. 1830 Bf—Auckland, 1887-82 United. 1808-89 Gordon. 1889-90—Cordon. 1890-81—Gordon. 1891 92—Auckland. 1892-96—Gordon, after tie with United. 1893-24—Gordon, after tie with Auckland and Parnell. 1884-95— 1895-96—Auckland, Parnell and Gordon a tie. 1896-97— lod7-98—United. 1808 99i-Umtcd and Parnell a tie 1899-00— 1900-01— THE SECOND-GRADE CHAMPIONS. The Auckland C.C. eleven, winners of the second-grade championship for season 18991900, with a record of eight wins, one draw, and one loss, has succeeded in again winning this season, with ft record < i seven wins and one draw, no match having been lost. In chain pionship matches the team scored 1258 runs for the loss of 118 wickets, or an average of 10.66. while their opponents lost 145 wicket? for 95 runs, or an average of 6.17. Phot.' wicketkooper (G. E. Schmoll) stumped nine and caught three, while H. C. 15oale (nine), W. S. Hunter (seven). W. T. Dazelcy, and F. C. M. St. Paul (five each), 'J'. O. P. Whiteloy, J. H. Colwill, and W. H. Graham (four each) made most catches. Besides championship match.es, the team played six extra matches, winning five and drawing one, thus having played altogether 14 matches, winning li, and drawing two.

linns. W'kts. Aver. N. kusk (UnitcJ) 79 15 5.13 M. St Paxil (Auckland) 44 7 6.23 I. Mills (I'arnellj 107 13 8.23 H. Walton ... 5-1 6 9 J. A. Kalleuder (Gordon) 201 22 9.1 C. Oliffe (I J arnell) 76 3 9 50