CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12859, 6 May 1905, Page 7

CRICKET.

The district championship matches under the auspices of the Auckland Cricket Association were concluded on Saturday last. On the Domain ground the fixture to claim attention was that between Parncll and Grafton, and after an exciting contest Parnell won the match; and with it tho>vhampionship in the senior grad..- for season 1904-05. The winners, wanting 142 runs to head the Grafton total (141), put together 145 for the loss of light wickets. The wicket, although not a fast one, was in good order, and Parnell should have got tins 11111more easilj than they did. With the exception of Vhilsou, none of their batsmen seemed comfortable, consequently rims came very slowly mo-t of the afternoon. Mason played a useful innings in the early stages, but was never really at home to "the howling. The Grafton bowling was better than it had been for some time, and was well supported by a watchful field. N'oinan, who has not shown any bowling form for some, time, kept a good length, and although lie only got two wickets ho troubled the batsmen considerably, and was unlucky in not getting more. The same ran lie said for Clayton, who also kept a really good length and varied his pace well. C. i Hay, who was tried half-way through the i innings, was very successful with Ins "slows," getting font good wickets for 22 | runs. Owing to Bowden, the usual wicketkeeper for the Grafton Cub, having a bad linger, Jones took the gloves, and showed that he was by no means a stranger to the position. As wicketkeepers go in Auckland ] I believe he would, with a litlle practice, ; make a very good man; although altogether orthodox in his methods he took Iho ball i very cleanly. Philson's innings was the feature of the afternoon. He went in at a very critical time, but was apparently not affected in the least by the importance of the occasion. He scored quickly from tho jump, and soon placed the result beyond doubt. Eden, with the score o. 113 runs to wipe off to bring about the defeat of City, commenced their innings on a wicket which, though peculiar, was good for the time of year. Lusk 'and Elliott opened the innings to tho bowling of Neill and Parr-Brown. When 20 runs had appeared on the board Lusk pulled one into Hcmus' hands and retired for 12. Smith and J. -Mills were- out without the score being improved. .Shepherd batted vigorously and well, and added 19 runs. Clarke and S. -Mills, both batting frcclv, looked like pulling the iratcn out of the- fire, but with lb.' -core at 100 Clarke was out for an invaluable 23. Douglas did not last, and the innings closed lor 106, 12 runs short of the City total. The batting, taken all round, was rather feeble, but the lateness of the season may account for this. Xeill (City) bowled in almost bis old style, getting five wickets for 54 runs, His length was very fair, and he occasionally goMn un excellent ball. Audio wood, with three for 17, and Barr-Brown, with twf for J 21, both bowled a good length, but the | wicket- was not one for fast bowlers. The j City fielding was very good, no opportunities" being thrown away. Ponsonby scored their fifth win of the season, beating North Shore by 24 runs on the first innings. On tho first day Ponsonby were all out foi 111, and North Shore had lost font batsmen, including Hussey, for. 56 runs. The remaining Shore batsmen, however, were unable to withstand the bowling of Woods, and the last wicket fell with 87 runs on the board. Hussey was the top scorer with 20. Prime (15), Fryer (14), Grace (12), and Joyce (10) were the only double-figure scorers, but none of them showed anything like good form. Woods took five of the wickets for 34 runs, and Gavin and White captured two each. Ponsonby opened their second innings with Wilson and Pomeroy, and it. was not until 107 was on the board that Five.- got rid of the first-named batsman. Wilson had played vigorous cricket, his innings including 10 hits for four each. Walker joined Pomeroy, and was bowled by McNeill after contributing a well-made 18. Woods followed, but got his log in front to Prime when he had made seven. Stump- were then drawn, with the score standing at 169 for three wickets. Pomeroy, who made 42 in the first innings, carried his ha' for 76. His was an innings full of strokes, which were crisp and clean. As previously mentioned, Pomeroy has until recently been very nervous, but, judging by Ins hist two or three innings, appears to have overcome that fault. In the absence of nervousnes:- he is undoubtedly one of Auckland's most promising colts. Frye.\ McNeill, and Prime each secured a wicket for North Shore. The wicket was easy and not so bumpy as on the first day. - ■■ Cricketers generally are much -indebted to the lady supporters, who have each i Saturday provided afternoon tea, which has 'been greatly appreciated on all sides.

THE FAST SEASON'S AVERAGES. Season 1904-05 closed on Saturday last, and, on the whole, was a successful one. The contests were followed with considerable interest by supporters of the game, clearly indicating that the adoption of the district scheme was a ste;- in the right direction, as under the club system— vogue prior to season 1903-04 the summer game claimed but little attention from the public of Auckland. The weather was, on the whole, fairly good, and although several afternoons were practically spoilt by rain, the weather was never sufficiently bad to actually prohibit cricket being played between the showers. During the season wo had a visit from the Australian Eleven, and although oiu representatives were badly beaten, the exhibition given by the visitors was undoubtedly educative. It gave the local cricketers an insight into the finer points of the game, and if followed up by similar visits from our friends acres* the Tasmaii Sea it will certainly raise lie standard of Aucklaud cricket. These visits will, however, not benefit local cricket to the full extent, unless something is done in the direction of providing better wickets. The wickets now played on do not enable the best results to. obtained by either b»wlci or batsmen. There was at the time some talk of importing Bulli soil from Sydney, but nothing lias so fin been done in this direction, though it. is to be hoped that the local authorities will not overlook the matter in the interim, and that when season 1905-06 comes to be opened the Domain ground will be top-dressed with this far-famed soil. Our representatives also played the liawke's Bay and Taranaki teams, winning both matches by a substantial margin. In batting the local eleven wa? strong, but tho bowling was not, as a whole, up to representative form, the only reliable truudlors being Olliff and Stemson. To return to the association competition. The first grade championship was won by Parnell, who were last year bracketed with Eden for the leading position. The best, team undoubtedly carried off the honours, Parnell putting a strong batting side in the field. In Mason, Sale, and Olliff they boast, of three champions, while it may be said of practically the whole of the remaining members of the team that they thoroughly understand the art of wedding the wiljow. Olliff may be said to have- been largely responsible for the team's success, for without him the bowling would not have been sufficiently strong to place the team at the head of the list. X. B. Ltisk, Fairburn, and Ilesteaux alwaysmaintained a solid attack, but it was Olliff who in most- cases sent the opposing batsmen back to the pavilion, lie is without doubt the best all-round cricketer in Auckland. The appended table shows the position of the competing teams in the first grade:

THE LEADING BATSMEN. . F. Wilson (Ponsonby), who was promoted from the second eleven during the secona round, heads the batting averages win 48.01" for seven innings (once not out),, wiiu Hemus (City) next in order, with +Z.l» J wc 11 innings (twice not out). The fourteen highest batsmen are as under: — N.I. X.O. U.S. Aggie. Avge. F. Wilson ... 7 1 167 28? 48.01 L. G. Ileum* • ... 11 2 94 283 42.05 V. K. Mason ... 12 1 ,193 «1 38.27 W. Philsoil ... 10 4 100* 226 37>66 S. P. Jones ... 11 5 37* 282 &>■& D. Hill 10 2 66 236 29.05 .1. A. Kallender 11 o 90 311 28«" T. Klliott ... li 2 91 282 28.02 A. P. Woman ... 10 1 95 226 25.11 K. MacCoriniek 11 l 75 254 20.4 K. 1!. busk ... 10 0 82 24? 24.9 A. Haddon ... 11 0 -95 040 24.6 .1. llussey ... 16 0 99 39j 24.5 - Francis ... 11 2 68 224 24.08 *Si unities not out. THE LEADING BOWLERS. In giving the first half-dozen bowlers the names of those who only sent .down two or three overs have not been taken into consideration. 11. Lodge (Eden) stands at the head of the list with an average of 0.0 per wicket, taking eight wickets for 55 runs, though Olliff (Parnell) must be credited with the best performance of the season. The I'arnell Irundler sent down 184 overs, 51 being maidens, and captured 49 wickets for 448 runs, an average of 9.14 per wicket. The order is as follows: — Orrs Utlns. U»«. "Wkts. Avge. 11. Lodge . 25 7 55 8 6.8 K. Pay . . 52 5 95 10 9.05 C. Hay . . 32 b 119 12 9.9 l.'. OllitV .. 184 51 448 49 9.14 Kcv. Smi » 24 8 51 a 10.2 ... Os»e.. ... 13 9 98 'J 10.08

Played. Drawn. Lost. Won. Pointy. Parnell ... 10 1 2 7 14 Kden 10 - 4 6 12 Ponsonby. ... 10 — 5 5 10 City 10 1 A 5 10 Grafton ... 10 — 6 4 , 8 North Shore 10 — s 2 4 [Two points arc allowed for a win.] The batting: and bowling averages of the members of the six competing teams are given below:—PARNELL. BATTING AVERAGES. X.I. X.O. U.S. Aggte. Avge. F. R. Mason ... 12 1 193 42.1 38.27 W. I'hilson ... 10 4 100* 226 37.66 K. V. Sale 13 — 50 378 29.07 0. Olliff 12 5 47* 207 23.00 F. P. Murray ... 13 - 85 269 20.69 R. I!. Ltl.sU ... 11 1 66 193 19.30 L. G. Robinson ... 2 — 28 58 19.00 R. Barry 13 — 60 243 18.84 N. B. Lu?l; ... 10 - 38 155 15.50 A Fairbnrn ... 12 2 31* 100 10.00 C. Resteatuc ... 8 3 1" 47 9.60 L. Freeze ... ... 6 3 7 20 6.66 (i. Flint 5 —• 10 2*! 4.40 B. Foster 5 - 7 9 3.00 Also batted, J.' Lnndun. 'Signifies not out BOWLING averages. Ovrs. Mdns Rns. Witts. At?e. C. OUift' 134 51 J48 49 9.14 X. B. Lu«k .. 132 58 361 27 13.03 C. Resteaux 96 35 209 14 14.92 A Fairburn . 61 12 156 9 17.33 L. Breese ... 6 — 21 I 25.00 Also bowled: F. II. Mason, 11. Hurry. E. V. Sale. L. G. Robinson, K. J. Ureville, and .1. 1!. Lundon. Matches played. 10; won. 7: lost. 2: drawn. 1. Kilns core 1 by team, 2597 for 114 wickets; runs scored against team. l"'50 lor 105 wickets. EDEX. BATTING AVERAGES. X.I. X.O. M.S. Aggte. Avge. W. B. Smith ... 11 - 08 319 29.00 T. Elliott 12 2 91 282 28.02 11. B. Lush ... 10 — 32 249 24.9 A. J. Shepherd ... 10 I 81* 211 23.4 A. E. Clarke ... 9 1 45* 172 21.5 1. Mills 11 2 43* 169 18.7 S. Mills 10 3 18* 91 13.0 X. T. Williams ... 9 2 21" 89 12.7 11. Douglas ... 9 1 16 43 5.3 •Signifies not out. BOWLING AVERAGE*. . Ovrs. Mdns. Bus. Wkts. Avge. If. Lodge ... 25 7 GO 8 6.8 Rev. J. Smith 24 8 51 5 10.2 W. B. Smith ... 109 23 357 27 12.1 T. F.lliott ... 21 5 54 4 13.5 II. B. Lask ... 140 17 477 5-1 14.0 ! X. T. Williams 33 4 107 7 15.2 i 11. Douglas ... Ill 18 355 20 16.6 S. Mill* ... . 13 2 31 2 25.5 I. Mills 69 16 196 7 28.0 A. .1. Shepherd 34 8 93 3 31.0 A. K. Clarke ... 10 1 41 1 41.0 poxsoxby. RATTING AVERAGES. X.I. X.O. U.S. Aggte. Avge. F. Wilson 7 1 167 289 48.01 Francis 11 2 62 224 24.08 Pomeroy 7 1 76* 137 22.06 W. B. Forater ... 14 1 35' 193 14.08 J. Gavin 13 1 65 169 14.01 R. Woods 13 — 37 158 12.03 M. Walker ... 1! I 26 123 12.03 W. Robinson ... 11 2 21 99 11.0 P. White 12 2 22 92 9.02 Braithwaite ... 13 1 30* 100 3.03 X. Wallace ... 10 .• - 4i 3,' 8.02 'Signifies not out. BOWLING AVERAGES. Ovrs. Mdns. Rns. Wkts. Avge, Pomeroy ... 3 — 6 16 R. Woods ...-182 53 443 31 14.02 J. Gavin ... 133 15 351 25 15.02 P. White ... 173 -.1 488 26 18.07 M. Walker ... 10J 16 562 19 19.00 X. Wallace ... VI 1 76 3 25.03 Francis 14 2 44 1 41 cm". BATTING AVERAGES. XI. N.O. Aggie. U.S. Avge. L, <!. Hemiu 11 2 283 '.'4 42.5 MacConnick i 11 1 2.54 73 25.4 Xeill ... - 10 1 202 -39 23.1 Renwick ... '■'• - 234 M 13 Kavanagh ... 7 1 103 '>''< 17.1 Schmidt 3 - 137 78 l.l It. Hav 5 1 67 29* 16.07 S. Magce 3 i) 4. 23 15.06 Kavanagh 7 0 103 .7 14.07 B. Magee ... 7 2< 72 19 14.04 Edwards 5 0 43 17 14.03 Stephenson ... 5 I 55 •■■'" 13.02 Audinwood ... 8 I 45 17* 6.04 Burr-Brown ... 8 3 50 14* 6 Taylor 5 0 27 13 5.04 (,'osscy '< 0 25 13 5 S. Sarah 3 0 15 8 . 5 ♦Signifies 'not out. BOWLING AVERAGE*. Ovrs. Mdns. Bus. Wk(s. Avge. Kavanagh ... 10 11 1.0 Ifemu- ... 2 0 17 2 8.05 R. Hay ... 32 5 95 10 9.05 Cossey ... 41 ,9 '.53 0 10.03 Rarr-Brown ... 139 *&> 402 28 14.03 I!. Magee ... 89 12 £55 V 15 J!. Xeill' ... 57 7 217 14 15.05 Taylor ... 103 15 339 20 . 17.C9 Audinwood ... ' 100 18 349 19 13.4 Reitwick ... 27 2 127 i 42.03 GRAFTON I. BOWLING AVERAGES. N.I. X.O. U.S. Agge. Avge. I S. P. -tones ... II 3 57" 232 35.25 ' 11. Hill 10 2 66 256 29.05 J. A. Kallender .. 11 - 99 311 28.27 A I-;. Sloniau . . 10 1 95 226 25.11 D. Hav 13 2 82* 250 22.07 A. K.~Lawrv ... 11 4 55" 128 13.28 W. J. Stems.on ... 9 1 39 142 17.75 I). L. J. Clayton 10 — 69 :63 16.30 F. 1). Clayton . . 10 1 23 125 15.83 S. X. Bowden ... 11 — 39 123 11.36 Ayles 4 — 24 44 11.00 C. Hay 11 — 33 103 9.54 •Signifies not out. BATTING AVERAGES. Ovrs. Mdns. wuts. Rug, Avge. C. Bay 52 6 12 119 9.9 D. Hay 93 21 13 2*7 13.7 Ktemson ... 146 25 37 518 14.0 V. D. Clryton 4 - 1 11 11.0 D. .1. I.. Clayton 75 19 15 328 25.0 J. A. Kallender 4.3 1 > 10 1 .„ 15.6 Jones 72 11 14 243 17.2 gloman ... 42 7 4 15.5 53.2 NORTH SHORE. BATTING AVERAGE*. N.I. X.O. U.S. Aggte. Avge. A. Haddon 14 0 95 345 24.6 d. Hussey 16 0 99 393 24.5 W. Joyce 10' 2 55 119 14.3 — Qnintnll .6 0 2. 75 12.5 L. Prime 11 0 29 135 12.2 - Smales 9 0 21 109 11.1 .1. Fryer 12 ') 44 159 10.8 -- Woodward ... 17 2 53 128 8 5 T. Grace 15 2 30 100 7.6 F. McNeill ... 17 1 26 108 f>.7 ,T. Palairct ... 3 1 10 26 57 .T. Italic ...• ... 7 1 11 22 3.6 - Harrison .93 6 21 3.4 F. Eyre 12 2 5 33 3.3 BOWLING AVERAGES. • ' Ovrs. Mdns. Rns. Wkts. Avge. .T. Hussev ... 158 25 462 35 13.02 F. McNeill ... 156 21 633 54 20.02 J. Fryer 76 10 270 11 24.03 .1. Haddon ... 83 9 317 12 26.04 L. Prime 56 0 167 & 33.04