CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14868, 20 December 1911, Page 6

CRICKET.

DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS. NOTES AND COMMENTS. . Two-roiNT wins were again, the order, of tho day in the fourth round of senior matches. Not one second innings was completed. ;. , . s • . The heaviest scoring was in the EdenUniversity match, at tho Domain, in which Eden won by 323 runs to 224, after having declared their first innings closed with , only five wickets down. University started badly, but gradually improved their position, thanks chiefly to Jacobson, Taylor, and Graham. At one timo runs came so quickly that it appeared probable that University would reach Eden's total, but then tho scoring slackened considerably, and the Eden bowlers proved superior. .Graham played very carefully for 75 (not out). Nearly all his strokes were on the leg side, though occasionally he would put some considerable force into an off-drive. His glances tb leg were particularly neat, whilst a feature of hia innings was the way he kept the ball from rising. Jacobsen took a long time to make 46, and was in difficulties on several occasions, and at last put one up in the slips to the Rev. Hay, who accepted it. . • -. . . " . The: most successful of the Eden bowlers were* Mills -and the Rev. W. A. Hay. Mills's slow leg-breaks secured three wickets for 30 runs. The Rev. Hay kept a very good length, and took three wickets for 30. The" Parnell-North Shore match did not provide much attractive cricket. Going in: on a* batsmen's wicket, North', Shore failed badly, as a team. Sale batted brightly for his, 53. Ho started very slowly, but then he quickened hia rate of scoring, stepping out and driving hard. In two overs from Kerr ho scored 34 runs, including two or three sixes. Ho skied several hits, hut * was lucky in that they dropped away from the fieldsmen. Bush played solidly for 25, and Farquharson had a short life, but a merry one. Olliff, who took six of the Shore wickets for 68 runs, kept an excellent length., A feature of the match was Ellis's fine work behind the wickets. Ho stumped two men and caught another, all off Kerr's bowling. \:

.Spectators at Victoria Park saw some very interesting cricket. On the previous Saturday play stopped when Grafton had six wickets down for 174, Mason having 49 to his credit, Ward 37, and Jones 34. On resuming they were disposed of for 199, Thompson and. McMath sending the remaining batsmen back to the pavilion, and so making Ponsonby's , task a light one. Thompson captured five wickets for 59 runs, and McMath tlireo for 39, whilo Kavanagh got one at a cost of 37. Ponsonby started off well -with Thompson and Sneddon, and when the first wicket fell 42 rims were on the board. The second wicket went down at 50, the third at 70, tho fourth jit 134, the fifth at 164, and the- winning hit was made amid enthusiasm before the sixth toppled over. Wilson's fino innings and hie free hitting formed quite a feature, and his welltimed hits for -• four were repeatedly cheered. Though ho was badly , beaten by good length balls on several occasions, and threo times missed in the field, similar "batting exhibitions would go a long way towards making district cricket more interesting . to the general public. Kavanagh's display in notching 36 was also a good one, and a number of his hits sent tho ball to the boundary with s a rattle. Time was called when Ponsonby had 235 on tho board for eight wickets. Grafton's most . successful bowler was Harvie, threo for 57, while, Jones got three for 84. * r ,