CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15518, 28 January 1914, Page 6

CRICKET.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. TnE outstanding feature of the. senior criokot matches on Saturday was tlio heavy scoring. In each of the four games the third century was topped, and no fewer than 32 men registered double-figure scores. It was not surprising to find tho batsmen scoring freely, but few expected that Grafton and Eden A would be kept iu the field all the afternoon. These two trams mot University and Ponaonby respectively, at Eden Park, and losing the toss, both elevens spent the afternoon in the field. Against Eden A no fewer than eight of the University men scored "doubles," Vickerman and Jncobsen being the only ones who failed to get going. Car ad us was top scorer, with 87. mado by strokes all round the wicket. The Grafton bowlers were ail easy to the batsman, who, until .Mason tricked him with a slow one, never really looked like getting out. Perry, a promoted junior, gave a good display for 58, and the Rev. Colvillo hit hard and often for 40. Duly five of the Grafton Uiam were tried with tho ball, Haresnape being the only ono to meet with success. University, at call of time, had scored 351 runs for the loss of seven wickets, and it cannot bo said that Grafton, minus fctloman, MacCormick, and Horspool, have much chance of winning the game. Ponsonby, after two poor displays, struck form against Eden A, and tho men from tho western district appear to have the game very safe. 'Winning the toss tho Ponsonby men occupied tho wicket all the afternoon, and when time was called the score was 325 for tho loss of eight wickets. Tho principal scorer was C. Sneddon, who compiled 126 in about two hours. Tho innings, although marred to some extent by two chances, was well worth seeing, as the scoring strokes were, as a rule, well made. Frank Wilson scored 75 (not out) in quick time, and although ho was at first troubled by the bowlers, he subsequently gave a good display. Easily tho best innings was played by Worker, a promoted junior. Worker appears to havo tho right temperament for big cricket, and it will not surprise the writer if ho becomes a regular star. On Saturday ho commenced with great confidence, and until ho began to play a little recklessly, gave a perfect display. He has command of strokes all round the wicket, and never allows tho ball to hit tho batOne of tho failures with the bat was Kavanagh, but ho had only himself to blamo for his earlv dismissal. He tried to hook the first ball ho received, but mistimed his stroke, and was bowled after the ball had bounced twice. It was a poor ball to get a wicket with, but Kavanagh had oidy himself to blame for missing it. Eden A'b bowling -was not over-strong, and at no time wero the batsmen stuck up. Burton, who secured four wickets for 83, was the most successful, but hie deliveries did not appear very dangerous. At Victoria Park Waitemata had all the best of it against Parnell, which team was treated to a strenuous afternoon's fielding. Tho promoted juniors scored 351 rani, and should have little difficulty in notching two more points. C. Moller (121) and A. Young (71) made the bulk of tho runs, and each man gave a pleasing display. Everything loose was severely punished, and at no time were defensive tactics adopted. Moller has been a consistent scorer for Waitemata this year, and has also bowled well, while Young is also well up in the grade averages. There arc several other capable bats in the team, and,nono of the older teams can afford to hold them cheap. If Grafton and Eden A are both defeated on Saturday the positions of the two teams will remain unchanged. At the present time Grafton is leading Eden A By one point. North Shore had a day out on their own ground on Saturday, when, by what was tor the most part bright and spectacular batting, they put themselves in a fairly safe winning position with Eden B. It cannot bo denied, however, that they also had a good deal of luck. , The Shore captain, E. V. Sale, came out with top figures for batting, his innings being marked by nice driving and good placing. His score of 69 is one of his best this season. Rankin (52), Nettleton (41), and Howie (25), each mado his score, by crisp boundary hits, although one or two chances were refused by the fieldsmen. Stewart's 37 wan the result of A good display of slogging, anything loose being sent over the. boundary three sixes being included in his score. He gave several chances, but he was at length well taken by Gilmour near the boundary. Townahend evidently also thought that nothing less than sixes wero worth his while,, but he managed to get only two. The fielding' at this stage was really bad, as no less than three easy catches were missed off this batsman. Alexander, the Eden B wicket-keeper, was very alert behind the stumps, stumping two and catching two. Haas© was the best, of the Eden bowlers, though he also was hit about freely. Bealo and Blair opened the visitors' innings, and appeared to be batting fairly safely, when the latter weakly hit one from Rankin into Howie's hands at' point. Rankin, with his next ball, spread-eagled tho veteran Mills's wickets. Time was shortly afterwards called with two wickets down for 28, so that Eden B will Tiave their work cut out on Saturday to get anywhere near Shore's 302.