SUBURBAN CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19806, 29 November 1927, Page 15

SUBURBAN CRICKET.

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. COMMENTS ON THE PLAY. TURNER'S FINE EXHIBITION. The isrst logical argument against th« Suburban Cricket Association's decision to plav one-day matches was brought out on Saturday last, when Elierslie, considered to be a powerful batting side, was compelled to close its innings at 207, when only five wickeis had fallen. Harbour Board A then batted, and, although it was thought it had a difficult task before it, the unexpected happened, and 15 minutes before closing time EHerslie was a beaten team. Just what would have happened had EHerslie completed its first innings is a matter of conjecture, but it is safe ta assume that, with so many reliable batsmen to follo.iv, a large score would hava been possible.

Without detracting from ' Harbour Board's well-deserved win, it must In said that when two evenly-matched trams meet under such conditions as prevailed on Saturday there is a very remote chance of two complete innings being batted in one diy. However, it is fair to all concerned, but it will occasion no surprise to see an attempt made to revert back to (he two-day games. A limited time for each innings, spread over tw<t days, would possibly give the association tb<a object aimed at—brighter cricket. Slack Fielding Noticeable. I Saturday's games were well contested, and the standard of play generally was high, and an improvement on the opening day. Slack fieldmg in a!l three matches was a noticeable feature, particularly when Harbour Board A and Ponsonbv were in the field. Gedye gave several chances, and he should havs been caught before he reached double figures, The outstanding feature of the day wa» the batting si Turner for Harbour Board against Eller.slie. When three wickets were down for 45 Turner went in to bat. He immediately attacked the bowling of Burton and Lawrence, hitting anything loose. His - strong driving rapidly mounted up the score. Afc 65, Turner gave his first chance, while playing for* ward to a rising bail from Lawrence, who just failed to reacb it.. From then ou Turner gave a masterful exhibition on the off side, and the first century of the season was registered in 112 minafces. The whole aspect of the gam® changed as the result of Turner's innings, and, when he was caught by White for 110, Harbour Board was 14 runs ahead of EHerslie. Turner's innings was greatly appreciated by the crowd, who accorded him an ovation.

A Good Partnership. Qedye was the top-scorer for Ellerslie, and ho compiled 84 by careful and patient batting. He was associated with Burton in the first-wicket partnership that yielded 85 runs. Both batsmen were very aggressive on the off-side, Burton particularly displaying some clever strokes. A. Watt* and Burton, junior, batted well, the former scoring all round the wicket. Mierslie's innings closed at 207 for five wickets. L. Breese, 28, was the only other Harbour Board batsman to get going, and somo of his work on the leg side was excellent* Bennett, 21, was on the defensive most of the time. Harbour Board was unlucky to lose Martin, one of its mainstays. He was run out after he had scored a single. It is doubtful if a run could have been got,' but to make matters worse both Gedye and Martin hesitated.

Both teams showed slackness in fielding, and several simple catches were missed. Burton, junior, was, however, an exception, and his fielding was brilliant' at times.

In its first innings against Harbour Board B, Ponsonby produced some bright cricket and 169 runs were registered for eight wickets. Harbour Board made a fine effort to overtake the score, and after an. interesting innings it failed by six runs. The dismissal of its star batsman, Brighton, for a single, was unfortunate for Harbour Board. Wright and Fletcher were associated in a fine second-wicket partnership, and both played forceful and attractive cricket. Fletcher Bats Well. Fletcher gave a particularly good display. and his late cuts were nicely executed. Fletcher is an acquisition to tha Ponsonby team. Mackie played a careful innings for 31. His cricket was of the orthodox style, he being content to wait for opportunities to scored His bowling, too, was treated with respect, Hayes finished up with the good bowling average of four wickets for 73. He sent down some good-length balls, only to miss the wickets on several occasions after the batsmen had been completely beaten. Hayes made a useful 36, scoring several runs with splendid squara cuts. The best partnership of the innings was that of Xicklin and Mitchell, who added 63 before the former was dismissed. Mitchell played a bright innings and relieved the slowness of scoring by powerful hits. Five fours were included in his scow of 41. He was dismissed by a fins ball from Stallworthy that heat him ail the way. The splendid bowling of the •vjfterat* A. K.-rr was a feature of the? game between Glen Eden and Green Lane. Kerr s average ot six wickets for 66 runs was. a fine performance, He has had a lengthy experience »s a bowler, having represented Auckland, in 1903-10. lh» *-v» represeniat ive has seldom been seen to better advantage. Forceful Batting. Glen Kdeii's -opening innings yie 155, of which Shephml eompded M ... sptendnl cricket, included in his swto wew m\ Knees. >l. lW«sh*m, 42 not out, played an aUiacttvo innings. 0w« 1 ; »;e was set a big task to get the o.iv« v v<.'ua runs. Moat of the batsmen lacked confidence when opposed to Kerr, C. Watts played a forceful innings for SO, which was compiled in 35 minutes. Some of his hits were very powerful and his defence, particularly against K ! was sound. Seccombe batted in > | characteristic breery style and hit ! bowling nil round the wicket. His s of 3? included five boundaries. E. Vv can generally be depended upon to n runs, and so Green Lane was unit to loso him through a run-out. The laxity of the official scorer.keeping a correct bowling analysis - matter that clubs should give attent.ua to On Saturday it was impossible to obtain some of the averages. This is not fair to the bowler, who values his services to a team just as much as a good batsman. It is apparent that the fault lies in the changing over from one scorer to another, and-each club would be advised to include in its personnel an official responsible for this tion, which is most gA \