SATURDAY'S CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19857, 30 January 1928, Page 12

SATURDAY'S CRICKET.

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION. COMMENTS ON THE PLAY. SAUNDERS' SPLENDID BOWLING. 1 DUNCAN RETURNS TO FORM. The absence of players in Wellington •vitli tlie Auckland representative team made a vast difference to the interest taken in club matches 011 Saturday. Several tearns kept places open for players next Saturday, but Eden, the leading team, batted a frdl eleven, so that neither Mills, Cooper, G. L. Weir nor A. F. Weir can participate in the game against United Suburbs on the second day. The Eden bowling is thus considerably weakened, and after a good start made by United Suburbs, it will occasion no surprise if th-3 leaders suffer defeat. Both Ponsonby and North Shore appear to have commanding positions against Graf toft and Y.M.C.A. respectively, ■while University has been set a good total by Parnell. It was essentially a batsman's day, and under the conditions it is surprising that Y.M.C.A. utterly collapsed against North Shore. Although weakened by (ho absence o! Anthony in Wellington, Parnell made an ■excellent showing against University. The opening partnership between Duncan mid Hay realised only four short of a. century, ami after Hay's dismissal the Parnell captain went on to score a century in line style. Iluns came freely. The bowlers could get little assistance from the hard, true wicket, and the ball flashed over a fast outfield. McCoy and Kisslirig also helped to add to the score, and the batting generally was in startling ■contrast to the somewhat laboured efforts of the Eden batsmen on the adjoining ■wicket. A Fine Exhibition. Duncan's century was, of course, the nsvent of the match. Since arriving hero «bout three seasons ago the Otago captain has never really struck form, but on ■Saturday he was at his best. Ho stood up to the bowling with his left shoulder Well forward, and in consequence there was no pushing every ball round to the leg side—the crowning weakness of the much-abused two-eyed stance. His driving was powerful and well-timed, but although his best shots were on the off he meted out punishment to anything loose on the leg sid9. It was a treat to watch Duncan use his feet. Ho was sufficiently ■confident not to keep a foot in the crtase •when going forward to a slow bowler, and .jet he never seemed to take unnecessary risks. Once or twice, perhaps, a smarter wieketkeeper than Kelly would havti •tumped him. But if there was more en teiprise in Auckland cricket there might not be such lamentably low scores in representative games. Hay, who opened with Duncan, playerl •very soundly for 35. He is h. batsman o:f "whom more will be heard when he getn greater power behind his shots. McCoy started uncertainly and, at times, was a little lucky. But he played some good shots in scoring his 48. His square-cut was attractively made. Kissling, the only other batsman to add materially to the •score, was also uncertain at the start, but once 110 settled down he played good allots on boll) sides of the wicket. The only University bowler to command any great degree of "respect was Smeeton, and his success was due to the maintenance of a good length. He kept the batsmen playing him, and they got themselves out. Bannister lost his wicket early in ' "University's first innings, and just before the close of play Smeeton, who had been playing forceful cricket, was also dismissed. Aitken secured both wickets by steady bowling. Although two wickets are down for 52, University will be strengthened by the return of Matheson next Saturday, and the game is still in an interesting position. Opening its match against United Suburbs, Eden made 224 i:i the first; innings. The early batsmen were responsible for fcho majority of the runs, Posties scoring one short of the century, and Bennett opened the batting fcr Eden. Scoring was slow in the early part of the game, the bowlers, Martin and Somers, keeping the batsmen quiet. Posties brightened up after the first halfhour. Pestles continued well, although when he had made 24,, he almost played a ball from Kerr on to his wickets. A good catch at square-leg saw Bennett dismissed; breaking a first-wicket partnership which was responsible for 41 runs. H. D. Gillespie kept the fieldsmen busy but with 27 to his credit he hit an easy catch to his brother who was acting as Substitute. Posties Scores Freely. McCarthy was uneasy at first. Pestles Continued well, reaching 50 with a single off Kerr. Ably supported by McCarthy, he added freely to his score, frequent changes of bowling having little effect. The partnership was brought to an end ' when McCarthy mishit a full-tosu, sending Up an easy catch. At this stage three wickets were down for 170 runs. BrookeSmith opened his account with a spectacular six off Leikis. With his score at 99. Posties hit up an easy catch. The next man, Butler, skied a ball -which was taken by Leikie in the deep Held. The three following wickets fell easily. Buisson was caught and bowled for four by Martin, who also clean-bowled Cummings for none. Smith, whoso "innings had been patchy, was bowled <after making 20. The innings soon closed, the lasl two wickets falling cheaply. * Busk ill and Davis opened United Sub-. ~nrbs' first innings, the latter being clean - !bowled by Eraser with the score at 24. Tvcrr and Buikill played out time, 48 runs Slaving been made when stumps were drawn. Grafton's Solid Task. N. C. Snedden, captain, was an absentee •from the Ponsonby team on Saturday, and IS. G. Smith-captajned the side. Winning the toss, Smith had no hesitation in sending Grafton in the field, where it remained for the best part of the after-' TQobn. Langridge, who opened ths innings for Ponsonby, scored his first century" in club cricket in Auckland, and be made his 149 in his typical corr.ect style. It was not until he was well past bis century that he commenced to hit out, but this method was in direct contrast to his style arid he sacrificed his wicket by practically hitting at anything in the end. He was missed twice in making his last 10 run's, but boforo that he did rot give a chance. Langridge is batting in his best form at the present time, and although he took four hours to make his runs, his correct methods were an object lesson to all who saw his innings. He hit 18 fours and one six. Naturally Langridge's innings took the edge off the attack and later batsmen reaped the benefit of loose deliveries which, after the first two hours' play, were coming along very frequently. Taylor, who went in first wicket, compiled 44 in quick time, driving very powerfully on both sides of the wicket. His partnership with Langridge added 75; sruns. Lend rum gave a good exhibition in scoring 55 by nicely timed driving, while ho dealt severely with anything loose on the leg side. Warneford's 37 was a bright effort, as can be judged by the eight boundary shots in hi.s total. Smith, Commons and [Wheeler all reached the twenties. Without its captain, C. A. Sneddon. »wnr> is in Australia on League football 'business, the Grafton attack was sorely tried and, especially toward the end of J-iiu wmngtf, fchg bowling bos* wo yery

loose. Goodwin was the best bowler. He swung disconcertingly jit tiroes and bowled well early in the innings. During Ponsonby's innings both E. Horspool and Wylie took a turn at keeping wickets and each secured one victim. Grafton has been set a solid task against a good bowling aide,. but E. Horspool, with strong hook shots, had scored 19 not Gtit when tsnie was called, although C. P. Hopkins fell an easy victim to S. G. Smith. A sensational collapse on the part of Y.M.C. A, in its first innings was the main feature of the ganio between Y.M.C. A. and North Shore, played at North Shore. Winning the toss Y.M.C.A. put North Shore in. Places were kept open for Bowley and Dacre, who are :n Wellington for the Plunket Shield match.The wicket was fast and inclined to be somewhat bumpy, the outfield being very fast. A light wind gave the bowlers some assistance. North Shore did not start well, .Wonteith, who opened with Frater, being caught behind the wicket by Hunt in Elliott's second over, the score being only 8. Bush and Frater then took the score to 79 before Bush fell to a beautiful ball from Pear ce, which took his middle stump. lie had made 33 by pretty shots all round the wicket, powerful driving being a feature. When the total was 137 Frater was caught at square-leg off Peoppel, after making 70 by sound batting. He was 100 minutes at the crease and did not give a chance A feature of his innings wa? his clover placing, many runs coming from nice strokes through the. slips, while he also executed some powerful hook shots. Ilis score included nine fortrs, three of which were made off successive balls. Walters mado 24 before being stumped by Hunt, who was keeping wickets well. Shortly afterwards Cerrard was run out by a quick return fropi Wells. His 39 was mado by solid batting, his best shots being drives. Saunders fell to Lyon after making one, and six wickets were down for 182. Scott and Colebourne then battod solidly for a time, the runs coming slowly, until Colebourne was clean, bowled by Peoppel in attempting a big hit. After D. Webb had gone cheaply 11. Webb was caught behind the wickets off Elliott before scoring and tho innings closed for 214. Scott was the not out man, having compiled 20 by careful cricket. For Y.M.C.A. Peoppel and Elliott were the most successful bowlers, each laking three wickets. The Y.M.C.A. fielding was somewhat erratic, some wild returns to the wicket resulting in many runs from overthrows. The Y.M.C.A. first innings was a procession, none of the batsmen staying any time at the crease. The last man created much amusement by going out to the wioket with only one pad on. He had changed ready to go home, and was caught unprepared. SaUnders finished with the sensational figures of seven wickets for 17, after bowling unrelieved throughout the innings. One interesting point arose when the innings finished. After the ninth wicket fell, Bowley being absent, the fielding side had barely reached the pavilion when the bell for the call of time rang. If the last wicket fell within two minutes before time was called, Bowley is .entitled to bat. It is for the umpires to decide.