CRICKET NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19859, 1 February 1928, Page 16

CRICKET NOTES.

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION. MATCHES PLAYED ON MONDAY. THE EDEN TEAM DEFEATED. A feature of the mutches hold under the auspices of the Auckland Cricket Association on Monday was the scoring of three centuries, Langridge, Taylor and Bushill all topped the three-figure mark, -while Monteith just failed by one run. Eden suffered its first defeat for two seasons at the hands of Parnell, but the leaders were a weakened side, having four players with the representative team. Parnell was without the services of Anthony. The defeat of Eden has made the competition much more interesting, as it is now only one point ahead of Ponsonby, which leads North Shore and Parnell by ono point. Eden did not start too well against Parnell, and after H. D. Gillespie and W. varo dismissed it, was evident that the champions would have to fight hard for runs. Aitken and Goodsir were keeping a good length and runs came very slowly. A partnership between Posties, who opened, and Bennett improved matters considerably, but in quick succession the pair were bowled. Posties played a bright innings for 32, and although unsteady fct times, he did not take , any unnecessary risks. The last four Eden wickets fell for 14, leaving Parnell 135 runs to make. Parnell opened badly, Posties bowling Ihincan and McCoy in his second over. S. C. Hay, however, batted steadily, and the left-hander settled down to score runs by singles. Parnell found the runs h:>rd ■to get through a well-placed field. The dismissal of Hay and Kissling gave Eden a chance of winning, but an interesting game was carried on by Stehr and Aitken, ivho made the necessary runs. Posties Bowls Wei!.. Although not successful with (he ball in the earlier games', Posties has in different matches kept runs down as a change bowler, but against Parnell ho was in Jfood form and with a little more luck "would have taken more wickets. His average, six wickets for 44. was a good performance. With time against it Eden in its second innings made no serious attempt to continue the game, and had lost five wickets for 60 when time was called. Grafton's innings against United Suburbs was a procession and the hitter's bowlers gained the ascendancy on a •wicket which favoured the batsmen. With the exception of Sloman (22) and Dykes (54) none of the batsmen remained long at the crease. The last five wickets feil for seven runs and the innings closed for 107. Dykes, who obtained half the total, scored freely all round the wicket, his square-cuts being a J mirably placed. Bnshill's century or United Suburbs *cas a splendid effort. The batsman gave a highly impressive display and although Grafton's bowling was weak, his performance was nevertheless a good one. He drove hard with well-timed shots. His succession of fours was a bright feature of his display, and 20 were included in his total. Martin, 38, gave a nice display and scored with beautifully executed late cuts. United Suburbs made the most- of the bowling, and carried its score to 260 for the loss of five wickets. A Good Partnership. A splendid first-wicket partnership in the second innings, between E. Horspool and Sloman saved a four-point defeat for Grafton, the pair carrying the score to 72. Horspool made 37 and Sloman compiled 45 by correct cricket, being unlucky to be run out when batting with confidence. Goodwin hit up 47 j D rapid style. Grafton's innings closed for 222, givirg United Suburbs a three-point win. The game between North Shore and University produced some oxciting cricke', but at times the excitement was a V Je too keen. North Shore's inning' jened disastrously, three wickets f .ung to catches in the slips, frtro I...liantly taken by Schnauf j ocott took a hand in matters „nd showed that he can bat just as wc'ii as he can bowl and keep wickets. Although his s:c!e was in a bad position, Scott attacked the bowling fearlessly. He ■was lucky on more than one occasion when bei mis-hit the ball just clear of the field, but, nevertheless, he played a great fighting- innings. The innings closed for'l96, only a moderate total for a team which even without Dacre and Player has still some good batsmen. Although Gee lost his wicket v early, Smeeton gave University a good start. He played vigorous cricket and bis forceful driving was a feature. Schnauer also batted soundly and showed a good defence With the dismissal of these two, followed soon afterwards by the return of Bannister and Kelly, th?re seemed every prospect of a close finish. Then Garrard was given out leg before wicket ■When he played a ball hard on to his pads. However, McDougall and Burbidge played great uphill cricket, and University was within sight of victory when McDongall was bowled by Scott. 'Another wicket fell cheaply, but a brisk 14 to Wilson again raised University's hopes. 3!ut they were short lived, Only one more run was added before the last wicket fell, leaving University ten runs behind. "S.M.O.A. Bats Poorly. Bnrbidge gave an excellent display of batting, but a swing to a bal!i outside the leg stump robbed him of runs which he would have scored had he played the 6troke more carefully. Technically, he was run out by Scott, although the umpire refused to allow the appeal. Burbidge played the ball up the wicket and then called Wilson to give him some advice. Scott picked up the ball and threw down the wicket. North Shore's second innings was more ill the nature of holiday cricket, 180 being scored lor the loss of four wickets. Monteith W'»nt for a hit and aided by v, little luck reached 99 before he was run out. Very dull and uninteresting batting by Y.M.C.A. enabled Ponsonby to score a four-point win. Miller, who contributed 47 in the first innings for Y.M.C.A., was the oislv batsman who looked like making runs, bat even he at times was troubled by leg theory. However, he executed some powerful d'ives and sav>;d his team from collapse Y.M.C.A."s second innings was ever worse than its first, the side being dismissed for 67. N. C. Snedden took five wickets for 34 runs in the first innings, and Langridge three for nine in the second. The Ponsonby batsmen reaped a harvest from the JY.M.C.A bowling. Langridge followed tip his good innings 0 f the previous Saturday of 149 by making an even better 124. Taylor also batted well, compiling 105 not out. This batsman made a century on the same day lasit year against North Shore B.