SATURDAY'S CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20113, 26 November 1928, Page 12

SATURDAY'S CRICKET.

PARNELL EFFECTS SURPRISE.

BOWLEY REACHES BEST FORM. TWO CENTURIES AT EDEN PARK. The conclusion of (lio third scries of senior championship matches leaves Ponsonby in the lead with one point over University, Eden and North Shore, which teams arc equal in second place. Parnell is third. United Suburbs fourth, and Grafton and Y.M.C.A. are, equal in last position. However, thero is but a small margin between all the teams, and an interesting contest is promised at this

early stage. The honours list was added to by T. McLeod and A. J. Postlos scoring centuries for Ponsonby and Eden respectively. Thero wero other fine batting performances, and some good bowling averages wero obtained, but tho best allround display was that of E. 11. Rowley, for Y.M.C.A., at Dcvonport.

Grafton can bo accounted a very unfortuijato sido to have lost its match against Ponsonby on Saturday. Bad fielding cost tho sido tho game On the first day Ponsonby had mado 26 for one wicket, in reply to Grafton's 232. Only seven nioro runs had been added by the not out batsmen (Montoith 11 and McLeod 4), when Allcott beat tho former all the way, Montoith failing to add to his score. Guinoy joined McLeod, and the partnership, which yielded 142 runs, was not broken until tho former played a ball from Hockin on to his wicket. McLeod Gives Chances. Meantime McLeod had reached his century. When tho total was 36 McLeod spooned an easy catch off Allcott to Salo at short leg, but tho fieldsman dropped tho chance. The left-hand bowler was again unlucky with tho total at 60. McLeod cut a full toss to Sloman at deep point, the chance not being accepted. These chances wero costly to Grafton, as McLeod and Guinoy carried tho total to 175 for three wickets. Smith (18), and McLeod added 43 runs for the fourth wicket, and tho match seemed safo for Ponsonby. But a rot set- in, and eight wickets wero down for 224, Ponsonby still requiring nine runs to gain a win on tho first innings. Wheeler was dropped by Langritlge in

tho slips off Goodwin, and tho lastnamed dropped Warnoford in tho same place in Allcott's next over. This was Grafton's last opportunity, as Ponsonby had mado i'ic runs before Allcott bowled

Warneford (9). The innings closed for 259, Wheeler contributing 15 not out, and Roy 12.

In spite of tho fact that bis innings was marred by chances McLeod executed some fine scoring shots, and drove freely And powerfully, while ho scored many runs with a well-timed square cut. Guiney .played a sound innings at a time when runs were necessary. His captain showed wisdom in sending Guiney in early, as he is the type ui batsman to test and tire tho bowling. Allcott Unlucky.

Allcott bowled very steadily for Grafton, and was most unlucky. He sent down 29 overs for 83 runs and four wickets, but his average would have been much better with support from the field. Goodwin also trundled well, taking four wickets for 50 runs in 24.4 overs. Grafton's batting slumped in its second innings, but its leading batsmen, Langridgc, Ilorspool and Allcott, did not go to the crease. At the call of time Grafton had lost five wickets for 29 runs. Finlayson took two wickets for 11 runs in four overs, and Guiney two for one in one over. Eden had little difficulty in dealing decisively with the bowling of United Suburbs at Eden Park, but its innings of 378 was, nevertheless, comparatively devoid of sparkling play. A very line but at times slow opening partnership by I'obtles and I\l ills put Eden on a very sound footing from the start, an advaritago which obviously told on tho United Suburbs attack in the succeeding play. Postles compiled a careful and almost chanccless 131, while -Mills stayed at the crcaso for 80 before losing his off stump by playing over ono from Webster, the left-hander. His was a more aggressive innings than Postles' and was equally chanccless. With his century on the board Postles was considerably brighter. He gave his one and onlv chance at 115, and was eventually caught by McLaren, fielding deep at square leg, off Martin. G. L. Weir Aggressive. Opening brightly with three fours Gillespie looked like making a score until he raised a deplorably weak shot to Williams. Cooper, whose scoro of 25 included five fours, fell to a line catch by llcndy in tho outfield. A. F. Weir went out leg before to Martin, but a temporary lapso was •brought to an end by (i. L. Weir, who batted aggressively "against weakening bowling for 61, including a six off Webster, the only ono of the innings. He went out shortly after Postles to a very similar mistake. Brook-Smith played brightlv for 36. when his off stump went to a full toss from Wetherill. Martin bowled consistently well arid secured seven wickets for 119 runs. Ho was treated with tho greatest respect and deserved every wicket that fell to bis lot. M. Wetherill was singularly successful late in the inings, in his two overs taking two wickets f<ir oiiq run. Tho batsmen entertained little fear of the other bowlers. It was evident on Saturday that with tho failure of the two opening batsmen, A. Dunning and W. J. Smeeton, University is incapable even of approaching a respectable score. Admittedly there were few flaws in the Parnell attack, but. it appeared to be more, from want of initiative that the University batsmen were so dismally unsuccessful. 'I heir first innings of an ignominious 94 was a succession of faults, entirely unredeemed by any individual success. Pearson appeared comparatively at home, bill was run out when 16. Kelly, who carried his bat for 15, also met with a small measure of success. University's Second Failure.

Dunning and Smoeton again failed in the. second innings and with them tlio remaining batsmen, except Garrard, 33 Coo. 24 not out, and Bush, 18. Willi tlie hall McCoy was troublesome throughout. In the first innings ho secured four wickots for 23, and in tlio second four for 31. A. G. Aif kon was apparently still suffering from ft strained shoulder, an old injury, and did not howl for any great length of time. In the first, innings he took two wickets for 12 runs and was bowling remarkably well. Goodsir, in the second innings, took five wickots for 28 runs, bowling with a consistent length. Although Y.M.C.A. suffered defeat at North Shore the match was a veritablo triumph for Bowley, tho English professional coach. After dismissing seven North Shore bntsmen for 44 runs Bowley knocked tip 79 not out, in his host style. This striking of his best form so early is highly satisfactory in view of the southern tour of tho representative team. Tlio only assistance Bowley obtained in hatting was from Lvon, 20 not out, and Elliott, 15. Lyon has a solid defence, but lacks scoring shots. Tie bowled verv well in North Shore's second innings, taking all four wickets at n cost of only seven runs. Three of his eight overs were maidens. Saunders carried his not out total of 35 to 48 in North Shore's firft innings. The only other batsman to reach doublo figures was Archer, 15 not out.. Saunders, 16, was the only double-figure scorer in the second innings. It looks as though the rain on the first day contributed in no small measure to North Shore's win on the first innings.