SATURDAY'S CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20473, 27 January 1930, Page 14

SATURDAY'S CRICKET.

UNIVERSITY'S SURPRISE.

EDEN BATS TWO MEN SHORT.

PONSONBY'S POOR SHOWING. NORTH SHORE WINS THE TOSS. Considerable surprise was occasioned on Saturday when University won the toss against Eden and sent the latter in to bat. Eden was two short owing to Mills and Weir being in Wellington with the New Zealand team. A good deal of discussion arose over the sporting aspect of the situation, but against this it can be said that Eden had a chance to give a couplo of juniors a trial, but lot the opportunity pass by. Eden batted all the afternoon, being dismissed shortly before stumps for 223, which was not quick scoring when the prevailing conditions were taken into consideration. Gillespie and L. E. Vivian gave the side a good start by compiling 91 for the first wicket. The former then lost his wicket to a good catch by Bush at deep square-leg off a short delivery from Wells. Gillespie played attractive cricket, and hit four boundaries in compiling 49. One of the best exhibitions of the afternoon was given by Vivian, who batted freely for 64 before he ..fell leg before. The chief feature' about Vivian's batting was - -the manner in which he met the ball by using his feet well. Although only one four was credited to him ha made some very nice placements on either side of the wicket. He was a little impatient facing the off theory, and was inclined to nibble at these deliveries. Butler was batting well until he pulled an off ball on to his wicket. He hit four fours in making 33. The University Attack.

The University attack did not hold any terrors for tho batsmen. Smeeton bore the brunt of tho bowling in sending down 19 overs for 43 runs and threo wickets. He obtained two easy wickets in dismissing A. F. Weir off a short-pitched delivery which tho batsman attompted to hook, and Brooke-Smith, who attempted to cut a straight ball and was clean bowled. Matheson lacked his usual sting, and secured only one wicket at a cost of 42. Hay's tempting slows accounted for two victims, but although Wells and Bush each secured a wicket neither was impressive. A very disappointing afternoon's cricket resulted from the meeting of Parnell, the leading tip-am, and Ponsonby. The latter slumped badly, being dismissed for tho poor total of 54. Although faced by a good attack tho Ponsonby batsmen made tho bowling look much more difficult than it really was. Goodsir bowled very well, and his late swinging deliveries from leg accounted for four of the early batsmen. Goodsir maintained a much better length than usual, and it was plainly evident he has been benefiting from coaching. Wensley the Auckland coach, secured excellent figures of six for 18, and with the exception of Fletcher dismissed all the later batsmen. Wensley mixed his deliveries well, bub at the same time weak strokes brought about tho batsmen's downfall. Parnell's Batting.

Parnell's batting was by no means inspiring, and had McCoy and Vivian been dismissed from early chances against Finlayson the team would have been all out about the hundred mark. Whitelaw, who opened the innings, was not too confident at tho start, but was settled down when Roy, who had changed ends, got through tho batsman's defence with a good ball. In the same over Roy dismissed two other batsmen.

The most unlucky bowler for Ponsonby was Finlavson, who trundled exceedingly well in tatting four wickets for 46 runs* He should have had McCoy, Vivian and Singleton when oach batsman was in tho singles. Cleverley was more erratic than usual, and did not impress nearly so much as he did in the match the previous week. Roy bowled steadily throughout. It was pleasing to see H. G. Vivian, undoubtedly one of the most promising batsmen in Auckland, get a start in his first senior match. The only mistake he made was in attempting to hit the heady Finlayson, and he should have lost his wicket early on account of this. After being fed by the bowler, whom he hit for a six, Vivian lost his wicket to a boundary catch. Dull play characterised the opening of the game between Y.M.C.A. and United Suburbs, the scoring being confined mainly to singles, but gaining confidence as the score steadily mounted the later batsmen opened out. Particularly Cooper, Riddolls and Miller gave a bright display. The Y.M.C.A. team was not consistent, only four players reaching double figures, while three failed to score. The total of 233 was compiled in a little over tlireo hours. Williams Bowls Well.

Williams, bowling for United Suburbs, had the opening batsmen in difficulties. He clean bowled Lyon and Sutherland for one and none respectively. Cooper made a better stand, his 29 including several fours. R. Riddolls and Elliott gave a fine exhibition of hitting, the former scoring freely all round the wicket. Elliott was bowled by Williams in the first over after the afternoon tea adjournment. The retiring batsman had played a solid innings for 62. Riddolls and Miller continued to give pleasing displays. Miller was in good form and hit out at everything. The partnership contributed 70 before Miller hit an easy catch. Riddolls carried his score to 60 when ho was caught behind the, wickets.

Webster, with four wickets for 32 runs, was the most successful bowler for United Suburbs, but Williams, with three for 34, was always the more dangcrous.Unitcd Suburbs had made 31 runs without the loss of a wicket at stumps. North Shore's prospects of success against Grafton were slightly enhanced when Frater won the toss for the first time this season and decided to bat on a perfect wicket. Frater and Gerrard quickly commenced to force the pace against tlio bowling, although Gerrard was missed in slips off S. WilSon. The batsmen progressed quietly after this, taking the total to 45 before Allcott got Frater's wicket. The North Shore captain had played his brightest innings this season, putting plenty of weight behind his strokes Player's Valuable Innings. ' Golds worthy was caught off his glove from a " kicker" and Gerrard was clean bowled by Allcott soon afterwards. The advent of Bush and R. Smith brightened tho outlook. The latter, a promoted colt, was eventually bowled when attempting to put Horspool out of the ground. Bush carried on with Player, who left the scoring to tho former. _ With his total at 32 Bush was given out leg before to Allcott, who was bowling round tho wicket.

Player, aided by H. and D. Webb and Coates, took the total past tho 200 mark. Player was _ the _ essence of patience throughout his innings, waiting to punish anything short or over-pitched. His 50, not out, was invaluable to his side. Coates, who batted brightly for 23, was caught in attempting to hit Horspool and the innings closed for a total of 222 runs.

Allcott secured the most wickets • for Grafton, taking six for a moderate total of 67 runs. Horspool captured three batsmen at a cost of 22 runs each. His length in his first eight overs commanded great respect, but' tiring later he was punished ratner heavily. In the 25 minutes remaining play North Shore obtained three of its opponents' wickets for six runs.