SATURDAY'S CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20817, 9 March 1931, Page 12

SATURDAY'S CRICKET.

BATTING DISAPPOINTS. PONSONBY'S STEADY ATTACK. LAST-WICKET PARTNERSHIP. S. C. HAY PLAYS FINE INNINGS. The batting in Saturday's senior cricket matches, with a few exceptions, was again disappointing. Even allowing for the fact that the bowlers could obtain spin on the wickets, the efforts made by some batsmen considering the stage of the season, were extremely poor.

In the principal fixture between the leading teams, Eden and Ponsonby, on the No. 1 wicket at Eden Park, a very close finish resulted in Eden taking the honours by 17 runs. The batting effort of Eden was .just about as poor as that of Ponsonby on the previous Saturday. With three wickets down for 55 runs in reply to Ponsonby's 124, everything favoured an easy win for Eden, but against a very steady attack it had to fight all the way for its runs.

Finlayson and Snedden bowled splendidly and kept tho batsmen very quiet. Had they received better support from tho field Ponsonby may have reversed the result. Gillespie was very subdued and it took him an hour to add 11 runs to his previous - week's total boforo he fell a victim to Snedden. G. L. Weir, who followed, should have been dismissed in exactly tjie same way as Gillespie, Hoare, at inid-on, just failing to hold a fast catch. It was really L. E. Vivian who saved the day for Eden and he played with more confidence than any of the other batsmen. Using his feet well he smothered the bowling to good effect and in compiling 41 he mado some very nice /placements. When in the thirties 110 was lucky to survive an easy stumping chance off Snedden. Fine Six to Weir. A. F. Weir and Vivian added 34 runs for the sixth wicket, the former adopting the riglit tactics and going moro for tho attack than the other batsmen. He inade the winning hit with a beautiful six at the expense of Finlayson. He was, however, lucky in having an escape earlier in his innings off the same trundler, Cleverley dropping a catch in the slips. The brunt of tho bowling was borne by Snedden and Finlayson, who each took three wickets. Snedden sent down 27 overs and Finlayson 26. Tho former bowled 12 maidens and the latter eight. The pair maintained such a steady length that they had all the batsmen in trouble at various times. Smith, who on the previous day of play, sent down four maiden overs for one wicket, did not use himself on Saturday. Cleverley's two wickets in 12.2 overs cost 26 runs and, as his figures ehow, he was always very steady.

A. F. Weir lost his wicket in an unusual way. In playing a hook shot to Finlayson he went too far back and tramped on his wicket. All interest in the match was lost after Eden had completed its innings and most of the Ponsonby bats--1 men went for the attack in their second attempt. Monteith compiled 47 in quick time by attractive batting and broke a bad run of luck. If he adopted more of this style he would probably meet with a great deal more success. Attack Too Strong.

The Grafton attack proved too strong for the University batsmen. Grafton won easily on the first innings. With the exception/of Leyes, the opening University batsmen failed dismally and five wickets were down for 50 runs. Cowie bowled exceptionally well at the start and in his fifth over; a maiden, clean bowled Garrard and Schnauer.

Allcott was. also on the spot, and Matheson, Pearson and Butler fell cheap victims to liirn. The former was easily atumped by Rowntree in going out to hit. Both Allcott and Cowie were turning on the wicket and this made them more difficult. Leyes batted very patiently in scoring 37, which included only ono boundary. At one stage University had lost nine ■wickets for 89 runs, but a last-wicket partnership between Howell and G. Blamires added .58 runs and saved a follow on. Both / batsmen adopted more aggressive tactics than the others, the former compiling 39 before being bowled off his pads by Cowie and the latter 22 not out. Allcott sent down the most overs for Grafton in bowling 21 overs, four maidens, and taking four wickets for 57 runs. Cowie bowled 17 overs, three maidens, for 48 runs and four wickets. As in the Edp.n-Ponsonby match all interest was Inst after the cbrnplotion of University's first innings. Clarke Bowls Well. Resuming the match on No. 2 wicket at Eden Park, United Suburbs, with 33 runs without, loss, had to face a total ,of 238 compiled by Y.M.C.A. on tho previous Saturday. After a bright display of batting, it failed by 33 runs. I)avis and Kerr, tho not out men, opened patiently. After settling down JJavis played with greater confidence and bad brought his total to <lO beforo being neatly caught, by Sutherland. Kerr was dismissed shortly afterwards. Scholium, against Clarke's bowling, played a careful game. Clarke was well in form, his in-swingers being particularly dangerous. One of these got past Scholium when he had made 23. H. Lyon and Hendy were dismissed by Clarke for 2 arid 9, respectively.

A wide /rango of scoring shots characterised the p!ay of IST. Webster. Although ho took no risks until he had the strength of tho bowling, he put plenty of power behind his strokes and runs mounted steadily. He was batting vigorously nut ip' being bowled by Lyon for 64. "

Nicholas opened brightly by hitting two sixes off Lyon, whose long spell at the bowling crease was beginning to havo its effect. Nicholas wns sending the score lip rapidly until his partner, Leikis, was caught and the innings ended with the ccoro at 205). Outstanding Performance. Iho outstanding performance Jn the North Shore—Parnell match decided at Drvonpott, on Saturday was the line display given bv S. C. Hay for 110 in Pariicll s first innings. His effort was mainly instrumental in paving the way for ParHell's easy victory on the first innings by 119 runs. On fhe previous Saturday Parnell lost two wickets for 69 runs, in reply to North Shore's total of 140. Hay carried on well in company with Duncan, the pair attacking the bowling from ■the outset. Duncan was dismissed for 40, which' he had earned by a delightful exhibition of straight driving and clever placements through the slips. _ Hay continued in partnership with Vivian, neither batsman being troubled unduly by the bowling. The batsmen otiickly took the score well past North Shore s tally. Hay was eventually dismissed after gaining a fine century. He showed much inoro confidence than usual, driving strongly through the covers nnd hooking anything short. A few chances failed to spoil a sterling display. He hit tine boundaries.

Vivian also hit powerfully for 60 before he had the misfortune to be run out. He attacked the bowling throughout, lifting two fine Bixes and hitting six other boundaries. With 259 on for five wickets Parnell declared its innings closed in an attempt to gain a fourpoint victory. Player played a fine innings for North Ehore for 60, yvhich included two sixes and sis fours.