SATURDAY'S CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20823, 16 March 1931, Page 12

SATURDAY'S CRICKET.

CIIAMriONSHIP HONOURS.

UNIVERSITY STARTS BADLY

FINE EXHIBITION BY MILLS

SCHOLLUM'S BRIGHT INNINGS

It seems' practically certain that as a result of Saturday's play Eden will win tbe championship honours for the season. With tunc wickets in hand it has to make only 33 runs to pass University's first inings total.

University had a fine opportunity of compiling a good score against Eden on tho No. 1 vricket at Eden Park by winning the toss. The. team started very badly, the first, wicket falling with 12 runs on the board. At one stage seven wickets were down for 98 runs, but then a good partnership between Graham Blamircs and Macklow added 42 runs. Tho ninth wicket fell without any addition to the score and with Lunn an absentee University was all out for 140 runs. Leyes, who opened the innings, and was top scorer with 34, was going nicely, and seemed likelv to make a score before he attempted'a big hit off Langton, mishit, niul was caught. During his short stay at the crease Garrard gave a taste of his best battinc form, but he was far too impetuous, otherwise it appeared ho would liave given the Eden fieldsmen an afternoon's leather hunting. Matheson was just settling down when a delivery from Newdick, which kept low, rattled bis wickets. A simlar delivery was responsible for the llie dismissal of Schnauer. Macklow arid Graham Blamires gavo a steady exhibition at a timo when runs were badly reeded, and the Ellen captain had to rosort to several bowling changes before a separation was effected.

' Splendid Driving

Newdick came out with tlio best howling figures lor Eden in taking five wickets for 27 rfins in 5.7 overs, three of which were maidens. Ho has proved a valuable trundler to tho side this season.

In marked contrast to tho batting of most of,, the University team was the aggressive exhibition given by Mills, who scored 66 not out for Eden. After a rather lean time lately, Mills ran right into his best form, lus driving being a special feature. It was very neatly executed, being powerful and well-timed. By adding 81 for the first wicket he and Postles have placed the issue beyond doubt.

.Favoured by tho toss, Tonsonby looked like making a good score at the commencement of its match with Grafton on the No, 2 ground. N. 0. Sneddon, who opened tho innings, was aggressive from the outsot, scoring mostly by powerful shots to tho leg side. Clarko was confident at the other end until he lost his wicket through over-eagerness, being caught between tho wickets when Sheen eeut in a fast return. Shortly after, Snedden was badly beaten in trying to lift Allcott, c4nd tho next two wickets fell lapidly, four being down for 79 runs.

Veteran Makes Runs.

The veteran Smith and Finlayson were ithen associated in a partnership which partially retrieved Ponsonby's fortunes. Smith scored steadily off every howler, his placements being excellent. Most of his runs wero made on tho leg side, and ■eA'cry ball was kept on the ground except two straight.drives to the terraces off JUlcott. He was finally dismissed by 'Cowie in' playing back to a ball which suddenly / kicked. Finlayson was quieter than his partner, taking no risks. When ho finally opened out he was bowled in attempting a big hit off a wide delivery from Martin. Hoare batted vigorously, but the remainder of the side did not add much to the total, the innings closing at 5 o'clock for 170.

Mart in and Allcott were the two most successful bowlers, Allcott bowling 12 overs for 36 runs and taking two wickets. IvJartin's three wickets cost 30 runs. JTorspool and Sheen opened the Grafton innings. Both batsmen commenced to Score steadily and after four overs Sneddm, who replaced Cleverley, took Sheen's wicket with his first ball, the total being 24. JJorspool, joined by Allcott, batted steadily, and in spite of a number of bowling changes the score mounted steadily until at stumps Grafton had 93 ori the board for an hour and a quarter's play. ,

McCoy Bowls Well

Some good individual performances were given in the return match between Parnell and United Suburbs. The latter team .won the toss and opened with Kerr and Scholium, the partnership ending after 45 runs bad been compiled, when Kerr was caught and bowled by McCoy. Scholium played a .fine innings, hitting out boldly to record his highest score this season, 74 runs, which included three sixes and five fours. Watkins, who carried his bat for 21 runs, and Kerr (17), were the only •other batsmen to reach double figures. Of Parnoll's bowlers McCoy was out.standing. He bore the brunt of the attack, and in 17 overs accounted for five wickets, 57 runs being registered against iim. McGehan bowled exceptionally well, taking three wickets for 18 ruijs in less than four overs. With an hour and a-half to play Parncll opened its innings with Whitelaw and Hay, Jim first wicket fell cheaply, Hay misjudging a slow ball from Lyon which shattered the middle stump. Vivian played a forceful game for a brief period before being dismissed leg before by Lyon, who was maintaining a good length and mixing his deliveries well. McCoy and Stelir provided a spectacular exhibition, compiling 50 and 21 respectively before the drawing of stumps, three wickets then being down lor 115 runs. '/ Colt Shapes Nicely.

North Shore won the loss in the match with \ .MX'.A. at North Shore and took advantage of a perfect wicket to bat first. Wickets fell quickly for a start, but Xettleton arid Geirard called a halt, taking the score from 62 for four wickets to 116 for five. Xettleton played nice cricket to compile his 36, chiefly with crisp shots behind the wicket. Gerrard also batted attractively for 28, showing much more power in his shots than usual. Ferguson, a promoted colt, shaped nicely in scoring a quick 26, while Saunders played one of his best innings this season, running up 35 in a very short time. Rankin was tho only remaining batsman to attack tho bowling, securing 27 before being bowled. The innings closed for 202 runs. The Y.M.C.A. bowling was steady throughout. The batsmen wero prevented from taking many risks by the good length maintained by the bowlers. Cooper again made a good showing to secure six wickets for 48. Ho had most of tho batsmen on tha dofensive during the innings. 'A. Riddolls also trundled well in taking three wicl'#ts for 40. N 'Y.M.C.A. v»as left with about 30 jninnte# to bat .and lost two wickets for > allium!. if ! v v 1 K; ■■