SATURDAY'S CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21049, 7 December 1931, Page 11

SATURDAY'S CRICKET.

BATSMEN'S BETTER FORM. HIGHER SCORES REGISTERED. STEADY BOWLING OF ALLCOTT. Y.M.C.A MAKES GOOD TOTAL. Flip, all-round improvement shown by batsmen on Saturday was decidedly pleasing in view of the forthcoming Plunket Shield matches. Although it took several batsmen a good time to strike form it is safe to assume that Auckland will now place a strong eleven in the field against Wellington, providing all players are available. At one stage Ponsonby seemed likely to conipilo a large total against Grafton. Snedden, who commenced the innings with Clark, was batting well and confidently until he played a poor shot to a delivery from Cowie and was clean bowled. Singleton and Clark then became associated in the best partnership of tho innings, 81 runs being added before Horspool broko through Singleton's defence. Singleton, the ex-Parncll player, gave easily his best exhibition this season, putting plenty of power bohind his scoring shots. Montcith failed to get a start but the veteran, S. G. Smith, soon became aggressive and had contributed a bright 31 when he lost his wicket in attempting to force the pace against Allcott. In one over Smith hit three fours at the expense of Horspool and his runs were most valuable to Ponsonby at tho time. Clark was dismissed without further addition to the total. Tho retiring batsman had tho honour of making top score and he gave a solid display for 60. Although a littlo fortunate with some snicks through tho slips, other shots were well placed and nicely timed. The remaining Ponsonby batsmen gave littlo trouble, the last six wickets falling for 30 runs. Taylor, who was making his first appearance this season, made 19, but was obviously out of form. Steady Bowling. Both Allrott arid Cowie bowled very steadily throughout. The lastnamed maintained his length and pace well in sending down 23 overs, 6 maidens, for 51 runs and four wickets. Allcott's performance speaks for itself, ifo bowled 25 overs, eight maidens, for 49 runs and four wickets. Horspool. by taking- two wickets, proved an effective change bowler. Grafton has not commenced well, losing two wickets for 24 runs. N. C. Snedden has claimed both victims at a cost of only six runs in five overs. A perfect wicket and a fast outfield left R. Frater, tho Y.M.C.A. captain, little choice when ho won the toss in the match with University on No. 2 wicket at Eden Park. Elliott and T. Lyon opened the Y.M.C.A. innings against tho bowling of Mathcson and Schnauer. 'i ho bowlers kept a splendid length and runs, as a result, were difficult to get. Lyon plodded along, giving everything I ho full face of the bat, but as Elliott began to get a better sight of tho ball he opened his shoulders, scoring all around the wicket with powerful forcing shots. Elliott continued to bat strongly in spite of frequent bowling changes and compiled a sterling 67 before being dismissed. His score included 10 boundaries, two of which were sixes. Frater Bats Aggressively. Frater partnered Lyon and batted aggressively. Ho sent the ball to the boundary on several occasions, including a fine straight drive for six. He was unfortunate to bo run out with his score at 41. T. Lyon had returned to the pavilion after a sound innings for 22, during which he had taken the edge, off the bowling. Riddolls and Miller failed to get a start. Then Sutherland and P. Webb became associated, the last-named compiling 48 in quick time, while Sutherland went on in partnership with M. Clark to add 107 for the eighth wicket. Both batted aggressively, hitting the bowlers in all direct ions. M. Clark made 62, while Sutherland had also giveji a fine exhibition for 51, liofc out, when timo was called with 322 runs on the board for nine wickets. The University attack, headed by Matheson and Schnauer, was steady throughout and it was only the aggressive tactics adopted by the batsmen, combined with the easy wicket which made runs come so readily. Matheson took the most wickets, his figures reading six wickets for 115 runs. Batsmen on Top. First use of a perfect wicket at Eden Park was fully appreciated by King's Old Bovs' team, which compiled the good total of 281 in the match against Eden. The batsmen made runs their object and helped considerably by an attack which lacked sting, set their opponents a big hurdle to surmount. Caughey and Morris started the innings against tho attack of G. L. Weir and Postles, the last-named failing to settle down. Caughey and McMillan were then associated in a fine partnership which realised 59 runs. Straight driving was a characteristic of both batsmen while several pretty leg shots were also played. Caughey reached 36 before being dismissed by Postles. McMillan and Pearson continued to bat well. McMillan left with tho total at 122, his score being 54. Pearson also passed the fifty mark before falling to Mcßae, after a nice innings, the total at this stage reading 161 for four wickets. Three wickets fell in quick succession, but Johnson and Simpson effected a fine recovery, attacking the bowlers, who had

just previously looked like establishing an ascendancy. The pair hit cleanly and effectively at anything loose, Johnson compiling 45 and Simpson 39. The Eden fielding was not as good as usual, while the howling lacked sting. Weir proved most successful with the ball, taking five wickets for 78. Postles spcured four for 65. Parnell appears to be in a comfortable position at the end of the first day's play against the local team at North Shote. Batting nearly all tho afternoon, Parnell had little difficulty in reaching a total of 254. When stumps were drawn one North Shore wicket had fallen for nine runs. Whitelaw and Hay, the opening Parnell batsmen, did not take long to get tho measure of the bowling, and runs came fairly quickly. They took the total to 42, when Hay was dismissed with 19 against his name. Whitelaw was at his ease throughout, and saw both Vivian and McCoy return to the pavilion before he lost his wicket. His splendid total of 68 included one six and six fours. Vivian's tally of 29 included a six and three fours. Two fine sixes were hit by Anthony in his score of 32. Hawke was tho most enterprising batsman, however, for his vigorous 36 included seven fours. Duncan, who was unbeaten with 28, was the only other batsman to impress. Of the North Shore bowlers Sanders began well, and at one stage his figures read ono for four and then two for eight. He finished with four wickets for 58 runs. Coates also bowled consistently, his three wickets costing 49. 11. T. Webb was hit about at first, but improved later, his last seven overs including four maidens. With the light failing the opening North Shore batsmen wero very subdued. SUBURBAN MATCHES. HARBOUR BOARD'S BATTING. PROSPECTS OF MOUNT ALBERT. Harbour Board gave an outstanding exhibition of batting against Green Lane and its high score was a feature of the Suburban Cricket Association's matches on Saturday. The convincing manner in which tho batsmen attacked the bowling proved Harbour Board to bo a strong batting eleven. Tho wicket was perfect and reflected credit on the groundsmen. Luck favoured Wetherill in winning the toss and this meant a great deal on such a wicket. Dunning and R. Stallworthy played a few overs carefully, but soon opened out to the loose ones. Stallworthy played some nice shots through the covers and drove well on tho offside. The partnership was broken when Scarborough relieved Kerr. The fast bowler beat both batsmen in successive overs. Dunning hit four fours, while Stallworthy added three. Hendy followed and played delightful cricket, scoring with beautifully timed shots between the bowler and mid-off. Williams, a left-hander, adopted defensive tactics, and scored 33, mostly by singles. His late Cuts wero well timed. Hendy gave a chance at 52, and was fortunate to survive an appeal for caught behind. His useful innings came lo an end at 74, when Lonergan held one behind the wickets. Hendy's score included two sixes and seven fours. Wetherill, the Harbour Board captain, soon got going and scored with perfect confidence. Ho attacked the bowling, and for a timo the fielding becamo a little slack. Powerful pull shots and several nice leg glances saw Wetherill carry his scoro to 50. He went on to register the first century of the season in exactly 80 minutes. A minute later he jumped out and hit Seccombe. C. Watts ran smartly and right on the boundary effected a beautiful catch. Wetherill, who was in his best form, scored 13 fours. L. Martin did some hard hitting, his score of 24 including a six and three fours. Mann and E. Stallworthy made a good last-wicket stand, which added 33 to Harbour Board's score. The total reached 355. easily the largest this season. Ponsonby's bowlers, Bennett and Robertshaw, enjoyed a fair amount of success by dismissing five Invicta batsmen for 35 runs. Bennett bowled particularly well and at one stage had sent down nine overs, five of them maidens for two wickets and four runs. It was left to R. Burton to save Invicta. He played splendid cricket, and in spite of the loss of an eye he. timed his shots nicely and always with the full face of the bat. His six off Robertshaw was a fine effort. Burton was eventually bowled by Bennett for 85. His score included 12 fours and a six. Morman, 29, was the only other to make runs. This was his first appearance with Invicta and the batting should be strengthened as a result. Ponsonby made a good start, and had a chance of improving its position in the championship. Lewis, 15, and V iscoc, 22, were unbeaten at stumps. Good bowling and keen fielding were shown by Mount Albert in its match against 11. V., which eleven was dismissed for 136. Several individual efforts were full of merit. Mills batted forcefully for 23, which included'three fours. Cullum added 29 in good style, his shots past point being nicely executed. T. Simpson, 21, played good cricket. Newdick was in good form behind the stumps. His dismissal of Guiniven was a smart piece of work. Butler and Mills shared the bowling honours for Mount Albert. Tho first-named secured seven for 53, and Mills three for 23. Mount Albert looks like winning its third successive match, having scored 111 runs for the loss of four wickets. Ihe opening pair, Aicken, 21, and Spence, 23, played sound cricket. Butler was more aggressive and hit up 32 in twenty minutes.