Championship Matches.

NZ Truth, Issue 125, 9 November 1907, Page 3

Championship Matches.

\■■' I Old Sol was on his best behaviour on Saturday, and his goad in^ fluence was responsible for drawing a big crowd to the Basin Reserve, where another • heat of the Senior Championship vas begun, the contesting parties being Midland v. Gasworks, Wellington v. Phoenix, and Newtown y. Old Boys. . The wicket was again m first-class run-gettin-g order. . When 6.30 o'clock came round, heralding the drawing of stumps for the day, the scores 'm the respective games, stood as follows :—Gas Company 246. Midland 27 for 1 wicket; Phoenix 183, Wellington 23 'for 4 wickets; Newtown 61, Old Boys' 210. Gas Company started off none too well against its formidable opponents, Midlands, losing two wickets for 13 runs, Watson being given run out and Hodge caught at the wicket. Gourlay, who had been batting \vell, was then joined by his captain—Dredge—and these two so collared the bowling that it,. seemed as though they were there "for the afternoon. Dredge, however, m attemoting to drive Patrick, was easily caught by Barron :at coverpoint. ' ' : \ Little Waugh came next, and quickly rattled up 32 before foolishly running himself out. He should remember that for the sake of a run it is not-worth while risking a wicket. When, m heaven's name, will Waugfo cure himself of this pernicious habit ? Canning , became associated with Gourlay amd another ©otod 1 partnership followed, before the latter, who haa played a magnificent innings for 84. was given out 1.b.w.. to Stephenson. ... • Many of the spectators thought the decision was absolutely absurd, considering that the ball pitched outside the leg stump, and was breaking away. The umpire, who had previously given what seemed to be a wrong verdict m the case of Waters run out, should m future remember that the batsman should always have the benefit of. the doubt. Dick! Burke joined Canning, and' m quick and forceful style added 21 to his credit, as also did McKay for 17. . , •-...' Canning was,very slow m getting his 22—he eventually was run out. He should take more risks. The innings terminated about 5.50 o'clock for 247.. . Arnold Williams and Bruce opened for the Midland team, and before the score had reached double figures, Bruce ran himself but. When stumps were drawn, Midlands, were 21. for one wicket, Williams . (not out) 20, Mitchell (not out) 5. It is a long time since the Midland team had such a, leather-hunt-ing, and with the exception of one or two, it's fielding was good. Sisson has been left out of the Midlander's team for some reason or other. How is it that the selection committee always seem to leave out the wrong man ? I should say that Sisson should be m the team easily before Murphy, Wynyard, and Cunningham, who are really nothing startling. Sisson, moreover, is a very decent field, and a good bat, and he has [ not infrequently come to light when required. Gourlay. on his display last Sat- ■ urday, stands out as the most consistent bat this season. His play all round the wicket was really good and his hitting was rixade with capital judgment. One bajl from StepJienson he landed outside the ground m Adelaide-road. Providing there is no red-tape metnods Gourlay should be m the reps. this season all right. As things look now, the Gasworks should annex another two points at the expense of the Midlands when next Saturday's happenings cease. Cricket, -however, is, a funny game, and if the wicket be good Arnold Williams, Claude Hickson,' and others may bother the Gasworkers' trundlers and fieldsmen muchly. After being beaten so badly. by Petone, m my last wweek's notes I suggested that Phoenix should get up out of its ashes and pass the dose on to someone else, and . if it takes advantage of the good start made on Saturday, Wellington will most likely receive the -'dose." Things were not looking too brieht for Phoenix (Laws, 1 Little, and Gibbs being out for 23), when Waters be-' came associated with G. Burton, and started to bang Hales, Luckie, Fisher and Co. all over the ground. The Phoenix skipper played a great innings for 87 not out, and' seems to have regained some of? the form that won for him his place m the reps, for years. It was very hard luck for him that he could not get anyone to "hang on" until he 'reached the coveted three figures, the last man (Moore) being disposed of when Victor still required 13 to complete the 100, and he was then going "big- guns." Laws reached "doubles," and looked good for a few, when he patted one of "Mop" Hales' back to.him. Geo. Burton batted nicely for 27, when Nash, got a nice one past him. Burton, jnr., did-not follow his pa's lead, foein^ "outed" by the same bowler for a blob. This young player can make funs, and my advice to him—keep your heart up. McLennan gave two chances while making his 27—one to Martin Luckie at point, and another to O'Sullivan at square-leg. Martin . should use some bird-lime. He generally misses an easy one or two m- a match. Gibbs did not follow up his. previous good exhibition with a score, being bowled by Hales for a modest two. Wellington lias started badly—lß3 is a fair score to face—but still a mistake was made m sending m the tail. It commenced . the innings

at 5.'45, the ljglit was good, but wicket easy, and everything m favor of the batsmen. Naughton and Riahardson opened, the former being caught behind the wicket m Hickey's second over for a single. O'Sullivan was bowled with a good one from Laws when he had made a quartet. Nash played one of Hickev's into his wicket before 'he had scored, and ■•■ Richardson retired, caught m the slips by Waters off Laws, with eight to his credit—four wickets thus falling for 23 runs, Willis being 8 not out. This match should prove interesting, and Phoenix should iust about '■'do the trick." Newtown, all out, 61, almost explains itself. It looked like a sheer case of funk. The late performances of Tucker and . Monaghari had Newtowners practically, out before they went m. Newtown' s new importation m wicket-keeper Turner, who hails from' the other side, was shaping fairly well when he was run out through not knowing the boundaries. When there are boundaries it's the batsman's duty to acquaint himself of the fact, and save any 'heartburnings and don't knows. He shapes remarkably well* behind the pegs, although apparently a little over anxious, as he worked like a Trojan chasing balls that he should have left to his fellows. Wake up, Newtown, and take a leaf out of his book. I. expect to see some good work by: this individual m the near futures. Old Boys were very fair m the field. Monaghan bowled really well at times, but chucked a good few loose ones that should have been dealt with. He made the ball talk at times though, as his average denotes. Congratulate him on Ms "hat trickJ" First of season, and first m his career. .Do it: again when you meet the visiting reps. "Mony." Bail-shifter Blacklock wasn't as keen as I've seen him with the gloves. He gave one man an easy life. Tucker bowled only fairly well for him. He was unfortunate to jar his thumb pretty badly m taking a skier, and this gave him a bit of trouble when batting. None of the T^ewtowners .shaped with any remarkable degree of confidence, excepting, perhaps, Smith (15) I who is exhibiting good form m all departments of the, game this season. Alpe and Tilyard both batted briskl^ but want to exercise more patience. J, P. Blacklock top scpred for Old Boys, with a clean, crisp, and forceful displa* for 77. He banged several of the balls over the fence, one landing on the pavilion. He met his fate at the -hands of Smith, who brought ' off a brilliant right-handed catch m the slips. T-he spectators appreciate! Blacklpck ? s refreshingly aggressive innings j)y vigorous 'handclapping when he came pavilionwards. Ken Tucker batted attractively for 42, and Dickson (who was unbeaten when Old Boys had been upended for 210) with 20, Birch (18), and C. P. Blacklock were to the fore m the run-getting. Generally speaking, the Newtowncrs' fieldir"* and bowling- was decent enough to escape hostile criticism. Mills, who bagged five wickets at a cost of 37. trundled very steadily, and often stuck up the batsmen. Rvan and Smith each snapped a couple of victims. Smith made a name for himself by his clever catching of Blacklock m the slips, while he also dismissed Jacobs and Birch m the same position, i Frank Alpe made an excellent richt-handed catch at mid-off. The fieldsman jumped m at a hard drive by Tucker off Mills, the result being that Ken had to go pavilionwards..