CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18456, 18 January 1922, Page 8

CRICKET

By SUP. ' Local games were ■ resumed on Saturday with senior grade teams at full strength with tho exception of Carisbrook- University, several student members of this side being away on vacation. The North Ground had only one senior match —the first occasion this season. , - .. The fixture there was between Albion and Mernington, and was marked by four distinctive features —a shockingly weak exhibition of batting .-j>y Morningtqn; Lie restraint that Shepherd displayed in compiling'a score of 48; the vigorous display by Siedeberg, who compiled his 74 by. an exhibition of all-round strokes that was very satisfying to the spectators: and Shepherd s success with the ball, the right-hander bagging six wickets for 12 runs —all clean bowled.'

Alornington scored 45 with the fiat, and 20 extras brought the total score to 65. None of the batsmen reached double figures. Albion responded with 180, thus securing a lead of 115 on the first innings, which ought to ensure' them a three-point win. Shepherd’s style on a difficult wicket was in sharp contrast to his usual brilliance, for he adopted a solid defence, with now and again one of his crisp off drives past coyer. His 48 took him a long time to make, which merely goes ..to prove his versatility as a batsman., Spectators have seep him make a century in half the time it took him to register 48. His performance was meritorious, however, and is but another illustration that he is tb-day very nearly the finest batsman in New Zealand.

Siedeberg, still lame as a. result of /.a 'knock on the knee while on tour, gave an exhibition of battimr that aroused enthusiasm among onlookers. Two fine hits into Cumberland street yielded sixes, and ’ie laid the wood on with such power past •Cover and third man that fieldsmen had little chance of getting to them before the ball rattled against the fence for boundary scores.

Dunedin had a game on their own wicket on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday. This club, although, possessing the finest location in the city as a cricketing proposition, has had oijjy one day’s play this season prior to Saturday on its own ground, having lor various reasons had to shift round. They mot Carisbrook-University, and so far as the match has gone honours are easy. Dunedin has perhaps the upper hand with 223 in the score book, while the students have made an excellent start with 60 for no wickets. H. - C*. Alloo, evidently in fine form at present, is partnered by Kennedy, and both have scored evenly—26 each.

W, Higgins was in the scoring mood, and his 80 included several fine boundaries. Cherrio has been doing better than formerly, and it .is to be hoped that his scores of the last two Saturdays will give him sufficient confidence to enable him to keep going. Casey, 'Strang, and Bond all scored freely, and obtained 2i, 24, and 21 respectively. The bowling of the students was nothing great, and the wickets were evenly distributed, O’Shea (who does not play rcgiiIprly) gaining the best average with four for 40.

- Grange mot Carisbrook at Carisbrook, where wicket and outfield was slow after the drenching rain that fell during the week. Keast displayed capital form in the compilation of his score, and was assisted by Galland, Kenny, Chadwick, and a lad named Sansom, who was not out with 26. This young batsman has been attracting attention on the North Ground this season by reason of his keenness and enthusiasm’'during a match and his excellent all-round *vork. It is sincerely to bo hoped that the predictions for the young fellow’s future will materialise. Grange are undoubtedly in a winning position, the only question being whether it will lie a, two or three-point win. Their total score was 160. Carisbrook have nqt started well, as they have lost seven wickets for 63, and as all tho_ men likely to make runs are out, it is safe to forecast a small total in tho first innings. With improved weather (which does not appear to be at all likely at the time of writing) and a more perfect wicket they may do better in the second strike, and make a fight to save a point. ..However, their past performances do not warrant one in; feeling at all confident as to their ability to do things on a big_scale. The Grange wickets were well distributed ■ between five bowlers, Harraway doing well with three for 15, closely followed bv Wol- 1 stenholme and Livingstone. Galland secured four Carisbrook wickets for 23, and Keast two for 21. Beeby. for once in a way. did not get a wicket. COUNTRY WEEK. , With glorious weather on Monday, enthusiasts were looking forward to fine weather and a cricket feast for the rest of the week, but the elements willed otherwise, and yesterday it rained more or less heavily all day, necessitating a postponement of the opening . day until to-day, when it is ■hoped * better con;ciitibns will ■.! prevail.; The; town (clubs are placing , fairly ,(,stropg elevens ( in Sheffield—as strong as it is possible to get in the middle of the week—and those who visit the two grounds on which the matches are to be played may be assured that they will witness interesting play. , Cricket in country centres is known to be much stronger than for some years past, and the representatives chosen are expected to give a creditable display. Tho Umpires’ Association has appointed members; to control the games.

Wellington and Auckland, which have an equal number of wins for the Plunkst Shield, will meet at Auckland at the .end of this week to decide the winner of the shield. Mr D. M'Kenzue has selected a strong Wellington side, and I am inclined to favour their chance of winning. As an indication of', the strength of these rivals it ipay. be of intercsftjto note that while Auckland beat Canterbury and Otago comfortably Wellington also beat them both by slightly bigger margins. Agamst Otago Auckland scored 476 runs for 20 wickets ; average 23.8. Against Otago Wellington scored 402 runs for 10 wickets; average 40.2. Against Canterbury Auckland scored 447 runs for 12 wickets; average 37.25. Against Canterbury Wellington scored 262 for 12 wickets; average 21.83._ In this majch weather and wicket conditions somewhat favoured Wellington. Harold Watson, late of Otago and Canterbury, is giving great satisfaction as coach to the Wellington Association. Good judges of the game aver that Watson should have been appointed coach in Otago years ago'. Playing for Wanganui recently A. J. Hyder hit up 101 runs in 32 minutes. An exhibition or two of this description in Dun ; edin would be welcomed just at present. Umpires in test matches are drawn from a list prepared by the M.C.C., and they are paid £ls per match. Players receive £3O per match and the reserve men £2O. Amateurs are allowed railway fares and a sum of £2 per day for five days." Scorers are paid £5 per match. Recently, however, the amount paid the scorers has been raised, but what :t actually is is not stated in Wisden’s. There was a misunderstanding on the North Ground a week or so ago in regard to drawing stumps before the over is finished. The following should set this matter right and prevent a repetition“ Umpires should not call ‘time’ before the over is finished unless a wicket falls within two minutes of time.”

There was a close and exciting finish on Saturday last to the match in the senior championship contest at Wellington between the Wellington and Midland Clubs. The latter, with a score of 577 for seven wickets on the previous day’s play, continued their innings, but the last three wickets fell for one run, and the innings closed for 378. Several of the Wellington batsmen rose to the occasion, but when the eighth wicket fell the score was still nearly 100 runs behind the Midland total. The eighth wicket, however, added 86 runs, and the total for the innings was carried to 371 (Bray 80, Patterson, not out, 66, Hiddleston 59, Burton 56, Pauvel 42), Midland thus winning by 7 runs. Petcme, 259 and 15 for one wicket, beat Thorndon, 98 and 169, by nine wickets. Old Boys, 321 and 178,f0r one wicket (Tucker, not out, 102), won on the first innings by 13 runs from Y.M.C.A., 308 (H. Murphy 75, Binnie 43, Cox 47, White 39). Hutt, 195 (Aldorsley 68, Langford 431 secured an innings victory over Institute, 96 and 51.

bowls which had ample bias but were not stamped. He pointed out that country, players lost' some weeks’ bowling when compelled to send their bowls to Dunedin to get them tested. Mr Hewitt said that every player should have his bowls tested. Mr Meadowcroft said he would like the council to bring pressure to bear upon the Union Company to obtain concessions on tickets. Bowlers and golfers did not receive any concession. Mr Hanning stated that the com pant could not see its way to grant a concession Mr Pryde said it had been suggested to him that m doubles three bowls should be used by each player. / Another delegate suggested that the bowi,might be reduced to two bowls per nLavcr. It was resolved that the Union Compomy be approached with an appli(;ati ao ns <o granting a concession on tbs rate* oti sutaacum travelling to bowlers. A vote of thanks to the chair coCvtdcd the meeting