CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23118, 18 February 1937, Page 4

CRICKET

By 8119

FIXTUBI Ittbcuuy 19, 20, 22, 2&—Otago y. Canterbury, at Carisbrook. SENIOR PERFORMANCES In direct contrast to the perfect weather conditions prevailing on the first day of, the latest round of senior grade matches, the players on Saturday last had anything but a pleasant experience. The rain during the week had soaked the, grounds, while the showers which fell during the day of play created a greasy surface which made batting, bowling, and fielding somewhat uncertain. NIMMO EFFECTIVE When Grange, having been disposed of in its first innings for 180 in response to Carisbrook A’s 414, followed on at 4.30, there appeared to be a possible chance of Carisbrook securing an eight-point win. But after Knight, Toomey, and Elmes had gone_rather cheaply, Chettleburgh and Galland held the fort manfully, and no more wickets fell, so that Carisbrook’s gam In points was confined to five. The highlights of the earlier stages were Elmes's valuable and well-made 64 and 'Nimmo’s “ bag ” of seven wickets for 60. Elmes picked the right balls to hit, and hit them hard, nine 4’s being included in his total, three of them being from successive balls from Nimmo. He should, however, have been taken by Kerr at long-on when 33. Dunning eventually got him with an in-swinger which cannoned on the batsman’s foot into the stumps. As to Nimmo’s bowling performance, it was a particularly good one, in that never during the dgy was the tall bowler “ flat out.” Apparently the slippery -nature of the turf behind the wickets made it unwise,, perhaps dangerous, for a fastish bowler to swing into full action. Consequently Nimmo compelled to take a comparatively short run, was below, his usual pace, •while his direction was often at fault. Nevertheless, he sent down now and again, a clinking ball which had the batsmen badly beaten. Puttie When Grange batted again, Chettle burgh, who had shaped quite well for 24 in the first innings-, settled downto one of the soundest displays he has given this season. He watched the ball well and used judgment on placmg it, several 4's coming to him for drives past or over the bowler to country which was left strangely unprotected. This uncompleted 82 was a fine effort. Galland, after a somewhat shaky start, also settled down to stay, the pair scoring freely towards the “Knight’s 32 in the .first Innings, Joy the way, was got in that sound bats man’s best style,..and his dismissal was brought about by a smart catch behind the wickets.. Dunning also may he commended for his steady bowling, though there were periods when it might have paid him to relinquish the ball for a while. His persistency gained him three wickets, but at a cost of do runs. M'Kay; in Grange’s second knock, bowled very well for -a few overs and took two of the three wickets which fell. ... AN EXCITING FINISH It was a clbse- call for University on Saturday, and a'bit of wild excitement characterised 'the • closing- minutes or the match with Carisbrook B. -There was more or leiss of a breathless hush in the stand, for it was, 13 /to,; make and the match to win when the last men went in. The runs came slowly, and then, with the scores equal, a tap down the pitch, a desperate scramble, and the match was won. But onlyjust, for a run-out ended the inningsi iitimediately afterwards. It was Chrime and Lawson who got those last 13 runs, prior to which Ibbotson (54), Gowland (34), and Henderson (22) had done their best to settle the issue earlier. Carisbrook, hoping their luck would turn, hit up a quick 112 for five and closed, Betting getting 42 not out, but the miracle did. not happen, steady batting and a timely (or untimely) shower cf rain putting an end to things when one University wicket had fallen for 29 runs. It was Stevenson, the Carisbrook B bowler, who was largely responsible for University’s anxiety, for in six overs he took three late wickets for seven runs, ANOTHER CLOSE CALL Another narrow win was that which Albion obtained over Kaikorai,, and, here againthe Tuck'' of the game” was demonstrated, for the hill team, with only six runs needed for victory and nine wickets down, had, perforce, to admit defeat because the side was a man short. It was a gallant effort, though, to compile 253 in response-to Albion’s 257. Talbot again gave. an excellent display of clean, forceful hitting; one of .'those innings which he was wont to play when wearing Canterbury colours. ' He and M'Gregor were associated in. a spirited partnership which produced 98 runs and bade fair to smash Albion's hopes. M'Gregor, who made 32, batted with his customary soundness, and Constable put together a neat 20. Silver did a lot of hord work, but the dead wicket took much of . the sting out of his bowling, and in 36 overs he captured three wickets for 87. Shepherd and Allen also had long leases at the crease and were rewarded with a couple of wickets each. AN OUTRIGHT WIN Old Boys improved its position by registering the only outright win, the victims being Dunedin, who, without Badcock (still, apparently, on the injured list), was incapable of preventing its opponents from beating them pointless. There were far more single-figure scores than scores of double figures during the day, and Douglas’s 44 not out in Dunedin’s second knock, and Payne’s bright 30 when Old Boys batted a second time, were the only really worthy efforts, A good bowling performance, however, was Macassey’s six for 43, the Dunedin skipper finishing up Old Boys’ innings in fine style. THE CHOSEN EIGHT The New Zealand selectors have chosen eight of the 14 players for the English tour, and have displayed sound judgment in their choice, though seven of the eight—namely, Page, Vivian, Roberts, Wallace, Moloney, Carson and Hadlee practically picked themselves. The eighth man, Kerr, is undoubtedly a fine bat, but he has been having a lean time this season. Further, it must be remembered, he was not a tremendous success in England in 1931, being practically last on the list of recognised batsmen with an average of 22.97 for 35 completed innings. However, he should do better than that on this occaThe balance of the team will be chosen after the Otago-Canterbury match next week, and the main difficulty which the selectors will experience will be in choosing the bowlers. It was surprising to find the selectors still doubtful concerning the wicketkeeper, for Tindill’s performance, as reported, behind the sticks, added to his fine batting in the second innings of the match against Auckland, should have clinched the matter in his favour. It is possible that Blandford may still be in the running. Gallichan is another player whose performances have warranted his inclusion; indeed, there are many who consider he should have gone Home in 1931. His style of bowling ought to be effective on English wickets. However, it will not be long now before we will know the names of the fortunate 14, and it is inevitable that at least four or five others will be regarded as unlucky to miss the trip.

An Auckland scribe, by the way, includes in his chosen 14 Whitelaw. Wallace, Vivian, Mathoson, Carson, Weir and Cowie, giving Elmes a sporting chance of beating Donnelly for a -place. This northern critic has obviously overlooked Emery, Spring, Garrard. Marshall and one or two , others \Vho play, for Auckland. THE CANTERBURY MATCH The Otago team to meet Canterbury In the match" beginning at Carisbrook to-morrow is the same as that which was soundly defeated by Auckland at the New Year, except that M'Gregor ■ has been dropped - and Nimmo - included. Robertson, the Dunedin allrounder, is twelfth man. Thus Otago will have two bowlers of fastish pace, two of medium pace, and three slow, quite a fair battery. And four or five ofthese will be showing off their • paces before the New .Zealand selectors—or before tljose members of it who will find ..It convenient to be - present. There Mve been occasions this season when commendable performances have taken place, but not under the eyes of any of the four selectors. ; 'I. ‘ ' ' Let us hope that we will ,sec some spirited cricket -during the next few days; se'C the plavers putting plenty of bat into their batting, vim into their bowling, and sparkle into their fielding. Let them, the players, “make believe” that no selectors are present; that runs may be' got : and .--Wickets taken as in club matches; that' the, whole thing is a joyous occasion!: Would it not be nice if this dream came true? DARLING FOE ADELAIDE South Australia has secured still another test representative from a sister State. Already they had Grimmett (from Victoria), Badcock (from Tasmania), and Bradman (from New South Wales), and now L. Darling, the dashing Victorian left-hander who has represented Australia in a number of test matches at home and abroad, has transferred his domicile to Adelaide, where he has accepted a position which offers more opportunity for advancement than his present clerkship in the office of the Melbourne Cricket Club. With a full ■ team available, South Australia should take some beating in the Sheffield Shield contest of 1937-38. A “LUSH-OUS” OVER That there are occasions upon which a batsman does hit the ball, and hit it hard, is proven every now and again, when a report—usually of a club match—tells of a burst of entertaining “ fireworks.” Recently, for instance, spectators at a First Grade match in Sydney were thrilled when a player with the cricket-like name of Sid Barnes scored 190 not out in 172 minutes, the last 90 in 42 minutes. In one over from Lush he scored 40 runs —four sixes and four fours, and Lush, be it said, is the New South Wales representative fast bowler who caused the Englishmen a lot of trouble the other day. Barnes, in all, hit five sixes and 25 fours. A REAL ALL-ROUNDER The title of all-round cricketer may be applied in very truth to D. Tallon, Queensland’s champion wicketkeeper, who has also made many fine scores for his State. In a recent club match in Brisbane Tallon, discarding the gloves for Colts against University, went on to bowl, and took six wickets for 67 runs. Colts won by an innings and 145 runs. There is no question about Tallon being one of Australia’s leading players, and it would not be surprising to find him touring England next year. He promises to become a second Ames. THE LIGHTER SIDE Humorous incidents do sometimes manage to obtrude even into “big" cricket. At Adelaide, when the Englishmen were-playing South Australia, Barnett was bowling when a "willy wag-tail ” calmly hopped into the picture, alighting on the wicket and proceeding to examine it closely. Once the bowler stopped in his stride while the bird was hunted away. Even when Leyland attempted to snare it with his cap it refused to leave the scene of action. Then, during the Adelaide test, radio listeners will remember Vic Richardson, while broadcasting the details of play, mentioning that a “moth or something persisted in flitting about in the air between the wickets. Bradman drew the attention of the umpire to the intruder, and that obliging official stalked and caught the insect, receiving applause for the deed. “And he caught it at the first attempt,” commented the announcer. “Joe Scott was not always so sure with his catches when he played for South Australia."