CRICKET NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11248, 11 April 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

CRICKET NOTES.

(liy "(-'over Point.") I f To. Ran boat Wanderers to-day they will both be level, 15 points each. I hardly think, however, that they can manage to pull this match off. If Taruheru beat United the latter have no chance of annexing the premiership. United may yet win their match, but with 6 wickets down for 12 l'uns against 106, seems a. forlorn outlook for them, although after Wanderers' wonderful recovery against Taruhern a couple of weeks back, one must be prepared foi surprises at any time. At the Victoria Domain last Saturday the wicket was a surprise packet lor the players ; it was absolutely the worst wicket prepared this season. After the fine weather during the week I was. thunderstruck to find the wicket liko soft putty; you could put your finger m it. Te , Uau won the toss, and, of course, piit the Wanderers m first, there being a. possible chance of the wicket improving. Pine and Scho field were the bowlers. Pine was unplayable at the start. Seven wickets fell for 27 runs' 1 ; most of the players were clean beaten, and were caught off desperate hits. Schofield towards the finish of Wanderers' innings was also bowling grandly, and finished up with 4 wickets for 15, which was a better average than Pine— s for 28. Pine broke right across' the wickeb from the off side, whilst Schofield turned them slightly from both sides. Te Eau's fielding was like their old form with only 48 runs to beat. Te Hail's skipper smiled sweetly— alas ! Harker was m his element, and 29 was Te' Rau's modest total. Pine; was rim out when going well, and Vallance was out Ibw after playing the ball— two unfortunate things for Te llau. The wicket was improving andl Te Rau failed badly m not passing their opponents' score. Wanderers then went m for- a s*eond time, and started again badly. Glennie was out- to a \yondertul onehand catch by Olsen at silly point,, and Judge and O'Donnell were both, beaten by Pine with fine off breaks, which both players scooped m the air m their wild endeavors to play. Harker and Babb, however, came to the .Wanderers' rescue, and after being let off several times by the over-anxious field, they hit the bowling about, find 'three for 68: was the score when, time was called— Hai ; ker 40 (not out) was a fine free, innings. He \\as twice -badly missed, but for all that his play was an outstanding" feature of the match. Babb m a lesser degree batted well, and Te Ran will have; to use their heads to' shift this most patient and finished batsman next Saturday, liabb's defence is well-night impregliable when set, -and on Saturday he brought off one or two nice -square outs and glances. Pine "again bowled well, also .Schofield, but were unlucky.

At Taruheru. the. surprise of the season took place. After Taruheru 'had made 106, of which Sharpies had made 30, six United men were disposed of for 12 runs. Ye gods, what a full ! Young' and Charles were \inplayable. Amongst these six wickets were those of W. andj J. Gibson,' who the previous week had put, up the > best rssordt for any partnership m local cricket. With only 2^ hours to play next Saturday, United ? s chance of a three-point victory seehi.s hopeless.- Burke and Reynolds were. not a success, and Hallamore and. Coop got the wickets for United. Coop's five for 15 was a good performance. To-day finishes tho last round m the clubs' championship. , ; Next Thursday arid Friday a representative eleven meet the champion club team of Auckland, the Eden Club. On Easter Saturday a mixed eleven meet Eden, arid on Monday a Thursday representative team, will try conclusions. Of- the representative team for Thursday the following eight players should be picked :— Young, Harke'r, , Lasker, Babb, J. Gibson, Pine, W. Gibson, and Hallamore. The other three will probably come from— Wack (2), Reynolds, Cary t Olsen^ Vallance, Xarig, Glennie, Burke, Baxter, McConnell and [Gorman. If Howden plays it will ipiake one lexs for the selectors to ponder over. The Thursday representatives should be something like the- following :— WH. Wack, ,1. H. • Wack, ..D'argan,'/ Pine, Lang, Miller, Austin, Baxter, Roderick, Brown, and! Bovymah, with Grant and Emanuel to. fill any gap. / There is one thing the selectors must nof forget, and that is to have players who will have past experience to help them when they go to the' wickets, especially as the Eden' team have a fine fielding team as well as bowlers, and anything.. in the air will find sure resting places. Amongst the eight placers mentioned by yours truly I have one colt only, and m picking Pine I do so because I think he has great courage,! and I feel confident he Avill meet the occasion. If the selectors pick any country player it will most likely be either Ludbrook or ' f aimer, .both experienced players. I believe one of our most enthusiastic Thursday players will be leaving for the 'other side'— Reginald Emanuel. Born m Sydmey, he naturally has . the born, instinct of the cricketer, but combined with this, he has proven himself whilst amongst us to be of the sunny, cheerful kind. It did not matter ' to Reginald whether he was .m the field all day; he was happy, he loved the good old game, and always made one feel happy by showing "it m his face. Although not a champion, Emanuel was a decent bat and fair change bowler, and a particularly good fieldi.