DISTRICT CRICKET.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 867, 20 November 1916, Page 2

DISTRICT CRICKET.

THE FIRST GRADE MATCHES. Willi the conclusion, last Saturday of the second series of matt lies in the Canterbury Cricket Association's first grade competition, the eight teams engaged sorted themselves oul a little in their positions on the premiership ladder. Two teams, Linwood and West Christchureh, have started the season with two wins apiece, but Linwood, last season's champion team, is a point in the lead. The positions of the teams are shown in the appended table.

The Defeat of Christ's College. In a mild wav, the match between Linwood and Christ's College was illustrative of the uncertainty which is one of the delights of cricket. The end of the first day's play had left the scores fairlv well 'balanced. Linwood had a lead of only 21 runs on the first innings, and in its second effort Christ's College had wiped 15 runs off the deficiency without losing a wicket. The College loam is quite a good batting side when it puts all its heart into a game. Considering, then, that the match was resumed in splendid weather for cricket, and it was played on a fine battingwicket on the College grouud, and considering, moreover, that the Linwood players have not shown, by attendance at the nets, any great concern for getting into form', the Collegians should have made a, much better fight of it than they did. They were beaten by eight wickets. Probably the majority of the College players had an exaggerated respect for the bowling of R. Read and A. W. Thomas. For a time it looked as if the College boys would give Linwood quite a tussle for the extra point which the older team desired to gain. After W. T. Rich had been vorked by Perrin, with his score at -» six and the total at 21, T. C. Lowry and W. S. W. Averill put on 49 runs for the second wicket. Lowry raised hopes of a good score from his bat, for he played With some restraint, and scored with pretty carpet strokes on both sides of the wicket. But he was just a little too eager to score off Read, and when ho had got to 28, which included five fours, he put a ball from that bowler, into the slips, where, H. Perrin brought off a good catch, close to the ground. Meanwhile, Averill was scoring well, and when A. F. Hindmarsh set about playing himself in before thinking of scoring, it was hoped that the third wicket would also produce a useful

partnership. But Hindmarsh was not as good as usual in his off strokes, and .after he had made a single in a partnership total of 14, he poked one from Read into the hands of Thomas, in the slips. The next ball from Read shifted 11. W. Macfarlane's off stump, and a "rot" had set in properly. R. C. Blunt, a nice, steady batsman as a rule, was too eager to turn a single into a brace, and was run out after he had made three. Before the score had shifted from the !)5 showing at the time of Blunt's dismissal. Averill was bowled by Thomas, and the end came within sight. The innings closed at 121. Of the eight batsmen who followed T. C. Lowrv, only one, J. N. Dowry, got double figures, and lie did it by hitting three fours. But for the 48 scored by Averill, the score-sheet would have presented a

poverty-stricken look. Averill was rather lucky in staying so long. Everything that was pitched on the wicket was played by him very well, but he was weak on the off, and several times off-breaks just missed his stumps. Several times, too, he was lucky in the shots he got through the slips. lie has a bad habit of bending the right knee in making a stroke. However, Averill dc serves credit for the coolness and steadiness of his batting in general.

R. Read kept a good length. He bowled 19 overs, of which three were maidens, and took five wickets for 55 runs. A. W. Thomas got three for 1)2 in 1-1.5 overs, of which three were maidens. E. Perrin was the only other man who had a share in the attack. His one wicket cost 22 runs.

Linwood cut the afternoon short by scoring the 10.'? runs required for a tlirec points win in a little over threequarters of fin hour, and leaving over an hour and a half to spare. Opening j confidently against the bowling or! Blunt ami Matson, E. Perrin, and G. Tate looked as if they might get all the runs themselves. Matson's length was poor tor a time. Then he happened to send down a ball of very good length, and it seemed to take Tate by surprise. Incidentally, it also took that batsman's off stump, " 241 —10. A. Grant, who cannot be expected to be in form yet, was lucky. After he had hit a six oil' Blunt, he was given a "life" off that bowler, by Sugden, fielding in the slips. Grant got 32 riot out. Giving a good exhibition of driving, most of his scoring shots being well timed carpet drives, T). Perrin scored 54 in 40 minutes, and then was dismissed by a good catch by Macfarlane, near the boundary. Perrin hit nine fours. Head, who then joined Grant, went, in when 12 runs were required for the win. He played the rest of that over. Grant took the score up to 07, and then Read faced Avcrill. A hit for six brought up the required number of runs. Another ball was delivered by Averill before the scorers checked the tally, and communicated to the umpires and players the fad that the'game was finished, and off that extra ball Read was caught by S. I). Reeves, near the boundary. However, as the game was over before that. Road is credited wit li u " not out.'' Sensational Bowling. The element id' doubt which predominated as a feature of the concluding afternoon's play in the West Christchurch and Hast Christelmreh game kept the spectators' interest alive for nearly three hours. It looked, at one stage, as though East would top West's first innings total, but the last batsman was scut back with 34 runs still wanted. Jt appeared, at that time, that (he game was as good as completed, but Howell so waded through the pioneer batsmen in West's second innings that a collapse seemed possible. Reese and Roxshall, however, came to the rescue at the critical moment and placed their side in an unassailable

position. Howell, when four wickets were down, had obtained three of these for ten runs. lie bowled consistently J throughout West's second innings; and, although eight wickets realised 183 runs, at which stage the innings was closed, lie came out with six wickets for 42 runs—a most, meritorious performance. East, with only 25 minutes left, in which to get over 200 runs-, did not face the music, a second time, West thus scoring a two-points win. While. Howell's bowling performance was a. striking one, that of Nelson was even more so, inasmuch as it won the match for his side. When play was resumed East, with 150 runs in arrears, and with seven wickets in hand, quickly set to work to reduce the gap. Criehton and Connal hatted confidently, treating Reese's howling with respect at the outset. They carried the score to 104, when Connal fell a victim to Hammond. His score of 54 was compiled by correct, patient cricket, and included six fours. F. Woods, the cx-Sydenham and Canterbury representative, joined Criehton, and the pair hit right merrily until the score was carried to 150. After various bowlers had been tried, Nelson Trent on. Twelve runs later Woods hit the new bowler to Reese, at square leg, the telegraph then reading 1(52—5—26. East, with Criehton batting well, and with four other wickets to fall, had only (il to get to reach West's total. But disaster came quickly. Williams and Howell were bowled by Nelson before 170 was reached, and a few minutes later Criehton skied a ball from Nelson in the direction of Sir Cecil Moon, who, running back, brought off a difficult catch. Criehton's was an attractive and valuable innings. He saw 141 runs added during his two hours' stay, and his score of 57 was compiled by faultless cricket. Nelson's performance was as sound as it was valuable. He mixed his bowling with good effect, and got the most of his pickets with an off-break which nipped •off the pitch like a /lash. His six wickets were obtained at the small cost of 20 runs. The wicket played fairly well, but the outfield, in spite of obvious rolling and other attention, was a long way from perfection. lii West's second innings Boxshall and Reese batted soundly, though both batsmen were uncomfortable when facing Howell. The latter had no support, however, the other bowlers being expensive.

The bowling analyses for both sides are as follow: —West Christchureh (East's first innings): —Nelson: 7 overs, 1 maiden, 20 runs. 6 wickets; Reese: 24, 5, 61, 3; Watson:' 4, 1, 7, 0; Hammond: 8, 0, 36, 0; Holland: 4, 1, 13, 1; Butters:

1, 0, 10, 0; Foster: 3, 0, 20, 0. East Christchureh (West's second innings):—Howell: 14 overs, 2 maidens, 42 runs, 6 wickets; Williams: 11, 0, 45, 2; Criehton: 4, 0, 30, 0; Pengelly: 2, 0, 12, 0.

Davison Bowls Well. Having scored 340 in its first innings, and captured two St. Albans wickets at a cost of 12 runs, Riccarton had high hopes of a three-points win. When two more wickets fell, with only 25 runs as the total, an even rosier tinge edged Riccarton 's expectations. But, though L. Davison was bowling really well, St. Albans developed an unexpected resistance. L. A. Gordon, skipper of the bailing side, set a good example by scoring 20, and S. Johns imitated him. J, S. Burrett improved on the example with 34, and so the tail wagged strongly, the last wicket not being captured until 151 showed on the board. Davison was the bowler who kept the St. Albans tail from wagging more mightily. He had taken the two wickets which fell on the first day, and now he got five more, making his "bag" seven for 51, in 20 overs, five of which were maiden?. His bowling was of a good length/ kept low, and turned a little from the off.

St. Albans had to follow on, and there was plenty of time for Riccarton to get rid of it again, provided the quality of the attack could be maintained, lint the stiffening process in the St. Albans batting had increased. Barrett and Johns, in particular, had little trouble in scoring. The former, one of [he fust batting pair, got 41. Then an open field on the on side tempted him into trying to hook a straight ball from A. W. Olsen, and he was bowled. Johns was in excellent form. Driving was the feature of his innings, and it was quite good driving. Off four successive balls from Olsen he smacked IS runs —three, i'ouis and a six. Then, by way of contrast, he scored seven singles. He did not give a chance, until he got to 7,'!, when he gave one to W. Simpson, fielding, as a substitute, at cover. But Simpson dropped it, probably through some "chaffing" which he was receiving from one of two members of another (dub, who were seated by the pavilion. However, before Johns could add to his score he was caught by Davison, in the deep field. Johns hit 12 fours. L. MeNae got 34 and R. Twynehani 35 not out, and time was called with the score at 247 for seven wickets. So Riccarton had to be content with two points. Davison had his bowling average made less imposing in this innings, his one wicket costing 37 runs. Olsen, with four for 40, was the most successful this time. The game was played at Ilagley Park, on a good batting wicket. Sydenham's Three Points Win.

Low scoring prevailed throughout the match between Boys' High School and Sydenham, played at Sydenham Park. On the first day Sydenham got a lead of 30 runs, scoring 135 to School's 90, and then getting three wickets for nine runs iu School's second innings. After the game was resumed last Saturday, G. ('. Austin, I). T. Maxwell, and F. W. Mehrtcns were the only High School batsmen who reached double figures against the bowling of D. Meßeth and J. McEwin. Mehrtens got 27 not out. The innings closed at So, School batting one short.

That left Sydenham to get -17 runs to turn the win into a three points one. But the securing of those runs cost. Sydenham five wickets, the usual "tailendei'H," who were put in early this time, breaking down against the bowling of Woods, Bucklnirst, and Mehrtens. I'ritehard, however, got 21 not out. After the winning hit was scored, the innings was continued as n "friendly" one, and Sydenham reached 127 before Ihc- last wicket fell. J. Gray getting 32, S. Ilincksniau 20, and W. R. Patrick 12 not out. In the whole innings L. S. Woods took Jive wickets for 37 runs, but only two of them fell in the competition play.

THE DAY'S HONOURS. FIRST GRADE BATTING. S. Johns (St. Albans) 7,' i .). W. Urichton (East Christchurch) 57 ('.. Connal (East Christchurch) .. 51 K. Perrin (Liuwood) 5i D. Reese (West Christchuicb) .. .. 50

SECOND GRADE BATTING. R. Graham (St. Albans li) .... SO S. W. Hickmott (St. Albans A) .. 70t Webster (St. Albans A) 70f R. E. Boag (West Christchurch) .. 53* Morris (Technical College) .. .. 52 THIRD GRADE BATTING. Nicholson (Riccarton) 7.S* C. Williams (Christ's College.B) .. (17 Hcarlield (Technical College) .. .. 52t Powell (Boys' High School A) .. ~ 52 Wilson (Christ's College A) .. .. 50 * Not out. t Retired. FIRST GRADE BOWLING. .1. A. Nelson (West Christchurch). sir. for 20. 1). Mcßcth (Sydenham), lour Cor 20. W. Howell (Hast Christchurch), six for 12. 1,. Davison (Riccarton), seven for 51. A. W. Olsen (Riccarton), four for 40. A. W. Thomas (Unwood). three for 32. R. Read (Unwood), five for 55, ,(. McEwin (Sydenham), four for 17. SECOND GRADE HOWLING. Morland (St. Albans A), three lor 5. Doig (St. Albans A), six for 22. Donaldson (West Christchurch), three for 21. THIRD GRADE BOWLING. Stccre (Technical College), six for 8. A. Williams (Roys' High School B), four for 13 and seven for 15. It. Sinclair (boys' High School B), four for 10. Crookc (West Christchurch), four for 25, Hobbs (Boys' High School A), live for 3-1, Lecky (Boys' High School B), three for 20,

3-1 ma Mil tcl MlS K'S. 2-poin matchi ts 'S. -A. ,>w_ —,ci>p. \V. 1). L \V. I). I.. Pts. i,in\\ West (MXl . . Ch'ch 1 z. — 1 — 2 — 'l S\<IC! iihatn .. .. 1 — — — — 1 .'I Chris t's Col lege 1 — 1 _ — " •' EiCCH rton .. — —■ 1 — 1 I East Ch'ch •— — 1 — 1 2 St. A Boys' ll)iins High Sc liool — z 2 - - - Z