DISTRICT CRICKET.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1588, 17 March 1919, Page 3

DISTRICT CRICKET.

FIRST GRADE MATCHES.

The last scries of matches in the Canterbury Cricket Association's competitions opened on Saturday, in fine weather and on good wickets. The most interesting game in the senior grade is that between Sydenham and St. Albans, which is in> n very open position. Sydenham cannot lose the first grade premiership, but a win to St. Albans in this match would give the latter club the Petersen Shield. In the other games, Linwood and East Christchurch are on the way to wins. Boys' High School batted all the afternoon against Riccarton. A Low Scoring Game. Although the wicket was good, the ball beat the bat in the match between Sydenham and St. Albans. In a low-scoring game, the premier team, which batted three short, found itself 53 runs behind in the first innings. There was some very good bowling in the game, but the proportion that was not up to that quality was high enough to have called for heavier scoring. The trouble was that the butting of both sides was much below par. Each side started badly and failed to recover, wickets falling fairly regularly. Hatting first, St. Albans lost its first wicket before a run was scored, S. Johns being bowled by the first ball of the afternoon. The second wicket fell at 14, the third at 21, the fourth at 38, the fifth at 55, the sixth at 72, the seventh at 73, the eighth at 92, the ninth at 117, and the tenth at 118. L. R. Brunton stayed at the wickets longer than anyone else, and played a good innings for his .10, which included three fours. He went in second wicket down and was the sixth man out. In the tail-end of the innings, D. \V. Reese got 18, which included three fours, and H. Hatch scored It not out. And even in St. Albans' short innings there were some lost chances. L. T. Donaldson, keeping wickets in the absence of C. Bellamy, lost a chance of stumping Cordon and a fine opportunity to stump Hatch—both were off McEwin's bowling. Off the same bowler, H. Stringer was dropped by Hincksman, on the square-leg boundary, and Patrick failed to hold a twisting chance to his left hand, from Hatch. There was a fine one-handed catch in the innings —that with which Conradi, at slip, got Stringer, off Mcßeth's bowling. I). J. Mcßeth did not bowl in quite his best form, but he got four wickets for 33 runs, making the total of his captures in club cricket this season 50 wickets for 507 runs—an average of 11.34 runs per wicket. J. McEwin took six for 02, making his tally 40 wickets for GSS runs—an average of 14.30 runs per wicket. Sydenham's start was also a bad one. \V. R. Patrick, who opened the innings with Conradi, got a single off Stringer and then played on to his wickets the fourth ball of Gordon's first over. Conradi was bowled in Stringer's next over—a maiden—and two wickets were down for one run. S. Hincksman began to hit hard, but after scoring 11 out of 15 he got lbw to Gordon. McEwin was bowled by Gordon at 30—4—15, and J. Taylor was caught by Bcttlc, at midon, four runs later. J. Gray and Donaldson looked like establishing a useful partnership, but at 00 Gray, who had scored 25, was caught by D. W. Reese, at cover. Gray hit a good six off Gordon. He bad given an awkward chance when he had scored only four, in singles. He drove a ball from Gordon, and Hatch, fielding by the northern fence, had the ball drop on to the palm of his upstrctched right hand, whence it bounced into the top of the fence. At 05, Donaldson, who had scored five, was caught at mid-on, and the innings was over; R. H. Booth, J. Young and C. Bellamy were absent. L. A. Gordon had the fine average of five wickets for 34 runs. He sent down some excellent stuff at times, but there- was also a fair proportion that was treated much too respectfully. It was a new thing this season to sec St. Albans using only two bowlers, Gordon and Stringer—the latter got two for 31.

Before stumps were drawn, Sydenham had captured two wickets in St. Albans' second innings, at a cost of 21 runs, Bettlc and Twynchani having been bowled by McEwin. That bowler got botii wickets in his first two overs, for one run, and had seven runs hit on* him altogether before stumps were drawn. Mclleth had six runs hit off four overs, and the remaining eight runs came from extras. Linwood and Christ's College. The Linwood v. Christ's College match was not very interesting. College had first strike, but the innings turned out to be a mere procession, and after about an hour's play the side was all out. The only College player who made anything like a score was B. G. Dalgety, who compiled 23 in good style, just exactly a third of the total score. F. W. M. Cowlishaw (12) was the only other player to reach double figures, R. Read and A. W. Thomas bowled throughout, the former taking seven wickets, and the latter two. However both bowlers finished up with nearly the same average for Read had 47 runs knocked oil' him and Thomas only 14. Thomas kept a remarkably good length. Linwood began its first innings shortly after 3.30 p.m., and batted for two hours. In that time the very meagre score of 141 was made, and it would have been a good deal less had not R. Read "come to light" with 04. Read's vigorous hitting was about the only bright spot of the innings. Altogether he hit 13 fours and one six. C. Orchard (10) was the next highest scorer. He also hit a six, off Sugden, who however scattered his stumps a ball or two afterwards. A. W. Thomas went in last, and carried his bat for eight. The best bowling s-.yirage on the College side was secured by J. N. Lowry, who captured four wickets at a cost of 19 runs. A. H. L. Sugdciv also finished up well with three wickets for 25 runs. College tried five bowlers altogether. The light wis failing badly when College began its second innings at 5.40. When stumps were drawn College had lost four wickets down for a total of 33. Of this score F. W. M. Cowlishaw made 24, ami was slill not out. Cowlishaw is a powerful hitter. West's Poor Showing. The delightful uncertainty of cricket was well illustrated by the poor showing which West Christchurcll, a very fair batting side, made against East Christchurcll. True, West was two men short, but its total of 85 looks decidedly poor against the 234 runs for five wickets which at present stand to East's credit. Disaster faced West from the outset, for Lusk's wicket fell to the first ball of the match. Dan Reese had gained hut one run when he also went. The rot continued, although Boag seemed immune from the prevailing state of nerves, and was decidedly aggressive whilst he compiled 21 runs. However, a last-wicket partnership between D. McKenzie and Dr P. S. Foster, who had arrived late, looked promising, the lastnamed batting really well, but Ward eventually got McKenzie's wicket. Ward, in fact, put up a really good performance at the bowling crease. He bowled two men and caught and bowled three others at the moderate cost of 38 runs, whilst he also caught another man in the field. Slow scoring characterised the initial parf of East's reply. A partnership was soon established between Jones and Blank, which realised 00 runs. Jones opened scratchily and gave a chance or so, but he pulled oil' some excellent shots. Reese is hardly yet up to his last season's bowling form, but he commanded a great deal of respect. R. C.

Blunt, who has returned to Chrlstchurcll, succeeded-fairly well,-but his-natural" legbreak,- doubtless upt-;et by his studious cultivation .of the off-break, Is not what it was. Later, Howell joined Blank, and the two.got going;, at the outset Howell survived an appeal or two for Ihw. He hit 12 fours for his 09 runs. Blank carried his bat, his runs mainly being compiled by powerful strokes. A Fine Last-wicket Display. Riccarton had an afternoon in the Qeld against Boys' High School, although at one stage, with six wickets down for 99 runs, it looked as though the younger team would be all out before 4 p.m. But Boys' High School made a fighting finish, a last-wicket partnership realising 97 runs. M. Graham, Who scored 91 runs, and .1. L. Powell 48 not out were responsible for this sensational ending. It was not a chnnceless display, (jraham, a left-handed batsman, who gave the steadiest and most consistent exhibition, surviving three chances, whilst Taylor dropped Powell once in the slips. But this was offset by the decidedly confident way in which both batsmen tackled the bowling. The end .came when Graham, realising no doubt that he was approaching his century, appeared nervous, and was bowled by a simple ball frtjm Whitta. Of the other batsmen M. L. Page went well, and punished Luttrcll. Riccarton has not yet commenced its innings. THE DAY'S HONOURS. FIRST GRADE BATTING. M. Graham (Boys' High School) 91 A. R. Blank (East Christchurch) 71* W. Howell (East Christchurch) 09 R. Read (Linwood) 61 SECOND GRADE BATTING. C. Smith (Riccarton B) .. .. 102* Beaton (Riccarton B) 80* Thompson (St. Albans B) .. .. 66 Hill (Technical College B) .. 51* ♦Not out. FIRST GRADE BOWLING. .1. N. Lowry (Christ's College) four for 19. R. Read (Linwood) seven for 47. L. A. Gordon (St. Albans) five for 34, A. E. Ward (East Christchurch), five for 38. D. J. Mcßeth (Sydenham) four for 33. A. H. L. Sugdeu (Christ's College) three for 25. \V. B. Howell (East Christchurch) three for 30. J. McEwin (Sydenham) six for 02. THE SCORE BOOK. SYDENHAM T. ST. ALBANS. ST. ALBANS.' First Innings. I S. Johns b McEwin 0 L. A. Gordon b McEwin 2 C W. Bettlc b McEwin 8 L. R. Bruntou b Mcßeth 30 i S. W. Hlckmott b Mcßeth 0; J. Tikau c sub b McEwin 7 I H Stringer c Conradi hj Mcßeth .. .. 81 D. W. Reese c and b McEwin 18 R. Twyncham b McEwin 3 H. Hatch not out 14 i W. Simpson b Mcßeth 01 Extras 23 Total 118

Bowling:—J. McEwin, 19 overs *1 maiden 02 runs 0 wickets; D. J. Mcßeth, 18.3,0,33,4. Second Innings. G. \V. Bettle b McEwin 0 D W. Reese not out .. 8 R. Twyneliam li McEwin 1 S. Johns not out 4 Extras 8 Total for two wickets .. .. 21 SYDENHAM. First Innings. W. R. Patrick b Gordon 1 N. Conradi b Stringer 0 S. Hincksman lbw b Gordon 11 J. McEwin b Gordon 15 J. Gray c Reese b Stringer 25 .T. Taylor c Bettle b Gordon 3 L. T. Donaldson c Bettle b Gordon .. 5 D. J. Mcßeth not out 5 R. H. Booth absent .. .. 0 .1. Young absent 0 C. Bellamy absent 0 Extras .. .. 0 Total 05 Bowling:—H. Stringer, 11 overs 2 maidens 31 runs 2 wickets; L. A. Gordon. 13.2,3,34,5. BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL v. RICCARTON. BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL. First Innings. C. G. Crawford c Taylor b Lultrcll 1 M. L. Page b Whitta 31 L. J. Killick b Sinclair 1 C. 1.. King b Luttrell 14 R. F. J. Powell lbw b R. S. Taylor 28 L. D. Page c Whitta b North .. .. 22 D. Dickson lbw b R. S. Taylor .. 18 J. F. Jacobs b North 0 M. Graham b Whitta 91 G. Pitcaithly lbw b Sinclair .. .. 5 J. L. Powell not out 48 Extras 10 Total .."275 Bowling :—E. E. Luttrell, 10 overs, 0 maidens. 79 runs, 2 wickets; M. O. Sinclair; 18.0,35,2; H. B. Whitta, 21,0,48,2; R. S. Taylor, 21,4,59,2: R. H. North, 12,3,32,2; C. E. Guiney, 2,0,12.0. CHRIST'S COLLEGE v. LINWOOD. CHRIST'S COLLEGE. First Innings. R. M.. Leckic b Thomas .. .... 0 M. F. Pengelly c Russell b Read .. 2 B. G. Dalgcty 1) Bead 23 J. N. Lowry b Read 4 M. F. Macfarlane c Patterson b Thomas 8 L. P. Blunt b Read 1 R. H. Lowry b Read 1 A. H. L. Sugden c Lilburne b Read 7 F. W. M. Cowllshaw b Read .. .. 12 W. S. W. Averill run out 3 R. B. Wilson not out 0 Extras .... .. 8 Total 09 Bowling:—H. Read, 13 overs 2 maidens 47 runs, 7 wickets; A. W. Thomas, 12.3,1,14, 2. Second Innings. L, P. Blunt run out 0 A. H. L. Sugden b Head 4 R. H. Lowry c Forsyth b Read .. 1 R. B. Wilson b Read 0 F. W. M. Cowlishaw not out .. .. 21 Extras 4 Total for four wickets .. .. 3:! LINWOOD. First Innings. H. Forsyth lbw b Pengclly .. .. 10 A. Lilburne b Averill 2 P. Lye b Pengelly .. .. 15 E. G. Pcrrin b Sugden 10 R. Read b J. N. Lowry 01 G. W. Russell c Dalgety b J. N. Lowry /. 0 C. Orchard b Sugden 10 \V. L. King hj J. N. Lowry .. .. 4 P. Fleete 1; J. N. Lowry 2 J. F. Patterson b Sugden 0 A. \V. Thomas not out .... .. 8 Extras 4 Total 111 Bowling:—M. F. Pengelly, 10 overs, "1 maiden, 00 runs, 2 wickets; \Y. S. W. Aver-

ill, 6,2,13,1; M. P. Macfarlane, 3,0,20,0; A H. L. Sugdeu, 11,4,25,3; J. N. Lowry, 9,3,19, < WEST CHRISTCHURCH t. EAST CHRIST CHURCH. WEST CHRISTCHURCH. First Innings. H. B. Lusk b Howell 0 D. Reese c and b Word 1 R. C. Hlunt c Ward b Howell .. .. 10 E. J. Norman hj Ward 0 P. Hooper c and b Ward 8 R. E. Boag c and hj Ward .. .. 21 D. Redpath b Howell 1 I). McKenzie b Ward 10 Dr P. S. Foster not out 17 C. Zimmerman absent .. .... .. 0 H. Butters absent 0 Extras ;. 17 Total 85 Bowling: W. B. Howell, 11 overs, : maidens, 30 runs, 3 wickets; A. E. Ward 11,0,38,5. EAST CHRISTCHURCH. First Innings. N. L. Jones c Reese b Foster .. .. 49 W. Hayes b Reese 4 A. R. Blank not out 71 W. P. Guiney b Blunt 5 W. Howell c McKenzie b Blunt .. 69 G. Tate b Foster 20 A. E. Ward, not out 2 Extras 14 Total for ,flve wickets .. .. 234 SECOND GRADE MATCHES. Riccarton A 223 v. Technical College A 10 for iio wickets. St. Albans B 148 v. Christ's College 54 for West Christchurch 116 v. Riccarton B 191 for three wickets. Technical College B 111 v. Linwood B 108 for four wickets. St. Albans A won from.East Christchurch by default. CITY AND SUBURBAN MATCHES. FIRST GRADE. Railway 120 v. Ward's 118 for eight wickets. Druids 111 v. Green's 205 for five wickets. * SECOND GRADE. St. Albans 111 v. Excelsior 97 for seven wickets. .* Green's B won from Green's A by default. Druids won from Railway by default.