DISTRICT CRICKET.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1785, 3 November 1919, Page 2

DISTRICT CRICKET.

A TALE OF BUMPY WICKETS.

Not for vears past have the firstferade wickets on the Hagley Park cricket ground been as bumpy as they Were last Saturdav, when the second series of matches in the Canterbury Cricket Association's competitions was started. The ground was very hard, and much of the bowling bumped disconcertingly—and sometimes dangerously —to the batsmen. Consequently, some of the bowlers emerged from the afternoon 's play with good averages. It was pointed out by players who practise at Hagley Park that, nowadays, the groundsman has an unusually large number of practice wickets, as well as -the full complement of match wickets, to look after. Handicapped as he has been, by the recent spell of dry weather and the inadequacy of the water supply at the ground, he has not had a reasonable opportunity to prepare good match wickets. The' rain which has fallen since Saturday will benefit the ■wickets, but it is evident that the ground committee will have to consider the question of improving the artesian •water supply. Sydenham and Linwood. The weather on Saturday was not jdeasant for cit'ket, although it was line. A cold wind blew from the southwest, and toward the end of the afternoon the light was variable. Still, there ■was a good attendance of spectators. Most of their interest was centred in the matoh between Sydenham and Linivood. In a game which so far has produced only two individual scores of 30, although 21 men have batted, Sydenham las a lead of 71 runs on the first innings. Neither side was at full strength. Sydenham had 11 men, but W. R. Patrick was not one of them; he had gone to Dunedin on business. Linwood -was a man short, business duties preventing H. M. Taylor from attending. The club had made two changes in its first-grade team. A. Jones had found that he had not sufficiently recovered from the severe wounds he received on active service to permit of his_ doing justice to the cricket talent which he possesses. W. L. King had been placed in the second-grade team. C. S. Orchard -was promoted from the latter to the first eleven, and the other vacancy was filled by the appearance of W. Hayes, one-time Sydenham club and Canterbury representative player. After his return from the Front, last season, Hayes played far East Christehureh, the "open" club. This season he desired to play for his old club (Sydenham), but he lives in the Linwood district, and he has lost his five years' membership qualification for Sydenham by jtlaying for East last season. So Linwood is the only club, apart from East, ■which he can play for at present. Hayes was useful for his fielding on ■Saturday, but all he did with the bat was to carry it out to the wickets and back again, and he was not given a turn with the ball. Bead Bowls Well.

Sydenham had first strike on the lard wicket, and opened badly, Conradi being bowled by Read when only six »uns had been scored. Much of R. Read's bowling was bumping up sharply, and he was swinging from the off a good deal, too. A. Grant bowled from the northern end. The left-hander swung the ball into the wind considerably, and often the ball broke after pitching. In his earlier overs he was ■very difficult, but his direction was erratic, and after a time he lost his sting. However, the bowlers kept the scoring very quiet for some time. Of the earlier batsmen, J. Young was the only one to play the bowling really well. Young was very patient, taking eare to play himself in before he "had a go" at anything. Though he was bowling well, Read did not have any -success, apart from the capture of ConTadi's wicket, for some time, and presently he and Grant changed ends. That was not effective, however, after Grant had got Bruges, excellently caught by Hooper, at point, two wickets then being down for 40 runs. So Thomas and Perrin relieved Grant and Read. Young continued to bat steadily and well until'he played too soon at a ball from Perrin, and was bowled. He did some nice driving and cutting in seoring his 43, which included seven fours. He gave one chance —in the slips, off Grant, at 14. That wicket fell at 78, the fourth at 84, and the fifth at 114. By this time Bead had gone on again, at the southern end. H. Watson, who had gone in on Young's dismissal, was by no means comfortable for a time to Perrin and Bead, but he settled down to a policy of putting a straight bat in front of good-length stuff on the wicket and banging the loose stuff —preferably to the leg boundary, in the direction of -which he made several very neat shots. Thomas then took the ball from Perrin, and kept himself on until the end of the innings. Now and again Thomas changed from over-the-wicket to round-the-wicket, or back again; spectators who wondered why he did not try one of his other change bowlers could not find the answer to that conundrum. Watson scored 51, and then was caught by Hooper, at point, off a kicking ball from Read, when the total was 146. Soon after hitting a six off Thomas, MeEwin became too rash, and skied a ball from that bowler, W. Skelton, fielding substitute at mid-off, taking the catch. None of the subsequent batsmen reached double figures, Bud the innings closed at 185. Hincksman. who was last man in, and who got a not-out, was suffering from an injured foot, and had to have O'Malley to run for him. Bennett Gets Wickets. Read finished with the fine average of five wickets for 38 runs. But J. IT. Bennett did even better than that when Linwood occupied the wickets. Bennett secured six for 40. At oiie time he had three for 10. He kept an excellent length, varied straight stuff with a turn from the off, and bumped considerably. Two or three times was seen the somewhat ludicrous spectacle of batsmen playing at off-breaks from Bennett, missing them, and being struck in the back by the sharply-rising ball. Most of the Linwood batting was processional against Bennett's bowling. Only four men got double figures, and then obtained, between them, 95 of the 114 runs recorded for the side. (!. W. Russell topped the list with 27, obtained by steady batting. Ho was caught at third man, by Young, off Bennett. Grant was in for some time for his 25. He made some good strokes, but eventually put up a very soft catch to F. Smith, who was fielding as a substitute. Read's 23 included four fours. Bead interspersed his drives with a few crisp square : cuts. Once, however (at 16), he made a weak shot on that side. The ball went up high, square with the wicket, and, as Bennett had a big field on the off. several Sydenham men went for it. McEwin got his hands to it, but (droned it, Eventually, Read was

caught in the deep-field, by Gray. Forsyth batted for some time for his 20; he was missed at the wickets, off Bennett, when he had scored only two. West's Poor Showing.

The outstanding feature of the match between Eiccarton and AVest Christchurch was the collapse of the latter team in its first innings. "On paper," the West Christehureh team is a fairly strong batting side, and the score of over 300 which it made in the match against St. Albans seemed to prove this. Last Saturday, however, West, playing one man short and without the services of D. Reese, compiled only 126 in its first attempt. Eiccarton went in first, and in a rather patchy innings, that lasted for about two hours, made 216. G. W. Cox, who got 45, was top scorer. He was rather slow in starting, but once he settled down he hit out in good style. Cox, who is still young, shows promise of developing into a first-class cricketer. His fielding is excellent. A. C. Fuller (24) and M. O. Sinclair (11 not out) made a good last-wicket stand for Rieearton, bringing the score from 175 to 216. In the bowling department the chief honours fell to C. Zimmerman, who took four wickets for 53 runs. One peculiar fact about the Riccarton innings \Cas that only two men were clean-bowled. The other eight were caught out. C. L. Young distinguished himself by taking two very hard catches. All round, this player's fielding was good; indeed, the same may be said of the fielding of the West players as a whole. Very few chances were missed. One of these few was missed by R. A. Grant (an ex City and Suburban player and Canterbury Rugby representative), with rather unfortunate results. Grant, who was in the deep field, attempted to take a high catch hit by D. Nixon. He missed the catch, but received a nasty gash on ' the left hand, which necessitated his retirement for the rest .of the day.

R. D. Worker and H. B. Lusk opened West Christehureh's first innings, but neither of them seemed to be at ease with the bowling of C. E Evans and D. -Nixon. They scored slowly, and mostly in singles. The score crept up to 28, when Worker had his stumps scattered by a good-length ball from Evans. R. C. Blunt followed, but Evans got him first ball. The next few players all contributed to the total, but not a great ileal, and eight wickets were down for 98. Being without the services of Grant, West hail only one more wicket in hand. However, Zimmerman, who carried his bat for 48, was plodding along steadily. R. E. Boag was the last man, and, although he made two only, he held his end up long enough to enable Zimmerman, with the help of several byes, to bring the score up to 126. Thus West was saved from having to follow on. Zimmerman is to be complimented on his day's play. He proved himself the best bowler and the best batsman of the AVest Christchurch team for the day, and, besides that, his fielding was very good. Nixon and Evans did most of the bowling for Riccarton. two wickets at a cost of 42 runs, and Evans took five wickets for 47 runs. St. Albans and East.

With five wickets down for 61 runs the chances of East Christehureh eclipsing the score of 280 compiled by St. Albans do not seem to be rosy. St. Albans owes its comfortable position to the fruitful ninth wicket ship of E. T. Taylor and H. Stringer, who carried the score from 174 to 280 before the combination was dissolved. L. A. Gordon and B. A. Miles—the latter has just returned from active service—took first strike for St. Albans on a batsmen's wicket. The score stood at 14 when the former played too soon to Howell, who swung the ball in from the off and disturbed the sticks. S. Watson joined Miles, who found Tate not too formidable, four fours aud some singles carrying his total over a score when he faced McLelland, off whom he stole a four in the first over. In the secortd, however, he walked out to an apparently straight ball and'retired stumped, with 27 to his credit. D. Sandman, who made his first appearance after active service, was accorded an ovation from all round the ground - when he went, to the crease. He did not stay long, however, as, after toying with one or two balls, he essayed a boundary hit off McLelland, only to be smartly taken by Flood at deep-on. L. R. Brunton joined Watson, who was playing steady, eautious cricket. Brunton, livened matters up considerably. Five fours fell to his blade in quick succession; then he lifted a ball from Haughey over the pavilion for six. Several singles and twos were followed by three fours. Then he was held byBlank at long-off, his score being 54. Brunton had three lives. D. W. Reese had lasted only a few minutes when he was run out. Five wickets had fallen for 121 at this stage. Dr W. S. Wallis tapped one or two balls back to Haughey, whose left-hand deliveries were breaking rather awkwardly across the wicket. Wallis hit one. four and was then held at point by McLelland. S. W. Ilickmott survived an over from Flood, when Watson, with a carefullycompiled 45, was stumped by Harris. J. Tikao opened out to Flood in an aggressive style, three fours aud a six falling bat in a few 'minutes. The dismissal of Ilickmott (run out) was not altogether without an element of doubt. Tikao scored a single when he lifted one to the safe McLelland. The ninth wicket had fallen for 174, when H. Stringer joined Taylor, the partnership, proving decidedly' fruitful. Stringer felt his way at the start, and then opened out on the bowling of Gregory and Tate. Teu fours followed as the result of pretty cricket, square cuts and powerful off-drives predominating. He scored 19 off Gregory in two overs, but Haughey's third ball proved his downfall, Blank holding a high one. F. Woods and W. Ditchfield opened the scoring for East Christehureh about fi o'clock. The former had scored three when he was caught and bowled by Stringer, who also accounted for Ditchfield in the next over. Sandman, bowling with good length, dismissed A. R. Black and W. Howell, shortly afterwards. G. Tate reached 15 when he lifted one to Brunton off Sandman. Stumps were drawn witli E. Haughey 8 and J. Flood 11 not out. The wickets fell as follow: One for '_', two for 4, three for 38, four for 40, and five for Hi. THE DAY'S HONOURS. FIRST GRADE BAITING. L. R. Brunton St. Albans) 53 H. Watson (Sydenham) 51 SECOND GRADE BAITING. Macl'arlane (Christ's College) .. 101* Talbot (Christ's College) X 9 Yates (Technical College) 84 H. Irving (Sydenham A) 84 G. Pengelly (Christ's College) .. 82 Cropp (West Christehureh B) .. 77 L-. J. Killiek (Riccarton A) .... 71 Murray (Fast Christehureh B) .. 69 Johnston (Christ's College) .. .. 03 Butters (West Christehureh A) .. 59 H. S. Feast (East Christehureh A).. 52 A. Gurnsey (Riccarton A) 51 Evans (Riccarton b) .. .. ~ .. fifl

THIRD GRADE RATTING. Mayo (East Christehureh H) .. .. 121 Abel (Linwood A) 104 J. Cadenhead (Linwood A) .... 65 Harrison (St. Albans) 62 Hopkins (Sydenham) 52* Strachan (Christ's College A) .. 51* FOURTH GRADE BATITNG. Carlton (Roys' High School) .. .'. 91 Merrimnn (Sydenham) 53" * Signifies not out. FIRST GRADE ROWLING. J. H. Bennett (Sydenham) six for 40. R. Read (Linwood) five for 38. C. E. Evans (Riccarton) five for 47. A. \V. Thomas (Linwood) three for 46. THIRD GRADE BOWLING. Mayo (East Christehureh B) seven for 49. Trustrum'(Kaiapoi) five for 19.A. .1. Cadenhead (Linwood A) four for 18. J. Gordon (Sydenham) four for 20. Bradley (Linwood A) three for 17. Barwick (East Christehureh B) three for 35. r FOURTH GRADE BOWLING. T. Davidson (Sydenham) six for 31 (includes hat trick). THE SCORE BOOK. SYDENHAM v. LINWOOD. SYDENHAM. First Innings. N. Conradi 1) Read 5 ,T. Young b Perrin 43 .1. Bruges c Hooper b Grant .. .. 16 W. Skelton b Thomas .. .. .. 11 H. Watson c Hooper b Read .. .. 51 M. O'Malley b Read 12 ,T. McEwin c sub. b Thomas .. .. 13 J. Gray b Read .. .. 2 .1. H. Bennett c Thomas b Read .. 3 G. Bellamy b Thomas .... .. 8 S. Hincksmau not out .. .. .. 3 Extras, (byes 14, leg-byes 4) .. 18 Total 185 Rowling: R. Read, 16.7 overs, 2 maidens, 38 runs, 5 wickets; A. Grant, 8,2,39,1; A. W. Thomas, 12,1,46,3; E. G. Perrin, 8,1,44,1. LINWOOD. First Innings. E. G. Perrin c Bellamy hj Bennett .. 3 A. Grant c sub. b Bennett 25W. Haves c Conradi b Bennett .. 0 P. Hooper b Watson 0 H. Forsyth c Bruges b Bennett .. 20 G. W. Russell c Young b Bennett .. 27 A. W. Thomns c and b McEwin .. 1 R. Read c Gray b Bennett .. .. 23 F. Smith Ibw b Gray 4 C. S. Orchard not out 0 H. M. Taylor absent 0 Extras (byes 11) 11 Total I. 114 Bowling: J. H. Bennett, 14.6 overs, 4 maidens, 40 runs, 6 wickets; H. Watson, 7,0,23,1; J. McEwin, 6,0,36,1; J. Gray, 1,0,1,0. RICCARTON v. WEST CHRISTCHURCH. RICCARTON. First Innings. < E. E. Luttrell c Young b Zimmerman 3 E. R. Caygill b Zimmerman .. .. 13 G. Hnines b Zimmerman .. .. 12 ' G. W. Cox c Young b Foster .. .. 45 H. B. Wlirtta c Young b Lusk .. 19 C. E. Evans c Norman b Lusk .. 11. D. Nixon c Boag b Blunt .. .. 20 ■ R. H. North c Weston b Rlunt ... 8 R. S. Taylor c Norman b Zimmerman , 23 A. C. Fuller c Norman b Foster .. 24 M. O. Sinclair not out 11 Extras 27 Total .. .. .. ~ .. 210 Rowling: H. B. Lusk, 13 overs, 3 maidens, 52 runs, 2 wickets; C. Zimmerman, 13,1,53,4; R. C. Blunt, 11,0,59,2; Dr P. S. Foster, 3.2,0,25,2. Second Innings. E. R. Caygill c Weston b Zimnicr- - man .. .. 1 -E. E. Luttrell b Zimmerman .. .. 17 C. E. Evans not out 1 Extras 10 Total for 2 wickets .. .. 29 WEST CHRISTCHURCH. First. Innings. R. D. Worker b Evans 8 R. C. Blunt b Evans 0 H. B. Lusk c Luttrell b Nixon .. 10 E. .1. Norman run out 3 Dr P. S. Foster b Nixon 8 D. Bedpath b Evans .. 1 r -Gi-iiKa-Yoimg c£nygill b Evans ' W 5 G. T. Weston c Caygill b Evans .. 13 R. E. Boag c Luttrell b Sinclair .. 2 C. Zimmerman not out .. .. .. 48 R. A. Grant (did not bat) .... 0 Extras .. 26 Total .. .. ". 126 Bowling: D. Nixon, 10 overs, 0 maidens, 42 runs, 2 wickets; C. E. Evans, 11,1,47,5; M. O. Sinclair, 1.5,0,11,1. ST. ALBANS v. EAST CHRISTCHURCH. ST. ALBANS. First Innings. L. A. Gordon p Howell 6 B. A. Miles st Harris b McLelland.. 27 S. Watson st Harris b Flood .. .. 45 D. Sandman c Flood b McLelland .. 0 . L. R. Brunton c E. Blank b Haughey 53 D. Reese run out .. .. .... .. 1 Dr W. S. Wallis c McLelland b Haughey 5 S. W. Hickmott run out 10 .1. Tikao c McLelland b Tate .. .. 19 E. T. Taylor not out 42 H. Stringer cE. Blank b Haughey .. 49 Extras 23 Total 280 Bowling: Howell, 14 overs, 1 maiden, 45 runs, 1 wicket; G. Tate, 7,0,40,1; T. McLelland, 7,0,44,2; E. Haughey, 10,4,67,3; F. Woods, 2,0,22,0; .1. P. Floud, 4,0,21,1; E. Gregory, 2,0,18,0. EAST CHRISTCHURCH. First Innings. F. Woods c and b Stringer ~ .. 3 W. Ditchfield b Stringer 9 A. R. Blank b Sandman 1 O. Tate c Brunton b Sandman .. .. 15 W. Howell b Sandman 5 E. Haughey not out 8 J. Flood not out 11 Extras <) Total for five wickets .. .. <>l SECOND GRADE. Linwood A boat Linwood B by default. West Christehureh A 153 v. 'Riccarton B 231 for live wickets. St. Albans A 153 v. West Christehureh 165. East Christehureh A 161 v. West Christehureh B 186. Sydenham A 160 v. Christ's College 316 for six wickets. Technical College 202 v. Boys' High School 114 lor live wickets. Sydenham B 253 v. Riccarton A 118 for two wickets. THIRD GRADE. St. Albans 279 v. Christ's College A 103 for two wickets. Kaiapoi 135 v. Riccarton 66 for seven wickets. Sydenham 130 v. East Christehureh A 150. Linwood B 82 v. Linwood A 310 for four wickets. Christ's College B 88 v. East Christehureh 316 for eight wickets. Boys' High School 212 v. Technical College 94 for eight wickets. FOURTH GRADE. Christ's College 120 beat Technical College 85 and 100 on the first innings. Boys' High School 188 beat Sydenham 127. BOYS' LEAGUE. FIRST CHAD]-. Marists 89 beat West Christehureh District High School 81. Boys' Gordon Hall 125 for eight wickets beat Farmers' 75. St. Andrew's beat Boys' High School by 36 runs. SECOND GRADE. Boys' Gordon Hall 51 and 36 beat liovs' High School A 49 ami 27. Technical College A beat Boys' High School B by 41 runs. Normal beat St. Matthew's by 25 runs. Technical College B beat Christ's College by 11 runs. CITY AND SUBURBAN. The second round of the City and Suburban Association's competition commenced on Saturday. Results:— FIRST GRADE. Crownall 229 v. Green's 110. St. Albans 88 and 11 foe three wiekels v. Railway 66. SECOND GRADE. Templetou 133 v. St. John's 94 for six wickets, Woolston 443 v. Y.M.C.A. (yet to bat). Green's 105 v. Belfast 151 for nine wickets. New Brighton 49 v. Boys' Gordon Hall 311. THIRD GRADE. St. John's 99 beat Marists 53. JUw Brighton 90 beat D.I.C. 07,