CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1924, Page 4

CRICKET.

NORTH TARANAKI PLAY. WIN FOR OLD BOYS. ->; RICH SCHOOL’S FIRST LOSS. The competition matches were continued in North Taranaki on Saturday in beautiful weather. Faced with the big total of 248 runs required to win, High School opened their first innings on the school ground on Saturday. Batting in good style they reached 142 before the last wicket fell. Being 105 runs behind they were compelled to follow-on, and had lost five wickets for 136 runs when stumps were drawn. The locs was the first one they had suffered this season. The first two wickets fell cheaply, but Afahraj and R. Fletcher set up a prolific partnership which brought 72 runs on the board before the third wicket fell. Both boys batted in fine style, playing straight bats to the good bowling and punishing anything loose. Mason went early, bb.w., to Palmer, but McLean (17), Strombom (22), M. Fletcher (13), and Loveridge (14), continued to pile up the runs steadily, and the innings closed for 142. Although Palmer, with three for 31, secured the best bowling average, the bowling honours lay with Eggleton (two for 31). Commencing with three maiden overs in succession he later added another two, and though faced with a stiff breeze he maintained exceptionally consistent length and direction throughout his 15 overs.

Mackay’s 53 (not out) was the feature of the second innings, though he was ably supported by the opening batsman (K. Fookes) with 31, M. Fletcher with 17 and Mahraj with 13 not out. The bowlers appeared tired after their afternoon in the field and the enterprising batsmen took full advantage of their opportunity. After surviving a couple of appeals for 1.b.w., Mackay *‘got his eye in’’ and hooked middle and off bails to the leg boundary with equal unconcern. He lifted Osborne over the boundary for a nice six. Old Boys lost a number of runs in the field through faulty and at times carelees fielding. Details: OLD BOYS. First Innings 247 HIGH SCHOOL. First Innings. K. Fookee, c Lash, b Osborne 6 Grant, st. Saxton, b Bottrill 0 Mahraj, b Palmer 35 R. Fletcher, c Bottrill, b Palmer .. 29 Mason, 1.b.w., b Palmer 1 MoLean, played on, b Osborne 17 Strombom, run out 22 M. Fletcher, b Eggleton 13 Loveridge, b Eggleton 14 Mackay, played on, b Osborne .... 0 Crawford, not out <1 Extras 5 Total 142 fowling analysis.—Bottrill, one wicket for 34 runs; Osborne, three for 51; Eggleton, two for 31; Palmer, three for 21. Second Innings.

K. Fookes, b Lash 31 Grant, st. Saxton, b Bottrill 7 Crawford, c Kerr, b Bottrill 5 Mason, b Bottrill _1 Mackay, not out 53 M. Fletcher, b Osborne 17 Mahraj, not out 13 Extras 9 Total (for five wickets) 136 Bowling analysis. Eggleton, no wickets for 15 runs; Palmer, none for 11; Bottrill, three for 49; Lash, one for 22; Osborne, one for 27. NEW PLYMOUTH V. WESTERN PARK. The match between New Plymouth and Western Park was concluded in just oyer an hour. Western Park, who were 171 runs in arrears in the first innings, were dismissed for 94 runs in their second strike. McDonald (40) was the chief scorer. N. D. Clark e bcvled splendidly. JUNIOR MATCHES. Only two junior matches were played on account of the High School holidays. Old Boys secured a three point win over New Plymouth B and Harbour Works gained a similar victory over Western Park.

INTER-SCHOOL MATCH. NELSON COLLEGE V. N.P.H.S. PLAY COMMENCES TO-DAY. A cricket match between the New Plymouth Boys’ High School and Nelson College -will be commenced on the New Plymouth School grounds to-day, and will be continued to morrow. The match is set down to commence at 11 o’clock. The ground is reported to be in excellent order and some interesting cricket is anticipated. The Nelson team arrived in New Plymouth on Saturday night by the mail train, and a motor ’bus conveyed them to the High School, where the team will be staying during their visit here. Mr. Saxon is in charge. Yesterday both teams were taken for a motor drive to Urenui and back, the outing having been arranged by the local Nelson College old boys. It was a perfect day and the trip was thoroughly enjoyed. The team will leave by the mail train on Wednesday morning. The High School team is as follow: Mackay (capt.), Mabraz, McLean, Mason, Grant, K. Fookes. R. Fletcher, M. FL- cher, Loveridge, Strombom, D. Crawiord, reserve: Ewart. The Nelson team has not been definitely fixed, but a selection will be made from the following twelve:—Sadler (capt.), Airey, Rutherford, Biggar, Shanley, S. Newman, A. Newman, Dyer, James, Muneaster, Johnson, Buddle.

The team came across from Nelson last Wednesday night and on their journey up from Wellington they stopped at Palmerston and played a two innings match with the Palmerston Boys’ High School. The match extended over Friday and Saturday morning, and after a very close game Nelson won by a margin of nine runs. In the first innings Nelson made 101 (Biggar 31, Shanley 22, Johnson, not out 12, and A. Newman 11). In the •econd strike the visitors knocked up 117, A. Newman with 22 being the top scorer. Palmerston made 110 in their first innings and 99 in the second. Bowling for Nelson, S. Newman took three wickets for 21 and Airey three for 26. In the home team’s second innings, Newman captured no less than five wickets with the loss of only 18 runs. In his list over he secured four wickets. Sadler with one for 9 and A. Newman with two for 15 also returned good averages.

SOUTH TARANAKI PLAY.

MIDLANDS AND ELTHAM WIN. BATTING AVERAGES LOW. (From Our Own Reporter.) Hawera, Dec. 20. To-day appeared to be a bowlers’ day in the South Taranaki senior cricket competitions, the batting averages on the whole being very low. Only two matches were played, Eltham. gaining a three-point win over Manaia, and Midlands securing a similar victory over Stratford, the latter having a weak team in the field. Okaiawa had gathered on the ground ready for the match against Patea when they were informed by telegraph that Patea had forfeited. Excelsior had a bye. MIDLAND’S THREE-POINT WIN. Stratford sent a very weak team to Hawera, and by their sporting spirit allowed Midlands to secure a threepoint win. Notable absentees from the Stratford team were Cole and Lambert, and the side suffered both from the batting and bowling point of view. In their first innings Stratford were dismissed for 34, but in the second they did a little better, reaching 78. Hawera made 105 in the first innings, and required eight runs to get the coveted three points. Stratford allowed them to go straight in and Plank and Vowless knocked up ten runs just in time. The detailed scores were:

STRATFORD. First Innings. Claridge, c Vowless, b Neilsen .... 10 Nichol, b Giblin 8 Furrie, c Tiddy, b Neilsen -2 Young, run out 5 Knight, b Giblin 0 Palmer, 1.b.w., b Neilsen 8 Massey, c Plank, b Neilsen 0 Kean, b Giblin 1 Wood, b Giblin 0 R. Young, b Giblin 0 McCarthy, not out 0 Extras 6 Total 34 Neilsen took four wickets for 23 and Giblin five for 11. Second Innings. Claridge, b Inch -9 Furrie, b Giblin 4 Woods, e Dalgleish, b Inch T 6 Young, b Graham 4 Knight, not out 6 Palmer, st. Thomas, b Graham .... 0 Kean, st. Thomas, b Graham .... 0 Nichol, b Inch 9 Massey, c Neilsen, b Inch <> R. Young, b Inch 3 McCarthy, run out 1 Extras 6 Total 78 Bowling analysis.—Neilsen took no wickets for 13; Giblin, one for 14; Inch, five for II; Graham, three for 34. MIDLANDS'. First Innings. Dalgleish, c Furrie, b Young 8 Thomas, b Knight 1 Graham, c Furrie, b Knight 4 Neilsen, 1.b.w., b Knight • 1 Plank, c Kean, b Knight 0 J. Davies, 1.b.w., b Palmer 23 Mills, c Knight, b Kean 23 Giblin, not out 23 Inch, 1.b.w.. b Palmer 0 Tiddy, b Young 1 Extras > 14 Total 105 Bowling analysis. —Young took two wickets for 35 runs; Knight, five for 28; Nichol, none for 13; Kean, one for I, Claridge, none for 8; Palmer, two for 6.

MIDLANDS. Second Innings. Vowless, not out 3 Plank, not out 7 Total (for no wickets) 10 ELTHAM DEFEAT MANAIA. Eltham also gained a three-point win against Manaia at Eltham, in a very low scoring match, Eltham winning by four wickets. Philpotts scored a great bowling average, taking seven wickets for 25 runs. Batting first Manaia made 40, the best score being Clark’s 21. Priest took four wickets for 18 runs, Philpotts three for 18, and Donnelly three for 4. Eltham made a weak reply with only 29, Philpotts contributing 18. Bairstow took six wickets for 11 rufas, and Hughes four for 16. In their second strike Manaia reached 53, Hughes making 20. Hay took three wickets for 21 runs, and Philpotts seven for 25. Eitham did much better in their second innings, compiling 71 for six wickets. Philpotts made 26 not out, Johnson 20 not out and Donnelly 10. Bairstow took most of the wickets that fell.

TOWN V. COUNTRY. MATCH AT WELLINGTON. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. On a wicket softened by three days’ rain the Town v. Country cricket match was played on Saturday. It was a bowlers’ wicket, and Country, batting first, could only make 82, Cole 18 and Gee 14 being the only double figure scorers. Badcock was deadly, taking six wickets for 21, and Brice took four for Town gave a disappointing display and the last wicket fell for 106 (Hiddleston 34, Baker 24, Burt 19). Temperton took three wickets for 12 and Bernau three for 23. Country went in again and had lost three wickets for 27 when stumps were drawn (Ritchie not out 12). Town won on the first innings. Senior B made 99 and 93 for three wickets and Country juniors made 61. For the seniors Ronaldson made 16 and 36, Hamilton 25 and Hutchings 24. Rollings took seven wickets for 29 and Sharp five for 14. ENGLISHMEN IN AFRICA. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Capetown, Dec. 19. In a two days’ match against the East Rand, the Englishmen made 457 (Bowley 1'52, Russell 54). Received Dec. 21, 5.5 p.m. Capetown, Dec. 20. East Rand, in their first innings, made 260. The veteran Snooke made 69. The Englishmen made 85 for five wickets in their second innings. The match was drawn.