BRIGHT CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1924, Page 9

BRIGHT CRICKET.

INTER-SCHOOL MATCH. HIGH SCHOOL MAKE 177. NELSON THREE FOR 44. R. FLETCHER'S FIINE INNINGS. The first inter-collegiate cricket match between New Plymouth Beys’ High School and Nelson College commenced on the High School ground yesterday morning. High School went first to the wickets and compiled the sirffetantial total of 177 runs, while Nelson College had lost three wickets for 44 when stumps were drawn. The feature of the school innings was the fact that six batsmen scored double figures and five of them over 20, so that the score, was by no means confined to one or two batsmen. The first two wickets fell cheaply, but thanks to a .magnificent innings by R- Fletcher, who compiled 48 runs by stylish cricket, and a no less valuable defence by Grant (23), the score was carried to 76 before the third wicket fell. The next four batsmen continued to pile up the runs in turn until the board showed 104 runs for seven wickets. Then with a swift change of fortune the complexion of the game was suddenly altered, for the next three wic-kets fell for no runs. Grant was content to score slowly. He made no attempt to hit out until late in his innings, and anything off the wicket he let go by. But he achieved the desired end, for the bowling lost its sting against the solid defence. Fletcher on the other hand settled down at once to sparkling hatting and scored freely all round the wicket, square-cut ting, driving and hooking in a style that was exhilarating to watch. McLean was uneasy at first but soon gained confidence. Towards the end of. his stay he became very enterprising and scored four boundaries in succession. Strombom (16), M. Fletcher (25) and Loveridge (27) all batted brightly and included numerous boundaries in t'heir totals. Altogether, the innings was one of the brightest exhibitions the School team has yet given, and afforded ample evidence of sound coaching. HAT TRICK BY S. NEIWMAN. Variety in Nelson’s bowling plentiful, and it was perhaps unfortunate for the bowlers that rain fell at mid-day, making the ball greasy for an hour or two. S. Newman secured the best average with five wickets for 44 runs, and included the “hat trick” in his performance. Sadlier, the fast (bowler and skipper of his side, bowled very well at first, but the exertion of his long preliminary run and fast delivery soon wearied him. Biggar, the wicket-keeper, gave a sterling exhibition of keeping. The fact that of the six extras five were wides and the remaining single a bye off the wicket-keeper’s pads, speaks for itself.

As with the School, Nelson’s opening batsmen went early, and at one stage two wickets were down for eight runs. Rutherford and Shanley, however, became associated in a productive partnership which brought 41 runs up before the former -was run out in attempting too short a run. In marked contrast to the School batsmen’s unwillingness to run on several occasions when runs could easily have been made was the College batsmen’s eagerness to run for everything. Certainly the total was increased by more than a dozen owing to smart running, but there were several narrow escapes before Rutherford was dismissed. HOW TIIe WICKETS FELL.

K. Fookes and Grant opened the School’s innings to the bowling of Sadlier and S. Newman. The former had hardly scored a single before he was clean bowled, middle stump, by trie fast bowler. Mahraj replaced him but after playing a few careful strokes, played forward to Sadlier and lifted the ball into Johnston’s hands at point. Airey a slow leg break bowler, relieved S. Newman and A. Newman at second slip dropped a difficult chance from Fletcher to his brother’s first ball. A. Newman and S. Newman continued to attack the (Fletcher Hrant partnership without result. Then Airey came back again but the defence was too strong. Sadlier took the ball again and 50 runs appeared on the board after 05 minutes’ play. S. Newman took the ball from 'his brother and when 70 was up Airey replaced the fast bowler, A. Newman again changing with his brother. Airey went off after one over and new blood was introduced in the form of Johnson, a left hand bowler. Bowling round the wicket the newcomer with his third bail cleaned bowled Fletcher.

McLean was the newcomer, and lie scored a single before the over finished. He survived a confident appeal for i.b.w. off A. Newman's first ball. Then at •92 Grant was caught by S. Newman at second slip. Within a few minutes of one o’clock rain began to fall and the teams adjourned, for lunch. Drizzling rain fell throughout the luncheon adjournment, but ceased about 1.30 p.m., and play was recommenced at 2.55. Conditions were bow naturally against the bowlers and, shortly after three o’clock the century was hoisted amidst applause. McLean opened out to Johnson and, driving powerfully, knocked 10 off the bowler’s third over. Sadlier gave place to Airey and off the latter’s second ball Biggar smartly stumped Strombom. M. Fletcher replaced Strombom, who had played fine cricket for his 16. and the newcomer with his first stroke hit Airey into Eliot Street. A BRIGHT DISPLAY. Batting now became bright and forcing, and runs came quickly. McLean hooked a short one from S. Newman neatly to the fine leg boundary, but Shanley was there to catch the ball, and McLean retired with an energetically compiled 27 to his credit. A. Newman replaced Airey at. the north end and after he had bowled a maiden the teams adjourned for afternoon tea. the board showing 140 runs for six -wickets. Sadlier took up the attack at the south end on resuming, and S. Newman bowled from the other end. Biggar appealed for a catch from M. Fletcher off the latter’s second bail, but the appeal was not allowed. James came on at the other end. Loveridge, after playing confidently through an over by S. Newman, sent the last ball back into the bowler’s hands, but a comparatively easy catch was dropped.

M. Fletcher stepped in front to one from S. Newman and the appeal was successful. Fletcher had compiled- 25 runs in enterprising fashion, and had given practically no chances. Mackay came in and was dismissed immediately I.b.w. to Newman’s next ball. Crawford replaced Mackay and a burst of applause signified the performance of the •'hat trick’’ by the bowler, Crawford being caught by A. Newman in slips off his first ball. Finally after playing a fine forcing innings of 27, Loveridge square cut one of S. Newman’s deliveries into Johnson's hands at point, and the innings closed for 177. A SENSATIONAL OPENING. Nelson’s innings opened sensationally, Airey being caught at point by K. Fowkes off Mackay's first ball. Biggar came next and after playing freely for three overs, in partnership with Rutherford, was clean bowled by Mackay with what appeared to b e a short )>all. Eight, runs were up for the loss of two wickets. After bowling four overs Mackay gave the ball to Crawford, but the latter could not strike a length. McLean kept the batsmen thinking. They did not at any time appear at home and offer missed the ball altogether. Mackay was in fine form and, coming back in place of Crawford, kept- the batsmen quiet. At 41 Rutherford was run out and shortly afterwards stumps were drawn. The turf wicket had played fast and true throughout the day, and dried quickly towards the end of the afternoon. Details; — ADD CRICKET 90*/.. 9/0.. 90/.. SO/.. HIGH SCHOOL. First Innings. K. Fookes, b Sadlier 2 Grant, c S. Newman, -b A. Newman 23 Mahraj, e Johnson, b Sadlier 1 R. Fletcher, b Johnson 4S McLean, e Shanley, bS. Newman . . 27 Strombom, st. Bigfar, b Airey .... 16 M. Fletcher, 1.b.w., bS. Newman .. 25 Loveridge, c Johnson, b S. Newman 27 Mackay, 1.b.w., b Newman 0 'Crawford, c A. Newman, b S. Newman 0 Mason, not out 2 Extras 6 Total . 177 Bowling analysis.—‘Sadlier took two wickets for 31 runs; S. Newman, five for 44; Airey, one for 34; A. Newman, one for 22; Johnson, one for 29; James, none for 14. NELSON COLLEGE. First Innings. Airey, c Fookes, b Mackay 0 Rutherford, run out 23 Biggar, b Mackay 7 Shanley, not out 12 James, not out 2 Total (for three wickets) 44 NORTH TARANAKI PLAY. NEW PLYMOUTH V. WESTERN PARK. The match between the above teams was concluded at the sportsground on Saturday afternoon. New Plymouth had made 285 in their first innings, and Western Park I'l4. Following on, the Park team had lost one wicket for 25 runs when stumps were drawn on the first day. Continuing on Saturday they were dismissed after about an hour’s play, for a total of 94 runs. New Plymouth thus getting the verdict by an innings and 77 runs. Macdonald was the only batsman to make a stand, and he contributed 37. He gave a chance at the wickets off the first ball he faced, but Nasmith slipped in trying to get round to take a high catch. Grayson also had a life at the hands of E. Lash near the boundary. He was dismissed for Tl, and Quickfall (14) was the only other player to break double figures. The bowling honours were with M. D. Clarke, who took six wickets for 35 runs. 'N. Kinsella bowled two overs and one ball. One over w r a« a maiden, and he took one wicket. Details ;

NEW PLYMOUTH. First Innings 285 WESTERN PARK. First Innings H 4 Second Innings. Macdonald, c O. Kinsella, b C. G. Clarke 37 Machu, b M. D. Clarke 4 Grayson, c Kingston, b ‘M. D. ■Clarke 11 Haughton, c Sheppard, b O. Kinsella 7 Fuller, b M. D. Clarke 6 Bullard, c Sheppard, b M. D. 'fl S 3 ..... 3 Quickfall, b M. D.’ 'Clarke 14 C. Wilson, b M. D. Clarke 0 Edie, run out 5 Lawrey, b N. Kinsella 0 J. Wilson, not out - 0 Extras 7 Total 94 Bowling analysis. —M. D. Clarke, six wickets for 35 runs; Akers, none for 17; C. G. Clar'ke, one for 18, O. Kinsella, one for. 15; N. Kinsella, one for 2.