SCHOOL CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1924, Page 5

SCHOOL CRICKET.

NELSON DEFEATED. MARGIN OF NINE RUNS. SENSATIONAL FINISH TO MATCH. The cricket match between the New Plymouth Boys’ High School and Nelson College concluded in a sensational second innings collapse of both teams yesterday afternoon, the High School team emerging victorious by nine runs after a thrilling finish. High School made 177 and 77 runs. Nelson College Replying with 171 and 74. From the home team’s point of view the feature of the game was the way in which their bowlers. Mackay and McLean, dismissed their opponents for 74 in the second innings, after 36 runs had been scored without the loss of a wicket.

With no less pride may Nelson regard the splendid innings of Shanley, who compiled 73 in the first innings by free and forcing cricket, and the performances of theiF' own bowlers, of whom S. Newman took six wickets for 35 runs in the School’s second innings. The match was keenly fought to the very end and the issue was in doubt until the last wicket fell. Carrying on their overnight score. Nelson reached 171 runs before their first innings closed, the chief contributors to the total being Shanley (7’3), Rutherford (23), James (16)‘, Johnson (15), A. Newman (1-3) and S. Newman (10). School’s second innings was a procession, the only double figure .scorers being Fookes and* Mackay with 20 each. Requiring only 84 to win. Nelson appeared to have the match in hand, but after the opening batsmen (Sadlier (21), Airey (10) and Biggar (IS) had made a fine start, the tail completely collapsed, and when nine runs more were yet required Mackay dismissed the last batsman by throwing himself forward and snapping a catch two inches from the ground, to win the match and b 6 carried shoulder high from the ground. By mutual consent, it was decided to play out the match to a finish, which came at 6-35 p.m. Play was commenced at 10.40. Nelson’s not out men. Shanley (12) and James (2) opening to the bowling of McLean and Mackay. The ground was still very «oft and the wicket at the northern end rather sodden. Aided by a south-westerly gale sweeping across the ground, Mackay commenced by sending down several overs of fast balls, and in doing so cut up the turf ibadly at his end. After 20 minutes’ play only four runs had been added to the score, Mackay having sent down three maidens in succession. In Mackay’s next over Shanley was nearly run out by Stromborn. who threw the wickets down from his position at short long off. At 55 Mahraj and Loveridge replaced McLean. The former’s bowling was loose, and after three overs he was replaced by Crawford. Shanley lifted Crawford back to short mid-on, but the fieldsman was too far away, and the batsman Scaped. Shanley then pulled Ixiveridge to the leg boundary for the first boundary of the day, and .next ball repeated the* stroke, scoring a brace. Shanley began to open out and knocked 13 off* Crawford’s next over. McLean came on again in place of Loveridge and once more puzzled James completely, the latter missing practically every ball. Mackay replaced Crawford, but was treated with sc-gnt respect by Shanley, who was playing beautiful cricket. With a neat four to leg Shanley brought the century up at 11.50.

SHANLEY S FIRST CHANCE. At 104 Shanley had his first “life.’’ A smart return by Loveridge should have easily run the batsman out, but Grant, at the wickets, dropped the ball. Mahraj replaced McLean, and the change proved effective, James driving the -bowler’s third ball high to mid-on, where it was brilliantly taken by Mackay with one hand. James had held up hie wicket for about two hours * for 10 runs. S. Newman was the newcomer. In Mahraj’-s next over he clean bowled Shanley with a straight iong hop which the batsman tried to pull, and the board read—l2s— o— 73. Shanley had given a sterling exhibition of forceful batting, and included all variety of strokes in his repertoire. A. Newman joined his brother, and McLean came on to bowl with the wind. At 142 Loveridge clean bawled S. Newman, who had scored 10 runs. Sadlier came next and Mackay took the ball from McLean. The Nelson captain tipped one from Loveridge into slips before he had opened his account, and Mackay again took a fine catch—--143—7—0. One hundred and fifty was brought up by a lucky snick through slips by Dyer oil Mackay. At 152 A. Newman was dismissed l.b.w. to Loveridge and was •replaced by Muncaster. The latter went immediately, also 1.b.w.. and the teams adjourned for lunch. Shortly after resuming Johnson tipped one of Mackay’s fast deliveries into slips, where it was safely held by Mahraj. and the innings closed for 172, five runs behind the School score. SCHOOL BATSMEN FAIL. K. Fookes and Grant opened High School’s second innings, to the bowling of Sadlier and S. Newman. The innings bad hardly started when Grant was run out in running from a foolish call by Fookes. Mahraj replaced Grant, and in trying to late cut S. Newman he slipped, the ball rising into A. Newman’s hands at second slip—6—2—o. R. Fletcher came to the wickets, and runs came freely for a few overs until Fookes made a. poor stroke to a iong hop from S. Newman and lifted the ball to Shanley at square leg. He had 20 runs to his credit, compiled in free style. McLean partnered Fletcher, but the latter had scored only eight when he was clean bowled by S. Newman. Strombom came next and was nearly run out off his first stroke. Johnson took the ball from Sadlier and in his first over dismissed -Stromfbom, who was caught by S. Newman in slips. M. Fletcher came next and was hardly established before he lost his partner, who was clean bowled by S. Newman.—4s—>6—o. M. Fletcher and Love ridge hit merrily for an over or two, then Fletcher lifted S. Newman into Airey’s bands at midoff and seven widkets had fallen for 50 runs. Mason lasted about an over clean bowled by Sadlier, of ie

the boundary -brought 70 up. Loveridge then pulled Sadlier to the on boundary. Newman continued to bowl steadily, and finally got Madkay caught near the leg boundary by Muncaster. Crawford filled the vacancy, but in attempting a short r-un Loveridge was run out, the innings closing at 77. MACKAY’S FINE EFFORT. Nelson, requiring 84 to win, opened their second innings with Airey and Sadlier against the bowling of Mackay and McLean. Play wffi sloiw, Mackay bowling three maidens, and the score was only three after 15 minutes’ play. Airey opened out and drove McLean for three, and Sadlier hit the same bowler to the leg boundary, bringing 10 up. Loveridge then replaced him at the bowling crease and play slowed down, the total for the half-hour being 13. Crawford relieved Mackay at the southern end. Sadlier brought 20 up by lifting Loveridge high to the off boundary and drove the next ball for three. Airey brought 30 up by cutting a short ball to the fence. then McLean came on again and Sadlier drove him hard to Loveridge at cover point, who held the catch. 36—1—21.

Rutherford filled the vacancy and Airey brilliantly square cut Mackay for four, bringing 40 up. Rutherford was smartly caught at the wicket by Grant off McLean. 40 —2 —o. Biggar came in and was nearly caught by Mahraj, who just failed to get to the ball. Mason lost a good chance of running the same player out by a bad throw in. Then Airey was brilliantly taken by R. Fletcher at deep mid-off. 45 —3—19. S. Newman took up the .batting but was bowled by a trimmer from Mackay, which just took the bails. 45—4—0. Shanley came in but in attempting to pull Mackay was clean bowled. 45 — d-M). This* over completely changed the aspect of the game, and School’s chances of averting defeat appeared brighter as the game progressed. Johnson came next, and after being nearly caught in slips by Mahraj, off his first ball, was clean ’ bowled by McLean for two, the board showing 48 for the loss of six wickets, Mackay at this stage had bowled eight overs for eight runs and had secured two wickets.

Biggar brought up 50 by driving Mackay to the on boundary, and Newman cut McLean squarely to the fence and then got him to leg for two. Crawford replaced Mackay but was erratic in length, and 60 soon appeared on the board. Biggar cut McLean, but Crawford brilliantly threw the wicket down from third man and Newman was out. 63 —7 —-6. James filled the vacancy and Nelson College now required 21 to win. They had twenty minutes to go with three wickets in hand.

Mackay came on again in place of Crawford. -Singles to each batsman brought up 70, and 14 runs were -required with ten minutes to go. Then Maikay clean bowled Biggar, who had been shaping well. 71—8 —I'B. Dyer came next. He scored a single off Mackay, James stubbornly playing out the oxer. Two singles off McLean’s next over saw the total required reduced to 10. Then McLean caught James at close mid-on. 74—9—-3.

Muncaster, the last man, came in amidst intense excitement. Before he opened his account Mackay brought off a wonderful catch in slips and the innings closed for 74, giving New Plymouth the victory by a margin of nine runs. Details: — HIGH SCHOOL. First Innings 177 Second Innings. K. Fookes, c Shanley, ,b S. Newman 20 Grant, run out 1 Mahraj, cA. Newman, bS. Newman 0 R. Fletcher, b S .Newman 8 McLean, b S. Newman 9 Stroinbom, cS. Newman, b Johnson 3 ! Loveridge, run out 6 M. Fletcher, *c Airey, bS. Newman fl Mason, b Sadlier O Mackay, c Muncaster, b S. Newman 20 Crawford, not out 0 Extras 4 Total 77 Bowling analysis.—Sadlier took one w.eket for 30 runs; S. Newman, six for 35; Johnson, one for 9. NELSON COLLEGE. First’ Innings. Airey, c Fookes, b Mackay 0 Rutherford, run out 23 Biggar, b Mackay 7 James, c Mackay, b Mahraj . 16 Shanley, b Mahraj 73 S. Newman, b Loveridge 10 A. Newman, 1.b.w., b Loveridge.... 13 Sadlier, c Mackay, b Loveridge ...» 0 Dyer, not out 9 Muncaster, 1.b.w., b Loveridge 0 Johnson, c Mahraj, b Mackay 15 Extras • 0 Total 171 Bowling analysis. —Mackay took three wickets for 64 runs; McLean, none for 42; Loveridge, four for 22; Mahraj, two for 10; Crawford, none for 28. Second Innings. Airey, c R. Fletcher, b McLean 19 Sadlier, c Loveridge, b McLean .... 21 Rutherford, c Grant, b McLean .... 0 Biggar, b Mackay 18 S. Newman, b Mackay 0 Shanley, b Mackay 0 Johnson, b McLean 2 A. Newman, thrown out 6 James, c McLean, b Mackay 3 Dyer, c Mackay, b McLean ........ 2 Muncaster, not out 0 Extras 3 Total 74 Bowling analysis.—Mackay took four wickets for 16 runs; McLean, five for 29; Loveridge, none for 11; Crawford, none for 15. Messrs W. C. Weston, P. E. Stainton, J. Brown and D. J. Hughes acted as umpires. Tlie Nelson College team leaves .by the mail train this morning for Nelson, via Wellington. REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. NORTH TARANAKI V. WANIGANUI. A representative cricket match will be played at New Plymouth on January 1 between North Taranaki and Wanganui. As it is some years since these teams met here, considerable interest will centre on the match. The representative match between Auckland and set down for on Ja n u