CRICKET.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144360, 26 March 1914, Page 7

CRICKET.

SOUTH v. NORTH TARANAKI. THIS MORNING’S FLAY. The return match between the two ends of tbo Taranaki province was continued in splendid weather on the Sports Ground this morning. South had a lead of 116 ou tho first innings, and thoir second innings was commenced this morning. It occupied about two hours, tho main features iu the score of 111 being the splendid displays given by Cave 22, Blamires 19, Walker 18 and Dunlop 15. Tho bowling of tho Northerners was a great deal belter than on Wednesday, and the Southern men were unable to take any liberties. Nicoll was put on at an early stage, and he secured the phenomenal average of eight wickets for 26. Tho fielding of North Taranaki was splendid, amt was a great factor in keeping the score down. Stainton gave a good display as wicket-keeper, only five byes being registered. 'The morning’s play left North with 227 to make to win. The opening batsmen batted for ten minutes before lunch, five runs being notched. THE PLAY. Cave and Pratt started for the Southerners to the bowling of Bain and Osborne. Bain kept a splendid length, and the first over produced only two singles. Pratt booked Osborne’s first ball for one, but tho next four had Cave puzzled. However, the last was a loose one, and Cave promptly slammed it for four. Pratt faced Bain in his second over, blocked the first ball, and let go at the second. Ho did not hit it squarely, and the ball was skied to Bewley at long-on. The catch was well taken ; 71 —2. Dunlop joined Cave, and the remainder of Bain’s over produced throe runs. Tho field was spread out when Dunlop took centre to Osborne, owing to a bye being smartly run. However, the Southern sniiter stayed at homo, and contented himself with blocking. Two straggly hits resulted in possible catches being sent into the slips, but they wore far too short to ho accepted. This was a maiden over, and Bain followed suit with another maiden. Osborne looked like sending down another maiden, but Cave hit the fifth ball to Jongon for two. A byo was registered in Bain’s next over, which proved to bo a maiden. Osborne appeared to be sacrificing pace to work, to the disadvantage of both, and Dunlop got two balls away to leg for two and four respectively. Twenty-one was now hoisted. Cave continued to bo content with steady play, and Bain, his good length bowling aided by smart fielding, bonded his third successive maiden. Osborne improved greatly now, and Dunlop had to treat him respectfully. Ho essayed several hits, but the bowling was too good, and another maiden was registered. The last ball of Bain’s over produced a single, and a single was also run in Osborne’s next, in which Dunlop survived a confident appeal for l.b.w. Two singles were the sum total from Bain’s over, but Dunlop hit tlio first two from Osborne to the leg boundary, and brought 33 up. He essayed a third boundary, but was given out 1.b.w.; 33—3—15. Blamires joined Cave, and scored a single off his first ball from Osborne. Ho played Bain with confidence, and scored two singles. One single was scored off Osborne’s next over, and three in two hits to leg off Bain. 'Two singles were scored off Osborne, bringing 40 up. Sarton replaced Bain, and one single only was scored off his first over. Lash also went on in place of Osborne, and secured a maiden over (the sixth out of 20 bowled during 45 minutes’ play). Good fielding by Bowley and Richards saved several runs, and two singles were scored off Sartcn. Lash’s next was similar, and Cave was given “not out” to a Jeg-bcforc appeal in Sarten’s over. Fifty was brought up after 55 minutes’ play by a single bv Blamires, off Lash. ' The seventh ball of this over added another run, and then Sartcn bowled another maiden. Nicoll replaced Lash, and was rewarded with a maiden. A single was tho only one hit off Sarten’s over, and Nicoll started his second over. Cavo lot out at the first ball, and M‘Gie took a hot catch; 523—22.

Penny partnered BJamiros, and scored a single off the second ball. Tho rest of the over was uneventful, and Sartcn took the ball. Penny notched a couple of singles, but the next two of tho over beat him badly. Nicoll’s first was dispatched to the leg boundary for four, but nothing more was scored off the over. Sarten’s fourth was banged for four by Blamircs, bringing 60 up, and the same batsman also scored a two, tho only other hit of the over. Penny notched a single off Nicoll’s first ball, and Blamircs faced the bowler. The last ball of tho over rose somewhat, and jßlamiros went out to hit it. Stainton had his bails off in a twinkling; 67 —4 —19. Walker joined Penny, Foreman replacing Sarten at tho southern end. Four were scored off the now bowler’s first over, in three hits. Penny now' had a very narrow shave from being run out. Penny hit one from Foreman and commenced to run. Walker told him to go back, but the ball was smartly returned to tho bowler. However, be had already accidentally knocked the bails off, and ho now omitted to pull the stump up, with tho result that Penny had a lucky escape. Nicoll, however, secured revenge in the next over. Penny snicked his third ball slightly to leg, and Bain shifted over from tho slips and took a fine catch; 80—5 —11. Court was tho newcomer, and ho scored a single off Nicoll’s last ball. JBain replaced Foreman, and his first over resulted in a couple and a single. Nicoll then sent down a maiden. Five were scored off Bain’s next over, and a nice boundary by Walker, off Nicoll, brought 90 up. The smart fielding of the Northerners was a feature.of tho game at tins stage, and was the means of saving a lot of runs. A off Nicoll, and then Osborne took Bain’s place. A single off tho first ball was the only score in this over, and Nicoll went on again at his end. Walker slashed at the first ball, and the ball went humming back to the bowler, who took a splendid catch; 99—7—18. Cantelin was tho incoming batsman. He blocked three balls, and then scooped at the fourth. The ball just snicked bis bat, and Stainton took a nice catch ; 99 —7 —o.

M’Leod joined Court, who had been batting very steadily. Ho hit a two off Xicoll’s 'first, but attempted to do the same with the next ball, which went into Cain’s hands in the longfiold; tOO—B—2.

M’Koy partnered Court. The remainder of Nicoli’s over produced two, and five were, hit off Osborne. Then jfieoll, with his first hall, bowled Court; 110—9—5. The last man, Smith, joined MTvoy. and made things lively. Four were credited to him before he skied one from ISicol Ito Bain, in the longfield. The innings thus closed for 114.

Wanting 228 to win, North opened ‘with Lash and Bowley, to Dunlop aud Blamires. Five runs wore scored to Lash, off Dunlop, while Blamirea had Bent down twe maidens. Following are the details of the South Taranaki scores;— SOUTH TARANAKI. First Innings 222 Second Innings. Pratt 11, c. Bonder, b. Bain 2 Cave 14212111111111111, c. M‘Oic, b. Nicoll ; 22 Duulop 24144. 1.b.w., b, Osborne ... 15 Blamires 11211111442, st. Stainton, b. Nicoll 19 Penny 12121121, e. Bain, b. Nicoll 1) Walker 114231411, c. and b. Nicoll IS Court 1112, b. Nicoll Cantoliu, c. Stainton, b. Nicoll 0 M’Leod 2, c. Bain, b. Nicoll 2 M'Koy 2211, not out 6 Smith 22, c. Rain, b. Niv '! 4 Extras: Byes 5, leg uyes 2, total 7 Total Hi Bowling analysis; Bain, 11 overs, 3 maidens, 1 wicket, 21 runs; Osborne, 12 overs ,3 maidens, 1 wicket. 33 runs; Sartcn, 7 overs, 1 maiden, 0 wickets, 13 runs; Lash, 3 overs, 1 maiden, 0 wickets, '4 runs: • NiirU, H overs. 2 maidens, 8 wickets, 20'runs; Foreman, 2 overs, 0 wickets, 7 runs. The wickets fell as follows:—One for 7, two for 33, three for 52, four for 67, hvo for 80, sax for 99. seven for 99, tight for 103, nine for 110, ten ior 111. THIS AFTERNOON’S PLAY. A DISASTROUS ROT. SOUTH WIN BY 131 RUNS. North Taranaki wan tod 227 to got even with tbo Southerners, but a rot set in, and eight wickets fell for 67. However, Osborne and Sarteu made a good stand, tbo former particularly making some fine strokes. 'J ho total was raised to 93 before Osborne lost his wicket to Cave, and tbo lasi wicket partnership had to make 134 to even up. They failed, and the innings closed for 96, South thus won by 131 runs.

After tho luncheon adjournment Lash (5) and Bewley (0) continued their innings, Dunlop and Blamires bowling. Runs camo steadily, and the second ten was nearly hoisted when Smith replaced Blamires. In his third over tho new bowler caught Bewley off his own bowling; 20—1—6. * Richards joined Lash, tho High School boy blocking everything. Penny had replaced Smith. Jio was given a “life,” but soon settled down again to steady play. Lash did all tho hitting, and 41 was up before Richards sent up a soft one to Cave, olf Benny, when playing a log ball; 41—2 —9. Nicoll joined Lash, but he was clean bowled first ball by Penny ; 41—3—0. Bain partnered Lash, and two overs were passed and ono run added when Penny scattered Lash’s stumps; 42 4 — 22.

M’Gio was tho newcomer, and tho two United Service players appeared to be settling down to steady play when Penny secured bis third wicket by yorking Bain ; 47-—s—l. Tilings were looking anything but rosv for North when Osborne joined M'Gio. Dunlop, who had been bowling unchanged throughout the innings, bowled M'Gio with the third ball of his thirteenth over; 47 —G —s. Tho 13th over was also unlucky for Scrimgeour, who joined Osborne, for Dunlop clean bowled him with the fifth ball of that over. 47—7—0.

Foreman joined Osborne, and sent tho last ball of Dunlop’s over for a single. Ho notched another single off tho first ovep from M*Koy, who had replaced Penny. YPLcod also replaced Dunlop, and Oslxwno broke his duck by notching' a single off that bowler, MTvoy’s second over produced a single and throe was notched off M'Dood’s second over. Seven were taken off MTvoy’s third over and four off the first three balls of M‘Deed’s third over. With his fifth ball Hits howler clean bowled Forman. G7—B—3. Osborne and Sarteu were now together, Pratt replacing M‘Koy. Osborne was playing steadily and brought 70 up with a glance through tho slips for one. This was tho only score in Pratt’s over, while three wore made oil M‘Leod’» next over. Two wore scored off Pratt, .and then Court replaced M'Deod. Three came off his first over, and one off Pratt. Osborno then got two os tho result of a short run. off Coma, but this was tho only score of the over. Penny replaced Pratt at the northern end, ono run f>emg notched. Cave replaced Court, and Sarteu got one off his third Hall, the only score of tho over. Six came in tho next three overs, and then Osborne* faced Cave. The third hall he played on. 93—9—23.

Stainton, tho hist man, then joined Sarten. Thrco singles were added to tho total, and then Sarten was bowled by Cave, and tho match was over. 06—10—13. The scores follow: NORTH TARANAKI. First innings 106 Second Innings. Lash 22111111121X121111, b. Penny 22 BmvToy 1122, c. and b. Smith 6 Richards 121122, c. Cave, b. Penny 0 Nicoll, b. Penny 0 Bain 1, b. Penny I M‘Gio 14. b. Dunlop 5 Osborne 112124121112121, b. Cavo 23 Scrimgcour, b. Dunlop 0 Foreman 111, b. M'Lood 3 Sarteu 222211112111, b, Cavo 15 Stainton 1, not out 1 Extras 12 Total 96 Bowling analysis.—Dunlop, 13 overs, 3 maidens, 2 wickets, 27 runs; Blamires, 2 overs, 2 maidens; Smith, 5 overs, 1 maiden, I wicket, 10 runs; Penny, 9 overs, 1 maiden, 4 wickets, 14 runs ; M‘Kay, 3 overs, 0 wickets, 9 runs; M'Lood, 4 overs, 1 wicket, 13 runs; Pratt, 3 overs, 0 wickets, 4 runs; Court, 2 overs, 0 for 4; Ctve, 3 overs, 2 for 4.

The wickets foil as follow:—One for 19, two for 41, throe for 41, three for 41, four for 42, five for 47, six for 47, seven for 47, eight for 67, cine for 93, ten for 96.