“KRICKET” IN BERLIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16940, 15 January 1923, Page 3

“KRICKET” IN BERLIN.

AN INTERNATIONAL MATCH A two-day cricket match was begun on August 24 at Mariedorf ; a suburb of Berlin, between a representative eleveu of Prussia and a picked t(;im from Holland, -says the 1/omlon ‘Times” Bulletin correspondent. A series of games had been arranged by the “ Society for the Encouragement of Playing Ball.” with a view to popularising cricket (hero spelt Kricket), and doubtless some professor will ultimately provide the necessary proof that the game was really of German origin. The Dutch team, as worthy exponents, were invited to give the propaganda a good send-off. The came was played on a football ground quite innocent of the attentions of a mowing machine, hosepipe, or roller, 'die pitch being a strip of about 2S * arils of some kind of matting. The T "nssian team, faultlessly attired in. white with the Prussian eagle erntroidered on their shirt pockets, batted first, before a crowd numbering 200 persons. Against the crack Dutch irternational bowlers they hit up the surprising score of 44 on the first innings, which lasted for an hour. It had been expected that Prussia would make a. good show, and the prediction of the ‘‘.Kricket’ correspondent of the “German Gazette” that a. victory of the Dutch team wu.s a practical impossibility, looked as though it might be After a brief Interval, during which little boys served beer to enthusiasts *ii the grandstand, Prussia took the field, and the two loading Dutch batsmen faced the crack German “left--1 auder,” a famous ‘‘fast-bailman,” ns Ik was described by the German fv reporters, and a round-arm fast “right-hander” at the other end. The first of the. Dutch batsmen took a good look at the pitch from under his hard straw hat. stroked his heard, and sent the first ball for a safe two. Both players got a good loft in the near field, and after having given an average of two chances }>er run both got cut. Some free hitting followed, and hun*f came fast, iso that with oinly t!.ree> wickets to fall the Dutch had e cored forty runs. Tense excitement followed, as the last Dutch players strove desperately to add the five runs necessary to secure a. lead on the first innings, and the score had been carried to 43 w ith the loss of a further wicket v lien it was unfortunately time for vour correspondent to leave. “'One tinng is absolutely certain ” the Kricket exjiert of the “German Gaz- < tte” had written that morning in jiis article, “the game that will be put before us to-day will be on the high•>t technical plane.” From the bov/1ei s’ point, of view that was to ,\. «. icat extent true: the first straight ball that did not rise over the bats::i;in’s head usually got his wicket. Or if it did not there were two chances, loi the batsman either hit it into the .jit or it hit him in the neck. I understand that Kricket has been regularly played in Berlin for over 30 > cars. Now that the Prussian side have put up such a splendid show against the Dutch, they will doubtless bt looking round for other intevna--1 onal adversaries. Tt need only ho added that the match was played in Hie proper spirit of the game, though the phrase “nicht Kricket” has not been crystallised into the German language.