BOWLERS CALL THE TUNE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20484, 10 December 1934, Page 11

BOWLERS CALL THE TUNE.

Many Leading Senior Batsmen Out For Low Scores. POWELL SHOWS HOW TO HIT. SATURDAY’S first-grade cricket honours went to the ‘ bowlers. Only the great hitting of J. L. Powell for Riccarton and a good innings of 74 by M. Gray, of Svdenliam, stood out on the other side of the ledger. ' Roberts showed once more that he is Canterbury’s outstanding bowler, taking five St Albans wickets for 21 runs. Cook, of Old Boys, and Allsopp, East Christchurch, also gained excellent figures. Sydenham were the only side to bat convincingly. St Albans were all out against Riccarton for 102. ' '

HONOURS LIST. Batting: J- L. Powell (R.) 88 M. oray (S.) 84 E. A. Gasson (S.) 74 C. V. Walter (0.C.) 68 J. W. Peake (Wj 56 J. Jacobs (R.) 48 J. L. Kerr <W.) 40 G. R. Gregory (W.) 37 T. Burtt <St A.) *35 L. Butterfield (S.) 34 G. L. Talbot (0.C.) 34 H. Davis (K.C.) 33 A. W. Roberts (R.) *32 C. J. Oliver (S.) 3 2 P. F. Allen (W.) 30 • Not out. Bowling: A. W. Roberts (R.) 5 for 21 P. Allsopp (E.) 6 for 60 R. F. Cook (0.8. l 8 for 88 L. J. Fairbairn (R.) 1 for 2 J. L. Powell (R.) I for 9 GOOD BOWLING TELLS. There is only one team in the firstgrade cricket competition which has bowling really up to standard, and that is Riccarton. The side’s batting is good as well, but it is the bowling that has taken the team to the top of the list, where it is likely to remain. On Saturday the weakness of the ordinary run of attack was clearly demonstrated, for the St Albans batsmen, who have scored very respectably in other games, went down like ninepins. One or two good catches were taken, but some were dropped as well. Four batsmen failed to score at all, and only three reached double figures, the two highest having a lot of luck to aid them. Roberts took the honours of the afternoon, and five St Albans wickets for only 21 runs. He maintained a wellnigh perfect length, gained plenty of nip off the fast pitch and varied pace and spin cleverly. Roberts is the outstanding bowler in Christchurch to-day and there is a lot of hard work ahead of him to keep the runs down in the representative fixtures. A bowler to show great improvement from last season is Andrew's. He does not try to get the same pace (his action suits a medium ball much better) and as a result he has much better control of length and direction. He was not having the luck on Saturday, getting one wicket for 32 runs in 12.3 overs. He does not take nearly as much out of himself as he did before, and might be a useful stock bowler for the Canterbury team. Fairbairn and Jack Powell also held a length and were hard to score off. Fairbairn took one for two in five

avoid no-balls. Even a fast bowler would not often send down 10 in an afternoon. However, with his short run to the crease, he should be able to rectify this minor defect with little difficulty. * At the outset It seemed that a bright afternoon’s cricket was in prospect, but the scoring rate slackened before the tea interval. Later it livened up again and finished up with a flurry of fours and sixes. Sydenham have to thank Gray and Gas son for the advantageous position in which they find themselves. When their innings closed they were all out for 277. A BATTING MIXTURE. The batting of the West Christchurch men against Lancaster Park on Saturday was a curious mixture of good and bad. The outstanding performance was a stylish 56 by J. W. Peake, a left-hander, who is batting with considerably more freedom this season and on Saturday swung the leg stuff away delightfully. Apart from his steadiness on the leg side he showed a big improvement in his manner of dealing with off balls, which he smashed past point and steered through slips in workmenlike fashion. Peake came in at a time when West were in danger of slipping, for after one was down for 80 the board soon read three for 92. It was then that Peake got going. J. L. Kerr hit up 40, hut it was a streaky innings marred by an easy chance in the long field at 21. Kerr’s cutting and cover driving were right up to his best form, but in other directions his shots were lacking crispness. A good deal of Kerr’s failure to reveal his old prowess, however, can probably be attributed to lack of match play as he was forced to miss the early innings of the season for health reasons. G. R. Gregory was in unorthodox mood in making 37, specialising in mow strokes to leg, one of which eventually led to his downfall, when he skied a ball to the 'keeper. P. F. Allen started his innings in a minor key, stabbing uncertainly at everything instead of playing his natural free-hitting game. Later, however, he found his stride and put on a useful 30 before being run out. W. Hayes was the next best with 26. but his antics between the wickets brought his knock to an end with a

Of the Park attack. R. J. Read was as usual, the steady stock bowler, foi of his thirty-one overs fourteen wen

maidens, and he took - two wickets for j 59 runs. S. J. Yates met with most | success when he bowled a slower ball that had the batsmen thinking. He took three for 80, and would have done better had he not decided to turn on his faster stuff later in the West. Christchurch innings. T. Kennedy took two for 45 in 15.2 overs. He was treated with exaggerated respect when he started, one run coming off his first four overs. T. Evans was erratic and only sent down five overs. Without a wicket. The West innings concluded for 229 runs, with one man. W. M. Brown, absent. Park batted for half an hour and lost two for 39, Kennedy and Dawson both going out for 6. Cromb was i unbeaten with 27. including five fours, j The first over from H. D. Smith was j prolific. Kennedy took a single and j then Cromb sent the next three balls i to the four boundary in his most aggressive style. ALLSOPP’S GOOD BOWLING. There was nothing very inspiring about Old Collegians’ first innings against East Christchurch. The bats-

The Riecarton fielding was not without fault, but the slip catching of Andrews and the fine work of Hooper at cover lifted it to a high'" average. Hooper was instrumental in running two men out. It is delightful to see a man who anticipates the shot, moves quickly and gathers cleanly, returning hard and accurately to the -wicketkeeper. Burtt (35 not out) and Birch (run out for 29) were the only two St Albans batsmen to make a stand. and both had plenty of luck. Birch, however, showed the makings of a sound batsmen despite the two chances he gave. The Riecarton innings of 212 for three wickets puts the side in a strong position for a straight-out win. Powell’s 88 was delightful. It included five sixes and eleven boundaries. When his eve was in Powell answered the call for a lot of runs in quick time. He had luck, but he deserved it. The St Albans captain chose to try him with slow bowlers when his eye was in. and Powell took every advantage of the offer. He got to the pitch of the ball and hit for all he was worth. One over from Lindley produced four boundaries and a six. while off an over from Burtt Powell hit three consecutive sixes, a four and a single. The catch with which Tucker dismissed him was a beauty out in the long field. * Incidental! y, another of Powell’s big hits was held, but Crawford, in taking it (and it was a hard one) had to edge back over the boundary, and amdist applause for his effort he had to raise his hands to indicate that the hit was a six. Jacobs (48) and Roberts (32 not out) both showed some good shots, though Roberts was painfully slow at the start. Both these batsmen have weak defensive shots in which they play at a length ball without using their feet at all, a species of half-cock stroke that never looks safe. Stringer gave the wicket-keeper an accepted catch when 22. but he looked the soundest batsman of the afternoon. His shots were excellently played. and his defence was decisive. It is very hard to understand w r hy Stringer was not picked for practice with the representatives. He is far and away the best left-hander in town and almost the best opening batsman. SYDENHAM LIVEN UP. Two fine scores, an 84 by M. Gray and a 74 fov K. A. Gasson. and a bag of eight wickets for 88 by R. F. Cook, the Old Boys’ slow bowler, were outstanding features of Sydenham’s first innings against Old Boys on Saturday. For the rest, the play was definitely mediocre, Gray distinguished himself by producing scoring strokes all round tlio wicket, and he probably lost a century by being sent in sixth wicket down. When he was approaching the hundred ho attempted to force the pace in a last-wicket stand, taking risks which ho would otherwise have avoided. By his play he has certainly earned a higher place in the batting list. B. A. Gasson was a good opening batsman, forcing the pace where possible, and was well set when run out off a no-ball. But the eight wickets for 88 taken •T K. F. Cook was the achievement of the day. The slow bowler was turning the hall and flightirfg it cleverly, but be should have taken more care to

led to get control of P. Allsopp’s bowling. He had the batsmen well tied up, sending down deliveries that had plenty of spin, besides keeping an even length. This slow bowler has been consistent in getting wickets this season. On Saturday be took his first three wickets for 15 runs, and it was not until C. K. Jackman and G, L. Talbot batted that his bowling suffer-

, ed. At the end of the innings his six wickets had cost 60 runs. C. V’. Walter played surely. He did not exert himself at all, just scoring off loose balls. His shots were nicely placed, and only keen fielding by the Easterners kept his score down. G. L. Talbot gave the brightest display. hitting with plenty of vigour. His runs came from strokes well timed and placed all round the wicket. C. K. Jackman also tackled the howling aldoes Sh not S ° stro, ’^ l y a « he usuallya 'l' 01 J , Y ,er dismissed H. Davis by oiHvUr > at 5 h - The ball kep t low, and Oljivier just reached it. falling over in -he act of holding the ball. The Lower Grades. SECOND. /T^ t , riu Sby Park, Lancaster Park, 213 tDasler 58. Fleete 39, Glackin 33 not oVh' rSW 32 anrl B,sh °P *5), met wickets a "(T ITaml,ton took eight in A *Hagley Park. St Albans, 163 (Jones 1?’ ** 4 ’ North 23 and Angus 21), Km Boys * 82 for two wickets (Har“rtf.? £ Dt OUt and COOk 30 not OUt >- 4*4 Boys Patrick took six wickets At Hagley Park. Svdenham, 390 for n'7" wn, kets (declared) (Walsh 170, D ?'*« 140) . met Riccarton. 44 for three wickets. ’ e Third. A Section. r Ji ] £,£ olle £ lans ' 2,7 (Bruges 61), met A« Park A - 1 36 for five wickets e 9 *f a PPl*l>eck 70). Sydenham. 260 (O’Malley 60. Jamieson wickets e?t Christchurch, 43 for nine th?ee wfcket” 6 ' m * f St Albans - 61 for «4 R <SS a J ton - ,52 ' mot K«*t Christchurch, wickets. "Rowling for East, , l< ?? k hve wickets for 40 runs and Pearce three for 4 3. (B Section). 248 (Marsdp n 109), met Clirist College 42 for five wickets, dared) b mot f 2 for wicltets (denine wickSS. Lancastcr Park, SO for mc B t°oTd S - S c’34 1 ’ 2=7 <Dawaon 87 >- tTTorfl^w'i^”,^I’’ 1 ’’ ,17 ' met ° ,d Boys Fourth. (A Section) 13 forI*one 1 *one "wicket.' ” 8, lnet Syde " l,am , St Albans. IS6 ' (Robinson 66) met technical, 202 for five wickets (Puddle 133 ' met West kets tChU Ch 7, - H S - 1 05 for five wieB Section. Lancaster Park, 126 (Lye 52) met (Brown**!?) Sch,>ol - 218 for f »»r wickets Old Boys,' 213 for s even wickets (dewickets. St Andr<, ' v ' s - 82 for four | Hatley 53) !' met'St Albans 8.'^37 ? '‘ t 56, ,

Fifth. West Christchurch, 201, heat Technical. 74 and 36. by an innings and 91 runs For Technical Wason took eight wickets for 23 rims in the first innings and five wickets for 18 in the second. Sydenham, 149. met St Albans S.» Lancaster Park beat Boys’ High School by default. Suburban Association’s Competitions. fifth round of matches. The fifth round of the Suburban Association competitions \va« begun on j Saturday in fine weather, but despite . good wickets tile scoring was slow in I all three senior games. At Sunnyside i the home feani batted first, and were all ' out for 165. A. Cullen 61 and L. Gordon i 48 being chief scorers. When stumps j were drawn Marist had lost five wickets i for 113, C. Kirk 57 not out heading the I batting. Working Men’s Club were dismisffed by Beckenham for 117 C. Smith 25 and F. Warr 21 were top scorers. Beckenham were all out for the poor total of 74, and when stumps were drawn Working Men’s Club had lost two wickets for 37 runs. Shirley batted three and a half hours for 180 against the steady howling of Railway, who batted ten minutes for 8 runs before stumps were drawn for the day. Shirley v. Railway. A perfect wicket was provided at Richmond Domain for the Shirley v. Railway match, when the former Wain took the first strike. C. Henwood, a promoted junior, succumbed to Brook’s first hall, Peattie taking an easy catch. G. Cullen looked set and had reached 20 when he hit one back to Hood. Archer began scratchily but got 25. TlVe best knock of the innings was that of . E. Taylor, who got 55 by sound cricket. The innings closed for 180.- I>. Mitchell put up a gwd performance behind the wickets for Railway, stumping two and having no byes. Scores:— SHIRLEY. First Innings. G. Cullen, c and b L. Hood . . 20 C. Henwood, c Beattie b Brook .... 0 S. Rich, lbw b Hood 16 L» Kirk, run out 16 L. Kington, c Lawson b Grenfell . . 9 N. Archer, b Brook 25 E. Taylor c Brook b Gilroy 55 C. F. Pitt, st Mitchell b Hood .... 12 H. Elvy, c Peattie b Gilroy 2l A. Pitt, not out 2 S. Wentworth, st Mitchell b Hood 1 Extras 3 Total 180 Bowling analysis—E. Brook, 13 overs, 25 runs, 2 wickets; E. Grenfell. 10 overs. 34 runs, 1 wicket; L. Hood, 29.6 overs, 73 runs. 4 wickets; T. Gilroy, 10 overs, 20 runs, 2 wickets; J. Peattie, 6 overs, 25 runs. RAILWAY. First Innings. W. Lawson, not out 4 J. Kerr, not out 3 Extras l Total for no wickets .... S Beckenham v. W.M.C. The bowlers were on top all day in the match between Beckenham and Working Men's Club at Beckenham Park, and at the close of play Working Men's Club held a first innings lead of 31 runs. They batted first on a tricky wicket, and the early batsmen made little headway against Sincock’s steady bowling. Then C. Smith and F. Warr with 24 and 21 respectively improved the position, but the tail failed, with the exception of M’Lachlan, 14, and the innings closed for 107. M. Heath and N. Stokes bowled well to dismiss the later batsmen. N. Stokes was the onlv Beckenham batsman to show anv form against the howling of Harris and Davis, and his 24 was a sound knock. Bateman hit hard for 12, and M’Millan was not out with 10 when the innings closed for 76. Working Men’s Club changed their batting order in their second strike, and had 3 7 on for two wickets when stumps were drawn Scores:— WORKING MEN’S CLUB. First Innings. F. Harris, c Cawtliery b Sincock .. 11 A. Davis, b Sincock 2 A. Shand, c M’Millan b Sincock - 7 C. Smith, b Heath 24 F. Warr, b Stokes 21 H. Mills, c Stokes b Heath 5 S. Clegg, c and b Stokes 1 J. Mills, c Cawtheray b Stokes 4 L. M’Lachlan, b Heath 14 W. Cunningham, c b Heath 0 Extras’ i

score was 1.02. Gordon macPe his 48 in his best style. Cullen went on in make top score with an invaluable 61. W. M’Donnell, a fastish right-hander, bowled steadily to take four wickets for 32 runs. T. Waine took three for 34. and A. Murray two for 54. C. Kirk gave Marist a good start. When stumps were drawn, the score was 113 runs for five wickets Kirk was 57 not out and M’Ken dry 25 not out. They were both batting confidently. Scores:— SUNNYSIDE. First Innings. L. Gordon, c and b Waine • 48 E. Barnes, c Coomber b Murray . , 4 G. Grose, b M’Donnell 7 H. Thompson, run out 2 A. Pullen, b M’Donnell 61 L. Watson, b Murrav 13 ! r>. Cocks, c and b Waine 4 1 T,. Mahoney, c B’azey b Waine . . 5 I J. Hartley, b M’Donnell 10 , W. Ellis, not out o G. Bisphan, b M’Donnell 0 Extras . .. 11 Total 165 Bowling analysis.—W. M’Donneil, 7. 7 overs, 32 runs, 4 wickets; A. Murray. 15 overs, 54 runs, 2 wickets: J. Leach, 4 overs, 19 runs; C. Kirk, 2 overs, 13 runs; T. Waine, 9 overs, 1 maiden, 34 runs, 3 wickets. MARIST. First Innings. T. Coomber, b Mahoney 4 C. Kirk, not out 57 W. M’Donnell, c Grose b Thompson 4 T. Waine, b Thompson 0 A. Murray, c Barnes b Thompson 15 G. Blassey, st Cullen b Thompson 0 M. M’Kendry, not out 25 Extras S

Total for five wickets .... 113 The Lower Grades. SENIOR B. St Andrew’s Old Boys, 269. met Shirlev. 4 5 for two wickets. Templeton, 188 (F. Davison 41, C. Smith 35. S. Playle 33). met Avon, 160 for three wickets. Mairehau, 232 (R. Lisle 67), met Spreydon, 56 for seven wickets. Junior A. Working Men’s Club, 166 (Hooper 62. Wilson 20). met Merivale, 86 for seven wickets. Davies, four for 40, bowled well for Merivale. Junior B. St Albans, 105 (Ayres 31. Wilson 13), met Harewood, 81 (H. Shipley 24, Cooper 12, Preece 12). Porteous, four for 40, Hall, three for 24, and La very, two for 1. bowled well for St Albans, and A. Shipley, four for 18, and F. Preece, four for 21, for Harewood. Junior C. St Albans, 137. met Shirley, 3 20 for seven wickets. Oddfellows, 131 (A. Lennie 59), met Urlwin’s, 136 (Sherwood 45). Railway, 117. met Stewart’s Gully. 104 for three wickets. Junior D. A.von, 278 for four wickets (Dempsey 104, M. Marshall 105 not out), met Whitcombe and Tombs. Beckenham, 75, met Spreydon, 207 for six wickets (Dryden 76, Mitchell 66 not out). Third Grade A. Lyttelton, 136 for seven wickets declared. drew with Oddfellows, 9 4 for eight wickets. Northcote. 164 for eight wickets declared (Bell 80). beat Tramways, 40, by 124 runs on the first innings. Opawa, 116 (Barnhill 61), beat Wilmer, 81, by ß 35 runs on the first innings. Westport Coal, 149, beat Stewart’s Gully, 87. by 62 runs on the first innings. Argyle House. 158, beat Riccarton, 100 and 23, by an innings and 35 runs. Third Grade B. Templeton, 72 and 54 for no wickets, beat Mairehau, 37 and 74, by ten -wickets. Avon, 142. defeated Waltham, 105, by 37 runs. Corsair. 133, beat Beckenham, 112, by 21 runs on the first innings. Woolston Tanneries, 177 for six wickets (Jorgensen 130), beat Ouruhla, 174 (F. Steere 59), by four wickets on the first innings. Papanui Old Boys. 179 (Bennett 72), beat Harewood, 79, by 118 runs on the first Innings. Third Grade C. Shirley. 124 (Davis 59 not out) and 22 for one wicket, beat Waltham, 46 and 105, by 7 8 runs on the first, innings. Working Men’s Club, 117, beat Beckenham, 36 and 54, by an innings and HAWKE CUP MATCH. Marlborough Triumph Over Nelson. Per Press Association. BLENHEIM. December 8. Marlborough defeated Nelson in a Hawke Cup preliminary by three wickets. Scores;—Nelson—First innings, 141; second, 156. Marlborough— FiJ st turnings, 224; second, 77 for seven In Other Places. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, December 9. The fifth series of matches began yesterday in favourable conditions, some batting sides Tailing unaccountably. Ponsonby 86 (Matheson five wickets for 25 runs, Garrard fot.*r for 26) and 4 for no wickets, met University, 159 (Jessup 38; Townsend six wickets for 67 runs). Eden, 191 (Postles 35, A. F. Weir 42; Anthony, five wickets for 34 runs), met Parnell, 71 for one wicket (Whitelaw King’s Old Boys, 283 (S. G. Smith 44, L. M. Smith 73; T. Lyon, four wickets for 60 runs), batted all the afternoon against Y.M.C.A. Grafton, 275 (Ellis 74, Cowie 59 not out, including five sixes; Emery, six wickets for 114 runs), met North Shore, 71 for three wickets. WELLINGTON, December 9. Though conditions were ideal for rungetting, weak batting marked the beginning of the fourth series of senior cricket matches. The exception was

Bowling analysis—T. Sincock, 11 1 maif len. 33 runs, 3 wickets; A. M Millan. 7 overs, 1 maiden, 14 runs; N. Stokes, 7 overs, 35 runs, 3 wickets; M. Heath. 4 overs, 16 runs. 4 wicket*. Sincock bowled one no-ball and Heath two. Second Innings! W. Cunningham, b Heath 10 J. Mills, b Cawtheray io F. Kiddey, not out .. . o H. Mills, not out !!..*!*! S Total for two wickets .... 37 BECKENHAM. First Innings. R. Cawtheray, c Shand b Harris .. 4 E. Cox, lbw b Davis 2 J. Weatherhead, lbw b Harris .... 11 M. Heath, b Harris ] N. Stokes, c M’Lachlan b Harris . . 2 4 J. Kiddey, b Davis'. i F. French, b Davis 2 J. Columbus, c H. Mills b Harris . . 5 D. Bateman, b M‘Lachlan 12 A. M’Millan, not out jo T. Sincock, o Harris b Davis 3 Extras i Total 76 Bowling analysis—F. Harris, 9 overs, 1 maiden, 31 rums, 5 wickets; A. Davis, t ? maidens, 36 runs, 4 wickets; L. M Lachlan, 1 over, 8 runs, 1 wicket. Sunnyside v. Marist. Sunnyside lost the first three wickets comparatively cheaply. T,. Gordon, 'Y l lent , nt . lr > first, batted steadily, and with A. Cullen, put on 62 for the fourth wicket, which fell when the

Hi'tt’s 3SB for .six -wickets, E. M’Leod contributing a brilliant 149 not out. Kilbirnie. 230 (Blundell four wickets for 72 runs), met .Wellington, 101 for three wickets. Old Boys, 203 (.T. M’Gulre 51; Judd, four wickets for 46 runs), met Petone, 95 for two wickets. Institute. 199 (M. Henderson 54 not out; O’Neill, four wickets for 65 rims), met. Midland, 106 for four wickets. Hutt, 388 for six wickets (M’Leod 149 not out, B. Champness 54 not out), met University. DUNEDIN. December 9. Against University, Grange made 398 (Chett leburgh 14 7, Elmes 27, Dey 45, Boyd 49, Chadwick 50, Lem in 33). Kaikorai, 94 (Rennick 30: Dickinson, eight wickets for 22 runs off 18 overs), met High School Old Boys, 148 (Leader 56. G, Edwards 39; Talbot, three wickets for 33 runs). Against Carls*>rook B, Colts made 375 for eight wickets (Saxton 74, M’Gregor 65. Knowles 73, Hogg not out 44, Begg 57). „ Christian Brothers made 207 (Rodgerson 59, C. Toomey 30) against Albion, 24 for two wickets (Mowat two for 14). Carisbrook A. 280 (Dunning 105, H. Cameron 32, M’Mullan 41), met Dimedln, 26 for one wicket.