CRICKET CHAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 439, 3 December 1930, Page 4

CRICKET CHAT

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Cricket in Wanganui is getting brighter with the weather and on Saturday the displays of batting and bowling were a little bit more in keeping with the standard that Wanganui enthusiasts arc aiming at. The fielding, too, was rather bettor than some seen recently, and in this connection it is pleasing to note that more attention is being paid to the strictures of the New Zealand Council.

Should the improvement noticed be maintained it. may confidently be expected that Wanganui will put up an excellent showing against Taranaki in the Hawke Cup elimination match which is to be played at New Plymouth on Friday and Saturday of next week. The final choice of the selector for the eleven to represent Wanganui in this match is announced this morning, and though there arc several of the best players whose names do not figure on tho list it is only because they had notified their inability to make the trip.

Old Boys and Collegiate School Winning tho toss, College elected to bat, and after 195 minutes’ play finished up with a total of 134 runs. Their batting was never enterprising and several loose balls went i egging. Hobbs (24) played a purely defensive game and did not take any risks. This player shapes like,a promising batsman an 1 with more experience should develop into a good cricketer. Glendining (24) drove powerfully and hit a six over the bowler’s head. He punished anything pitched on the leg side nd was unfortunate in being caught eventually off a full toss. Fullerton-Smith made some nice slip shots and proved a very hard man to get out. Frehner (19) was very unlucky in being run out as he was shaping very well and appeared set for the afternoon. Franklin (17) played a good innings and was the only other batsman to reach double figures.

For Old Boys, Bullock-Douglas -and Geo accounted for most of the wickc-s, the former taking four for 35 and the latter four for 44. During the first half-hour of play the wicket gave sligat assistance to the bowlers, but later dried and favoured tho batsmen. With barely three quarters of an hour left for play, Old Boys opened their innings with Lumber and Handley. The first wicket fell for five runs, Handley being dismissed l.b.w. with three runs to his credit. Bullock-Douglas followed and quickly ran into double figures. After scoring 19 he was caught at square leg by Hobbs. Play ceased shortly after, Lambert (4) and McDougal (5) being the not-out men. The concluding day’s play promises to be interesting providing the weather keeps fine in the meantime.

United and Technical College. In their match against United on Cook’s Gardens Technical College batted first and compiled the respectable total of 187 runs. The wicket was in fair order and favourable to the batsmen. Although the opening batsmen, Gregory and Davidson, did not last long they were batting well enough to start the. students’ tally. Gregory went out well beaten by a good swinger from Mackay, while Davidson, who had snicked the first ball through the slips for four, was caught in the slips before he could get fairly into his stride. J. Mete Kingi compiled 23 as a result of steady batting and good defence, but eventually he fell a victim to Holland. Levautu sent the ball through the covers with a couple of good strokes, while Luxford drove well, the pair being sent back by Holland and Mackay respectively after each had scored 17. Satyanand was the top-scorer. Powerful driving was a feature of his innings and he attacked the bowling vigorously, being especially severe on Mackay. He collected 47 before he was well stumped by Fowler off one of Mackay’s slows. Drauna was responsible for a sound 15 before he was well caught by Jacobs at deep mid-in. Zahirudin was another who batted vigorously, though he should have scored off some of the leg stuff. He finally became over-eager and was smartly stumped by Fowler off Jacobs. Tho remaining batsmen were not able to got going.

Holland bowled for United with his usual good length, keeping a nice medium pace throughout, this keeping the batsmen quiet. His “bag” was five wickets for 54 runs. Mackay, who secured four wickets for 40, also had the batsmen in trouble with his slows, which were swinging a good deal in the wind. It is not often that so many extras are recorded against Fowler, who is rightly looked upon as the best ’keeper in Wanganui cricket. However. he made amends by smartly stumping Satyanand and Zahirudin just when it appeared as if the pair would place Technical College in an impregnable position. Sewell and Alanson opened for United but though Sewell batted soundly and presented a straight blade as usual, Manson, on the other hand, soon departed. Fowler scored seven runs off three balls and was then run out through being slow off the mark.

Tho light was not too good when United went in and to this might be attributed, in some degree, the failure of a couple of the batsmen to keep their wickets intact, five being down for 69 runs when stumps were drawn. Tech. Old Boys and Wanganui. In compiling a total of 177 runs in their first innings against Wanganui on Saturday, Technical College Old Boys certainly put up one of their best displays this season. They won the toss and elected to bat, Weir and Mete Kingi opening. AV hen 10 runs were on the board Weir, with 9 to his credit, was clean bowled by Spurdie. F. Smith joined Mete Kingi and the partnership was still unbroken when the first hundred appeared on the board. Smith was batting patiently, the skipper setting an example that could well be emulated by the younger batsmen. He did not fail to lay the wood on anything loose, but once or twice Williams narrowly missed getting his wicket with a break that nipped in wickedly. With his score at 40 Al etc Kingi fell a victim to Williams. He had played a good innings but did not appear as confident as usual. Scoullar came next but only compiled 9, when he was out, leg before, to Williams. -He is enterprising enough but is inclined to endeavour to hit out when a straight bat could be effectively used. C. Smith reached double figures before Williams, added him to his list of victims. His batting is not. stylish, hut. he knows the soundness of a policy of watching the ball and endeavouring Io keep his wicket intact. S. Stewart believed in treating leg balls with plenty of weight, as a result of which .he reached 16 before Williams got him. His hatting will improve if he, too, can learn to present a straight, blade to a straight, good-length ball. Peek is a

"CLEMILL.")

left-hander who shows plenty of promise and when he hits he puts his weight behind the stroke, but m common with tho majority of young batsmen he is nut yet content tu play himself iu for the first few overs. It

would prove a paying policy

Of the Wanganui buwlers, Williams came out with the best figures, sending down 24 overs and taking seven wickets lor 54. His first two overs were a bit erratic but once he found his length the batsmen could not take liberties, more especially as he was sending iu a good off break occasionally. Of the others Spurdie appeared most troublesome to the batsmen. W. Thrush keeps a good length and this fact prevented the batsmen from taking liberties with his bowling. Grunt bowled quite well. There were frequent ‘changes in the attack, half a dozen bowlers being triced. Evans did not appear to trouble the batsmen and his bowling docs not seem quite up to his standard of the previous seasons.

Darby and Spurdie opened WangaTiui’s innings, the former getting started right from the outset and rattling up 42 in breezy style. He was eventually bowled by C. Smith. Spurdie (28) shaped well but was more cautious than • his partner. Ho was run out when attempting a close one. Morgan, the first-wicket batsman, did not appear at all confident. Williams and G. Thrush were together at the drawing of stumps, the former batting carefully for 21.

. Of the Technical Old Boys’ bowlers C. Smith secured two wickets for 23. The ball with which he bowled Darby was a beauty and it is pleasing to see this bowler come back to form. Thoug* he secured no wickets, C. Spriggens bowled well and was the best of tho other trundlcrs tried. Inglis did not keep the length which he had on previous Saturdays, and the batsmen treated him with scant respect. Could he command a good length he would be a much more dangerous bowler. Grade Matches

Fast wickets and glorious sunshine greeted cricketers last Saturday ami players were in their element. For the first time this season all lower grade games were concluded. Railway routed Tech. Old Boys and had an easy win over the ex-studcuts. The form of Railways was pleasing and if they keep it up should stimulate interest in B grade games. Watersidcrs were in merry mood and rattled up a good score against Wanganui. The latter failed badly. Watersiders are undoubtedly the strongest team in the grade and have three splendid bats in G. Young, Leu Head and W. Easton.

Technical College surprised Aramoho. The surbauites failed to top the 'score' and were all out by 3 o’clock. Technical College collared the Aramoho bowling and put up a fine total. A splendid match is anticipated when Tech, and Watersidcrs meet and it is expected that these two teams wi 1 fight out the B grade championTwo unbeaten teams, Marist and Collegiate, met on the School ground. Tho Collegians topped the century and dismissed Marist for 70 odd. A pleasing feature of this match was tho bowling of R. Bigham, who captured seven for 23. This is Bigham’s first season in club cricket and if properly coached he should develop into a first-class bowler.

The third-grade match between Imlay ami Marist was full of thrills aud Marist notched a win by 5 runs. H. Purser (Marist) took live wickets for 18 runs and is the makings of a valuable bowler. lie should go tar. Another young player, Wallace, showed promise of developing into a good batsman and will be an acquisition to the Marist Club. Retailers and Tech. B had the unique honour of scoring the same number of runs ea'ch. When Retailers were dismissed for 35 it looked odds-on that the contenders for tho Third-grade championship would go under, but thoir bowlers rose to the occasion and the game finished “all square.”

Wellington Programme The main aim in Wellington, states “Not Out” in the Past, is to give cricketers as much play as possible especially those young players who have caught the eye as being worthy of special attention with a view to their development as representative players. On Monday, C. S. Dempster led a team of these promising players against a team selected by E- C- M iron, of the Wellington Club', in a special match at the Basin Reserve and next Friday and Saturday at the same ground there will be the annual Town v. Country match in which young players of promise are also to be given a chance of gaining further experience. It is pleasing to note tho encouragement that is being given to the younger players, but there is one matter which should not be lost sight of by the selector in choosing his teams and that is the question of giving the candidates for the New Zealand team every possible opoprtunity of pressing their claims for inclusion in the side to go to England. The Town team to meet the Country representatives docs not include some of the players who arc likely to be in the running for places in the New Zealand team, and this, in a way, is a pity, although those who have been passed over for this representative team will have their usual club play on Saturday afternoon. Wellington’s candidates for the tour to England and the players likely to be wanted for the Plunket Shield matches should be given every opportunity of striking their best form and they should also be kept at special practice. All thig could be carried out without affecting the progress of the younger players who are not yet quite ready for big cricket, but who will represent their province in seasons to come. Of course, there are some of the promising colts who stand an excellent chance of participating in Plunket Shield cricket this season. They must be given every chance along with the more experienced players. The latter, however, will he needed most for the tour to England.

The programme for next year’s tour indicates that a very strenuous time is ahead of tho tourists and the importance of this second visit to England also makes it essential that no risks shall be run in sending too many players who have had little or no experience of big cricket. In preparation for the tour to England some trial matches might be worth while, and, if possible, mutches with a team from overseas. The Wqst Indies representatives, it is stated, are unable to extend their tour to curry out a series of mafches here •on their wav back from Australia.