WORLD OF SPORT.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17982, 29 March 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

WORLD OF SPORT.

CRICKET.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. REVIEW OF THE PLAY. CENTURY TO R. SKEET. BOWLERS HAVE A HARO DAY. (By Long Stop.) Jn the senior cricket competition at Hamilton on Saturday the opening hatting sides sc-orccl fairly heavily and occupied the wickets for most of .the afternoon. Hamilton had about an hour and a-quarter at the wickets and managed in that time to knock off 115 of the runs required against Old Boys, leaving themselves with a further 100 to get and most of their team still to bat. Hamilton Blast compiled 280, which should give them a great chance of forcing Frankton to follow on. Few bowlers met with any marked success, the hard, true wickets being all in favour of the batsmen. Notwithstanding this, it is rather disappointing to find so many of our recognised batsmen failing at a time in the season when they should'be at the top of their form. Scores under 20 were very common, and while these might be regarded as something of a batsman’s off-day, several players might have been expected to make a better showing under such perfect batting conditions. Hamilton East v. Frankton. H. Johnston made such a solid strike against Old Boys the. previous week that he was given the task of opening with Hampton, in the absence of the usual opening pair, Cassidy and Timms. Runs came merrily for a time, but chiefly from Hampton’s bat, Johnston putting in only 11 before being bowled. Skeet began rather cautiously, taking no risks, but he received sufficient loose ■balls to keep his score moving along steadily. Meanwhile Hampton was playing very freely and scoring from a greater variety of strokes; he was always looking for the ball to hit and with quick footwork succeeded in getting many strokes clear of the field. This partnership completely broke up the Frankton attack and made the bowlers look impotent. It was unfortunate that Frankton had none of their stock bowlers playing, as with their complete battery they have a very fine set of bowlers. As has been mentioned before, they have a monopoly of the left-hand bowlers in Ihe grade, but none were playing in this -match, and the whole brunt of the bowling fell on those who would normally bo called upon but occasionally. Under such circumstances they did well to dispose of East for less than 300, though their task was made easier by the inclusion of three' substitutes in the tatter’s team. Badeley Dismissed. After losing Hampton, Skeet saw a number of his team mates come and go, and it seemed quite possible that he’ would be left alone undefeated before be completed his century. Going ■and Badeley both .snicked balls from Ward, the former being caught by the wicket-keeper, St. George, and the latter in the slips. Badeley has made

such a succession of good scores in is last club matches that he was due r an early dismissal, and Frankton ule no -mistake about accepting his ,t chance. Skeet ran into three ures with a succession of 3 fours, a two, and a single off Willmott, and Ihen continued to lay on the wood, playing more freely than he had done previously in the innings. When lie had reached 123 McGrath forced him into an impossible run, and his wicket was broken while he was still yards out. most Consistent Bat. No batsman in Hamilton has been more deserving of reaching the century this year than Skeet, and his success on Saturday was a fitting climax to a good season's cricket. In club matches alone he lias compiled 525 runs in 12 innings, all completed. On very few occasions has he failed to get going, as in addition to his latest big knock he has reached the sixties five times. Ili-s complete -set of scores for the year in competition games is 19, G 5, 25, 60, 12, 8, 22, 61, 3, 64, 63, 123, a most satisfactory tally. Frankton’s Hard Task. Frankton will be hard put to tt to overtake East’s score, and they have already lost two wickets in making 20. Connolly and Lee began briskly enough and for a couple of overs rather disconcerted the Hamilton East howlers, banging them round in masterly fashion. Going, however, goL one past Connolly’s hat, hilling him hard on the knee and gaining the decision on appeal for l.h.w. Ewan was bowled by the same howler without scoring, so that Frankton will now have to light to save a follow-on. Old Boys’ Innings. Winning the toss, Old Boys had first strike against Hamilton, and although they put on the useful total of 215 before the last wicket fell the score does not appear to he nearly enough to give them a lead. The first three wickets fell quite cheaply, Hawke, Clough and M-c Dell all 'being out for 40, Clough being the only one of these to reach double figures. A good partnership between Senior and Buckland added 90 runs, contributed evenly at a good rate. Finally Buckland skied a ball from Hansen, giving point an easy catch. Although this player has not been scoring as heavily as Skeet, he has been very consistent lately, his last eight innings’ consisting of 42, 12, 50, 51, 0,8, 44, 49. As most of these scores have been made in first-class style and chiefly when tilings have not been going at all well for the side, it looks as if Buckland is one of our -most promising colls, for 'this is Iris lirst season in senior A matches.

Wilson halted carefully for some time, hut a succession of singles caused him to lose patience and Taylor enticed him to swing at a short-pitched one, a high catch resulting. Senior was the next victim, a good length offbreak from Taylor getting through to howl him. This xvas his first big score of the season, his 83 containing one 6 and nine 4-’s. Allen and Horspo-ol were the only other batsmen to make a showing, notching 15 and 16 respectively. Taylor was Dangerous. Taylor was easily the most dangerous of the Hamilton bowlers, taking six wickets for 63. He varied his length judiciously and was constantly howling to the batsmen’s weaknesses. Lissette struck a fine length for a few overs and kept the batsmen fairly quiet, the hall with which he howled Clough being an exceptionally good one. Winger proved expensive, 45 being hit off his five overs for only one wicket. There were only two maiden ■overs in the innings, one by Taylor and one by Lissette.

More Fast Scoring,

Lissette and Winger gave Hamilton a splendid start, putting on one short of the century before they were separated. Facing all the bowling confidently, they added the runs in quick time. In most overs they found plenty •of loose balls from which they took full tally. Lissette’s w r as the only wicket to fall, a ball from Horspool swinging sharply from leg and bowling him with 48 to his credit. Seven bowlers were tried, but Horspool was the only one to keep the batsmen subdued. Big Scores In Senior B. In the Senior B competition the Rail-way-Y.M.C.A. match provided some heavy scoring in a short time. Batting first, Railway put on 185, the chief contributors being Philpot 65 and Muir 46. Both these players shaped well against good bowling, which kept them busy all the time. Doherty also performed well with the bat and looked like making a good score when he was run out. Y.M.'C.A. were faced with making the runs in quick order or having to be content with a draw. Eyre set the pace early, and after losing Price and Davies he and Parrant continued to pile on the runs quickly. It was only the dashing displays of these two that enabled Y.M.C.A. to run up 200 before stumps. The Railway bowlers have suffered badly in their 'last two appearances, as on both occasions, their opponents have compiled big scores in quick time. A Contrast. While 400 runs were scored on one matting wicket in the afternoon, the Cambridge-Hamilton East match on the adjoining ground produced only half that number of runs. Hamilton East were disposed of for the moderate total of 87, their usual stand-bys having a day off. Ousley was caught when he had scored 13, while Williams topscored with 23. Cambridge did not attempt to force the pace, as after the McKinnons were dismissed Gerrard and Bright settled down to careful play until they had passed their opponents’ score. With 54 opposite his name Garrard hit out and was bowled by Main and the game ended in a win for the visitors.

Draw at High School

Another even scoring game took place between High School and Ngaruawahia on the School ground. High School made 166 before they declared with eight wickets down, leaving Ngaruawahia an hour and a-half to get the runs.

The first few wickets went cheaply, four being down for less than 40, but a partnership between Hubbard (50) and Seccombe (25) added 80, while Garde later contributed 31 and Westwatcr 19. Reid secured most wickets, taking three, while Payne also proved troublesome. Rabbidge,.- Mundy and Morris scored fairly quickly, but when their wickets fell it became apparent that Ngaruawahia had no chance of gcLting the runs, but their last batsmen succeeded in keeping up their wickets till stumps.

THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM.

“WILL WIN THE ASHES.” Ia speaking to a toast at the farewell dinner to the New South Wales members of the Australian cricket team for England, Mr M. A. Noble, distinguished as a winning Ashes captain against England in England, said that the despatch of an Australian team to England was a great thing. The selection of the team had given rise to a lot of discussion, but he admired the moral courage of the selection committee. They had formed opinions as to the need of bringing a greater number of young •cricketers into action, and in doing so had to tread on some one’s corns. They had strong convictions and great moral courage, and for that he honoured them. He did not say they were absolutely right in omitting Jack Ryder, whose hard-hitting might be missed on occasions.

But they had chosen a very fine team, and It was his opinion that they would bring the Ashes back to Australia. (Applause).

“There was a good deal of criticism when the i92G team was chosen. The time had come when seasoned mediocrity had to give way to adventurous and accomplished youth. These young men will go away as ambassadors of Australia, and of our cricket and sportsman ship. They have our •good wishes and our faith 'in their abilities to uphold the prestige of Australian cricket against England.”