CRICKET.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 822, 7 December 1905, Page 13

CRICKET.

(By

“Yorker.”)

Another beautiful day and consequently good wickets for the completion of the third draw in the various grades of Association matches.

The result of the day’s play left Parnell, Grafton and City with wins to their credit.

Parnell’s score last Saturday of 280 proved too great a task for the Ponsonby batsmen, who were only able to compile the meagre total of 107. Though I did not expect the Ponsonbyites to pass their opponents’ score, they have several very fair batsmen, and their poor performance on such a good wicket was a great disappointment to their supporters, especially after the good form shown against Grafton in the previous match.

With such batsmen as Mason, Cummings, Woods, and Francis on their side 200 runs should not be at all out of the way for them on a good wicket.

Francis, who knocked up 32 in his usual taking style, was the only man to make any showing against Parnell’s redoubtable little bowler Olliff.

Going in a second time the Parnell batsmen showed clearly there were lots of runs to be made on the wickets. * * * *

Fred . Murray, who is mostly regarded as an out and out slasher, played a really good hitting innings of 59 (not out). Some of his drives were the essence of forceful timing, and the “pudding” he got into his back strokes at times was a lesson to many who consider themselves much better players. All Murray requires to be a first-class hitter is to learn to play with a straight bat and use his feet a little more. No player makes a successful hitter against good bowling until he learns to use his feet correctly. There are two ways of going out to meet the ball. That which seems to be most favoured in Auckland is to rush down to pitch at the last moment and “lash” for all you are worth—a method which requires much good luck to carry it through even against a moderately good break bowler. The other way, the only one adopted by first-class bats is to step calmly and deliberately down the pitch, being careful to keep perfect control of the bat in order that you may either “hit” or “play” the ball according to circumstances. No matter how good a judge one may be of the length of the ball all make mistakes, and a hitter to be successful must always have sufficient reserve force to enable him to alter his stroke at a moment’s notice. It is only a novice who hits “all out ” everv time be moves out.

Olliff as usual caused considerable trouble amongst the Ponsonby batsmen, the average reading 4 for 50. * * * ♦

Sale, who is a new light in the Parnell bowling ranks, secured three wickets at the small cost of 9 runs. Sale is a much better bowler than is generally supposed.

Playing an uphill game against City, who were ahead on the first innings last Saturday, Eden made a commendable effort to recover their position.

Getting the Cityites out for 186. the Eden batsmen went in to force the pace, and while Lusk and Stemson were at the wickets things were particularly lively. Both batsmen are fast scorers under ordinary circumstances. Their performance of 75 runs in 25 minutes speaks for itself. Each batsman hit hard and often, and no opportunity of getting a run was lost. Watching Neill bowling for City I was again pleased at his evident return to form. T think it is a thousand pities if he can’t be persuaded to go into practice and accompany the team on its Southern tour. His inclusion would add a variety to Auckland’s bowling strength which it will otherwise lack.

Getting 181 for seven wickets in fast time (Lusk 42. Stemson -45 and Clarke 51. not outl Fden closed their innings and sent City in to make 75 to win the match. It was at best a forlorn hope, but in cricket there is always the chance of a sudden collapse, and Eden’s bid for victory added an interest to the game that must otherwise have been wanting. • • • •

City, when once they got going, had little difficulty in making the runs required. Hemus again showed nice form, though just a little shaky at the start.

T notice Neill got 40 in the' first innings. His bat seemed to be Just, about the same width as of old

At North Shore the unexpected very nearly happened. With 345 for five wickets made last Saturday the Grafton skipper closed and sent the Shore batsmen in to start the afternoon. At first things went well for the town side, the board after half-an-hour’s play showing three wickets for under 20 runs, and one of the Shore cracks, Haddon, out.

The Grafton fielding was better than usual, and Sloman, who was bowling at the Pavilion end, was in good form, getting all the wickers up to this stage. At this point, however, the tide turned. Hussey, who had come in first and was still in, began to settle down to the bowling. Although he did not at any time during his innings of 42 appear to be altogether comfortable he kept a very straight bat, and when he hit there was lots of power behind his strokes.

With Hussey’s departure Stephenson arrived and began a partnership with Prime, which will long be remembered by the Grafton side. Stephenson made 48 and Prime 102. The latter’s wicket was the first to fall just at the time when the game seemed to have been snatched out of Grafton’s mouths. At half-past five Prime was still in with the board showing 200 for four wickets, and Shore’s chance of saving the game was rosy indeed.

With Prime out and Stephenson bowled shortly afterwards, the Shore wickets fell one after the other and an exciting afternoon ended in a win for Grafton, Shore’s total only reaching 245.

Prime’s 102 was not such a sound display as that of Jones on the previous Saturday, but nevertheless it included many excellent strokes. Prime is quite a voting player, and is improving rapidly. Many of his off strokes were beautifully timed and with few exceptions along- the ground.

Stephenson’s 48 was an extremely useful contribution. His defence was at all times good, and although he did not score so fast as his partner his display was a very sound one.

The three wickets at the Shore were in splendid order, and large scores were made all round.

Playing for Grafton HI. against the Shore Juniors young Horspool, who s quite a lad of 13 or 14 years of age, made 52, hitting a sixer (all run out) and two fives. This boy is one of Jones’ oroducts and is well worth looking at. He has more strokes than many players twice his age.

Looking at the rep. practice which has been going on, I am glad to see so much □romising material for Selector Ohlson. As usual it will be an easy matter to pick the first eight or nine names, but after that comes the difficulty. Personally, I do not think it matters a great deal who fill the places so long as they can field. Those names which must not bi left out I think are the following:—Eden. Elliott, H. B. Lusk, and Stemson. Parnell: Olliff. Grafton: Jones and Hay. City: Hemus, with Neill, if he can go. North Shore: Haddon. Mason, I understand, can’t make the trip.

To fill the other places we have Hussey. McNeill, Sale, MacCormick, Howell, Francis, Woods, Cummings, Haywood, Barry, W. B. Smith

Of these three, or perhaps four will be taken. As a good bowler and field and a fair bat I should take Hussey, and practically the only decent fast bowler we have is McNeill. Should McNeill not make the trip I would take Howell to

add a little variety to our attack, and as a stubborn bat and a good and hardworking field I should take MacCormick as one of the reserves, and Sale as an all-round man and an emergency wicketkeeper.