CRICKET.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 842, 26 April 1906, Page 12

CRICKET.

(By

“Yorker.”)

Though somewhat showery during the afternoon, the wickets were harder• and better than they have been for some time, and the batsmen should have had all the best of it.

The match; of the day was, of course, the City-Grafton game. Grafton, it will be remembered, had scored -119 in. their first innings, and had dismissed four of City’s batsmen for 32," among the number being Hemus and MacCormick ,two of their steadiest- scorers.

The .game was one of great importance to -the City team, inasmuch as had they won it they would have carried off, the championship. The task set them, however, proved too much for the remaining batsmen, the last wicket falling at 87. With the exception of R. Neill, the batting was ex-tremely-weak, Fryer, Caro, Watts and Barr-Brown all succumbing to apparently simple balls. D. Hay bowled fairiv well, getting eight wickets at the small cost of 23 runs. There was, however, nothing in either the wicket or the bowling to prevent City topping their opponents’ score.. In fact, they had everything in their favour, the little rain which fell hampering the bowlers more than the batsmen. It was well for Grafton that both Hemus and MacCormick’s . wickets fell on the first day of the

match, for had there been anyone at all to help Neill, the probability is that the result of the game would have been reversed. The only really productive period of City’s innings was that for the last wicket, when Barr-Brown partnered Neill. Barr-Brown is not a batsman, and does not pretend to be, but he kept his bat in front of the wicket pretty successfully for several overs, and during that time Neill made good, use of his opportunities. These two put on nearly 30 runs before Hay got a yorker past Barr-Brown’s bat. That the latter player was able to stay so long at the crease is proof of the easy task City had before them if they had made a fight of it at all. A ♦ ♦ * * The match on the No. 2 pitch, Parnell v. Eden, was practically won on the first day, when Eden were only able to put on 61 all told to Parnell’s 91.

The whole of the afternoon was occupied by Parnell’s second innings, and when stumps were drawn Eden had only succeeded in bagging five wickets for 209. The innings of the afternoon was R. B. Lusk’s 107. He played a really good forcing innings, included in which were several healthy smites clean over the boundary. One particularly powerful one lobbed fully twenty yards over the boundary. He was partnered for the best part of his innings by Sale, who played nicely for his 58. Lusk treated all the Eden bowlers alike. He seemed to relish Williams in particular, his ball frequently finding its way across the boundary. Robinson, two for 27, was the only one to escape severe punishment. Olliff made 15 not out, but had not time to really get into his stride.

* * * * In Grafton’s second innings W. R. Forster made 39 not out. This batsman has shown considerably improved form during the latter part of the season. He is a first-class field, and unless I am mistaken he will not be long in gaining his rep. cap.

At North Shore, Ponsonby, who had 26 runs to get and three wickets to fall, just managed to beat the local side by four runs. I understand that North Shore have protested on the ground that Ponsonby played a man who had no right to be playing. I this is so, and Shore win the game, the honour of first place for the championship will be shared by no less than four clubs—Parnell, City,, Grafton, and North Shore.

Although in one way this would appear unsatisfactory, it is pleasing to have such good evidence of the evenness of the several district teams, a fact which will ensure keen competition when the season reopens. Taking the matches as they stand, the result is as follows: —

* * * * With the exception of our rep. games, the season just closing has been a most successful one in every way. The cricket itself has, without doubt, improved, and the interest taken by the public has visibly increased. Two things have militated to a certain extent against the enjoyment of the game. First and foremost the wickets (especially those set apart for practice) have been anything but good, and secondly, the weather on several Saturday afternoons was most unfavourable. Twice cricket was postponed altogether. In mentioning the wickets, I must except the North Shore ground, where visitors were always sure of a true surface that could be relied on to last out the afternoon.

On Saturday week a football match is to be played at Alexandra Park in aid of the cricket coach fund, and it behoves all followers of the game to do all in their power to further its success.

The contending teams will be picked respectively from cricketers and non-cricketers. Two first-class sides will be put in the field, and spectators can be sure of a good game. Moreover, it will be the first chance we have had of seeing the returned n All Black” men play. Gallaher and Smith, who both play the summer game, will don the jersey for the cricketers. No doubt the former will be asked to captain the side.

I hear, too, that several cricketers who once played the winter game are getting fit for the occasion.

Dick McGregor, Fred. Murray, Harry Frost and- -D. Hay will all be battling for' the cricketers, also Magee and Young, of the City cricket and football teams, Francis, MacCormick, Irons, Joyce of the North Shore team, and others. The work being done by the coaches is bringing cricket on fast among the boys, and it is to be hoped that the occasion will be fortunate in the matter of weather. Given a .fine day there is sure to be a big crowd.

Grafton .. Played. 1 .. 10 Won. Lost. Pts. 6 4 12 Parnell .. 10 6 4 12 City- .. 10 6 4 12 North Shore .. 10 5 5 10 Eden .. 10 4 6 8 Ponsonby .. 10 3 7 6