CRICKET.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1241, 29 January 1914, Page 17

CRICKET.

(By

“MID-ON”)

The final series of matches in connection with the first round of the premiership fixtures began last Saturday under most favourable circumThe warm sunshine was tempered by a south-westerly breeze, making one feel like making runs, and it is not surprising that good scores were registered in all four senior matches. In fact' it is something unique for all the batting teams to compile over three hundred runs apiece in one afternoon. At Eden Park, Ponsonby kept the home team in the field all the afternoon, scoring ’325 for eight wickets. University also enjoyed an afternoon at the wickets, and their total reached 351 for nine wickets, and it appears as if Grafton will receive their first defeat.

At Victoria Park, Waitemata knocked up 351, to which Parnell replied with 37 without losing a wicket. Over at Devonport, The seasiders collected 302, while Eden B. lost two wickets for 31.

Naturally, with • such respectable totals there were a number of fruitful individual efforts, some the result of good batting, but in a number of cases indifferent bowling and fielding were noticeable, and batsmen did not fail to take advantage of these weaknesses. With sixteen players out of action owing to the team being away south, and five players away in Australia, the bowling, which has not been Auckland’s strong point for some seasons, was at its lowest ebb! last Saturday, and when chances, were not accepted, then, of course, big totals are not so surprising after all. During the afternoon two centuries were recorded, C. Snedden (Ponsonby) compiling 125 and Moller (Waitemata) notching 121. Seven other batsmen succeeded in scoring fifty runs or more. Caradus (University) made 87, Wilson (Ponsonby) 75 not out, Young (Waitemata) 71, Sale (North Shore) 69, Perry (University) 58, Rankin (North Shore) 52, and Worker (Ponsonby) 51. Needless to state, the bowling averages suffered considerably, the only periormance worth noting was by Stephens (Parnell), who captured five wickets for 65. PONSONBY V. EDEN A. Eden A’s team facing Ponsonby on Saturday last was but a skeleton of its former self with such players as Hemus, Brooke-Smith, Taylor. Rev. Hay, Rountree and Smeeton absent. Ponsonby, on the other hand, had few absentees, N. Snedden and Woods being the main losses to the team. The Eden Club’s teams have been harder hit through the Australian tour and the southern trip than any of the district clubs, and with Rev. Hay and Rountree unavailable, Eden found it difficult to place efficient teams in the field, the first junior

teams especially suffering through withdrawals in senior ranks. Nevertheless, Eden A played pluckily, and Ponsonby’s score (3 25 for 8 wickets) was the result principally of the efforts of C. Snedden, F. R. Wilson and Worker, the remaining batsmen failing to make much of a stand. Ponsonby’s captain had no hesitation in deciding to avail himself of a splendid wicket, and sent in Collins and C. Snedden to open. The former commenced in quite his usual fashion. Snedden easily outshining his partner in run-getting, and when Collins, after making 12, was beaten by a good ball from Burton, the score stood at 45.

Worker partnered Snedden, and these two colts put up a fine performance for the second wicket, the board reading 183 for 2 wickets when the former was dismissed. Both batsmen played very free cricket, Worker playing very correctly, one chance only being given to Sauverin. This young batsman displayed much confidence and judgment, and is a decided acquisition to senior ranks. Included in his total of 51 were six 4’s. The left-hander’s runs came from strokes all round the wicket, his work

to the on being particularly sound. He failed to hit hard enough at one from Sommerville and was well taken by Hobson in the outfield. Taylor joined Snedden and the latter continued to score freely, taking risks and giving several chances, which marred an otherwise bright display. After getting set he opened out in good style, though his first chance was given when 42. Snedden got much power into his strokes, and eleven 4’s appeared in his total nf 12 6.. He brought his century up with a two off Sommerville, Hobson misfielding on this occasion. At 102 he gave a hot return to Sommerville, which was not accepted, while, through a misunderstanding between Cummings and Sommerville, Taylor was given a life. Continuing to make the pace, Snedden mishit and was caught at cover-point by Sauverin, and three wickets had fallen for 203 after nearly three hours’ play. Kavanagh failing to stay, 4 for 203 was registered, and Wilson joined Taylor. The latter continued to -- most of his runs by means of his favourite pull stroke. Wilson opened ouietly, his score mounting with th-' aid of singles until Sommerville sent the last ball of an over as a full-toss, when Wilson helped himself to a six. Burton had the Ponsonby skipper thinking, and the latter did not an--pear at all comfortable in the opening stages. Taylor’s end came through mishitting Honeycombe, who had relieved Sommerville, Heighwav securing at deep square-leg, and the register showed 229 for 5 wickets. Burton’s leg-break accounted for Shepherd and Doughty, who each stayed long enough to see .Wilson onen out and take charge of the bowling, 6 Wickets falling for 239, and 7 for 247.

At 5.30 p.m. 250 runs were up, and with Gavin disposed cf by a fine catch by Hobson from Honeycombe’s bowling, it was left to the veteran, Robinson, and Wilson to carry the score from 258 to 325. Robinson kept his end up, leaving the run-getting to Wilson, the latter being in the mood WAITEMATA v. PARNELL. Waitemata won the toss and took first strike on a good wicket, the only drawback being a fitful south-westerly breeze, which was felt more at Victoria Park than on the other convincing grounds. The trans-harbour team started disastrously, Dunning, Riddell and Arblaster being dismissed for less than 20 runs. Young (71), however, put a different complexion on the game. It was not a chanceless innings, but he hit the bowling all round the wicket, putting plenty of power into his strokes, and his score included two sixes. The left-hander’s breezy innings was terminated by being bowled. The chief scorer for Waitemata was C. Moller. He got to work on Parnell’s bowling just when it was beginning to wane, and treating it in a light hearted manner, scored quickly, mostly from off strokes, which were executed with plenty of power. He gave a couple of actual chances,

and although a number of balls went skywards they dropped in unguarded places. K. Moller (44) made a very commendable score, and played some bright cricket. Dunning (36) also lent a hand before he retired, leg before, to Parnell’s break bowler. Temperton (26) collected his runs at a critical time. Satchell (21) was the other batsman to add materially to the score. Anthony tried no less than eight bowlers in getting Waitemata out, and the honours go to Stephens (five for 65), who came to light in the closing stages. Parnell knocked up 37 for no wickets before time was called. Breese (30 not out) doing the bulk of the scoring. His partner, Crawford, only notching three, but kept his wicket intact. NORTH SHORE v. EDEN.

Over at Devonport the home team took first hand on a splendid wicket, and as the result of consistent performances gave the “make .ups” in the senior competition a good deal of leather hunting during the course of the afternoon. With the exception of three batsmen the remainder reached double figures, and seven cut of the eleven got past twenty. Four partnerships which produced 50 runs or more were recorded. Howie and Rankin put on half a century for the first wicket, then Rankin assisted Nettleton to add 57 more to the total for the third wicket. Sale headed the list and showed much better form than he displayed against Ponsonby on the previous Saturday. He seemed to time the ball much better, and his strokes were more crisp and quite characteristic of him, and there was only one blemish in his score. Rankin (52) made some nice strokes in obtaining his runs and materially assisting in breaking up the Eden attack, notwithstanding his total he was a trifle fortunate. Nettleton (41) rattled up his runs in good time, and

laid on the wood with good effect. Stewart (37) got his runs when Eden were showing signs of distress. Townshend (24) made the pace merry while at the wickets and seemed to bear a charmed life in trying to hit sixes. Half of his .total consisted of two hits. Eden did well in- getting rid of Howden before he got his eye in, Alexander being the agency in dismissing him, shifting the bails while the batsman was attempting to negotiate Beale. Before play ceased for the day Eden had lost two wickets for 31 runs. GRAFTON v. UNIVERSITY.

The winning of the toss by the student’s skipper was responsible for a leather hunting expedition for the weakened Graftonites, the University players occupying the wickets throughout the afternoon. The total registered, 351 for nine wickets, was obtained as the result of bright, forceful cricket, and very few chances fell to the lot of the fielding team. Punctually to time the “black and whites” filed on to the field, but it was early ’apparent that it was a batsman’s wicket. The outfield was wonderfully fast, but in places the ground was rather rough. Airey and Caradus took strike to Harvie and Haresnape, the former opening out from the jump. Caradus, although not so cautious as usual, showed good defence, and punished anything on the off. Mason’s opening overs had the batsman thinking; several balls beat him, but missed the sticks. By late cutting and driving Caradus brought his score to 87. Mason eventually beating him with a variation in pace. This is perhaps the best exhibition the student batsman has given, although he has been responsible for some fine partnerships. Airey is much i more finished in his style of play and has strokes all round the wicket, driving, cutting and pulling in fine style. , With his total at 24 he stepped out to Mason, missed and was easily stumped. Jacobsen filled the vacancy, and scored a boundary off his first’ ball. After registering another single he had to face Harvie, and was unfortunate in being bowled off his pads. Player was next man, but the lefthander opened in a very cautious' manner, well content to play the bowling. After safely negotiating the opening overs Player banged successive; balls from Mason to the boundary/ both fine leg hits. Hill was given a turn at the Kingsland end and immediately clean bowled Player with a swerving ball, which kept low. The batsman had hit up 28. Perry, a Grammar School rep., was the incoming batsman, and he opened very confidently. With Sutherland a good partnership ensued, the young player exhibiting some very fine strokes, the late cut perhaps being the best. Perry appears to have one decided weakness, a tendency to under-cut when square cutting. H’s display was otherwise promising. His career; was brought to a close by Murdoch effecting a good catch near the chalk line. Sutherland (29) put on some wood in compiling his total, most of his runs coming from fine off drives and Square cuts. The tall left-hander did not relish Harvie’s fast swerves, and succumbed to a good length ball, -which displaced his leg pin. Graham (13) got to rhe unlucky number mainly through singles, but never appeared to be thoroughly at home, Haresnape tempting him to pat back a soft one. Vickerman (8) was Leaten by a breakback from Haresnape before getting set. Colville (4()< rapidly raised ’Varsity’s scrip, and provided the most spectacular cricket during the afternoon. The reverend gentleman, in a most eloquent manner, made “hit after hit” at the expense of the Graftonites, particularly so in the case of Hill, who at this stage made himself prominent in the argument; The drastic treatment meted out to Hill — two sixes and two fours in one over —caused the skipper to remove Hill from the scene of operations. Colville continued to hit hard and often, but in attempting to try his eloquence on Haresnape, was well taken on the boundary by Murdoch. In his total of 40 were two sixes and five fours. Gray (19 net cut) and Fenwick (3 not out) played out time. The Grafton attack did not prove very formidable on the excellent wicket provided the bowlers generally meeting with scant respect. Haresnape (four for 82) came out with the best figures, but was much below his usual form, especially in his opening overs. Harvie (two for 84) bowled well at times, but was a trifle erratic. Mason (two for 66) bowled better than his figures indicate, and considering that he has not played before this season, maintained a splendid length. ’Varsity appear to have the game well in hand, and should record a win against the Cup leaders.