CRICKET.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1244, 19 February 1914, Page 24

CRICKET.

(By

“MID-ON.”)

The second round of the championship matches under the auspices of the Auckland Cticket Association began last. Saturday afternoon after being suspended a week on account of the visit of the Australian touring team. The weather was not very favourable, and the wickets were soft and slow on account of the heavy rain on Friday night; and altogether the bowlers had somewhat the best of the argument, although the wickets very quickly dried. At Eden Park the home team ran up 235, batting one short, while Grafton lost three wickets for 19 in a failing light. On the same ground Eden B were three short and only mustered 107. So far Parnell have registered 170 for the loss of four wickets. Over at Devonport the home team collected 165, and Waitemata’s score is 53 for six wickets. At Victoria Park Ponsonby, with 87, just managed to get University out for 82. Notwithstanding the low scoring generally four good scores were registered. Hemus (Eden) 94, headed the list, then came Brooke-Smith (Eden) 71, Howie (North Shore) 63, and Somervell (Parnell) 55. Snedden (Ponsonby), six for 32, claimed the bowling honours of the day, while Taylor (five for 40), and Player (five for 42), both University trundlers, also secured good figures. EDEN v. GRAFTON. Unfavourable weather conditions marked the second meeting of Eden and Grafton. The wickets at Eden Park had received a good surface soaking with the heavy rain of Friday and the occasional showers of Saturday. An especially heavy shower fell at starting time, and this, no doubt, influenced Hemus somewhat in his decision to put Grafton in the field. Smeeton and Cummings took strike to Harvie and Hill. The former seemed to relish the opening overs of Hill and soon ran into double figures. After carrying his total to the unlucky 13, Hill had his revenge by getting Smeeton, caught and bowled. Cummins was out in a similar manner to that in which Laver was dismissed last week. He played the ball, which just escaped hitting the wicket, at the same time moving out of his crease. Horspool smartly whipped the bails off. 111-luck still pursues Cummins this season. Burton was shaping well, but failed to get properly on to one from Harvie. Horspool catching him at mid off — three for 41.\ . Hemus and Brooke-Smith then became associated, and the pair put on 144 for the fourth wicket. Auckland’s crack bat found the wicket rather trying, and as the bowling at this stage was particularly good runs came slowly. ~‘ r The surface of the wicket became very broken, thus giving the bowlers considerable sting. At three o’clock players made a hurried dash for the pavilion, a heavy easterly shower thoroughly soaking the ground again and making the pitch easier. Smith opened again in very cautious fashion, but exhibited commendable patience. Hemus livened up considerably, playing beautiful-ly-timed strokes all round the wicket. The two cracks were quick to take advantage of the improved weather conditions, and reached the chalk line with many beautiful strokes. Short stuff was promptly pulled to the boundary, Smith being particularly severe on Horspool. After playing delightful cricket and carrying his total within six of the century, Hemus was bowled by Horspool. The batsman was extremely unfortunate in not reaching his century. Taylor filled the vacancy, and opened confidently to E. Horspool, who at this stage continued the attack from the northern end. Smith now began to force the pace, and lifted Horspool clean over the chalk for six—a beautiful hit —notching a fine boundary from the previous stroke. Just when the century seemed well within reach he smacked a poor length ball from F. Horspool to point, the catch being accepted. Like Hemus, Smith played excellent cricket under adverse weather conditions, and did much to save the side from mediocrity. Taylor collected 10 in finished style, when he succumbed to a good catch at the wickets. Sauverin opened in forceful manner, putting on the wood in good style, though he failed to get the ball through the field. Heighway

was all at sea on the wet wicket, and could not time the ball. He was run out through attempting a run in response to Sauverin’s call. The latter drove hard to forward cover, Murdoch fielded cleanly, and whipped in to Horspool, who made no mistake. Sauverin was almost immediately bowled by Harvie. Blair, a promoted junior, and Honeycombe survived a couple of overs, but the swerve bowler returned an., easy. one to W. Horspool, the innings, with the assistance of 26 extras, closing for 235. With the exception of Hemus, Brooke-Smith, and Taylor the Eden batting lacked enterprise. The Grafton attack might have been handled with much more judgment, though it must be admitted the side was badly in need of a slow bowler. Having a-quarter of an hour to go and in a bad light, the Graftonites lost three for 19. So -that next Saturday’s finish should prove exciting. Messrs. Harvie and T. Elliott acted as umpires, and gave every satisfaction. Once again I should like to draw the attention of the Association to the need for proper scoring tables for the scorers and the use of the “telegraph,” at least for senior fixtures. PONSONBY v. UNIVERSITY. Commencing on the senior wicket at Victoria Park on Saturday, the Ponsonby-University fixture provided but poor sport for the spectators present. Batting displays, with the ex-

ception of that by N. C. Snedden, were conspicuous by their absence, bowlers having a day out, the result being a series of falling wickets, and a procession of out-going and in-com-ing batsmen. That the game was very slow from a spectator’s point of view is very evident when it is noted that both Ponsonby and University completed their first innings during the afternoon, and the former commenced on their second venture, while the combined efforts of the two teams for the afternoon’s play resulted in 173 runs being registered. Of course, there is a reason for the above poor showing on the part of the batsmen, the wicket was, to say the least about it, treacherous, particularly so at the eastern end. No doubt this was the result of the previous night’s deluge, assisted by the weather conditions following.

Ponsonby took first strike, opening with Collins and C. A. Snedden, to the bowling of F. Taylor and A. Player. Both batsmen showed good defence, while Snedden, junior, batted promisingly for his score of 17. With 25 on the board Collins was beautifully caught by Airey, that fieldsman bringing off a fine one-hand-ed catch. C. Snedden succumbed to one of Player’s breaks, but his brother batted perfectly for his 36, and gave really the only exhibition of hitting in the match to date. Anything loose was severely dealt with, and in his total of 36 seven fours were included. The New Zealand rep. is in fine form after his Australian trip, and was shaping in good style until snapped up in the slips by Sutherland off Player. From this on Ponsonby’s efforts were very fruitless, Shepherd, with 10 not out to his credit, being the only batsman to make a stand, and he, with Robinson, had a life in narrowly missing being runout. Player accounted for Kavanagh, Taylor and McMath, while F. Taylor secured Worker, Wilson, Edmonds

and Robinson’s wickets. It is worthy of note that four of Ponsonby’s batsmen departed through playing the ball on. The fall of wickets was as follows: —One for 25, two for 29, three for 35, four for 44, five for 44, six for 55, seven for 71, eight for 82, nine for 86, and 10 for 87. Bowling for University, Taylor and Player trundled unchanged, each sending down 15 overs. Both made the most of the wicket, and finished with the fine averages of five for 40 and five for 42 respectively, the former bowling five maiden overs and the latter three. Though ’Varsity’s chances appeared bright, less can be said of their efforts even than Ponsonby’s. The usual pair, Caradus and Airey, opened for the students, the latter getting the runs, while Caradus played strictly on the defensive. When 17, however, Airey was beaten by one from N. Snedden* 'the ball keeping low and coming back, very sharply. Southerland failed to get going, an lbw decision being given against him, Snedden appealing. Taylor was beaten by the same bowler, and though Caradus and Airey had put on 30 for the first wicket, ’Varsity were now faring badly. Perry opened promisingly, and runs came more freely, but Caradus was unfortunately run out, not being fast enough for Perry. Here ended the students’ chance of overhauling Ponsonby’s poor total, for with the exception of Gray (12) and Rowe (6 not out) the batsmen fared

badly at the hands of Snedden and Kavanagh, the- former finishing up with six for 32, the latter with three for 32. Opening their second innings with Collins and Robinson, Ponsonby have four to the good. NORTH SHORE v. WAITEMATA. North Shore strengthened by the return of wicketkeeper Tattersall, seasoned with the experience of an Australian tour and a good performance against the Australians at Eden Park a week previously, had first strike, on their own ground, against Waitemata. At the fall of the second wicket a fairly substantial score promised, but with the exception of Dacre (24) the remaining batsmen did not give much trouble to the bowlers, who were getting plenty of work on a wicket that became more suitable to the trundlers as the day wore on. Howie (63) got his runs when the wicket was at its best, nevertheless, it was a good performance and stamps him as a consistent batsman for his side. Prime (35) seems to have struck his true form again, and appears to be “happier” when runs are wanted.

K. Moller was the most successful bowler for Waitemata, winding up with three wickets for 27. Arblaster three for 65, and C. Moller three for 43 were the other wicket-takers. Waitemata fared none too well with the bat. A Riddell was thrown out for a single. Strange to relate, North Shore lost their first wicket in almost a similar manner, Rankin being run out. Mayall (16 not out) and ’J. Riddell (17) added a few, but the others did practically nothing, and with the score at 53 for five Waitemata appear to have very little hope of overhauling the total of their opponents. Their chief salvation is Young and Dunning, two left-handers, and as Howden does not take too kindly to them Waitemata, given a good wicket, consider there is some chance of pulling the game round.

PARNELL V. EDEN B. Parnell and Eden B tried conclusions on No. 2 wicket, but the B’s were in an unfortunate position from the commencement of operations. Batting three men short they could muster only seven over the century* Alexander being top scorer with 32. The maroons appear to have the match well in hand, and should register a three-point win, thus settling the “honours of holding the wooden spoon.”

Punch and Horspool opened to Somervell and Stephens, the slow bowler getting on plenty of spin which puzzled the batsmen. Horspool was badly deceived by Stephens’ straight one, and retired lbw. Eaton filled the vacancy, runs coming slowly, the batsman getting several nice off strokes. Punch failed to get on to a curly one from Stephens, and was well caught by Doble. Haase and Eaton lost their wickets in quick time, the former failing to time a breakback from Stephens. Alexander and Gilmour then , became associated, the former laying on the wood in great style, Stephens coming in for some punishment. Anthony displaced Somervell at the Kingsland end, and finding the wicket much to his liking, caused..: both batsmen trouble. Gilmour drove with great power, while Alexander delighted the spectators with some clean, hard hitting. Doble was responsible for the retirement of Alexander, taking a good catch off Anthony. Horspool, fielding substitute for Parnell, effected a good catch

which terminated Gilmour’s career. Beale, the Eden skipper, with Somerville, held the fort while an additional 20 runs were added, the side —three men short —being all out for 107. Parnell made a most auspicious opening, Anthony and Wright giving a fine, free exhibition. Both players treated the bowling with scant respect, and when the first wicket fell were within striking distance of the B’s total. Off a mighty lift on the “on side,” Moore —fielding as substitute for Eden —effected a splendid catch, the Parnell skipper retiring with 35 to his credit. Wright was partnered by Somervell and a merry pace was set. At 5.30 p.m. the Eden total was passed. Wright was putting any amount of vim into his play, while Somerville was playing forceful, stylish cricket. With his total at 44 Wright was caught by Alexander behind the sticks. Breese partnered the New Zealand rep., and in his usual aggressive manner quickly ran into double figures. Somervell pulled and drove with great freedom, being eventually caught by Wright—fielding substitute —off a fine pull to the on. A few more displays of this nature should put the Parnellite in form. Moore was the next batsman, but after getting a quartette, was caught by Wright off Punch at point. Crawford and Breese, played out time, the total, when play ceased for the day, being 170 for four wickets. Parnell very generously allowed three of their players to field substitute for Eden, and the remarkable part of it was that they disposed of three of their best bats by means of splendid catches. Eden were handicapped by having several of their players in camp. Parnell’s bowling proved too much for the Eden batsmen, ■ Stephens and Anthony in particular making, good on the drying wicket, the former winding up with four for 44, while the latter captured two for 13. Next Saturday’s play should have a distinct bearing upon the championship, and the associa|ion made a wise move in deferring the draw until after the decision of the present series of matches.