Cricket

On Our Job, Issue 14, 1 March 1945, Page 2

Cricket

Lauchlan Cup FIRST DAY’S PLAY Wellington Fails Against Christchurch THE tramwaymen’s triangular cricket tournament, in which teams from Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington competed for the Lauchlan Cup on the Basin Reserve, Wellington, .when Christchurch overwhelmed Wellington by an innings and 83 runs. Wellington had first use of the wicket, and thought conditions were in favour of run-getting. Good bowling by H. Davis, the Christchurch captain, and R. Downing saw Wellington dismissed for 92 in their first innings, Beaton being top scorer with 24. Canterbury fared little better in the early stages of their first innings, and, with six wickets down for 49, it appeared doubtful whether Wellington’s modest score would be reached. C. Wilkie and B. Commons then saved the day for Christchurch by making a stand which put on 56 for the seventh wicket. With the total at 105, Commons, who had reached 34, fell l.b.w. to Mclvor. After the partnership had been severed, Wilkie went on to score freely with well-placed shots to all parts of the field. His was the last wicket to fall when the innings closed at 3.37 p.m. for a total of 198. In Wilkie’s score of 82 three sixes and 10 fours figured. Requiring 106 to save an innings defeat, Wellington collapsed disastrously in their second innings, and were all out in about an hour for the lilliputian total of 23. Davis, who represented Canterbury in the 1938-39 and 1939-40 season, when he was a regular member of the East Christchurch Club’s first eleven, played havoc with his fast-medium right-hand deliveries, with which he took six wickets for eight runs off seven overs, four of which were maidens. He made the ball swing from the off and also break back sharply at times, and hit the stumps four times. He was well supported by L. Smith, who took four wickets for 13 runs off 6.5 overs, three of which were maidens. The tournament ' was decided on a points —eight points being allowed for a win

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outright, four for a win on the first innings, and two for a draw. The Wellington tramwaymen are at a disadvantage this year, as they have been unable to field a team in any competition since the war started. Regret was widespread among the 200 spectators present that Auckland had been unable to be represented at the tournament. Following are the scores:— Wellington.—First innings: L. Elliot, c. and b. Smith, 20; B. Maher, b. Davis, 7; B. Wylie, run out, 4; B. Clothier, c. Smith, b. Downing, 10; D. Beaton, b. Davis, 24; A. Mullins, c. McCormick, b. Downing, 0; W. Mclvor, b. Davis. 6; T. Russell, c. Downing, b. Davis, 0; D. McLennan, c. Hammett, b. Downing, 0; G. Dumbleton, not out, 8; W. Gwyne, run out, 0; extras, 13; total, 92. Bowling: Davis, 11.5 overs, 1 maiden, 24 runs, 4 wickets; L. Smith, 7. 0, 30, 1; R. Downing, 4,0, 25, 3. Second innings: Wylie, c. Pethig, b. Smith, 9; Clothier, b. Davis, 8; Elliot, c. Smith, b. Davis, 0; Beaton, b. Davis, 0; Mclvor, b. Smith, 0; Mullins, 1.b.w., b. Davis, 0; Maher, b. Davis, 0; Russell, c. Downing, b. Smith, 4; McLennan, b. Davis, 0; Dumbleton, not out, 0; Gwyne, b. Smith, 0; extras, 2; total, 23. Bowling: Davis, 7 overs, 4 maidens, 8 runs, 6 wickets; Smith, 6.5, 3, 13, 4. Christchurch. First innings : L. Smith, 1.b.w., b. Dumbleton, 6; D. Lukie. c. Wylie, b. Elliot, 0; D. Pethig, run out, 10; S. Poulston, run out, 5; H. Davis, 1.b.w., b. Gwyne, 21; B. Downing, c. Gwyne b. Elliot, 4; C. Wilkie, b. Elliot. 82; B. Commons, 1.b.w., b. Mclvor, 34; J. Hammett, 1.b.w., b. Mclvor, 1; P. Cormick, c. McLennan, b. Elliot, 14; G. Parke, not out, 9; extras, 12; total, 198. Bowling: Elliot, 12.2 Overs, 1 maiden, 46 runs, 4 wickets; Dumbleton 8,2, 41, 1; Gwyne, 4,0, 26, 1; Maher, 2,0, 10. 0; Mclvor, 5,0, 35. 2; Russell, 2,1, 10, 0; McLennan, 4,0, 18. 0. Umpires: Messrs. Watts and Dennison. SECOND DAY Christchurch Wins Lauchlan Cup By following their innings win over Wellington, the Christchurch team assured themselves of the Lauchlan Cup by beating Dunedin by 35 runs on the first innings at the Basin Reserve, in the tramwaymen’s triangular cricket tournament. The Dunedin team had first use of a fiery wicket, and could only total 113 against deadly bowling by H. Davis, the Christchurch captain and former Canterbury representative player, who took six wickets for 32 runs off 13 overs. Downing, a tall left-hander, also did well in taking three for 24 off 7.1 overs. Davis made his fast-medium deliveries lift in such aggressive fashion that the game was held up on four occasions for a time while batsmen recovered from bruises. The Christchurch captain even knocked his own wicketkeeper out for a short spell with a rising ball which rapped the stumper on the cheek-bone. Three wickets were down for 45, when A. Campbell, captain of the Dunedin team, and W. Campbell, no relation to the skipper, made a stand which put on 51 runs for the fourth wicket. With the total at 96, W. Campbell, who had batted stubbornly for an hour and a-half for eight singles, was stumped by Hammett off Downing. The captain went on to score 54, in which six fours figured. The Dunedin innings closed at 12.30 p.m., and Davis and Smith had put on 30 runs without loss when the luncheon adjournment was taken at 1 p.m. On resuming, Davis hit 21 off the only over bowled by Reid—five fours and a single. He reached 37 in quick time, including seven fours, before falling l.b.w. to Dixon. Dunedin had two good stock bowlers in Paterson and Dixon, and for a time it looked as if the modest Dunedin

total might not be reached. Downing, however, came in when seven wickets had fallen, and hit resolutely to give Christchurch the lead. Downing went on to reach 40, which included a six and seven fours, and the Christchurch innings closed for a total of 148. Dixon and Paterson bowled well for Dunedin. Dunedin fared badly in their second knock, which was all over at 5.15 p.m. for the modest total of 63. Davis again bowled well for Christchurch in taking' four wickets for 15 runs off seven overs. Wilkie and Parke also did well with the ball. Though they only required 29 runs for an outright win, the Christchurch captain contented himself with a win on the first innings, and stumps were drawn at the conclusion of the Dunedin innings. As Christchurch scored an eight-point win over Wellington, and a five-point win over Dunedin, they have 13 points on for the Lauchlan Cup, while Wellington and Dunedin have so far failed to score a point. This assures Christchurch of the tramwaymen’s championship for 1944-45. THIRD DAY The Lauchlan Cup having been won by the Christchurch tramways team, Wellington and Otago met 'at the Basin Reserve to decide who should be runnersup in the tramwaymen’s cricket tournament. After an exciting game, Wellington won by two wickets. Dunedin in their first innings totalled 140, and Wellington replied with 143 for eight wickets. Elliot bowled well for Wellington in taking seven wickets for 43 runs off 19.7 overs, and Beaton hit eight fours in playing a chanceless innings for 69 for Wellington. Details :— Dunedin.—First innings: Paterson, 1.b.w., b. Tester, 31; Reid, b. Elliot, 6; A. Campbell, run out, 32; W. Campbell, c. Clothier, b. Tester, 0; Braithwaite, b. Elliot, 20; Dixon, b. Elliot, 0; Hollander, 1.b.w., b. Elliot, 9; Comer, c. Mullins, b. Elliot, 8; Silver, c. Clothier, b. Elliot, 10; Jordan, not out, 11; Halliday, 1.b.w., b. Elliot, 0; extras, 13; total, 140. Bowling: Elliot, 19.7 overs, 5 maidens, 43 runs, 27 wickets; McLennan, 5,0, 20, 0; Gwyne, 18, 2, 39, 0; Tester, 4,1, 25, 2. Wellington. First innings: Wylie, b. Paterson, 2; Clothier, 1.b.w., b. Dixon, 17; Beaton, c. Dixon, b. Silver, 69; Maher, l.b.w. b. Reid, 19; Elliot, b. A. Campbell, 18; Mclvor, c. Jordan, b. A. Campbell, 0; Tester, b. Silver, 0; Russell, c. W. Campbell, b. Silver, 0; Mullins, not out, 6; McLennan, not out, 1; extras, 11; total for eight wickets, 143. Bowling: Dixon, 11 overs, 2 maidens, 43 runs, 1 wicket; Paterson, 8 0, 30, 1; A. Campbell, 1.3, 0, 12, 2; Silver, 7,3, 19, 3; Halliday, 4,1, 9,0; Braithwaite, 2,0, 8,0; Reid, 2,0, 12, 1. During the tournament a meeting of delegates from the three competing teams held a conference, at which a New Zealand Tramways Cricket Council was set up. Mr. W. D. Richards, acting manager of Dunedin tramways, was elected patron, and Mr. W. Mitchell (Wellington) hon. secretary. Rules were drawn up for the Lauchlan Cup cricket ' contest, which it was agreed should be open for competition between the municipal tramway teams of the Dominion. It was decided to hold the next contest for the cup at Dunedin in 1946. Mr. Braithwaite (Dunedin) was elected chairman of the council. All tournament games in future will be held under control of the council.