CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 455, 13 March 1909, Page 12

CRICKET.

■ -♦— —- CBt The Breakeb.) -:■- BEST BATTING AVERAGES. The lending batting averages to (late are as nnder':— •

'.Note.—Figures;in connection ' with , unconi- c . pieced innings. intourrentseries are excluded.- ■'■ P ..].. At Petone it was sorry cricket,:on a poor , ground. Yea, tho field was more like good pasture than a playing green. Both wickets ,° caused the ball to take unexpected angles of a ascent from the pitch, and the , 'outfield was n very bad. The v grass was uniformly long, ex- ' - cept on a strip round the fence,■whore an '? extra.growth effectually took all paco from }'■ tho straying leather. . Phoenix may be par- f - <doned for a little; reflection as-to , what might ?! have been had tho grass been cropped short. •' As they played on Saturday last a good, many " moro runs would ' hate been put to their •••■credit. , . •_>•■ ■■■ '■ ■ •■■■ ■ ■ •.■••• ■'"■ : ■ It was a first innings' victory for'Ncwtown, 1 'and known as such to both''teams before the •■ second afternoon's play had gone far. ' There- ■■ .- after- no one seemed to taico i more than a modcrato interest in the' ganic'. -In tho first .'place, Newtown had arrived on. the ground' 'two men short, anil wore granted substitutes. Then Phoenix made known that, their kit :... would come by a later train, and-borrowed ■•' "a , batting , outfit;' Further, , the umpires failed : 'to appear. The cricketers, however,; prove a stout-hearted lot, and the game went on mer,rily. ."' .' '.' .. ■'■ .' "" : - . ; Fielding was lazy. When Phoenix had ' declared, and put their opponents in, tho defeated team wore obviously bored, They missed all sorts of easy opportunities, the • worst being perpetrated by Mickey. It was a clean, high drive from Alpe that came to bi him on one occasion, but the. PhoeJiix fields- li man was not handy when the ball fell. Later si in the day Tyler relieved Hickey in the field, °' the latter, it appears, being unwell. The infection was felt even behind the ' a wickets, a post usually associated with con- J Btant watchfulness and a display of nerve. l Bercndson was given a chance by Day, but ?' declined. Just' previously Day, at 17, mishit \?. a ball from "Wilson, and it went high.' Four, jj, woro ready for tho catch, but loft it to the p; bowler, who, however, loft it too. Schmoll, tl: . wicketkeeper for Newtown, stopped almost si; everything. His was the most sustained of- "• . fort of the day. sp Burton made an excellent show, and beat t ' , all his previous scores with 73. V/hon his \ a partnership with AVaters (24) had lasted half ,'! an hour the score had reached 161, and li . Phoenix decided to wickets nl down. Gibbs hit freely and with skill in obtaining his 32. ' s^ .Shortly-after Day commenced bowling, to ni Burton and Waters, the former batsman hit r.n a ball high into the deep field. . Ckridgo tt ■ might h.nvo caught it, but did not. Waters w: then sent one to tho off, but Tyler was slow b( in turning round. . Hi Later, when Newtown commenced their '" second innings, Alpe was missed in the slips '" by M'Lennan, the result being a four. Sclimoll, too, was missed by Gibbs, who little • rol : sn»d the warm ono proffered him; ij? Had the throwing-in of the Wellington n s men been smarter, and the fielding generally w better, .the Y.M.C.A. batsmen would not ht have been allowed so many "lives." Hales so war t!:e notable exception, never missing a ra catch which was in any way possible. tl

Tho batting of tho Y.M.C.A. men was sometimes reckless,, and sometimes extremely cautions. If some of tho batsmen could bo induced to hit out a bit, and others to play with a Jittlo nioro caution, and let thfcir judgment.govern their dosiro to slog, tho result would .bo a better total for tho team, and a more interesting exhibition for tho onlookers. Midlano and Wilson both played sound cricket, and put on good scores. For tho third year in succession Old Boys will carry off tho senior championship, and they deserve the distinction. As a batting combination they aro easily ahead of other teams. Great success has also attended tho efforts of the bowlers on their side, and their fielding' has been noticeably seperior to that of most of tho other teams. Though Monaghan had a day off with the ball last Saturday,, yet, throughout tho season, his ibowling'has had to bo treated with respect by players who had faced him. Tiventy-fivo wickets at a cost of eight runs apicco was his average before tho match against Pctone. On Saturday, however, thero was a . change. Seemingly forgetful 'of tho skill of tho bowler, tho' suburban batsmen hit out at him with rare freedom. Fifty runs- had been scored off him beforeho had. captured a wicket, and the only other wicket which ho secured cost him 30 Additional runs. Even now, however, his .average, 27 wickets for a total of 288 runs, is highly creditable. Better form has been shown on a number of occasions this season by Brice, who made top score for Potono last Saturday. This remark applies more particularly to his efforts at tho beginning of his innings. When he had made four ho ought to havo been caught; out by Monaghan in tho slips. Another chance was given by him to tho samo fieldsman when ho had mado 20, but the letoff was excusable, as the catch was a difficult one. Towards tho end of his innings he made some capital strokes. At one stage ho delighted his admirers by hitting Moriaghan twice in succession for fourers. No incident in the Old Boys-Petone match •' occasioned moro comment than ' ono which occurred in' connection with the, dismissal of Connolly, tho suburbanite team's last man in. Having skied tho ball back in the direction of Monaghan (tho bowler) Connolly, as he was entitled to do, set oft' to securo a run. AW, tho rules say that if, under' pretence of running or otherwise, either of the batsmen- wilfully prevent a ball from being caught, tho umpire should give tho offending batsman out for "obstructing the field. From tho grandstand it was impossible to say how close to Monaghan Connolly steered his course, but it was evident that. ho cut things rather fine. Monaghan made no mistake—but what would have been tho decision if he had failed P • ; ■ . An interesting position cropped up in connection with the match between Gas Company and Waiwetu on Saturday last. Tho visitors (Gas Company) wcro endeavouring to score a three-point win, and - ;ho home team ivero determined to prevent it. With 35 minutes, to, go, the.Company had to got two ivickcts to secure their object, and, judging by the team's display during the innings, ;heir chances looked bright indeed. Judd and Aldersloy wero batting, and they played carerully, but tho3; missed no chance to add to ihoir total, which they raised from G4 to 117. Hie excitement increased p.s timo went on, ind, with a minute to go, Miller succeeded n finding Aldcrsley's wickets with the second jail of his over. Matthews was going oat )n the call of time, but he did not bat, the visitors haying to be'.'content with a two)oint win. , -- ' ■ '•'■•,; v In Waiwetu's first innings Staples achieved inusual distinction in scoring 33, and he ia,d hard being run out. It hapiened ifl ''attempting , 'to .convert d three into i four; !;His:!pdrtrier,-i , ilcher, finished his ihird "trip "b'etfveeir'the Wickets at only a ialf run, and in trying to securo the fourth i rapid return of the ball cost Staples his vick'et; ~..'..,.... - . ' iTho , match generally was not of an in;oresting I nature, ■ especially- in .Waiwotu's second innings, in which tho 'score-hooks ihow the first figures as' 6, 1, 4, 1, 8. It was inly after that that Judd and Alderslcy put i..little lifo into the contest. In tho first nnings Wilson brightened matters somewhat, or iii his.total of 36 thero was a brilliant ive right to tho northern end of the ground md aiour to tho eastern boundary. ■With-tho facts/'of' the recent dispute bo-1 ween'tho, Australian cricketers and the Ausraliaii Board of Control wo aro in this counry ha.ppily not concerned.(says tho "Globe," j'ondon). It is none of our business whether hose .who arc nominally amateurs, those who iro supposed to play a noble ganio for tho dvo of the sport, can or cannot screw a few xtra, sovereigns out.of tho management. Ve are glad -that. it- is not our quarrel, for t is in troth not a »prctty one. It reveals nany things to tho-public; and even the Forshipping schoolboy" may bo inclined to ake ,Ins hero off the pedestal when ho finds ha.t he is only plaster after all. Tho sport .'ill go on, of course; but it can no longer be irotended that tho champions are out for ;lory—there will ha less glory in a future est ■ match, .in which each player is calulatihg the gate at least as much as tho 3ngth of a ball, than in a rough-and-tumble ontest between two neighbouring villages, ilayed on a wicket as'fiery as thafat Lord's 3 smooth, but between men and not between radesmen. Tho Australian cricketers, inlec'd; seem to havo becomo a new typo of ommercial travellers—bagmen in flannels; : nd that the trouble is not merely for tho iioment is evident when wo remember their efusal to take - part in South African aatches, and sundry incidents during the'last our. AVe havo no belief in the rumour that ho .results of test matches aro arranged beorehn.nd; but when a game is degraded by ts players such rumours will get about. It s an unhappy period for the game when cash 3 put before cricket.

■ - . ■ ' to 3 K to Jjp ■ : I ° H % § ■ • . . , ... ;■: .5 •. % Wμ < .«( ' Tncker (OB) ... ... V o" I" 1 3S3 5i " ■'■■ SonVtWell.) ■ ... 9 2 117 333 47.5 Payne (Gas Co.) ... 5 2 59 129 43.0 Bruce (Pet.) ... - H ! 106 42S 42 ' 8 J P.BI a cklock(O.B.);7 0 82 231 33.0 ' Bruce (.Mid.) ... , w-lK;' :2.;., 75 290 .32.2 Ashbolt (Gas Co.) ... 3 '0 51 83 27.0 Burton (Ph'oen.) ... 10 2 73 220 j<.j rHilson (Well.)'... 7 0 K 193 : 27.5 W. Wighton (Mid.),.. 3. 2 lo- 2, 2..0 Hawthorne (Gns.Co..... .7. ■ '.0 ...jl CS 26.S Monagl.an (O.3.) •-,'..-8 0 19 2 5 2G.8 NausEton (Well.) ... 9 1 53 2 1 2C.3 ff T)nv /Now) ... 3 1 28 5 - "" ■tAw 0, 60.263,25:7 ■"- Topp (Gas Co. '-■ ••• 7t'-1-- 49 J'J5, 2-1.1 UlSane (Y.M.C.A.) :..-« - 0. 88 . 2K 23.0. Quinn (Well.) ... ... 8 2 30 12, 2.1 Goldfinch (O.B.)- ... -2.- 0 25 42 .21.0 Beechey. (O.B.) ... ... 9 ' 2 « Mo.. 20-< _fliU»-(Phpen.) .....U 1 89; 0, 20. Tn\'lor CPct.) ... . X 11 3 45' 164 20.5 Kin Z 'Olid) .. J. r 0 20 20 20.0 Dredge (Gas Co.) .;..., 7.: .:0 ' 45 138 19. i Isherwood ... ...ll- 0 10G 21G I9.B WilT°(Waiwetu.),..12 1 37 212 19. Alpe.(New. ... ...13 1 . 36 &i 18.< Patrick (Mid.) ... 6 1 27 92 18.1 iCobcroft (Pet.) ...10 0 63; 181 18.1 •■JI'lMion-CMid.) ' ■■... 1- 0- 8 % 18.0 C. P. Blacklock (O.B.) 8 1 50 126 18.0 William? (Mid.) ... ; 9 0 48 1«. 17.3 ;. Newbold (Phoen ; ) ... 2 ;0 ,-«*■■■.** ' ".0 •Hanson (Mid.) ... :.. 10 2 51° 134 , 16.7 Little (Phoon.) ... 9. 0. 59 150 16.G Wynyard (Mid.) ... 12 0 • 39 97 16.4 Biveh (O B) ... ... 8 0 47 128 1G.0 Eoberti (YM.C.A.) ... 7 0 "34 112 16.0 Wilson (Y.M.C.A.) ...10 0 .61 157 • 15./ loader (Y.M.C.A.) ... 2 1 f 15 15.0 ■ Judd (Waiff.) ... . ... 11 2 32 134 11.8 ' Bodgers (Waiff.) ... 12 . 0 39 In 14./ ,Hales (Well.) ... ...' 4V: 2 14 29 14.5. • Joyce (Pet.) ;..:•■... 10 ,■ 0 - 29 1« 14.1 Diton (Phoeri.) ;..■■..'. 10 . 0 55 141 14.1 Dyson (Pet.) ... ■ ... 3-0 19 42 14.0 Nunn (Pet.) ... ... ' i 1 21 s 41 13.6 ' Warne(T.M.C.A.) ... 2 1 9' 13 13.0 ' Burke (Gas Co.) ... 2 1 10* 13 13.0 Climie (Waiw.) ... 9 1 23 103 12.8 Greatbateh. (Pet.) ... .8 3. 27 64 12.8 ■ Staples Waiw. ...11 0 p 140 12.7 F. Sicker (Phoen.) .;. T ■ 76 12.6 E. (New.) ... 8 2 .18 76 12.6 Luckie (Well:)';.. '.'.. 8 2 29" 76 12.6 OTarrell(New.) ... 5 1 .19* 50. 12.5 Harty (Phoen.) 2 0 21 25 ' 12.5 • SchmolKMid:) :.. ■ ... 9 0 41 111 12.3 Phillips (Y.M.C.A.) ... 7 1 31 74 12 3 SmyAe (Pet.) ... .... 10 0; 67 121 12.1 Hull (Gas Co.) ... 7 1 2G 73 12.1 (Y.M.C.A.) ...79. 0 30 108 12.0 , • ; ,, .,-•-. *Not..ottt. , r- ..,'.'. .. PRINCIPAL BOWLING AVERAGES. ' Folloiring aie the principal bowling averages to date:— '. ,. ... . ~% ' bo y . . . . . . a o ■»wa o ■•■• . ■■;.:,.;-•■ . 4 j ill 4 -■Taylor .(Pet.) »v.. ...' 7 i .■:. ;i 1.7 '■•■" Gatei"(Pet.) ..•.v—'i;.. ,,'... 8. ... 2, , ,2 4 0 • Miller (Gas Co.) ... ... 345 55 ■ 8 6.2 Patrick (Mid.). ....... .62-; 7.. ...3 S.8 'Brute' '(Mid.) ; ... ' ...49 5 i> iS 9-8, Monaghan (O.B.) . ... ... 283 27 7 10,6 ! (O.B.)i.f<[!V.. ...205 19 OAS..t>10.7 1 *. -Eodgers (Wai*.) - >... ... 480 42 - - :7 HJ Mason (O.B.). .... ''... 355, 31 7 11.4 Mitchell (Mid.) .;. ... 267' 23 ' ' '7 '11.6 : Connolly (Pet.) ... ... 326 ■ 27 5 12.0 Hales'(Well.).. "...' ' i.'/lKO , - ''15 : ; "J 12.0 Upton (Mid.) .... .;. 237' 19 6 12.4 ■ Alpe (New.) ■'... .• J. 485. 35 ;v'.-fi , .12.4 Judd (Waiw.) .i. w. 51 4'. 2 12.7 Bruce (Pet.) ... ... 395 31 6 12.7 Herlihy (Y.M.C.A.) ... 360 28 .. 6 12.8 r S. Hickson (Well.) ... • ...169 13 l ; 5 13.0 Staples (Waiw.) ... ... 66 -5 ■ 2 13.2. ..Kinvig (Mid.) .... ... ,40 3. ., 3 13:3 ■ Cobcroft (Pet.) ... ...439..- 33 ,5 133 C. Hickey.(Phoen.)...:., .... 358"."., 26 r.,.6 13.7. Beechey (O.B.) u.. ... 69 5 ' 3 13.8 Smyrke (Pet;) -..'.' ■■ ...-'loo''- :: 7"-'■' 3 14.2. ' ■■• G. -S; Pringle (Waiw.) ...58 4 '2 14.5 Phillips (Y.M.C.A. ... ... 1G0 11 5 14.5 - laws (New.) '... ... 400 27 8 14.8 Grimmett (Y.M.C.A.) ... 477 32 7 H.9 Wilson (Phoen.) ... ...238 15 . 4 15.1 Quinn (Well.) ... ...262 17, .4' 15.4 , 'Waugh (Gas Co.) 31 .!•■■ 2 1 15.5 Eyan (Mid.) ....... 172 ,.ll 4 i..6 15.6 C. Hickson (Mid.) 192 12 5 16.0 Hull (Gas Co.) .-.. ... 209 13 5 16.0 lomai (O.B.) ... ... 32 2 1 16.0 Luckie (Well.) •••.,.'•■ ."..■'292 17 5 17.1 Matthews (Waiw;) 172 ,10.... 4 17.2 ■ Gibbs (Phoen.) .:. ■ i.;-418- '6 17.4 Owens (Y.M.C.A.) .... ...105 . 6 '3 17.5 O'Farrell (New.) *\. ... 71 4 2 17 7 Nash ;f\Vell.) ... ...195 . .II.-- d, , 17.7 P. Hickey (Phoen.) ... ... 36, 2 2 JS.0 Miller (Well.) ... ... 225 12 6 18.5 Keys (New.) 294 .15 '*. 4 19.C ■ Dyson (Pet.) ■■;.'..• : V.: 20 !, ".-'l- 1 20.0