DOGGED CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1373, 26 February 1912, Page 6

DOGGED CRICKET.

AUCKLAND MATCH. DUEL BETWEEN BAT AND BALL« ' SAUNDERS ONTHE SPOT. THE RESULT STILL QUITE OPEN. ■.Wellington 232, arid 57- for two, ■ .'Auckland/first innings 253 runs. Solemn, sittl -undemonstrative- as Weljngion ,crowds nre, thpy got .cricket on Saturday. : which. .interested them and would have really stirred them, if it had b«e : n alittlo livelier. But tho fight with tljcf; great Auckland. team was a shade too-'.dog&d /to- be lively. Each batsman aecnied to-know that he had only to make one , mistake to be ,out, £nd he walked warily.' ■" •■'•'■ ', '• . ' ■ •"It-w.ss:a great novelty to.see the dashiiig Auckland, hitters . pinned .down to 1 slow ploddintf.dcfeiisive, but that was how. John V. Sannders. had them, and thit was how he. kept them. Hour,after hoiiv ho pegged away, scarcely' wheeling up, two alike, and corning down .with a jironounced. curl in the air,, and ofteu with a nast}- break-back from leg. The Vail■'that- dismissed Sneddon, for inhtjince,..turned in about 18 inches, whilo ■aripther of his victims was all at sea... to a .9-inch brenk, which swept across into the.' , "ash.-forest"-ami sent down the off stump. It was only after ho tired, and Cqptain Bkcklock hatt to turn on the rest of' his bowling artillery that runs mnio at ; all : freely, and tho Auckland total was carried along to 253—21' runs jhead .of "Wellington. As showing. hew Jogged the play had been, it : may be mentioned that this was not• accoiaplishtd HU-J.-J5 p.m. '• ;. ~-:.,. ■ :

\ ', Tho Great Catastrophe. Then the crowd'settled down to watch what: many considered would -be tho pwce-de-rcsistance. Auckland took tho field ;with one thing • clearly settled in the back of their minds—Gibbes and Biamires were to be attacked 'horse, foot, suul giius. , .Seud '.thewr.-.back, and Wellington's chances wonld be settled. That Was the-'ainiable'.intenllbiii as out two preinioT : .-batsmen—so (lissiiuilar. in pu.vei<iuerrcaino.' through-,, the: ■gaie .and, as; Biarnires-.took block.-/?nd; the. formidable English..bowler,- .Thompson, began his chtiTacteristio''-kangaroo .ran, there was a silence , felt.. , ■w.BlamJres.'i began ;in his. .usual graceful fashion, and.there-was. a. small, cheer as, in the Englishman's .second -, : over, he swept-a fast one founded the on boundury. But the littlo round of applause had hardly' : died away before • the bull-dog professional "waded. in" with about as iougn\a ball as any batsman.could get. Of/'perfcct length, and full of pace, it whipped back, froin the off stamp, and sn-ept off tho leg bail. Biamires looked, first at the.pitch,;.theu ,at.his.bewrayed wi'ckot, in ' evident .-surprise, as.- well /he niiKlik'-.This-wfls-.disaster -Xo.-l, nml'ea-: tastrbphe'•.Nβ. ■ 2 weS close at hand,- fori Bske'r lad only joined Gibbe.?,-'and a few. more balls had been played, when Snedden, with a curly one, got past the redoubtable fast man's guard and scattered iis'wicket. The double dismissal was a bitter disappointment for Wellington supporters and a number thercttpon left the ground. Baker and Mahnhey, however, successfully played out tmie~2 for 57. Anything rnoy* happen to'-'day. ■> i"i ' , <' i ; The foregoiug is a bird's-eye view of the day's plav, and the story may now he told in order of time. With 208 runs on: for eight wickets, Bersndson and Robinson resumed Wollingote's first innings on Saturday morning to the ■ bowling oi'Thompsou and Sneddeu. The pair bntted surprisinglv well, treating Snedden •in especial with .scant .rnRjie'ct,' Eobiiisou inakiiig 10 from one. over. Tho hitter Vas finally clean bowledwhen, the total was 231 by Thompson. Saunders : went iu, but he survived only, threb.. , bolls before being' out, fowled by a ctirly one from Sneddon, and the. innings .closed, for the'.total of 232 rnns.

■ ' ! Auckland Go, In. Auckland ■ began- their - innings ' a' few Jiiinutes after noon, and things went very liadly with them for a time. Tho first .wicket fell for three runs, and the flccond for 21, and then the first really ]>ro(hictivu partnership 6? tktmi'tli was linketl up. Hem us and Ellis were the first Auckland pair, and- they faced the bowling, of Sanndcrs and • Orimmett. Hetuus gave a difficult one-hand chance to Blacklock at point wlien he had scored one.run, but the fieldsman, although he got his fingers on tho ball, failed to hold the cafch up. It ivns to bo a costly mistake.. But in 'Saunders's next over Blacklock .hnd the satisfaction of taking a much ?asier one from Ellis, and tho Auckland 'keeper \inx sent back -for a score of two— i—l—2—not a bad beginning for Wellington. ■ . Horspool tried next, but he was extremely, uncomfortable, to Saunders all thfiAtime until he failed utterly to gauge the,pace of a good 'outynnd he also was' out,-21 —2—5. Saunders's figures were-now' two for 10. Sneddeti, who replaced him, made a bad stroke at his first ball, hitting nu uppish one through tho slips, which, fortunately for him, escaped the fieldsmen there. Soon 'afterwards He'mus tois-nit a I/aW'into the slips just in front of where third mnn' shtrald have Viceu had one been-placed. Of course, the catcu went β-bepigin?—more luck for Hemus. Then fhe batsmen settled down to niato runs by cautions, s'ound.'if rather dnll.crickect. Tho score was raised' to 40 for 45 minates'. play.. Sncdden- gave two other pos;iWo. chances—one, off Ms .glove into tho "lips, off Saunders, and the other by hitring 'd risiiig ball just out of Saun'ders's reach, 'from Griramctt's bowling. ■ Jnst before the luncheon adjournment Globes, and Robinson were given an over rnch on the. off-chance that they mi?ht dislodge the batsmen, but the only effect was accelerated scoring. When the plar't.n left tlie .field the score was 60, nnd it hid taken prec-isoly an hour in compilation. ; :;. , . Saundors's Day, On resuming,- both Hemiis and Rneddcn still looked safe. ■ • ■ AVhen Homus's score was 4H, Bereiidsoi] let. him off when he was out of liis crease, going forward to OMmine'tt. The batsman's luck was in, ■irVhis foot was out. Slowly, b.v singles mostly, the, score was raised to 97 before a .'separation was effected, and then Snedden reached out to ptill a good ball from Saimders, which got through, and bowled him. 97—3-32. " Thompson'joined hi' captain, and again Hie, pa\y- were .beginning to .look perfectly rafe for.hours lonirer, when Herons misjud?ed pace nnd nitch of a fnst one from Robinson.-which' hit his lcK-stmnp. 119— 4—CG.' * Hishmiiigs had been a good one, 'but n. lucky one. ..Taylor, a promising young cricketer of seventwn...years, who heads, his cltib's averages this year, failed .tninnke pond his proud reputation. He certainly shaped well, but he wanted nil the runs nt onee, nnd. of course, paid 'the penalty for impatience.- He was cleaned bowled by Sauaders. 128—3—0. 'Romervell was.next man in,.and a bad return by Baker to Sounders throw nvay n. chance of getting .the r>«wcomnr nnt before hn had feored. '• TTo ran half-way down the pitch, but was sent back by 'L'homosoQ, rtkl fpeantime Baker lind fclW the bull. Klcven more funs eamo tefore Thompson -skied- a ball from Satin* ders into Hie slips, wliicli Tfobinson rnn ncrnw. ami cftupJit we)). 139-0-22. W-Mlaco wa3 in next, but he simply could make hotbirig' of Pnnnders. !>nil : was soon ' nu'. 141—7—1. Raundcrs'S: .-lyai-ago was then «ix for 67. . Somcrvrll wns ?till batting comfortably and sro'rin , ,' effectively from loose ones as ffu-y ca.rnn alon?. wlrn Jfasiiti joinoW'him. JJn'non nerer -got reaH.v -set before Gibbes, ~who had .taken the ball to (rive Paunders ■s rest, had-him out leg-before. It-, n'as a ■i-nrrect l.b.w. decision, though Gif«s

was bowling round tho wicket. The ball pitched-rig nt in the line of tho wickets, and broko back just enough to justify the umpire, iu .giving "out." Then Somervoli, assisted ill eonio degree Iby Anthony, got really going. He was I particularly severe, on Gibbes and Diekson, scoring boundaries very froely. Dickson's first over cost 13 runs, but in his second he wag lucky enough to get Seraervcll caught. Uo had been forcing everything, and this last was a. forcing stroke which happened to inis-hit. Grimmet t was under il, and bo held the catch safely.■-219— !>—sl. Somen-ell in his score of 51 hit.B fours and 2 sixes. Jones now partnered Anthony, and, as already stated, tho two rai.-ed the tofnl to 2'>3. Anthony's'batting was excellent, Tlicro are surely few provinces in New Zealand-who could sontt in 0 man of his cnlibro ninth in tlio roln. The fact (hut the Auckland captain did so. shows the splendid confidence ho has in his side as a batting combination. There is no tail to tho team, mid it is immaterial in what order the men go to tho wickets. Tho-feature of Wellington's work as "puts" was the. superb bowling of S'nimders. He troubled all the batsmen mbro or loss, anil os his record, six for 86, shows,, he handed out. disaster (0 a fair proportion of them; Griimnett bowled well, sometime? breaking 2ft. Gin., but with no liick. .Robinson, also shows very fair figures for his work. He should yet develop into a. really 'tine fast bowler. There is no.doubt about his pace, and he controls tho hall exceedingly well. The fielding was only moderate.

Wellington in Again. Gibbcs and Bla.mircs opened again for and the Auckland bowlers concentrated on making the attack as 1 rimfnl. (is possible for tliein. Blamire.s Was first to go, having fallen before about as rough a ball from Thompson as ever sent lack ■»'batsman. Bakor went-out to partner Gibbos, but a minute later Gibbes was clean bowled by Sneddon. He misjudged both pace and spin, and was unmistakably beaten by a remarkably good delivery. 10—2—1. Then Mahoney went to the wicket, and the. scoring rate remained very slow. However, .both he and Baker negotiated tho. bowline safely, although the latter was somewhat unorthodox-about it. The Idtnl was 5" when stumps were drawn. Anvthing may happen to-day. Tho crowds at tho matches have l>een ti'i-y sntisfaclorr from the Association's point'of view. The'"gate" on Friday was .£33 10s., and on' Saturday .£BS 7s.' Following 'are the scores: — : ■ • ■'

. ..-, Wellington.—First Innings. E. O. Biamires, 11121111121111141411411 2322, 1.b.w., b. Somerveil- 46 W. Gibbes, 4411M211222U11114441124212_ ' MIII2M, c. Ellis, b. Thompson ... 81 W. Bnker, 11, b. Thompson 2 J. J. Mahonoy, 311411341312, b. Snedden , 2J F. A. MidJnne, 11412111123114214, c. . Hemu?, b. Sneddon ...: 31 J. P. BlaoWocfr, J, b. Thompson -1 .1. Dickson, 41111. St. BUis, b. Sneilden S C. Robinson, 113144, b. Thompson 14 C.'Xirimmett, c. and l>. Thompson ... 1. C. A. Berends-on, 212111. not out 8 J. V. Saunders, b. Sneddon I) Extras , , 15 ' Total 232 • ■ Bowling Analysis. ■ O.' M. • R W. Thompson 85 12 "2 5 .Tones 14 5 31 — • Snedden 1V.5 4 48 I Mason 6 2 1» — Wallace 2 •■ — 12 — Taylor '3 — 14 — Somerveil 6 — 21 — : , Auckland,—First Innings. . L. G. iHemus,-, 11444241 HllWUlllliu . 144111213, b , . •'Robinson ...V. ;....:'.... 66. .It.Ellis,.-2, c..'Black"lock, b. Saunders i E. Horspool, 1211, b. launders :.. 5 ,X. C. Sneddon, 112211331411113114, b. Sannders 32 G. J. Thompson, 2141111114221, c. Robinson, b. Saunders 22 L. O. Taylor, ill, b. Saunders 6 B-. Somervcll, 244441343611464, c. Grimmett, b. Dickson 54 E. Wallace, b. Saundere 1 F. 11. Mason, 31, 1.b.w., b. Gibbes i A. Anthony, 24212143-111142, not out ... . 32 A. Jones, 1111, c. Saunders, b. Robin- _ t . son '........ "■- 4'Extras 25 Total '. ; 253 Bowling Analysis. . .0. M. If. W. Grimmett :. 22 7 63 — Saunders 29 G Sfi C Robinson 9.5 2 23 2 ■ Gibbes 5 1 31 1 Dickson 2 — 20 1 Wellington.—Second Innings. E. O. Biamires, 224. b. Thompson S W. Gibbes, b. Snedden 1 W. Baker, 111114111111. not out 18 J. J. Mahoiiey, 2241412244, not out ... 26 Extras : i Total ; ~■.; 57 -,

NOTES ON PLAY. Among those present at the match on Saturday were n number of prominent members of the New Zealand Legislature, who, in common with the rest of the spectatorate, seemed to thoroughly enjoy the strenuous fight which both sides put up. A small demonstration was made by the crowd against'- tbe adjournment for afternoon ten. It was taken at a time when Auckland had only one wicket to fall, and the usual adjournment between the innings was bound to follow. People evidently wanted to see Wellington batting again, and to 'see as.much of it that afternoon as possible. • Of the two bowlers who distinguished themselves, it may be of interest to mention that G. J. Thompson—"the man who made Northamptonshire"—was born on October 27, 1877. J. V. Saunders, who uphold Wellington's prestige, was born on February 3, 187 C. So there is not much between this pair o£ trutidlers in point of age, Grimmett, the young East googue bowler occasionally broke as mnch as 2ft. Gin., and ho deserved at least one wicket, which ho did not get. The rapid dismissal of ffibbes and Blaraires in the second innings was a good, deal too much for the nerves of many who left the ground as soon ns Gibbes was sent back. However, both young Baker and Jfahoney made a stubborn stand, although the Auckland attnek was not nearly so "savage" when they were.in, as had been the onslaught which was delivered on the previous pair. The Wellington bowling was well-man-aged, although all-we.ro not successful. It is a waste, of-power to have bowlers in the team who are not tried, and most of them were used by the Wellington skipper on Saturday.. . Outstanding impression of the match was the all-round excellence of the Auckland team. They arc never quite done_ with,- and, at lunch time, (hey .were lookiiifj: forward to their uphill task with equanimity. They would, they thought, get there, or thoreabouts. ■'How long do you think Auckland -will hold the wickets?!'.-v>-b« a question put to tho Rev. E, O. Blamires at the midday adjournment. The genial Control mnii oonsulerod a moment, and thr-n replied: "Well, I think the Wellington bowlers will have them all- out a little before 5 o'clock." The forecast proved verv accurate. • •■ .-•,-•• ~. * -

MATCHES ELSEWHERE. LIVELY DAY AT CHRISTCnURCn. ißjr Tolezrauli-PnMi Asioclstion.) Christchurch, February 24. The wenther was dull and very cold for the commencement of the eighth round of gtade cricket. Riccai'ton bntted against Sydenham, and, thanks to a fine .score of 120 by Hayes, totalled 312. Patrick also batted well for G2, whilst Hobbs, a promoted junior, made 43. Kiccarton replied with 17 for no wickets. St. Albnns, playing against Lin wood, mnda lit}, to which Lmwood replied, with 120 for five wickets. A. E. Ridley giving o. fine'"display fo; 4Ci. n-liibt Perrin and Thomas each made '22. West Christchurch, batting agaimt East Cliriitcliiirrh. totalled 213. of which Tieid made 8H by one of the best displays of hitting ?wm here fur «nuc time, and V. Kee.-e. niii'de ;JC. Ea?'. Cliriftehiiveh implied 'with 178. for, iive wickets, V\". Oivlton going in first and lieiujf unbeaten at the end of tho day, with PO to his .credit, made or a magnificent display of-hitting. Hi

scored 21 off one over of Fuller's. T. Carlton ployed carefully for 21. Auckland, February i">. Tho eighth ser.ios of senior cricket matches stnrtcil yesterday in lino weather. I'tiivcrsfc baited first Hfrainst North Slipro oil nil easy wicket, and scored 2:' l (Jaeobspii 50, Citrndus 15, Walker 41, nul, out, Air» v j" 38). M'Noill took four y/ickels for 37 runs, ami Howden four for . r io. North Shore have 10.->t four wickets for 15 run?. •• ■ Grafto.il and Kden met oil n gnod wickc!. Grafloii's first, iniittit's realised 183 'Hay 41, Neiil 30, Sloman 20, M'Cormiek G. Hills took Hires wickets for 4") runs, and Brooke .Smith four for 'n. Eden have four wickets down for'Bß (.7. -Mills 32 not out, Smeoton 27 not out). • Ponsonby and I'lirnell played on n wicket worn nt ono end. Ponsonby made 125 ((*. Sneddon- 22). Kcrr look five wickets for-f>2, and 01 iff three fnr 10. Ptirnoll have six wickets down for 82 ("'right <3 not-out).

Junior Association, Evans Bay B (32. and 61) met Kilbirnie, who made 97 (Helliwell 31), Higginbottom 17, Church 14) and 220 for five, wickets, declared (Church 76,-Hisgiribottom 39, Grey 32 not out, Helliwell 20 not out, Cowan It, Pyccroft 13,-Samuels 10). For Kilbirnie, Grev took, five wickets for 31 run?, Helliwoll seven' for 11, and Cowan five for 12. Solwyn A. made 31 and 107 against Kilniruie., whoso score was 86'(A. Cunningham 25, .1. Russell 12) and 189 for six wickets (R. Murphy tis, .J. Enssell 65, J. Cunningham 17, and Hatchard 17 not out), lor Kilbiroie, E. Murphy took five, wickets for 18 runs, Moffitt six for 14, and Hatchard two for 9.

House Matches. . For tho second time this season, '•Thc Dominion team met ami defeated tho "Post" representatives at IColburno Park on Saturday afternoon. The Dominion batted first, compiling 117.runs, (Chapman 28, Wlntelaw 25, Earlo 21, Mayiuior 12). to which the "Post" responded' wilh 41 (Hill 12, Keys. 11). Maysmor and Whitelaw seenred four wickets • each for (The Dominion - at a cheap cost, and Hill and Kedcliff bowled effectively for the "Post."

A. E. Ktrnot's eleven defeated City Council Kleetiic Light Department' b.v 9 runs at Kolburne Park 011 Saturday. Kornot's scored-113 and Electric Light 101. The chief scorers for the winners were: Simm 42, Ritchie 18, G. Hood IG, and tor tho loser?, Hasscll 25, Greig 15, and Castle 11. Bowling for Kernot's, Simm tQ.ik five wickets for 30 runs, Mair two for 20, Lcddy two for 25, and for Electric Light, Winter five for 20, and Casiie two for 40.

A very enjoyable mnteh was played ot Duppa . Street Reserve, on Saturday between tho C. and A. Odlin Cricket Club and the employees' of J". Fj. Cooper fwho is building a number of the workers' homes at Island- Bny). The game ended in a win for the former team by seven wickets and 11 runs. In their first and second ventures "Cooper's" made a total of 115, tho top'scorers being: Fishindin (26), ' Flack'(l 4), Pycroft .(11). In their first innings "Odlin's" made 60, and put up a total of 70 for the loss of : three wickets ■in the second innings. Top scorers were: Porteous (38 not .oat), M'Kenzie (10). For the winners, Keys eight for 14 and two for 16,Renner two for 10 and five for 24, Smithson. two for 16 were the most successful bowlers. For the losers, Murphy six for 28 and 1 for 12, Pycroft four for 20 and ono for 18. trundled well. Afternoon tea was provided b.v the Island Bay ladies, ,for which Mr. Pycroft returned thanks and called for three cheers.