BRIGHTER CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 49, 22 November 1926, Page 10

BRIGHTER CRICKET

'VARSITY BEAT MIDLAND BY AN INNINGS

OLD BOYS HEAD THORNDON BY FOUR RUNS HURRICANE HITTING BY L- CALVERT As the result of heavy showers on Friday night and Saturday morning, wickets were again on the dead side for the continuation of championship matches commenced the previous Saturday. The outstanding performance of the day was the complete rout of the Midland eleven at the hands of the youthful ’Varsity team, the margin being an innings and 43 runs. Hutt had no difficulty in accounting for Institute by ten wickets, but the defeat was softened by a hurricane of clean hitting by L. Calvert, who put up 80 in about half an hour in Institute’s second innings. In all he hit six sixers and nine fours in as exhilarating a display of rapid scoring as has ever been seen in a senior championship match here. Calvert punished McLeod’s slow legbreaks to the extent of 22 off one over. The most exciting finish of the day was that between Old Boys and Thorndon at the Basin Reserve, Old Boys just managing to head Thorndon’s total of 258 by four runs. Petone had the best of their encounter with Wellington on the subur. ban ground, and Y.M.C.A. prevailed over Kilbirnie at the seaside, obtaining a win outright a few minutes from the call of time. F. T. Badcock, the English coach, was in brilliant form for Kilbirnie, securing eight wickets for 67 runs and hitting up 72 with the bat. RESULTS AT A GLANCE Old Boys, 262, beat Thorndon, 258. University, 268, beat Midland, 123 and 102. Hutt, 155 and 0-28, beat Institute, 48 and 133. Petone, 183, beat Wellington, 94 and 121. Y.M.C.A., 109 and 164, beat Kilbirnie 101 and 137.

BEST PERFORMANCES BATTING. A. M. Rollings (University) 135 L. Calvert (Institute) 80 F. T. Badcock (Kilbirnie) 72 1!. A Westbrook (Y.M.C.A.) 56 K. C. James (Old Boys) 54 W. S. Brice (Petone) 151 H. Lambert (Old Boys) 48 JNot out. BOWLING. F. T. Badcock (Kilbirnie), eight for 67. H. M McGirr (Hutt), five for 13. CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE 4]>t. 3pt. wins wins L. D. Pts.

’VARSITY OVERWHELM MIDLAND TRIUMPH FOR YOUTH. With four wickets down for 201 in reply to Midland’s modest total of 123, University had a firm grip on the game when play was resumed at the Basin Reserve. The not out men, Bollings (106) and Mackenzie (4), resumed to the bowling of J. Hutchings and Judd. The latter did not last long, but M ilson came in and assisted Rollings to run the score along from 204 to 250, when Wilson. who had contributed 25 in bright fashion, was smartly taken in the slips by Baker off J. Hutchings. Rollings was more sedate than on the opening day, but he made some crisp off shots, which sent the ball speeding between point and cover. 'Varsity developed a decided tail, and Rollings, who opened the innings, was the last man to he dismissed. With his score nt 135. J. Hutchings got a good one past Bollings defence. The retiring batsman, who had played the brightest innings of the season. wns accorded an ovation as he came in. and thoroughly deserved the tribute, as his runs were made in enterprising fashion, his off-shots in particular being excellently timed and placed. The innings closed for 268, giving the students a substantial lead of 145 on the first innings. J. Hutchings, Judd and Cleverley were the most successful of the Midland bowlers, who failed to take advantage of a bowlers wic- ,'< Badlv as Midland had shaped in their opening knock, they were even more feeble, in their second innings. The ’Varsitv bowling was much too good tor them, and the whole side was sent, to the rmht-about in double-quick tune, for the paltry total of 102 runs Hie rout was started hi Mackay brilliantly caf-h--i- Bind off hl- own bowling, and Midland were properly on the run when Bollings spread-eagled Bakers sticks with a particularly fine delivery. JHutchings and Poneghue attempted to stop the rot. and when they went it was all over. Viotmeyer, Tripe, Bollings, and Mackay all tr, ’P^ e l a " showinn the Midland mon that it .was a howler’s and .not a batsman s wicket they were playing upon. stmng 'Varsity attack was well supported ny sound wicket-keening an smart fielding. University won hy the wide margin of an. and 43 runs. This was University fl fust vicron o rim season, and a most pronounced one as wis no-ninst a team which, np to the present , fime. has been considered stron, in batting. OLD BOYS HEAD THORNDON EXCITING WIN BY FOUR RUNS. Old Bovs had their backs to the wall nil the afternoon at the Basin .Reserve • i fi<rhHn<* to reach the 258 which had’l'eeL sot Pliem by Thorndon on the opening day of the match. Lusk, one of the not out men, was absent, and Bailey accompanied Ronnldson to the Sts. L. Foley and Ellerm had charge of the attack, and commanded respect. With on the boa id Ronaldson. who had reached 27,. was beaten by a good leg-break by Mloim. who was keeping them well >'-1 O J° “S bat«men James joined Bailey, and „ period of slow play followed Ellerm was' troubling the batsmen, but was howling without luck. Thp was slowly up Io 66, where bailey was smartlv snapped np in Ina Blips Hyder off Phillips. Lambert joined Tames and the rate of scoring quickened both men opening out to some purnose Both batsmen were doing well and Lambert employed his favourite book shot to good Mloct Just after the century appeared lambert aroused enthusiasm by lifting Ryder for six and four with successive strokes. James had also warmed to his work and reached his hnlf-centurv by turning one to the lone-leg boundary. With 133 up James, who had batted soundly for 54,

stepped in front of Ellerm and fell l.b.w. Fitzmaurice came next and opened his account by square-cutting Ellerm for four. The Thorndon fielding was good, E. Foley showing brilliant ground work at point. A sweet off-drive by Fitzmaurice flashed to the boundary at rare pace At 159 Lambert, who had just reached hiß halfcentury, was snapped up behind the sticks by Kortlang off L. Foley. Duncan followed, to see Fitzmaurice brilliantly caught by Mason at mid-off. The colt, W. Dustin, joined Duncan, and another spell of defensive play followed. W. Dustin, after playing himself in, opened out, lifting Ellerm over the square-leg boundary for six and getting a succession of fo’urers in the same direction. Duncan also got two forceful drives for four, but at 199 he was well caught at square-leg by a substitute fieldsman off Hyder. With Burt as partner W. Dustin continued to relish the leg stuff the Thorndon bowlers were serving up, and eent two of them speeding across the chalk mark at square-leg. With his score at 32, W. Dustin, who had shaped in resolute fashion, was beaten by a leg-break from Ellerm. With eight wickets down and 44 runs still wanted to win, Old Boys’chances did not appear rosy. There was a- surprise in store, however, as C. Patrick, who had not done anything hitherto to label him as a serious rungetter, stepped to the crease and played the innings of his young life. Burt went with the score at 218, and D. Dustin. the last man, joiner] Patrick. The Thorndon bowlers were still making the mistake of pegging away at the leg-stick, and this was just to Patrick’s liking. Like W. Dustin, he smacked them over the leg boundary good and hard. Amidst great excitement the score continued to creep up towards the Thorndon total. Finding the game slipping from them, the Thorndon bowlers and fielders strained every nerve to save the day, but luck was with the batsmen. A lucky snick went flying through the slips off Patrick’s bat, and eventually this batsman made the winning hit, amidst a storm of applause. With the total at 262, Patrick, who had scored 44 in dashing style, was brilliantly caught and bowled by Hyder. Thorndon lost this match by sending down too many deliveries on the Leg side, instead of pegging away at the off stump. Anyhow, it was one of the most exciting finishes ever seen on the Basin. L. Foley, Ellerm, and Hyder were the most successful of the Thorndon bowlers. While the way to victory was paved by James and Lambert, too much credit cannot be given to C. Patrick for his plucky fighting effort when the runs, were needed. HUTT TOO STRONG FOR INSTITUTE HURRICANE HITTING BY CALVERT. With seven wickets down for 46, Institute continued their first innings against Hutt. A single to Exton and au extra were the only additions for the remaining three wickets. Hutt, hav. ing made 155 in their first innings, sent Institute back to the wickets. Banks was bowled by Aldersley, who also obtained an l.b.w. over Prince, when the latter had made 9. McLeod bowled Foley, and when Malcolm had reached 9 he stopped out to one of McLeod’s, missed it and was stumped. Baumber contributed six and Bilby made 11 before he was caught. Massey made 2, but Exton and Burt both failed to open their account. With nine wickets down for 55, when they had wanted lOS to prevent an innings defeat, Baumber and Griffiths liecame associated. Baumber hit everything hard and turned the spectators’ attention from speculating when his wicket would fall to. whether ho would stem the tide and send Hutt back to the wickets. After hitting sixers and fonrers all round the wicket, he suecumbed to a Rood cutch by Gwillimn, when 80. His innings was a meritorious performance, which was made even more so by the fact that it was compiled in under half an hour. He hit six sixers and 9 fonrers. including 34 off one of Nunn’s overs. Hutt wanted 27 to win and Nunn and McLeod made the necessary runs without losing any wickets. Y.M.C.A. BEAt’kILBIRNIE CREDITABLE PERFORMANCE BY BADCOCK. With a lead of eight I'UUS Oil the first innings, Y.M.C.A. continued their second innings at Kilbirnie against the home team, the previous weeks score being no wickets for 3 runs. Badcock s bowling was most dangerous and R. Henderson. Virtue, and Grant fell east victim-. His average at this stage read three wickets for 3 runs boon af er being joined by Westbrook, Smith was caught bv the wicket-keeper oft Badeoek ‘>l-4-7. White, the next man, returned” to the pavilion nfter scoring 6. ili-S-G M. Henderson’s partnership with Wo«tbroole yielded si) runs before he was clean bowled by badcock. At lit), Westbrook, who find given an enrer(Continued on Page IL).

1 2 0 0 in 1 1 0 1 8 Y.M.C.A 1 1 1 0 7 Old Boys 0 2 1 0 G University 1 0 0 0 4 Thorndon 0 1 4 0 3 Wellington .... 0 1 0 3 Kilbir,nie 0 1 2 0 3 Midland 0 1 2 0 3 Institute ...... 0 0 o 1 1