CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2221, 26 October 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

(By “Short Slip.”) The opening of film chainpiomsliip matches was hailed with most delightful spring weather. As the wickets wore matting ones there could he no fault found with them, and the batsmen as they left their shattered timber or beheld a faulty stroke captured by a fieldsman could not find excuse in the wicket. “Out of form” was the general verdict. This was the case with but few exceptions, and they were: —Babb, Wilson, Charles, and Cary, who all got over 20 runs, and showed good form. Bowlers wore eager to make a good start with their averages, and several of them did so, the principal being Pine, Young, Roderick, Schofield, Hullamore, and Torkington. The fielding all round was good, and some decent catches secured. The most prominent fieldsmen were Olsen, Lasker,. S. Wilson, W. Gibson, and Dr. Collins. The day' being such a delightful one I journeyed to Taruheru, and getting under a tree on that picturesque suburban cricket ground a few minutes before 2 o’clock I fell asleep. only to be awakened by a sm'ill bov shoii-tiing that Taruheru wore batting first. I looked round and saw that the To Ban team were taking the field one man short, and* they fielded 10 men the. best part of the'day. They are keeping the place lor Baxter, from whom much is ex-, pected. Taruheru had a weak team at the start, but Br. Collins rolled up in time to bat. Hodge, Fenwick, and Murphy, however, were absent. Voung and “Sailor” Roderick went :in first to the bowling of Barnby and Schofield. Roderick soon left, Schofield disturbing liis timber with a ball that swerved in. Jack Charles joined Young, ajnl the only decent stand was made for Taruheru. Both players looked set, when Cary put Pine on in. place of Barnby (who was very erratic). Pine soon settled Young, and with a beauty, too. After that it was only a matter of getting a straight ball in, the defence of most of the batsmen being weak. Busker had a few “biffs and knocked up 13, when Pine beat and bowled him. A 1 out for 73 was the verdict. Jack Charles not out 26. The veteran was heartily applauded for Iris stand. Of the bowlers, from what I could see —from under the willow tree— Pine seemed to keep the best length, and the batsmen said he was difficult to play. Schofield . sent in some “snorters,” but he is not yet dn form, as lie tired quickly. His wickets, however, were clean-beaten ones. Of the others Carroll was the best. He kept- an admirable length,and one of his wickets was secured with a fine# off-break. The Te Ban’s fielding was firstclass, only a few mistakes being made, Kaipara, Olsen, Barnby, and Kelly being the most prominent, although it is really unfair to the others to single out any. Cary missed nothing behind the sticks, and on the whole I think Te Ran will take a lot of beating; the other side will certainly not make large scores. . To Ran then opened with Pmc and Cary. Pine was soon out, smartly- taken by Dr. Collins at point.' The Doctor fielded better than I have yet seen him. Point is certainly his place in the field. Barnby then joined Cary, and 27 runs were made, and they looked like making more when wliat seemed like a full-tosser to leg bowled Cary. Cary said it just grazed Iris leg. The Te Rau captain made no mistakes, - but ought to know that a fulDtosser sometimes swerves in, and should not swine at them. Barring a stand by Olsen and Carroll, which, however, only realised a few runs. Te ltau were beaten by the howling. Young came out with a fine average —5 f ov 31, and Roderick did even better with 4- for 8, but Young’s was the best performance, ,as he bowled right through and secured the best wickets. Charles kept a good length, but seeoned to beat the wicket a lot as well as the batsmen. ' ,

The fielding was good, Lasker at mid-olf and Collins at point doing tlio most work. Taruheru are. handicapped in not having a wicketkeeper. As 1 pointed out a couple of weeks back, Murphy would be an acquisition to them. Taruheru then had 15 minutes to bat for the second innings, and they lost Charles, Roderick, and Sharp for 12 runs. Schofield bowled Roderick, and Lewis smartly caught Sharp off Schofield, and Riine clean-heat Charles with a nice one. This leaves the game pretty open, Charlie La.sker is not out S, although lie was nearly caught at leg. Unless Ytouiig and Collins come to light I am afraid Te Ram will will.

The match was played in"iT'ftne spirit, and light refreshments were provided. The Te Rail and Taruheru skinners tell me tlie wicket played nerfectlv; it was a matting one laid" on turf. I forgot to mention that Or. Collins was run out through a . smart bit of fielding at point by Barnby, and Olsen took a wonderful catch in the same position. , . , The following notes on the match at the Victoria Domain I give on the assurance of an old cricketer, who also sat, not under, but close to, a sheltering palm-tree. Hallnmore winning the toss decided to hat, hut poor butting allowed Barker and Torkington to dismiss them all for 41 runs- No player deserves mention for good battiiiig unless it be Tucker, sen., who went in last. Torkington kept a capital length, and if lie instead of Babb lud opened the score might have been less. Barker kept a fair length and broke from both sides. There was some excellent fielding, and the old verdict—want of practice—-must be set down for the failure of the United team. No one could hav () a better wicket to start a season on than the Domain matting, but there was too much feeling for the ball instead of going right "forward from the jump. Wanderers replied with 100 runs. Of these Babb (23) and Wilson (22) were the principal scorers. Both men showed good cricket, although Wilson was a little lucky. McConnell and McColl were shaping well when dismissed. Hallunoro came out with a line average, and with Coop bowled right through the innings. Hallamore mixed them a lot, and with good judgment; he also kept a better length than usual. This player car. got splendid work on the ball from both sides, ami only requires to keep ill practice to be a lot of trouble to '■toithcr side. Coop bowled well, and came off the pitch quickly. Gibson kept wickets well, and the fielding was very fair. United should make more runs ill their second innings, and may possibly 'save a two-innings’ defeat, for which three points are given, and two for a win on the first innings. I will witness the finish of this match, and expect to sec a reversal of last Saturday's form. Bob Thelwall was one of the umpires, and tho matcli was played in a fine spirit.