AT the WICKET

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12611, 23 November 1926, Page 11

AT the WICKET

Cricketers were under difficulties again last Saturday as a result of tka weather conditions. Rain on Friday night and showers on Saturday morning left the wickets a little soft. A keen southerly blew also, and altogether the lot of tho fieldsmen was far from enviable. • • * •

There was some keen cricket on the Basin Reserve, and both games held particular interest. On No. 1 wicket Old Boys set out to overtake the Thorndon score of 255, and just succeoded in heading their rivals. • • • *

Patrick made the winning hit, and took his side’s score to 262, and then immediately fell to a brilliant catch bv Hvder off his own bowling. 4 4 4 4

University scor jmd annihilated tl

red their first win. the Midland team in doing tso. 'Varsity scored 266, of which Hollings in, getting 135, was responsible for more than hait. But Midland batsmen failed completely, and beggarly scores of 123 and 102 on good vickets were the result.

Midland at present depend entirely on about three batsmen, and if they disappoint tho rest of the side cannot be depended on to retrieve the situation. • • • • IT'S UP TO THE CLUBS So far this season the cricket cannot be called brilliant, and more than an element of uncertainty is prevalent. In most of the teams there is a lack of “guts” in the batting, and it behoves the various clubs to remedy that. Those colts who have been promoted show promise, especially those who have had the benefit of tuition froth the coach, and this writer would urge on all clubs to be unflagging in their search for talent to replace the old 'uni of whom [Father Time is taking toll. The fortunes of clubs, during the course of time, wax and wane, and there are one or two in Wellington who will find themselves in a very nasty predicament if they do not awaken. Sentiment and the glamour of the past will not atone for lack of energy in the organising of resources. The cap will fit somebody in Wellington, and the Writer hopes it will be worn. • • • • OLD BOYS MADE TO FIGHT Thorndon went down gallantly on No. 1 wicket. Misfortune dealt them a severe buffet when Price could not play owing to injuries and his bowling was missed. The limited resources of bowling were well handled by Kortlang, the Thorndon captain, and backed up by excellent fielding made Old Bovs fight every inch of the journey. •■• • *

James top scored for Old Boys with

51, but did not seem too happy to l&Uerm’s leg breaks, and eve n tually

walked in front of one and had the signal raised against him. This batsman was noticed going across with liis right foot to drive half-vol-leys outside the off stump. It is a bad fault and wants cutting out. 4 4

Lambert showed a return to form in getting 48, ami kept himself well in hand. Some of his shots were a. hit uppish, but on the whole he timed tho ball well, especially on tho drive.

■\V. Dustin confirmed his recent piomising form in getting 32. This youngster puts plenty of power into bis shots without any sacrifice of soundness. He made a bad mistake in going for tho pitch of the one that bowled him. • t • •

PATRICK HITTING HARD rick hit bard, high and often for his 44. lie saved a tew. but they fell clear of the field. He is a useful man for a tail ender.

llonaldson got 27 before hitting all across one from EUerm. Ronnie does not play leg breaks as well as he does tho other stuff. * 4 V 4

Fitzmaurice made 18 verv nicely, and clipped a couple very well on the off. He was dismissed by a magnificent catch by lvcn. Mason close in on the off. • # • • Foley, three for 83, and Fllerm, three for 93, did not come out with great averages, but both bowled rather d! at times, and not at any time were thev collared. Foley has a very good action, and looks as if be might train on into a very good bowler. Ho kept the ball well aWav from the leg. « * « • THORNDON FIELD WELL Thorndon gave the best exhibition i holding seen on the ground this season, and the catches made by Mason. Caulton and HjMer were really brilliant. E. Foley gave a great display at point, and cut off any amount of runs. 4 4 • 4 Kortlang kept very well and handled his side very ably indeed. * * * * MIDLAND’S CRASH Midland crashed completely on No. 2 wicket against University. The ball had the better of the argument right through on .Saturday. Looking at the wicket before the game, it seemed all right except for one spot at the northern end, and this was a bit far up. Certainly the*ball turned a bit, but it did not bite viciously.

Hollings added 29 to his previous Saturday’s score, thus ending with 135. He did not show such good forfn as on the first day. and at times was a bit at sea to Hutchings’s leg breaks, and finally he was clean bowled by one of them. Hollings is not the only ono who docs not shape too well at leg breaks, as there is nobody in Wellington who looks secure against them.

While on the subject of leg-breaks, the writer has seen some left-handed batsmen who were not troubled by them, but, in a long experience, only two right-handers, iianidv. ‘‘Father” ■'Vilson and McMahon,, of Gisborne, can be called to mind who played them rs easily as other bowlinr.

Midland only got 102, of which Jack i Hutchings got 33 and Doneghue 20. i The former was in a long time for his ' runs, and stopped a lot of good balls, though more than one of his off drives went te third man.

Baker had got only 9 when he was howled with a trimmer from Hollings. Scores of 13 and 9 in on© match are not usual for “Wiri.”

The Midland bowling was done by Hutchings, who got four for 44. He struck a length early, arid had all the batsmen guessing. If he bowled a yard slower lie wouhl be better still.

Victmeyer sustained his first innings promise, and took three for 31 for ’Varsity.

Tripe" got three for 31, and got some ( spin on liis slow left-handed deliveries.

Hollings, two for 20, did his side good service in getting rid of Baker and Patrick for small scores. Tho ball that got Baker was one out of the box. * * • •

The fielding of both sides was right up to the mark, and Mackenzie was really good behind the sticks.

BADCOCK WELL IN FORM Y.M.C.A. found Badcock a hard pill to swallow in then* game with Kilbirnic. The ball was;*! the ascend- ; ant all the time, but .<> is only fair i to state that the wicket was affected by rain on both Saturdays.

i Westbrook came to light at last, and | his 50 on Saturday was of inestimable j value to liis side. He is a good bats- • man when started, but baa boen out • of luck previously this season. • * * * • » ■ Mat Henderson, who only scored 18, : helped Westbrook to get 50 runs for 1 the fifth wicket. Mat can bat quite usefully when he puts his mind to it.

! Y.M.C.A.'s bowling was steady, and i White came to light at last with a I decent bit of bowling, getting four I wickets for 23.

j • i 4 * 4 . Henderson plugged away, and took three for 50." A faster wicket would have suited him better. Alex Grant with his slow left-handers took two for 38. Alex spins them a little, and is Always useful.

Badcock, in getting 72 on Saturday, played a splendid innings. Ho gave liis side , a good fighting chance, but the others did not respond. His bowling figures of eight for 67, were excellent, and indicate that' the coach | is in good form.

If Kilbirnie could unearth another bowler they would be a very hard side to beat this year. ; It is certain that at present Badcock is carrying the side in that department. CALVERT’S HECTIC KNOCK Seldom in the annals of Wellington cricket has there been witnessed such an exhilarating display of sheer hard and clean hitting as Calvert’s slashing innings for Institute agnfnst Hutt. Following their disappointing display in the first innings. Institute again collapsed badly in their final venture’ With nine wickets flown for 55 their chances of averting an innings defeat did not appear of the remotest. Then Calvert, with Griffiths holding his end up nobly, started out to lose the ball in Lower Hutt, and the spectators sat up and took notice. Clouting the bowling all over and out of tho field, Calvert maintained a dazzling pace of scoring. Institute’s total rose by leaps and bounds. From 55 the century was hoisted in next to no time, and 108 were required to save an innings defeat. • 4 4 •

After a hectic 28 odd minutes al the crease Calvert reached 80. Ho had slammed the boll clean over tho boundary no less than six times, besides hitting nine fourers. Institute’s total had jumped to 133. Incidentally, Calvert had played havoc with the bowling averages of Nunn and McLeod, slamming 34 off a single over tossed up by the former. 4 *4 McGirr brought Watson on, and the change did the trick. Off Wat■•fISSSSBPSKJjaSASBS son’s third ball Cal-

son sxnira Dan vert lifted the hall to Gwilliam, and was out to a good catch. Griffiths held liis end up, thereby doing infinite service. He remained undefeated with 7 to his credit.

4 4 4 4 McLeod and Nunn knocked off the 27 runs required by Hutt for an outright win, without the loss of a wicket. 4 4*4 McGirr end Beard reaped a rich harvest of wickets in Institute’s opening strike. HONOURS TO BRICE With tho exception of “Stan*' Brice’s attractive innings of 51 not out, there was little that was really interesting at Petone. 4 4 4 4 Petone batsmen proved fairly consistent, while Brice knocked up the runs. Wellington saved an innings defeat, but their second.turn at the crease provided little interest. 4 4 "4. 4 Hiddleston promised to shake matters up, but again fell a victim to Cate’s smart work behim} the sticks after contributing 14. 4r• . #

Monkhouse held the fort, bub a snail bad nothing on the colt’s rate

of scoring. It was . deadly. After three-quarters of an hour’s stay at the wickets, three rims appeared opposite his name in tho score-book. When stumps wero drawn Moukhouso had about two and a half hours’ batting, and had scored 37. Nevertheless he must Ix 3 given credit for stemming tho tide when things appeared very black for Wellington. THE CHAMPIONSHIP

SHIELD MATCHES SOON The Plunkct Shield matches are only another month away, and eager enthusiasts will be scanning form very closely from now on. Wellington is going to have almost a surfeit of big matches during the next six weeks or so, and players who are not in form now arc likely to get a rude 1 awakening later on-. A one-day match against Manawatu will be followed a little later by

the Country Associations v. Metropolis, aii d then Otago will be in Wellington for Christmas. By that time Mr Ken Tucker should know how his men are, and a strong team is likely to be available. The call for the

youth is clamant, and is not peculiar to New Zealand. England and Australia are also calling loudly, and tho following from the pen of “Not Out,” in the “Referee,” indicates the fooling in Australia; —“The experience of 192 G points a moral. It is time-worn, yet as appropriate today as ever. International cricket cries for youth. Tho spice of the game is invariably, provided by youth, exuberant youth, brilliant, pulsating youth, full of the ginger and elasticity of the bounding athlete. That is what this team missed. It was missed at the wickets, save when C. G. Macartney was entrancing spectators and mesmerising opponents, or when J. M. Gregory or T. J. Andrews were in the mood for runs, or W. M. Woodfull was in his busiest moments. It was missed in the field, save when J. M. Taylor was shooting after the ball as a greyhound swoops after the hare. It; was missed in the attack, for there was no one of sufficient youth on the side to make the ball nip from the pitch with the pace that might beat a Hobbs or a Sutcliffe.”

SATURDAY’S FIXTURES NOVEMBER 27th AND DECEMBER 4th Hutt v. Petone, at Petono. Thorndon v. Kilbirnie, at Kilbirnie. Old Boys v. Institute, at Hutt. Midland v. Wellington, at Anderson Park No. 2, first day; Basin No. 2, second day. 'Varsity v. Y.M.C.A., at Kelburn No. 1, first day; Basin No. 1, second day. JUNIOR FIXTURES JUNIOR A. Thorndon v. University, Newtown Park No. 7. Wellington v. Institute, Kelburn No. 2. Y.M.C.A. v. Petone, Petone. Kilbirnie v. Midland, Anderson Park No. 1. Hutt v. Old Boys, Hutt. JUNIOR B. University V. Karori, Karori No. 7. Wellington B v. Hutt, Hutt. Johnsonville v. Old Boys, Johnsonville. Porirua v. Wellington A, Porirua.' Wellington College v. Institute, College. JUNIOR C. Wellington v. Stop-Out, Karori No. 8. Wellington College v. Marist, College. Thorndon B v. Midland, Newtown No. 1. Kilbirnie v. Y.M.C.A., Karori No. 9. Hutt V. Thorndon A, Hutt. JUNIOR D. Thorndon v. Wellington, Newtown No. Railwayo v. University, Wakefield Park No. 1. Midland v. Marist, Kelburn No. 8. Stop-Out v. Kilbirnie, Wakefield Park No. 2. THIRD A. Institute A v. Midland, Lyall Bay No. 1. Hutt v. Old Boys, Hutt No. S. Wellington College v. Kilbirnie, College No. 3. X. B v. Y.M.C.A. A, Karori No. 6. Khandallah v. Eastbourne, Anderson Park No. 3. Institute B v. Railways, Lyall Bay No. 3. THIRD B. ICaiwarra A v. Kilbirnie B, Lyall Bay No. 2. Y. A v. Kilbirnie A, Wakefield Park No. 3. Wellington College v. Karori, Karori No. 10. Institute v. Petone, Petone No. 4. Y.M.C.A. B v. Kaiwarra B, Petone No. 3. Petone Wesley v. Johnsonville, Jolinsonville No. 2. FOURTH GRADE. Stop-Out v. Petone, Petono No. 5. Khandallah v. Hutt Valley H.S., Hutt No. 6. Johnsonville v. Petone Wesley, Petone No. 6. Hutt—a bye. WELLINGTON MERCANTILE LEAGUE Result of match played at Karori Park:—Todd Motor Co. (94) v. Bannatyne and Hunter (35) Principal scorers —Todd Motor Co., Blundell 47, Wraight, 12 not out; Bannatyne and Hunter, Gill 9. Bowling l —Todd Motor Co., Day 6 for 15, Russell 4 for 16; Bannatyne and Hunter, Cording 5 for 48, Lusty 1 for 40, L. Cording 3 for 15. BRITISH AND FOREIGN v. AUSTRALIA ■The first annual match between teams representing the British and Foreign and the Australian and New Zealand Insurance offices will bo played at Kelburn Park on St. Andrew’s Day, November 80th. The match is creating considerable interest among the insurance profession, and several well-known Wellington players will be taking* part. On account of the representative match. Wellington v. Mahawatu, on the same date, the following senior players will not be available: —.T Hutchings (Northern), Ken. Mason (London and Lancashire) and Alex. Grant (Southern Union). Play will commence at 10 a.m. Tho lunchen ndiournment, will be from 12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m., and stumps will be drawn at 5.30 p.ra. A cabaret evening will be 'held at the Kelburn Kiosk at 8 p.m. The teams liavo been selected ns under:— British and Foreign.—W. ,T. Ohristouherson (Northern, captain), .T. Russell (New Zealand, wicketkeeper). L. A. Dear (North British and Mercantile). B. Griffiths (Standard). 11. UJlinlt (Yorkshire). H. Hutchings (Guardian). W. G. Dickinson (Northern), F. ,W. Murphy, (Ocfias

Accident), J. Pickles (Commercial Union), F. Burton (London), —. McColl (StandArd); emergencies, D. TVxfd (Alliance), E. Nattraas (British Traders), 1. Curtis (National), D. Molloy (United). Australian ana Now Zealand.W. I>uff (South British, captain), L. Waller (South British), Jeffrey (Koyal Insurance, wicketkeeper), S. McLean /Farmers* Co-op.), C. .T. Brans (United). 8. Milne (Royal Exchange). M. Goff (Commercial Union), R. Carlyle (A.P.A.), J. McWilliam (Atlas), L. V. Phillips (Standard), —. Gregory (National); emergencies. C. J. Chapman (British Traders), Ih Gustofsen (Alliance), E. H. Dickey (National), M. McCarthy (A.P.A.).

w. 1st Ins. D. L. Pte. Hutfc .... 1 2 — — 10 Petono .... .... 1 i i 8 Y.M.C.A. .... 1 i — 1 7 Old Bovs .... — 2 — 1 6 University .... 1 — — 2 4 Midland .... i — 2 3 Kilbirnio — l — 2 3 Thorndem .... — l — 2 3 Wellington — i — 2 3 Institute .... — — i 2 1