FAST WICKETS

NZ Truth, Issue 1143, 27 October 1927, Page 12

FAST WICKETS

But Bowlers Scored Heavily (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Rep.) Weather conditions m the capital made cricket anything but pleasant last Saturday, When the second day's competition matches were played. A howling northerly gale swept across the wickets, butthe ground was hard and the wickets fast. JN the senior grade three-point wins were secured by Hutt, Petone, Wellington, Institute and Old Boys. Despite the hard state of the wickets, and the rather brilliant performance of a few experienced batsmen who ran up creditable scores, the bowlers came out of the day's play with flying colors. A. Findlayson, of Petone, captured six of the V.M.C.A. wickets for 42 runs, the last over of the day finding Y.M. nine wickets down for a total of 72 runs. • Bowling for Petone m the first innings against Y.M., however, the performance of Smyrk with the ball was even better, his eight for 31 being the best average m the senior competitions during the two days' play. In the Hutt-Varsity match the suburban team had a strong lead m the first innings, but Varsity made a much improved showing on going m for their second strike, 138 being on the board for three wickets. Osborne's not out for 70, compiled m a careful yet brilliant manner, followed by Nelson's 36, run out, practically made up this total. Massey, batting on the Basin Reserve for Institute, compiled an attractive 83, carrying his bat right through. Other members of the Institute team also performed creditably for so early m the season, and this combination should go a long way m the competition. Midland were 122 down on the first innings against Institute and their chances were very .small on Saturday. The other match on the Basin, that between Wellington and Thorndon, was nothing to enthuse over, caution being the keynote of all the performances. On the Kilbirnie Reserve, Old Boys ran up the handsome total of 308 for six wickets m their first innings against Kilbirnie and then declared. W. Dus.tin 55, Lambert 56, Parsloe not out 75, and Barclay not out 61 baffled the Kilbirnie bowlers. In the lowerf grade Junior A., Hutt secured a first innings victory over University. Elsom for Hutt batted attractively for 111, Warnes following with 34.