VETERANS' DAY

NZ Truth, Issue 1151, 22 December 1927, Page 12

VETERANS' DAY

Two Centuries At Auckland

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Auckland Rep.) Two centuries by veteran cricketers were the features of last Saturday's games and m each case a well-nigh superb innings ensued. THE batsmen were S. G. Smith, erst- *• while Northants pro., and BoakeSmith, both of whom have reached the sere and yellow stage. S. G. Smith commenced his cricket career before some of the present cricket generation knew what a bat and ball were for and besides having played m flrst-claBS English cricket, he has toured India and other countries playing the summer pastime. j He has been a force m Auck- ] | land cricket for many years and j with bat and ball has played many historic games. But, of late years, though, the eye may not have lost its cunning or the | wrist its flexibility, the advance of Anno Domini has been irresistible and glaringly evident m movement. So much so, that even m spite of Smith's great display on Saturday and the fact that he is still liable to get a score against the best bowling m the land, he could hardly be sponsored for a place again In representative cricket. The' position is, he might come off with bat or ball — but he might not. Boake-Smith is m a somewhat similar category- He was and is, when he gets set, a batsman of the dazzling order. Graceful, crisp and snappy with his strokes, wonderfully accurate m timing and placing, he is a treat to watch. But no one would seriously suggest that 4he Eden batsman could be included once more m rep, cricket. Partnership Associated with Boake-Smith m a partnership that yielded 200 runs was A. Weir, who showed nice form for hia 69. He and his brother, G. L., have caught the eye of the selectors this season and by consistent bowling and batting, added to alert fielding they have won a place m the probable reps. It Is hard to see, too, how they can be kept out of the final selection. United Suburbs, who ax-e making creditable progress m their first season In the A.C.A. put up a great fight against the strong-going Shore, and m the second innings got Dacre and his j men m a difficult position with eig-ht wickets down for 96 but a first innings' lead got the Devonport side the verdiot. A well-played 78 by Stutter and a 51 by Hen dry, were features of the game and gave Shore bowlers much trouble. The slow tricky bowling of Bowley on what was an almost perfect batsman's wicket found Parnell batsmen at sea against V.M.C.A. and only a fine partnership by McCoy and Macallan enlivened the proceedings and brightened the game. Finding the bowling hard to play, the batsmen set about running short ones and. the game devolved into a contest of speed and alacrity between batsmen and fieldsmen with many exciting exchanges. A first innings win to Parnell was the outcome. As Auckland has Otago and Canterbury at home this season m Plunket Shield encounters, confidence is 'high that the trophy can be kept m the north.

There was again some notable bowlIng m Lodge cricket on Saturday, outstanding being that of Houlihan who m one innings took nine wickets for 14 runs and m another seven for 16. In one over he dismissed five batsmen, taking the hat-trick.