CRICKET COMMENTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 121, 14 January 1932, Page 6

CRICKET COMMENTS

"Cover Point.")

(By

I The second round of the Rotorua Cricket competitions, which commenced last Saturday, saw two of the^ teams low down on the champion-' ship ladder upset the two leading teams, the defeat of Albion by Ngongotaha being the most dramatic of the season. j It took Ngongotaha but a little over three hours to dispose of Albion twice and themselves make sufficient to secure an outright win on the first day, by an innings and one run. Had it not been for a good last wicket stand by Marcroft and Turton, Ngongotaha would probably have made a lower scdre than Albion, six wickets being down for only eight runs at one stage. | It is an undisputed fact that Albion is by far the strongest team in the ' competition this season, and their sur- | prising defeat at the hands of Ngongotaha, one of the lowest teams on the ladder, no doubt gave their supporters a rude shock. • The batting deh_acle lasted throughout their two innings, McGill and Gresham being the only batsmen who could collect a few runs.

j The successful Ngongotaha bowlers were Ellis, who took seven wickets for eight runs in the first innings, and Lowe and Emerali, who each took three wickets in Albion's second visit to the crease. ! The Ngongotaha wicket produced peculiarities similar to Eden Park, Auckland, the "shooters" always troubling the batsmen and being responsible for a number of wickets. j City, who have not had their share of luck this season, are to be congratulated on disposing of the strong Mamaku side cheaply and then compiling 68 runs 'more than the championship runners-up. Reed, Hansen and D. Simmons, colI lected practically all of the 76 runs ! credited to Mamaku, Hansen being

21 not out when the last wicket fell. | Probably no better exhibition of hard hitting has taken place in Rotorua cricket th'an that given by Godsalve for the City team ag^inst Mamaku. In scoring 79 runs out of his beams' 144, Godsalve hit seven "sixers" and four fours, and such bowlers as Reed and Dodds, who had practically "tied up" the rest of the team, he repeatedly lifted out of the ground. Apparently striking all round form, he also took five Mamaku wickets for 26 runs. High School started well against Old Boys, scoring 252 runs in the first innings. Yet another high score was made by Beale, his total being 83 runs, and on his form this season he must fly into the Bay of Plenty team to challenge South Auckland for the Hawke Cup. Spedding, who played for King's College, has returned to Rotorua and for Olds Boys took two wickets and I scored 12 runs. The f ollowing table sets out the position of teams at the end of the first round and prior to the start of last Saturday's matches: —

High School and Old Boys have one match uncompleted. Plunket Shield Averages

The following table is of interest to followers of Plunket Shield cricket and although Wellington still have to meet Otago, the averages show this province to be clearly in the lead. | The scores for and against in the matches played to date are : —

The averages per wicket are as follows —

Cricket Posers A good deal of interest is being aroused by a couple of cricket posers. The first was as follows: When the eighth man is going out to bat, how many more wickets must fall before' the innings closes? A hasty calculation induced nearly every member of the company to reply, "Three." The correct answer is "four," for it must be remembered that only six wickets have actually fallen when the eighth man goes out to bat. The other problem was even more baffling. It was: "Describe the circumstances under which a bowler can perform the hat trick spread over three overs." Two was a simple matter, but the extra over got everyone "stumped." The explanation is simple. The bowler takes a wicket with the last ball of one over and another with the first ball of the next. That is the tenth wicket, and the side is out. The side has to "follow on," and the same bowler gets a wicket with the first ball.

W. 1st L. 1st Team W. L. In. In. D. Pt. Albion ...... 3 - 1 — 1 17 Mamaku 3 1 — — 1 14 High School ... 2 - - 1 l li City 2 2 - - 1 10 Ngongotaha ... - 4 - - 1 2 Old Boys - 3 - - 1 2

.for Against Runs "Wkts Runs Wkts v. Auckland .. .. 271 10 164 10 182 4 285 10 v. Canterbury .. 553 10 276 10 45 1 526 8 Totals .. .. 1051 25 1251 38

WELLINGTON.

v. Otago 472 10 161 10 279 7- 589 10 v. Wellington .. 276 10 553 10 526 8 45 1 v. Auckland .. .. 218 10 56 10 98 2 256 10 Totals .. .. 1869 47 1660 51

CANTERBURY.

V. Canterbury .. 161 10 472 10 589 10 279 7 V. Auckland .. .. 347 10 200 10 198 10 238 10 Totals .. .. 1295 40 11S9 37

OTAGO.

V. Wellington .. 164 10 271 10 285 10 182 4 v. Otago 200 10 347 10 238 10 19S 10 V. Canterbury .. 56 10 218 10 256 10 98 2 Totals .. .. 779 40 1314 46

AUCKLAND.

For Against Wellington 42.04 32.92 Canterbury 39.76 32.55 Otago 32.37 32.13 Auckland 19.47 '28.56