PONSONBY’S CLOSE WIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 195, 7 November 1927, Page 10

PONSONBY’S CLOSE WIN

SUBURBS BEATEN BY 17 RUNS Quickly in, and as quickly out was almost without exception the order of the day when Ponsonby just managed to get home by 17 runs against United {Suburbs on Saturday. Tho wicket was kicking badly at times, and this enabled bowlers like Smith and Leikis to reap a harvest of wickets. Bad fielding and a second innings’ batting collapse would have cost Ponsoriby the game had not Smith come to the rescue in Suburbs’ second strike find taken six wickets for 153 runs. With six down for 70 Leikis and McLaren carried on for Suburbs against Snodden and Smith. As was expected, their tail-enders did not make a stand and the innings closed for 98, exactly 6o runs behind Ponsonby’s tally. Tho Ponsonby batsmen opened their Second innings in disastrous manner. After three runs had been scored McLeod touched one from Leikis and Williams at longstop held a good catch. Snedden sallied forth next, poked uneasily at the first ball and touched the next into the wicket-keeper’s safe hands, and the board read 3-2-0. Smith was determined to stop the rot, but he fared even worse than his comrades. The first ball beat him, hit his pads, and the veteran was out l.b.w. Nor was this all, for four runs later, Williams yorked Taylor and the board read 7-4-3. Langridge, partnered by Commons, and then Warneford. stopped the procession, but only for a time. Tbc English professional compiled 20, mostly off a neat carpet clip through slips or past cover, before being bowled by Williams. Warneford appeared for a time as though he was going to repeat last Saturday’s performance, but after his departure the procession back to the pavilion was a constant one, the whole »ide being out for 60. Although the Suburban men forced the pace in their second innings, they found the task of getting the 115 runs required to win just beyond their jeach. _ Hendy opened out in fine style as also did Kerr and Williams, but the attack of Snedden, Smith and Langrid ge was not to be denied and Suburbs innings closed on time, 17 runs short of the number required.

There was no outstanding perform - ance with the willow all the afternoon, the ball constantly beating the bat. The most spectacular piece of work was Jiendy’s breezy 28 in Suburbs’ second •trike, although as correct orthodox batting, Langridge’s 20 was the plum. The coach seems to be striking form, and although his bowling suffered somewhat against Hendy and Williams, lie ended up with two wickets for 40. It was as a fieldsman, however, that he towered head and shoulders over his comrades. The brilliant manner in which he accepted a hard left-hand catch off Bushel 1 was an eye-opener to players and spectators alike. Wheeler. Ponsonby’s wicket-keeper, played a sound game, stumping Mills’ and McLaren in Suburbs’ first innings, and getting rid of two dangerous men, Leikis and Williams, in a similar manner in the team’s second innings The fact that only one bye was scored against him shows that Wheeler must be considered as a possibility for Rountree’s old position. Leikis made full use of the advantage he got from the wicket and ended up with six wickets for 2f>. narrowly missing the hat trick. Williams was not as successful as last Saturday with the leather, although he collected four for 35. The play in this match was somewhat patchy, and never at any time reached a particularly high order. It certainly showed, however, that there are promising young players in both teams, and proved that Suburbs are worth their place in the senior grade. Details: — PONSONBY First Innings 152 Second Innings TAYLOR, b Williams 3 jVIcLEOD, c Williams, b Leikis 2 SNEI>L)EN, c \Wtherill, b Leikis .... 0 SMITH, lbw, b Leikis 0 LANG RIDGE, b Williams 20 COMMONS, e Kerr, b Williams .... 0 WARNEFORD. u Rushell, h Leikis .. 12 ROY. c Martin, b Leikis 4 SMALLWOOD, c Busheli, b Leikis .. 4 “NEWDICK, not out 5 WHEELER, lbw, b Williams 1 Extras 0 Total .. 60 Fall of Wickets. —3. 3,3, 7, 27, 44, 46, S’ 59. 60. Bowling.—Williams, 4-35: Leikis, 6-25. UNITED SUBURBS First Innings. PA VIS. b Newdick 0 BUSHELL, b Snedden 13 WETI-lERILL, c Langridge, b Smith 9 KERR, b Snedden 6 HENDY. lbw. b Langridge 13 MARTIN, c Snedden, b Langridge .. 17 LETKIS. c Snedden. b Smith .. .. 21 McLAREN. St. Wheeler, b Snedden .. 6 WILLIAMS, b Smith 9 MILLS, st. Wheeler, b Smith .... 0 SOMERS, not out 3 Extras 1 Total 98 Fall of Wickets: 1-0; 2-21: 3-28; 4-31; 5_ in: 0-68; 7-75; 8-89; 9-91; 10-98. Bowling.—Newdick, 1-17; Smith, 4-43; Snedden, 3-23; Langridge, 2-9; Taylor, 0-5. Second Innings. PA VIS. b Snedden 1 BI'SHELL. c Jjangridge, b Smith .. 7 WETHKRILL, r Snedden. b Smith .. 10 HENDY, c Roy, b Langridge 28 LEIKIS, st Wheeler, b Smith I KERR, e Commons, b Snedden .... 17 MARTIN, e McLeod, b Langridge .... 0 McLaren, lbw, b Smith 0 WILLIAMS, St Wheeler, b Smith .. 20 MILLS, e and b Smith 1 SOMERS, not out 1 Extras 0 Total 97 Bowling.—Smith, 6-33: Snedden, 2-14;