G. L. WEIR IS EDEN’S BEST ALL-ROUNDER

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 207, 21 November 1927, Page 10

G. L. WEIR IS EDEN’S BEST ALL-ROUNDER

CHAMPIONS’ COMFORTABLE WIN At Eden Park on No. 2 wicket, which played well throughout the afternoon. Eden secured a comfortable win on the first innings against University. The match seldom rose to any great heights of brilliancy, and all things considered, the bowlers were not unduly harassed. Requiring 39 runs to pass University on the first innings, Eden started with lour wickets in hand. This allowance proved more than sufficient, last year’s champions beating their opponents’ score without difficulty and going on to top the second century. Cooper added 25 to his over-week score by brisk cricket, but when in the seventies he was lucky not to have been caught at first slip off Matlieson. Cooper has been far from well of late, arid has dropped considerably in weight in the last month or two. As a consequence, his bowiing has suffered, but his batting seems to be as good as ever. Everyone will hope to see him fit and well again, as Cooper has every chance of being one of Auckland’s next candidates for a New Zealand team. BOWLER BECOMES BATSMAN, TOO G. L. Weir is another Eden player, who, on present form, must be given a good chance of selection in the Auckland reps, this season. He first came into prominence as a bowler, but in the two matches so far played, he has been a tower of strength to his side.

His 45 not out on Saturday was a particularly good effort, although he was not as enterprising in picking up runs as he might have been, and his slowness and hesitancy in running between the wickets was a bad fault. Still, he Is young, and should improve a lot, as he gains confidence in himself and his j>artner. Matheson was over-bowled, although at the start he was bowling particularly well, but he tired perceptibly toward the finish, and. Brooke-Smith, in the course of a bright and breezy ■knock, exacted toll of the Varsity man’s bowling. Garrard bowled very well, but Barnes might have been used more. A COLLAPSE AND A RECOVERY At one stage in the match it looked as if Eden might have a fighting chance of getting a four-pointer. The erratic students started their second innings 58 behind, and promptly proceeded to lose five w'ickets for 15 runs. G. L. Weir then had three wickets for three runs. A period of dour and stubborn batting followed. Gee setting the example by staying 98 minutes for 41 runs. There was a mild thrill later on. when G. L. Weir captured the eighth and ninth wicket with successive balls, and looked like getting the last man, Dow, in the same over. Had the last wicket fallen then, Eden might have had a bare chance of snatching a fourpointer if it had a potential Common ready to take a chance, but it was not to be. and it was nearly seven o’clock before Hocfc in got Dow, and secured what the popular secretary of the A.C.A. termed his unbeatable average—one for none. The two skippers then decided that they and their men had had enough for one day, and the players packed up and went home. TWO GOOD DISPLAYS Bannister was unbeaten at the finish with a very nice half-century knock to his c redit. He met all the bowlers with confidence and scored with a nice variety of strokes. Gee gave a great exhibition of “back-to-the-wall” cricket. But for him. Varsity might have been in a very bad way at the finish, and his batting at a critical juncture was a particularly good effort, its slowness under the circumstances being pardonable. Eden’s fielding throughout the innings was good, and few chances went amiss. Butler held three catches, and McCarthy was in good form behind the sticks. Details:—• EDEN POSTLES. lbw, b Smeeion 6 MCCARTHY, lbw, b Matheson .... 5 COOPER, run out 8b \ W EIK. b Barnes .. 10 BENNETT, c Wilson, b Garrard .. 10 BUTLER, b Schnauer 2 WHELAN, c Dow, b Garrard .... 7 O. L. WEIR, not out 44 SMITH, c Ralfe, b Matheson .. .. 20 ELLIS, st Kelly, b Garrard 12 lIOCKIN, c and b Garrard .. .. .. 0 Extras 10 Total 212 Fall of wickets.—l 3, 13, 32, S 3, So, US, 148, 187. 212, 212. Bowling.—Matheson, 2-S3; Smeeton, 159: Barnes, 1-27. Garrard, 4-43; Schnauer. 1-16; Gee, 0-2. UNIVERSITY First Innings 154 Second Innings KELLY, run out 6 SCHNAUER. b G. L. Weir 0 RALFE, c Brooke-Smith, bG. L. Weir 1 SMEETON. b A. Weir 3 WILSON, lbw. b G. L. Weir 1 GEE, c Butler, b Whelan 41 BARNES, st McCarthy, b Butler .. 10 BANNISTER, not out 54 MATHESON, «• Bennett, b G. L. Weir 16 GARRARD, c Butler, b G. L. Weir .. 0 DOB . <• Butler, b Hook in 10 Extras H Total 153 utv 4>9 * 11, l5 » 101 ’ Bowling: G. L. Weir, 5-38; A. Weir, 1- ’ vf*v Ut ! cr ’ 1_24: Cooper, 0-25; Postlcs. Whelan. 1-20; Hockm, 1-0.