PONSONBY SET HARD TASK FOR HARBOUR B.

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 259, 23 January 1928, Page 7

PONSONBY SET HARD TASK FOR HARBOUR B.

FOUR SPLENDID KNOCKS Ponsonby not only gave Harbour Board B a heavy day of leather-hunt-ing at the Domain on Saturday, but also a hard task, which is indeed a hard task. Ponsonby began very badly, the first wicket falling with the total at nine and the second two runs later. Fletcher and Blair became associated, but Richardson and Hayes kept them quiet, the rate of scoring being painfully slow. The former bowler was swinging in from the off. with a nasty ball, but the batsmen managed to keep it from spreading their sticks. Scoring mostly in singles at first, the batsmen later livened up and put some dash into their work. Fletcher hoisted the century with a straight drive after 85 minutes’ play. Frequent changes of bowling had been tried, but a separation had not been affected. However, Blair mis-hit Nicklin and was caught for a splendid 64. His partnership -with Fletcher added 101. BRIGHT BATTING Although he was some time in getting set, Blair made up for it afterwards and played splendid cricket. He displayed some very nice wrist work and was particularly strong with his drives. He hit seven boundaries and one sixer. After the departure of Blair, Fletcher quietened down, and when 61 he had a life. His partner Dickson was of the patient variety of batsmen, and though not very dashing, he collected runs, many of his strokes being well executed. Runs continued to come and Fletcher brought up the second century after 150 minutes’ play. Immediately afterwards he put his leg in front of a straight one. He had knocked up a handy 86, including eight boundaries. The partnership with Dickson added 90.

Although he did not play with the same dash as Blair, Fletcher played a very fine innings, the chance at 61 being the only opportunity he gave. He did not restrict his strokes to any one part of the field, but placed the balls all round the wicket.

After scoring a patient 33, Dickson stepped out of his crease and the custodian lifted the bails. Roberts and Mackie then had a smack at the bowling and runs came freely. Neither batsman was a respecter of persons, and the ball flew rapidly to all parts of the field. Roberts lifted the ball over the fence for six. Both batsmen were keeping the scorers busy. With his score at 29 Mackie was dropped and off the next ball he had another life. He showed his appreciation by bringihg up the third century with a drive to the boundary. After a lively 58 Roberts was dismissed by a fine catch by Liddle. His runs were made in good time. It was Mackie’s lucky day. He was dropped again at 55. His partner Robertshaw smote the ball twice to the boundary and was then caught. Naesmith joined Mackie and the pair played out time. When stumps were drawn 370 runs were on the board for the loss of seven wickets. Details are as follows: PONSONBY First Innings INNES, b Richardson .. .. 6 WRIGHT, c and b Hayes .. 3 FLETCHER, lbw, b Storey 86 BLAIR, c Stewart, b Nicklin 64 DICKSON, std Thomson, b Nicklin . 33 ROBERTS, c Liddle, b Mitchell .... 58 MACKIE, not out 76 ROBERTSHAW, c Liddle, b Mitchell S NAESMITH, not out 15 Extras 21 Total for seven wickets .. .. 370 Fall of Wickets:—9, 11, 112, 202, 208, 317. 341. Bowling:—Mitchell, 2-26; Nicklin. 2-92; Storey, 1-48; Richardson, 1-71: Hayes, 1-81; Brighton. 0-10; Liddle, 0-20. ?£ y *■*

*Not out. Second Grade Manurewa v. City Council.—C:tv Council, first innings, 74 (Donaldson 10. Gregory 35). for Manurewa, Gibboll took 4-18, Peebles 3-19. Gray 1-25, Sainsbury 1-4. Manurewa, first innings, 124 (Peebles 47, Gray 15, Robison 311. Bowling for City Council. Xottman 2-26, Wheeler 2-20, Porteous 2-42. City Council, second innings, 45 (Delgrosso 22). Bowling for Manurewa, Gibbons 6-12, Peebles 2-16. Manurewa won by an innings and five runs. Otahuhu v. Power Board.—Otahuhu beat Power Board by default. Takanini v. Tamaki. —Takanini. first innings, 41 (Reni 10, C. Vinie 9). Bowling for Tamaki, Hill 9-15, Ginders 0-11. Hoyte 1-11. Tamaki, first innings. 84 (Hoyte 27. Diamond 17. Smith 17). Bowling for Takanini, Mclntosh 3-15, Looke 5- Cain 3-21, Nicholson 0-13. ley 1-6. Takanini, second innings. 57. Bowling for Tamaki, Hill 6-19. Hoyte 1-20, Shirley 1-6, Diamond 2-4. Tamaki won by 43 runs on the first innings. Third Grade Haydn v. City Council. —Haydn, first innings, 134 (Skeen 41, McNamara 20. H. Hankers 18). City Council, first innings. 20: second innings. 22. Bowling for Havdn, Swift 3-6, Kingdon 10-23. Skeen ' 6-12. Haydn secured a three-point win. F. J. Fawcett, Ltd. v. Parnell A.—F. J. Fawcett, first innings. 122 (Wilson -7 not out, Tggulden 23). Parnell A. first innings, 89 (Scarborough 24, Fletcher .3 hot out); second innings, 2->. F. J. Fawcett, Ltd., won by an innings and 10 runs. Richmond v. Public Works.—Richmond first innings, 95 (Mineham .0, Thomas 12 Dunn 11). Public Works, first innings, 16; second innings, 35. Bowling for Richmond, Mineham 4-7, Patterson 6- Dunn 4-7, Biddick 5-29. Richmond had a three-point win, beating Public Works by an innings and 46 runs.

Ki rr -r: -I) rH li; )i- -1- : i~ Mi -r: H- :h l~ BEST BATTING PERFORMANCES BREESE (Harbour Board A) 116 McNEILL (Glen Eden) .. .. 89 FLETCHER (Ponsonby) .. .. 86 MACKIE (Ponsonby) 76* BLAIR (Ponsonby) 64 ROBERTS (Ponsonby) .58