Wickets Help Bowlers

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 621, 25 March 1929, Page 6

Wickets Help Bowlers

Small Scores in A.G.A. Cricket Grafton’s Collapse & Counter-Attack SATURDAY was a day of small and laborious scoring in A.C.A. cricket on wickets which proved the unreliability of the weather at this late stage in the season. The rain of the previous few days had left the wickets in a soft condition, and Saturday’s fine weather only served to play right into the bowlers’ hands, the turf drying out unevenly, and giving the bowlers plenty of opportunities to turn the ball and vary their pace.

JN every one of the four senior A grade games, the bowlers held the upper hand. No innings reached the double century, a marked contrast to the heavy scoring of recent weeks. Ponsonby (194) did best under the conditions ruling. Grafton was responsible for a double surprise. After being all out for 48. Allcott and his men got rid of seven Parnell men for 90 runs, despite the fact that the two opening batsmen equalised Grafton’s first innings score before the partnership was broken. As the games stand, and in view of the limited time available, Varsity’s chance of notching a four-pointer is very remote. On a good wicket next Saturday week, the students might easily get beaten. Eden should beat Y.M.C.A. on the first innings, despite the fact that the Young Men put up a stubborn and plucky fight on Saturday, even without Bowley.

In the other two matches, there is no saying what may happen, although Grafton may tind its wings are clipped by reason of the shortened hours of play at this time of the year. The result of the Ponsonby-Suburbs match is very open.

PONSONBY’S PERFORMANCE HIGHEST SCORE OF DAY Ponsonby, dual championship holders, but practically out of the running for honours this season, was responsible for the best innings score of the day, 196, in its first innings against United Suburbs on Saturday. As the total indicates, the scoring was very slow, and all that can be said in its favour is that it was appreciably faster than on either of the adjoining wickets. Guiney and McLeod opened cautiously, to the bowling of Nolan tlnd Martin. The latter, who seems to have fallen off a lot of late, was cleanbowled by Nolan when just double figures. Guiney, although not too happy, managed to stay there and dig himself in. Monteith, who filled the vacancy caused by the dismissal of McLeod, opened cautiously, but only managed to put on three before finding himself on the homeward trail. He is evidently still dogged by the luck which has followed him pretty well all the season, lfiting for a time a month or so ago. Smith joined Guiney, and a useful partnership resulted. The veteran Northants man put on 30. the third highest score of his side, before being caught and bowled by Martin. WICKETS FALL FAST After the going of Smith, wickets fell fast for a time-, only Guiney holding his end up. Something was expected of N 0.-Snedden after his fine batting performances in the last two matches, but he disappointed, and was out, caught off Martin for three. Taylor scored two, Warneford seven, Fraser six, Wheeler 12. and the side was all out for just.under the second century. Guiney lasted till well after the tea interval, playing correct if somewhat slow cricket. He was beaten all the way by Martin, with 59 against his name. MARTIN BOWLS WELL Of the suburban bowlers, Martin was tlio most sue for S2. He bore the brunt of the attack throughout the afternoon. He varied his deliveries well, and sent along an occasional “wrong un.” Nolan, who haj» been promoted from the second class, displayed a good length, but became expensive after a time. Leikif Was brought On laic in me mmugs, and took three wickets for six runs, lletails:— PONSONBY. First Innings. McLEOD, b Nolan 10 GUINEY. b Martin 59 MUNTKITH. lbw, b Martin .. .. .'. 3 SMITH, e and b Martin 30 TAYLOR, c Webster, b Martin .... 10 sn El >DEN, c Webster, b Martin .. 3 X. LEX*DRI*M. c Wetherill, b Leikis 37 FRASER, b Leikis. 6 WARNEFORD, «• and b Martin .... 7 WHEELER. McLarftn, b Leikis .. 12 G. LENDRI’M, not out 6 Extras .. .. 13 Total 196 Bowling: Martin, 6-.52; Leikis. 3-6; Nolan. 1-45; Kerr, 0-32; Webster, 0-7; Lonergan, 0-12. Y.M.C.A. DIGS IN SLOW SCORING OFF EDEN The test match critic who referred to the Melbourne game as a funeral procession could have aptly applied the same to Y.M.C.A.’s first innings on Saturday—a total of only 155 runs b' ing scored during the course of three and a-half hours’ play. In the first hour on Saturday 30 runs were scored —and 10 of these came in two hits by “Don” Miller. Of the early

batsmen Elliott and Kemp got five each and Miller himself 10. “Eon” was never comfortable facing Butler, but gained some measure of confidence after giving Mills the long handle twice off successive balls, only to be bowled shortly after off his hand. Worth kept his end up to put on five. Stallworthy was skittled by Langton for 13. Bainbury being caught off the same bowler for a “duck.” LYON PLAYS THE ROCK Trevor Lyon, the Rangitikei colt, was responsible for one of the slowest batting feats of the season, it was the fact that he took just under three hours to score 30 runs that led one stand critic to remark that he evidently had the bump of patience well developed. To him, however, is due most of the credit for the fact that Y.M.G.A. was able to see the afternoon out, but it was a weary business while it lasted. Lyon’s partner during a good part of his innings was Riddolls, who came second to the “Rock of Ages” with a score of 24. In the closing stages of the day the spectators were treated to something more refreshing when Baton and Smith put up a good last wicket stand. Butler, who was then tiring, and also the diminutive Langton, came in for a good share of punishment. Baton was eventually stumped by Brooke-Smith off Mills, for 22, his partner being not out with the same total to his credit. BUTLER’S BOWLING FEAT Vic. Butler, All Black full-back, and former Auckland representative cricketer, was responsible for a bowling feat which must be unique in the annals of Auckland cricket. Euring the first hour’s play, when Y.M.C.A. scored 30 runs, Butler sent down nine overs, eight of which were maidens, and captured two wickets for one run. When he was first relieved after having trundled for one hour 40 minutes, he had bowled 14 overs, including 12 maidens, and captured two wickets for two runs. He was hit about more freely later in the day, as was only to be expected. but his final figures, 23 overs, 16 maidens. three wickets, 28 runs, are exceptional. Langton, who was brought on fairly late in the day, was more expensive than usual, taking four wickets for 50. Hetails: Y.M.C.A. First Innings. ELLIOTT, Ibw, b Butler 5 KEMP, c Brooke-Smith, b Mills .. 5 MILLER, 1> Butler 10 LYON, <• Brooke-Smith, b Butler .. 30 SUTHERLAND, b Langton 7 WORTH, lbw, 1> A. F. Weir 5 RIDDOLLS, c Brooke-Smith, b Langton 24 ST ALL WORTHY, b Langton .. .. 13 BANBURY, «• Mills, b Langton .... 0 BATON, st Brooke-Smith, b Mills .. 22 SMITH, not out 22 Extras .. 12 Total 155 Bowling: Butler, 3-28: G. Weir, 0-7; Mills, 2-34: Langton, 4-50; A. Weir, 0-14; Cooper, 0-7. VARSITY TOO SLOW CHAMPIONSHIP FADES FROM VIEW AT SHORE Varsity is running a point behind Eden for the championship, but its chances of getting a full win in the final game, and securing or sharing the honours, faded away at Eevonport on Saturday, when the students occupied the wicket all the afternoon for a moderate 192 runs. Garrard (65) and Smeeton (37) set a good example of forcing the pace, but the freshmen failed dismally, and the prospects of the necessary four-pointer are very remote. Winning the toss and going in first is usually a disadvantage to a team chasing a four-point win for the laurel wreath, as it means compelling the opposing side to follow on, or the openers having to bat twice. Although Shore was short of J. Bush and Naismith. the Varsity captain declined to “put it to the touch, to win or lose it all,” and elected to bat on a perfect wicket which had dried out nicely from the previous Saturday. Garrard and the ex-King’s colt, Pearson, opened quietly but steadily, and 42 runs came in as many minutes when the first bowling change saw Pearson unlucky enough to be dismissed by his team-mate Ron Bush, who was fielding substitute for Jack Bush, and snapped a swift leg glide with a sensational catch. Schnauer was very solid and sedate, but Garrard realised that time was the essence of the championship contract, so lie took and gave chances which were promptly dropped. SCORING SLOWS DOWN Garrard strung up a series of fours from Coates, but in straight-driving Saunders was snapped by the bowler, who dived smartly for a hot c and b. Schnauer and Gee then adopted a passive resistance policy until just before tea, when Schnauer was too slow in meeting a speedy one from Coates, and Varsity had 137 on for three wickets when the gong went. After tea Smeeton opened out with two splendid sixers off Saunders, but in attempting to treat Eon Webb similarly, drove one straight to Coates and fell for a useful 37. The long tail of the students’ procession was painfully futile and slow, six of the “rabbits” adding only IS runs in about an hour against the bowling of the Webb colts, and it appeared as though Varsity had abandoned all championship aspirations. Shore played out two overs for 7 runs in a failing light when stumps were drawn at 5.40 p.m. The Webb pair were easily the best of the Shore bowlers, but Saunders bowled as many overs as the Webbs bowled as many overs as the Webb put together. Blayer had five overs as an opener, but was not tried again. The Shore fielding was the weakest seen this season, and even the home hillites were moved to loud murmurs

and suggestions of supplying sacks to the fieldsmeii. Details: VARSITY First Innings PEARS OX, c sub., b H. T. Webb . . 17 GARRARD, c and b Saunders .. . . 65 SCHNAUER, b Coates 39 GEE, lbw, b Saunders 7 SMEETON, c Coats, b D. Webb .... 37 McDOUGALL, c and b H. T. Webb .. 4 R. G. BUSH, b H. T. Webb 3 LUNN, c* Scott, b D Webb 4 BROWNE, b D. Webb 4 HUDSON, run out 0 MAT HE SON, not out 3 Extras 9 Total 192 Fall of wickets: 1/42. 2/116, 3/130. 4/151, 5/170, 6/178, 7/ISO, S/18S, 9/189, 10/192. SHORE First innings WEBB, H. T., not out 0 SAUNDERS, not out 7 Extras 0 Total for no wickets 7 CHANGING FORTUNES IN PARNELL-GRAFTON GAME ANTHONY’S BiG DAY Fireworks started in the very first over ol’ the Parnell-Grafton match at Eden Park on Saturday, Goodsir taking a splendid one-lianded catch in slips to dismiss Horspool off the seventh ball of Anthony’s first over. The last ball of the over clean-bowled the aggressive Hockin, and Grafton had two wickets down without a run being scored. Allcott and Walters looked as if they might make up for this early disaster, and both were soon starting to lay the wood on, but magnificent ground fielding, with Duncan and McCoy especially prominent, kept the runs down. Duncan it was who claimed both their wickets, the Parnell skipper taking two fine catches. The one-handed catch with which he dismissed Walters was a beauty. It was expected that Goodwin would make matters lively toward the finish, but he had no time to! Goodsir was given only one over toward the close, but he got two wickets without a run being scored off him, and before Goodwin knew where he was Rowntree had come in and lifted his very first ball into Hay’s careful hands at long on, to close the innings for the small score of 48 runs. To Grafton has already belonged the doubtful honour of having registered another “forty” score this season—43 against Varsity some little time back. A BOWLER’S WICKET The Grafton men had no alibis for their failure with the bat, and did not (.as they might) blame the wicket for the cheap dismissal of the side. At the siime time, it may be said with confidence that it was a bowler’s wicket, the pitch being just fast enough on top to take the ball through at a pace sufficient to disconcert the batsmen, and the spin the bowlers were able to obtain on a drying surfaco did the rest. For all that, however, Anthony bowled with splendid judgment and accuracy, and showed that even after more than 20 years of senior cricket he is still a power to be reckoned with. Goodsir, who used to have a reputation in the -South as a most dangerous bowler on a wicket that was giving him any assistance, showed that he had not forgotten how to take advantage of conditions which do not come every week in Auckland; not more than once or twice in a season, to be exact. He took two wickets for no runs in one over. There was no tinje to give him another! Aitken maintained a steady attack at the other end, while Anthony was skittling the wickets like ninepins. Altogether, it was a day out for the Parnell bowlers. Parnell's fielding was exceptionally good. Duncan took two fino catches, and his picking up and returning were an object lesson to the colts, of whom Hay, McCoy and Goodsir did splendid work at times. Wliitelaw and Hay opened Parnell’s innings at 3.25 on a wicket which looked as if it might be improving, under the influence of a warm sun and slight breeze. Both of the colts proceeded to play themselves in in sound, workmanlike style, and they had taken the score to 48 for no wickets when Hay was clean bowled by Allcott. and Whitelaw did not last a great deal longer. In the light of what happened afterwards, both must, be given the highest credit for the splendid start they v gave their side. It wa!s now Parnell’s turn to experience a batting collapse. Duncan looked to be going well when he gave a catch to Bale off Horspool, who had come on to demonstrate his undoubted ability as a change bowler, who is always liable to get the best ol batsmen out. Then the procession started, Allcott mowing them down one after another with his immaculate length. At stumps, Parnell had lost seven for 90. Details: GRAFTON First innings. c Goodsir, b Anthony .. 0 BE, c Whitelaw, b Anthony ,\ .. 5 HOCKIN, b Anthony n WATCffli C ?v uncan ’ £ Anthony ! .* 10 A Yf- \BT -ERS, c Duncan, b Aitken .... is BANNISTER, lbw, b Aitken . 1 GOODWIN, not out e SCO MAN, b Goodsir * 2 WILSON, b Goodsir * 0 • WYLIE, b Anthony '. . . . * *" 0 ROWNTREE, c Hay, b Anthony .. . * 0 Extras T otal . .jg F all ~ 0 /, Wl o ! 5?i s: „ 1 /0' 2/0 - 3/11, 4/30, 5/40, 6/41, 7/4/, S/47, 9/4S, 10/4S. Bowling: Anthony, 6-25; Aitken, 2-17; Goodsir, 2-0. PARNELL First Innings. HAY, b Allcott *>3 lbw, b Horspool .. .. 32 DUNCAN, c Sale, b Horspool 9 ANTHONY, b Allcott .. 3 KISSLING, b Allcott 5 VON ROT TER, c Horspool, b Allcott 4 McCOY, b Allcott 7 STEHR, not out V. 2 AITKEN, not out 3 Extras " 2 Seven wickets for 90 *> n . °, f wickets: 1/4S, 2/62, 3/65, 4/69, 5/4 7, 6/82, 7/85. Bowling: Allcott 4-36, Horspool 2-27, Goodwin 0-23, Wilson 0-2. DOWN THE GRADES Senior B Grade Shore A v. Shore Colts.—There was much interest in the final game of the senior B grade at Devonport, as the local enthusiasts were anxious to see if the Colts ’ team could lower the colours of the unbeaten A side. The A team started weakly against the bowling of Cowie. L. Dacre. and T. Smith, but J. Bartley proved a stumbling block with a solid innings of 80, and a seventh-wicket partnership between him and “Dick” Smith saved the situation for the championship winners. Shore A. —First innings. 161 (J. Bartley S 6. R. Smith 24). Second Grade Western United v. North Shore.— Western United: First innings, 200 (Donaldson 81, B. Goldfinch 45 not out, H. Raethel 24, K. L. Goldfinch 45 not

out, H. Raethel 24, K. Gillam 13). Bowling: Downes, 3-4 S; Jackson, 3-59: Wynne, 1- Foster, 1-0. North Shore: First innings, two wickets lor IS. Bowling: L. Goldfinch, 1-6; H. Donaldson, 1-6. Richmond v. Takanini. —Takanini: First innings, 60 (L. Mclntosh 17, H. Mclntosh not out 22). Bowling: Biddick, five wickets; Blincoe, four. Richmond: First innings, 130 for nine wickets (Mincham 68, Dunn 13). Richmond won by 70 runs —a two-point win. Third Grade North Shore (Section A winners), v. W.Y.M.I. (Section B winners) —W.Y.M.1.: First innings, 9S (A. Lewis 26, H. Chapman 14, W. Corney 23, S. Young 10. K. Scott 13). Bowling: Blackie, 4-22; Barnhill, 3-24; Ormiston, 2-14; Davies, 1-31. North Shore: First innings, seven wickets for 92 (Ormiston 40. Wilson 12). Bowling: H. Chapman. 3-22; K. Scott, 2- G. Allen, 1-S. Fourth Grade Final Victoria v. Northcote. —Victoria: First innings, SS (Bakalich 2S, Olsson 12, Surtees 13). Bowling: McMillan, 5-19; Johnson, 2-4 9 (Preston 12, Silva 22, Bakalich 11 not out). Bowling: Havill, one wicket; McMillan, one. Northcote: First innings, 4S (Johnson 13, Mitchell not out S), Bowling: Evans, 2-9; Griffiths. 6-6. EASTER MATCHES Y.M.C.A. A team representing the Y.M.C.A. Cricket Club will play the Bay of Plenty representatives on Easter Saturday and Monday at Te Puke. Principally comprising the team are promising young players of the senior A and B teams. The team is as follows: R. Kemp, R. Stallworthy, E. R. Sutherland, S. Smith, J. H. Miller, F. Pa ton, N. Kemp, A. Carson. S. Harrison, W. Hatfield, H. Organ. NORTH AUCKLAND MATCH The following players have been selected to represent the Auckland Cricke Association against North Auckland on Good Friday and Easter Saturday: R Frater, E. Horspool, R. W. Rowntree, T. Lyon, L. H. Saunders, C. Guiney, G. Langton, M. Wetherill, F. S. Taylor, S. Hay, W. J. Coates. The match will be played at Eden Park, play commencing at 10.30 each day.

HOCKEY TEAM’S WIN GIRLS’ CRICKET FINAL Beating Grammar Old Girls by the narrow margin of two runs, Hockey Association won the girls’ inter-club cricket championship at Remuera on Saturday. It was a splendid finish to the competition, and there were several fine performances. In the other match, Y.W.C.A. beat Technical Old Boys by a substantial margin. Results: Hockey Association v. Grammar Old Girls.— Hockey Assoeinl ion, J <>;; ~\j. Hutton YV'lritelaw 24, Z. Twining 25, J. Camplin 17, H .Frayling 12). Bowling for Grammar, I. McConkney 4-30, G. Gebbie 2- N. Gallagher 2-38. Grammar Old Girls, 101 (E. Hunt 31, C. Sharpe 16 not out, C. Kay 13, 1. McConkney 11). Bowling for Hockey Association, H. Frakling 3- M. Hutton-Wliitelaw 2-20. Technical Old Girls v. Y.W.C.A.—Technical Old Girls, 21. Y.W.C.A., 77 (T. McMurtie 39, E. Horne 15). Bowling, E. Jeffreys 4-9, H. Roberts 3-25. N.Z. BOXER BEATEN GRIFFITHS GOES DOWN TO McAlister (Australian and N.Z. Press Association J SYDNEY, Sunday. At the Sydney Stadium last evening Billy McAlister, Bst 61b, defeated Tommy Griffiths (New Zealand), Bst 6olb, on a technical knock-out in the 10th of a 15 rounds match. The New Zealander forced the fight in the early rounds, scoring with straight lefts to the face and short rights to McAlister’s body during infighting, while McAlister punished him with rights to the head. The New Zealander’s ducking, however, enabled him to evade much punishment. McAlister landed a heavy right to Griffiths’s head in the seventh round, which made him groggy. He continued the punishment in the eighth and .ninth rounds, and half-way through the 10th round McAlister sent his opponent down with a heavy left hook and a right to the jaw. The referee saw Griffiths was badly punished, and while delivering the count stopped the bout and declared McAlister the winner. At the Leichhardt Stadium on Friday evening Taney Morgan, of Wales, outpointed Vic White, the paperweight champion of Australia, in 15 rounds, after a good fight. SEEKING RECORDS DISTANCE SWIMMERS READY Two attempts at records will be made at the Grammar Swimming Club’s third carnival at the Tepid Baths on Wednesday evening. N. K. Sylow, of Ponsonby, will attempt to establish a new time for the 220 yards’ breaststroke, and Gordon Bridson, the distance swimmer, will make a bid for a new time for the 220 yards free-style. One of the features of the evening will be the inter-club dual relay for the Walter Batty Cup. Auckland’s best men and women swimmers are catered for with a long programme of sprint events, and there will be a relay for teams representing the Gas Company and the Power Board. Mount Eden is playing Parnell in the final of the water polo championship. PUPILS LEARN TO SWIM Pupils of the Devonport School have been engaged in regular swimming practice during the summer in place of the usual physical exercises. The result is that many children have learned to swim. Others have improved their styles greatly. Tests just held show that 19 boys and 21 gi.rls qualified for the learner’s certificate for 50yds, 12 boys and one girl for the 220yds, and three boys for the half-mile. The champion boy swimmer of North Shore is a pupil at the school.

In addition to swimming" instruction. a squad of boys was taught life-saving.