Brighter Batting ?

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 799, 21 October 1929, Page 6

Brighter Batting ?

PROMISE OF CRICKET SEASON Sixes Plentiful on Saturday

DISTINCT promise of brighter batting in the coming season’s cricket seemed to be indicated on Saturday afternoon, when the first matches of the Auckland Cricket Association’s senior competition were commenced. Perfect weather, and at Eden Park perfect wickets also, must have spurred batsmen on, for it is surely a far cry back to the day when sixes were common, as they were in several of Saturday’s matches!

University, batting only 10 men in its innings with Eden on No. 1 wicket at Eden Park, was all out at 6.20 p.m. for 330 runs—a hurdle which will take some climbing by even the strongest batting side in the competition, when the match is resumed next Saturday. D. R. Gerrard (91), Smeeton (55), Schnauer (62), and Bush (51) were the principal contributors to the big score. The batting had its dull periods, but the advent of s>ix sixes (three of them by Ron Bush) put a different complexion on the game. Garrard, Bush, and Smeeton all batted brightly. Ponsonby just failed to top the second century against Parnell on No. 2 wicket at Eden Park, but at stumps the red caps, after a good start, had two wickets down for 41. C. E. Guiney (Ponsonby), with 47 to his credit, was the highest scorer in this match. At North Shore, E. ILorspool, for Grafton, scored a century (the first of the season), and C. F. W. Allcott contributed a breezy SI to the total of 277. Shore, in reply, had nine on for none at stumps. Something of a surprise was caused at Victoria Park when Y.M.C.A., which is without the services of Bowley this year, put on 239 against United Suburbs. Elliott’s innings of 72 had several bright patches. Sutherland, for Y.M.C.A., scored 61.

what hurried cricket and, when stumps were drawn, two wickets were down for only 41 runs. Still, with eight wickets in hand, Parnell has by no means an over-difficult task confronting it next Saturday to cover the present margin of 153 runs on the first innings play. Caution by the present partnership of those two capable young players, Hay and McCoy, when play is resumed, should give Parnell a valuable basis. In Saturday’s play there was no great feature. McLeod and Guiney started off extremely brightly for Ponsonby, and held out a prospect of a scoring race with the University batsmen on the neighbouring groLind. Both players showed a nice variety of strokes and managed to keep the fieldsmen on tho alert. McLeod was out first, when a shot from McCoy caught him on the pads, for a good 22. When Monteith partnered Guiney tho brightest play of the afternoon was seen. Monteith was rather the more enterprising, and he knocked Anthony for the first six of the match, with a magnificent drive. S. G. SMITH PERPLEXED Ponsonby’s play slumped badly, however, when Guiney was caught after hitting up 47 runs in good time. S. G. Smith, Ponsonby’s veteran player, came in, but he was uncomfortable in the face of well-judged bowling. When Monteith was clean-bowled, wickets fell rather cheaply. Snedden managed to rattle up 15 and the most valuable effort of tho “tail” was by the exSuburban Association man, Fletcher,

VARSITY BATSMEN TROUNCE EDEN GARRARD’S FINE KNOCK Last season’s championship winner, Eden, put in the whole afternoon on Saturday leather-hunting for the University batsmen, who made the most of Rule Garrard’s luck in winning the toss and went for the runs at every opportunity. The opening was a. most unpromising one, Garrard and Pearson taking over 20 minutes to *put on the fqrst nine runs. Soon after that, however, Garrard opened out at frequent intervals with boundaries, and on one occasion a six, while Pearson was content to plod along in his wake. Postles became expensive at the bowling crease, so that when the total reached 40, Gillespie worked a double bowling change—Butler and Langton replacing G. L. Weir and Postles. Although Langton required watching, after clean-bowling Pearson at 19, the scoring ra'te continued.

Schnauer held his end up well while Garrard passed quickly through the seventies with boundary after boundary- Tho first wicket partnership put on 56 runs, and this total was carried to 127 before Garrard failed to get on to one from Mills and sent an easy catch back to the bowler. Garrard’s 91 included 14 lours and one six, and took altogether 1 hour and 20 minutes. He scored frequently with powerful pulls to leg, and on and off drives. TWO BIG HITTERS Smeeton was in a particularly carefree mood, and it was only after an exceptional share of luck that he managed to reach his half-century. He sent Langton sailing over the boundary for six, and after tea drove A Weir right up on to the hill. His 55 included also five fours. All the while Schnauer was plodding on usefully with Smeeton, and although he did not get a six, the “Rock of Age’s” total of 62 included five fours. Schnauer followed closely gn Smeeton's heels to the pavilion, and then Metge and Bush became associated. Metge, who played for Varsity some years ago and was an Auckland representative for two seasons, has returned to the city from Whangarei and promises to be a most useful members of the students’ side. He and Bush were studies in contrast—the one solid and deliberate and the other wielding a flashing blade. Bush hit three sixes and three fours in compiling his 51, one of the sixes being the biggest hit which has been seen at Eden Park for many a long day.. The hurricane hitter was eventually trapped by A. Weir, and Varsity’s tail wagged very feebly when Metge took cramp and had to retire for a time.

MILLS BEST BOWLER On returning to the wicket he had to get a team mate' to run for him and soon after was run out for a valuable 32. Lunn was skittled by Langton for a “duck” and had J. McDougall to keep him company in that respect. The Eden bowlers had a hard day .at the hands of Garrard, Smeeton and Bush especially. G. L. Weir bowled 17 overs and had 56 runs hit off him without taking a wicket. His brother got one wicket for just over 50 runs, as also did Butler, but they and Postles were expensive. Langton’s three wickets cost over 25 runs each. Quite a few sixes and boundaries were scored off him, as is only to be expected with a bowler of his type. Mills had the best average, four for 46. Details: UNIVERSITY First Innings GARRARD, c and b Mills .... .... 91 PEARSON, b Langton ]!» SCHNAUER, c Gillespie, b Butler . . 62 SMEETON, o Mills, b A. Weir .. .. 55 METGE, run out 32 BUSH, c A. Weir, b Mills 51 LUNN, b Langton 0 BROWNE, lbw, b NI ills 6 McDOUGALE, J., b Langton .. .. 0 MATHESON, not out 6 Extras S Total 330 Bowling: Mills, 4-46; Langton, 3-78; Butler, 1-51; A. Weir, 1-52; Postles, 0-37; G. Weir, 0-56. PONSONBY FADED AFTER STARTING OFF BRIGHTLY PARNELL’S OPENING WEAK Parnell's reply in the opening of its first innings on Eden Park No. 3. to Ponsonby’s good tally of 194 was, in a degree, disappointing to its supporters. Through the agency of Guiney, Monteith and McLeod, Ponsonby made an extremely satisfactory beginning. By the time the second wicket fell, 106 was the score shown on the telegraph. With limited time at their disposal after Ponsonby’s innings was completed, Parnell’s batsmen played some-

who put on 26. Fletcher was awkward at first, especially when Aitken swung the ball across his wickets to a perilous degree, but he settled down to steady plaj^. Goodsir delighted the crowd with his fast bowling, and he returned a good average, 3-39. McCoy also bdwled well, and Anthony and Aitken proved that they will quickly attain true bowling form. The number of extras, 14, was no reflection on Parnell’s ’keeper, Turbott, for most of the extras were caused by wides. Whitelaw, Auckland’s successful colt batsman cf last season, was taken unawares early in Parnell’s innings. He scored only 14, but Hay, who batted with precision, is not out at 19, and should improve on his score easily enoLigh next Saturday. Details:— * PONSONBY First innings McLEOD, lbw, b McCoy 22 GUINEY, c and b Anthony 47 MONTEITH, b Goodsir . ; 33 SMITH, c Duncan, b McCov ] 4 TAYLOR, b Goodsir " 2 SNEDDEN, c Singleton, b McCoy .. 15 FLETCHER, lbw, b Goodsir 26 FINLAYSON, c and b Aitken 4 CLEVERLEY, st. Turbott, b Anthony 5 ROY, b Aitken 7 HUNT, not out 5 Extras 14 Total .-. . . 194 Bowling: Goodsir, 3-39; McCoy, 3-51; Aitken, 2-48; Anthony, 2-42. PARNELL First Innings. WHITELAW, lbw, b Cleverley .. 14 STEHR, b Fletcher 0 HAY, not out . 19 McCOY, not out 2 Extras 6 Two wickets for 41

Y.M.’S GOOD SCORE HARD TASK FOR SUBURBS A good first-wicket stand and a fine middle-wicket innings gave Y.M.C.A. tho grand total of 239 at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon, and United Suburbs has a solid task to better that performance. Elliott and Lyon were responsible for tho first-wicket stand, and the total was j List on the century when Lyon was clean-bowled for 33. Elliott kept pegging away, but when he had reached 72 he was caught by Leikis. Lyon played a chanceless innings, but Elliott gave two hard chances before the third one was accepted. The middle-wicket innings was Sutherland’s. He played a steady bat for 61, being cautious at first, but later opening out to anything on the loose side. Tho Suburbs men did their utmost to get the Y.M. players out, eight bowlers going on. Webster was the most successful, getting three wickets for 44. He bowled steadily most of the afternoon and kept the batsmen quiet. McLaren was another consistent bowler, who wound up with two

wickets for 46. Hendy was quite sensational. He was not put on until right at the end of the match, but with his first ball he had Sutherland caught and the tenth man was stumped off his bowling. His figures read two wickets for six runs. Details: Y.M.C.A. First Innings ELLIOTT, c Leikis, b Webster .... 72 LYON, b McLaren 33 INNES, b McLaren 0 CLARK, c Bushill, b Webster . . .. 12 RIDDOLS, c Wetherill, b Wester . . 1 PANTHER, c and b Martin 28 SUTHERLAND, e Leikis, b Hendy . . 61 PATON, lbw, b Martin 0 BANBURY, b Preston 15 SMITH, st Wetherill, b Hendy .... 3 KEMP, not out . 3 Extras H Total 239 Bowling; Preston, 1-19; Hendy, 2-6; Martin, 2-51; Kerr, 0-27; Leikis, 0-23; Webster, 3-44; Lonergan, 0-15; McLaren, 2-46. HORSPOOL GETS FIRST CENTURY OF SEASON

BRISK BATTING AT SHORE The Devonport Domain was at its best on Saturday, and drew a large attendance for the opening of the season. Groundsman Wynne had prepared a perfect pitch for batsmen short of practice, and the outfield was hard and fast, but with some bumpy patches. Allcott’s luck appeared to be in when he won the toss, but when Coates fractured Sale’s middle stump in his first over it was not so good. Allcott and Horspool soon warmed to their work, and helped themselves to a good feast of Shore’s mediocre bowling for an hour and a half, with a liberal sprinkling of sixes and fours. Allcott looked certain for a century when he lashed across a slow break from Don Webb. His 81 included five sixes and five fours, with only one possible chance deep on the boundary. HORSPOOL GETS TWO SIXES

After tea Horspool and Walters carried on the good work, the Shore bowlers finding no assistance from the shirt-front wicket. Hospool was loudly applauded on reaching his century with a smart-run single, a hot return making it a five hit with the overthrow to the boundary. The double century appeared on the same stroke after 140 minutes’ play. The veteran fell to a hot catch at leg next over, and stands a good chance of collecting Mr. F. W. Matthew’s bat for the first century of the season, with a chanceless 104, which included two sixes and eight fours. The exShore colt continued to score freeiy with wristy shots all round the wicket, but Hocking Was the only other Graftonite to display any confidence, a skyrocket six from Coates being his best stroke. The tail men postered about needlessly, while the sun was sinking low, and Shore had only three /vers to face when the bell sounded time. With Shore having 268 to get and all wickets in hand, the game is in an interesting stage for the final day. Coates was the only Shore bowler to escape severe punishment, the others appearing to need more net exercise. Coates has pruned down some of his unnecessary run and action, without loss of speed and a gain in length and direction. The t Shore fielding was clean and snappy. Kelly, who has transferred from Varsity this Season, gave a good display behind the stumps, ono no-ball being the only extra in the first 200; but the bowlers’ direction was erratic after tea. Details:

Total 277 Bowling: Coates, 4-53; Saunders, 2-45; Player, 1-59; D. Webb, 1-77; H. T. Webb. 0-31. SHORE First Innings SAUNDERS, not out 4 WEBB, D., not out 4 Extras .. . • 1 Total for no wickets 9 Bowling: Allcott, 0-5; Stone, 0-4.

ENGLISH TOURISTS M.C.C. TEAM REACHES COLOMBO

ALL FIT AND WELL Australian and N.Z. Press Association COLOMBO, Saturday. Mr. A. H. Gilligan, in an interview, said the members of the Marylebone Cricket Club team, which is proceeding to Australia and New Zealand, are tit and well. There were four fast bowlers and the batting was good. He expected the team to do well in New Zealand if they stood the voyage well. In a match played against All Ceylon the home team made 171 for nine wickets and declared (Albert 72, Waldock 29). Allom took five wickets for 36 runs, Nichols one for 36, Worthington one for 17. Woolley one for 36. The visitors made 110 for five wickets (Woolley 18, K. S. Duleepsinhji 18, E. W. Dawson 14, Worthington 22, G. F. Earle 30 not out). VARSITY’S ALL-DAY GAME A University team travelled to Howick on Saturday and played an all-day match. The scores were: First innings: Varsity 54 (Smith 22, Goodwin IS); Howick 58 (Warin 14). For Varsity Wuddington took five for 20, Clarkson 4 for 22. Second innings: Varsity 64 for eight, declared (Smith 24 not out, Goodwin 14 not out). Howick 43 (Waddington 2 for 14, Clarkson 5 for 15). University won by 17 runs.

GRAFTON First Innings HORSPOOL, c Coates, b Saunders .. 104 SALE, b Coates 0 ALLCOTT, b D. Webb SI WALTERS, b Player 43 McCORMACK, run out 9 SHEEN, c Reid, b Saunders 1 HOCKIN, b Coates 21 FRANKLIN, b Coates 0 ROWNTREE. run out 2 WILSON, b Coates 1 STONE, not out 3 Extras 12