Fluctuating Fortunes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 887, 3 February 1930, Page 6

Fluctuating Fortunes

SUBURBAN CRICKET VAGARIES A Century to Mincham AFTER the surfeit of spectacular play at mid-week, the second round matches of the Suburban Cricket Association’s competitions on Saturday were drab by comparison. Vagaries of the weather were largely responsible for the dullness. Heavy rain in the morning made the regular wickets unfit for play, and new ones, which favoured the bowlers, were prepared hurriedly. Then a heavy shower in the afternoon turned the tide in favour of batsmen. Gaines were nearly an hour late in starting.

The wicket was soft when Ellerslie’s first pair went to the crease, but the partnership avhs quickly broken by a smart catch by Xicklin after a few runs had been scored. Matthews, the ingoing batsman, however, re-estab-lished confidence by his breezy display in which he heavily punished the bowling of both Barnes and Robertshaw. Four boundaries and a six were included in his 27. Another cheap wicket dropped, and then N. Watkins and H. Burton formed a stolid partnership, determined to break down the bowling. In this Watkins, who played stylish strokes on both sides of the wicket, was markedly successful. He did not display much enterprise, but his exhibition Avas always sound and chanceless except for the catch with Avhieh he aa'us dismissed after a good 42. Another batsman who gave a very solid exhibition was Smith, Avho sent away some delightful leg hooks. The last-AAUcket stand by R. Burton and Yates produced 42. Burton revealed something of his old form with his -dazzling square-cutting, his shots invariably going to the boundary. His driving past mid-off was also nicelytimed and placed with good judgment. He was in fair way to making a substantial score when a good length bail completely beat his partner. Ponsonby did not commence batting until nearly six o’clock, the light then being very deceptive. Two of the best wickets fell very cheaply. Edmonds seemed to have struck form and was scoring freely when lie Avas run out in an unusual way. His partner apparently did not hear his call and Edmonds was at the other end, and his partner was there also, the latter not having moved, when the ball was thrown in. Details: ELDERSHIP First Innings WILLIAMS, C.. c Nicklin, b Barnes.. 0 MATTHEWS, b Robertshaw 27 HOLLIS, b Robertshaw 3 BURTON, TL, c and b Barnes.. .. 23 WATKINS, N., c Nicklin, b Robertshaw 42 ELLIOTT, c Masters, b Robertshaw 3 WATTS, e Sallen, b Barnes 2 SMITH, c Edmonds, b Barnes .. .. is BURTON. R., not out 32 YATES, b Barnes 10 Extras 11 Nine wickets for 172Bowling: Cooper, 0-9; Nicklin, 0-17; Barnes, 4-53; Robertshaw, 5-59; McFaria ne, 0-24. PONSONBY First Innings NICKLIN, played on, b Burton .... 1 EDMONDS, run out 24 ROBERTSHAW. lbw, b Matthews . . 5 SALLEN, not out 12 MASTERS, not out l Extras .. l Three wickets for 47 HARBOUR BOARD DROPS

MINCHAM’S BATTING STAND , After a sensational collapse by Harbour Board in its first innings, Albion’s openers made an equally interesting stand. Both teams played three men short, owing to a mistaken announcement shortly after midday. The wicket had been moved about five yards from the old pitch to aA'oid a quagmire at each end after Saturday morning’s rain. Harbour Board’s innings produced 27 runs—compiled by only eight men, but the whole team probably would have done little better. Albion was wise to send them to the crease. The Stallworthy brothers were the only Albion bowlers used, and one finished Avith an average of three Avickets for nine runs, and the other, two for 16. The Board took a little more than an hour for the innings. After the adjournment the Albions started with a drying wicket, but there was a very dull sky. Viscoe went cheaply, and Mincham came on with R. Stallworthy. Then the game started. Mincham started his score with two fours, a single, and another brace of boundaries. Some small hits came for a while, and Stallworthy was playing soundly when he managed to get the bowling. At 32 Stallworthy gave a chance to leg, but was not accepted and another to cover at 41. At 6.10 Mincham had 71 up. Six bowlers out of eight men had been tried lor A.U.8., and only one maiden over went to their credit. When he needed 17 for the century Mincham stopped a terrific ball in the ankF but hung on gamely. With 12 minutes to go, the hitter wanted ten for the century. Then StallAvorty fell. Wright took an annoyingly long time to stroll to the wicket and Mincham had to wait to get the bowling from the newcomer. After seven minutes his chance came. Two singles were written up, then he won his hundred bj l placing a four, and then another on the tick of 6.30. Mincham picked the bowling out with uncanny sureness. His last 26 contained five fours. Details:—• HARBOUR BOARD First Innings BREESE, c Mincham, b R. Stallw or thy * T 1 E - Stallworthy ” J BA *worthv ’ C iscoe * b E. Sta.llWILLLA.MS, C., lbw, b*E. Staliworthy 2 WILLIAMS, V., run out n MATTHEWS, not out CANDY, run out .. . . 5 abkent®-. S ‘ al . iwo .7 h j MARTIN, absent ' DUNNING, absent o Extras * * * * * ” Total wm?hy! n T-i?* Sta3lworthy * R- StallALBION First Innings j VISCOE, b Turner ... -10 AiTxrulw RTHY ’ c and *>’ Wiliams 47 MINCHAM, not out .. . -in.. WRIGHT, not out . 10 £ j Extras *..**.l* .*.' *’ 3 Two wickets for .. .. . _ _ 168 W.Y.M.I. BATS POORLY PROMISING FOR GREEN LANE When Green Lane won the toss and sent ’W.Y.M.I. in, the Lanera' luck held tor the afternoon. They had a rood ni-st innings win over the Young Men.

Only one .cood .-urul w ;ls nia,i P for the Institute, a. 46 to Kasper jK took a few risks, but was nevertheless unlucky not to reach his half-centun in view of the odds in favour of the bowlers. Kerr and Seccombe wo-keii havoc with the others, and Green bine's fielding was a good disptaV These two bowlers managed good averi ages with their tempting deliveries The AVesleyans finished their strike about half-past four. The Laners' game was interrupted by a hoavv shower at the fifth hour, and sawdust appeared shortly afterward The game became a batsmen’s picnic now, as the pitch was too greasy for tricky balls and the outfields were too slippery fielders to move quickly. Of the six wickets that fell for 14’ five were clean-bowled, and the other put his leg in front. Chapman brothers and Yates did most of the bowling Green Lane's best strikes came from E. Watts, Scarborough and Hughes. Tilings look promising for at least u three-pointer for the suburban men. Details: W.Y.M.I First Innings YATES, b Scarborough KASPER, c Scarborough, b Kerr 4G CHAPMAN, H.. c Clark, b Kerr .. .. 7 OORNEY, c Wroath, b Kerr j, LEWIS, b Kerr ]j YOUNG, not out .... 4 CHAPMAN, r>., c E. Watts, b Keir 2 FOX, c Wroath, b Seccomhe ... .. ft THOMAS, c C. Watts, b Seccombe.. 3 CHAPMAN, F., c E. Watts, b Seccombe 0 SCOTT, K., c T. Clark, b Seccombe fi Extras .. 4 Total Vi Bowling: Scarborough, 1-24; Kerr, 5-30, Seccombe, 4-23. GREEN LANE First Innings KERR, b Lewis WROATH, b 11. Chapman 3 CLARK, b H. Chapman 7 WATTS. E., b F. Chapman 38 SECCOMBE, Ihw, b Yates 4 WATTS. C-, b Yates « HUGHES, not out 22 SCARBOROUGH, not out 31 Extras 12 Six wickets for 242 SENIOR B Ellerslie v. Fawcett’s. —Fawcetts, first innings, 76. Bowling: Stanley, 6.3 ft; Mitchell, 3-34. Ellerslie, first inings, S 3 for six wickets (Mitchell 30 not out). Bowling: Sheen. 3-16; Bill, 2-36. A twopoint win for Ellerslie. Tramways v. Invicta. —Tramways, first innings. 67 (Sutcliffe 25, Carr 21). Invicta. first innings. S2 for six wicket! (Houston 29, Rimmer 19, Russell 14). JUNIOR GAMES OFF All junior grade Suburban Cricket Association games were postponed on Saturday.