CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 348, 26 March 1910, Page 2

CRICKET.

(By "Third Slip.") The following will represent the Fire Brigade in their match agamst High ■School on the High School ground today.—Hard wick, Danks, Coppen, Hemming, Clarke, Coleman, Billing, O'Halloran, Grant, Roch, Girling, and Gunson. For months past the match with v:te Australian Eleven had been looked forward to by cricketers and the cricketing public with the keenest interest, and it was hoped that, in consequence, the match would prove a good financial success as well as a success from a cricket point of view. But, although favoured by splendid weather, and given the opportunity of seeing cricket played by some of the finest exponents of the game in Australia, the public did not give the expected support, and tne North Taranaki Cricket Association has to face a considerable financial loss on the match. As that great cricketer, Armstrong, was unable to make an appearance in the match, it is just possible that the public were robbed of a certain amount of attraction, but apart from him the Australian team was) a solid one, in that it comprised »uch world-renowned players as Bardsley, Whitty and Hopkins, all of whom were members of the team that recently visited England and made further brilliant cricket history for Australia. Bardsley, in particular, proved himself one of the ■finest; batsmen in the world, and gained lasting fame by scoring a double century in a test m? tch—the first time the feat has been accomplished. Beside* «ne players mentioned, the team included some of the most promising exponents of the younger generation of Australian cricketers'.

As regards the game. TaranaH *>as every reason to be proud of itself for the great fight its representatives made against such quality, and it is to -'w hoped thatTTrom now on the public will realise that the standard of "cricket in Taranaki is considerably higher than was credited. No branch of sport cam show the required progress without frolic support; and if this is given in *ne future; as might now be reasonably expected, it is just possible that Taranaki might soon be in a position to try conclusions with the larger centres and gain still further distinction. Taranaki batted first, and quickly showed that nerves were well to the fore, but Inman, Perham and Cole came to the rescue, and saved the situation by showing great confidence, combined with some fine scoring strokes. These three men quite upset the general ruie as regards New Zealand batsmen against doughty opponents, in that they were by no means out before they went in. They were not quite "at home" to Facy's fast bowling, undoubtedly the fastest yet experienced in Taranaki, but they all played the bowlin'g of such "cracks" as Whitty, Emery and Hopkins as soundly as ordinary club bowling, and it came off. "Mr Extras" proved of invaluable assistance to out men, coming out with an average of 42 for the two innings. However, this is all in the game, and Taranaki, has 1 ft great deal to he thankful for in having such a clever keeper as Smith behind the sticks.

Australia opened their innings with Simpson and Mayne, and these two seemed to collar the bowling from the jump, the former in particular showing great aggressiveness. He got in a beautiful six off Southall; but fell in in attempting to repeat the dose. Mayne gave a fine exhibition on the off side, but was decidedly weak on the leg, and eventually succumbed to one of Southall's leg breaks. Emery and Smith indulged in some big hitting—effective, but not particularly pretty—and with Rel|eway playing sound but rather slow cricket, it looked as if our men were in for rather a rough passage; but Southall and Cole were both bowling well and keeping big hearts. The scoring board s'howed at one time 106 for three wickets, but half an hour later it showed 139 Kir seven, which included Bardsley, who "weakly yielded up his wicket" to one of Southall's off breaks. This greatest of kindness on Bardsley's' part was keenly appreciated by the Taranaki men, and the bowlers kept going well and dismissed the remaining batsi*n without any considerable addition to the score.

Taranaki's second batting venture was again noticeably devoid of consisitency, as the scoring was left to four men, including .Perham, who had distinguished himself in the first innings also. After being rather "scratchy" at the start, Weston batted very well, and got in some good drives through \ue covers. Pratt gave his usual spirited display, and Dunlop was just getting nicely set when he- had the misfortune to be run out. It was pleasing to uur men to see "Mr Extras" come to light again with the respectable score of 34.

Australia commenced their second innings wanting 156 runs to win, and an hour and a half in which to get them. Simpson and Mayne quickly got «o work, and had 30 on the board for about 20 minutes' play. In Cole's next over, Simpson mishit in trying to put the ball out of the ground, and Prau brought off a rather "juggling" catch.

Emery and Mayne continued scoring rapidly, and it looked a soft thing ior Australia with 'half the required runs up for the los's of two wickets. However, our bowlers stuck to their uphill task like Trojans, and, thanks to Smith, very smartly stumping Emery and running out Bardsley, eight wickets were down for 132. Twenty-four runs weir required to win, with half an hour ;.o go-

6"- | After an over each from Cole and i Routhall, the batsmen appealed against : the light, which was better than it was j half an hour before play was' stopped j on the previous day. However, every-1 thing pointed to the fact that our xj- ! nowned opponents did not wish to lun j the risk of having the first defeat of the tour registered against them by a j second-class province, and the match j ended in a draw, very possibly in ih- i vour of Taranaki. Even this result was 1 1 highly satisfactory, especially as it was so unexpected in most quarters, and it I should go a long way towards giving ' the game a great fillip, and at ;ne j same time proving that cricket is far more advanced in Taranaki than was' I ever dreamt of. The fielding' of the Australians was ' distinctly patchy at times, although f they all showed that they knew better ■ than to field a ball with legs well apart,! which attitude was noticeable on sev- j era! occasions in Taranaki's fielding. , Eg'gleston stood out on his 1 on for! '. his brilliant fielding, which must have j saved 30 or 40 runs In each innings. I The brunt of the bowling fell on Cole j and SouthaM, and each bore it through I successfully, especially on the second day. when Cole bowled 17 overs for 92 runs and 0 wickets', and Southall 21

[ overs for 90 runs and 9 wickets. The former was "only spelled for six overs, j and the latter bowled unchanged ! throughout the match. In conclusion, one can safely assert that it stands as the finest record that Taranaki has put up so far, and let us ' hope that there will be no more looking back. It was stated in Thursday's issue that the Fixtures Committee had decidied to postpone all cup matches for a week. This was an error, as the Committee meant to postpone all matches on the 24th, but make a re-arrange-ment of the senior cup fixtures, owing to the lateness of the season, the result of which will be published early next week.