CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 255, 26 March 1914, Page 7

CRICKET.

NORTH TAKANAKI v. SOUTH TARANAKI. THE SOUTHERNERS LEAD. The return match between the representatives of North Taranaki and South Taranaki was commenced at the Recreation Grounds, New Plymouth, yesterday morning. Being an off-day, there was not a very large attendance of the public. Tile wicket was in very good order and played well, whilst the outfield, too, was in good order. The southern team was not at full strength, asOnglcy (Eltham), McCarthy, McLaren and Gardener (Hawera) were not available. The only defections from the North Taranaki team was that Foreman (Tikorangi) replaced Wilson, of the same club, and Monteath (High School) gave place to Richards (of the School). Blamires won the toss, and elected to bat. As the result of good hatting by Dunlop, Pratt and Penny, the score reached 222 before the last man was disposed of.

North Taranaki in their first venture could only make 106. Dunlop, who bowled unchanged, came through with the fine average of seven wiekcts for dO. Bewley, with 28, was the top scorer. Stumps were drawn at 5.20 p.m. The match will be resumed at 9.30 this morning. North Taranaki may have to follow on. A late rule available says that a side leading by 100 runs on the first innings in a two-days' match shall have the option of requiring the other side to follow their innings. Some, however, think this rule has been- later amended to 120 runs.

Messrs E. Whittle, Price and Ingram umpired, the first-named officiating all day. Both teams were the guests of the local Association at luncheon at the Recreation Grounds tea kiosk, and of Mrs. Osborne at afternoon tea. Both captains expressed their thanks to Mrs, Osborne on behalf of the team,

SOUTH TARANAKI AT THE WICKETS. Pratt and Cave opened for the Southerners to Bain and Sarten, batting quietly, Cave particularly being - content to score singles. The first four overs produced only ten runs, including a boundary to Pratt off Bain. Pratt then opened his shoulders, and scored fourteen off Bain's next two overs, including three boundaries. He also lifted Sarten to the terraces for six. At 32, Lash replaced Bain, and Cave scored a. single off him. Sarten sent down a maiden to Cave, and was then replaced by Osborne, whose first over produceil seven, including two byes. Cave bad a narrow escape of being run out, and retaliated by driving Lash to the boundary and elevating 50 on the telegraph, after 32 minutes' play. Pratt also got on to Osborne, hitting him to the boundary and also landing him among the pungas for six in the same over. At (11, there was - another change, Foreman going on in place of Lash. The scoring now steadied, only a single being scored off the Tikorangi bowler. Osborne was bowling well, but with no luck, and a bye resulted from a ball which beat Pratt and the.wicket as well. Next ball the Hawera man sent to the boundary, bringing his half-century up after 38 minutes' play. This over proved fatal to Cave, who lifted the last ball to Bowley, and he held the catch. (58 —I—l 3. Illamires followed, only to sec Pratt clean-bowled by Foreman, with the score unaltered: <SB—2—s2. The retiring batsman had played a forceful innings, and his scoro included two sixes and seven fours. Dunlop partnered Blamires, but for an over or two neither appeared comfortablo. Then Dunlop opened bis account with a two off Foreman, but a weak throw-in by Bain saved his wicket. A most expensive let-off it proved. Blamires drove Osborne to the leg boundary, siw mmlop, after hitting Foreman for a two and a three, drove Osborne to the boundary twice, bringing 90 up. Lash replaced Foreman. Osborne puzzled Dunlop for a few balls, but the Stratford man then lifted him out of the ground, and 100 went up for 04 minutes' play. Two runs later Osborne beat Blamires. 102—3 10. Penny partnered Dunlop, and then ensued the stand of the day. n.mi.o - uy driving Lash twice in succession to the boundary. Osborne bowled a maiden to Penny. At 112 the luncheon adjournment was taken. On resuming, Penny opened lo Osborne, and snicked a couple oft his fourth bail, following up with a single. Penny put Sarten away for a couple and twice repeated the dose, though he gave a chance, but Nicoll could not get up in time. Dunlop, with a hoist to the fourth terrace for six, and a four off the next hall, spoilt Osborne's average somewhat. With the score at 130, Nicoll was tried with the ball at the north end. but still runs catnip Dunlop being most aggressive, driving Nicoll to the bflundtvry. TU; r , re p;. ice (l Osborne. ■ ton was fielding well, and saved several boundaries. Stainton now took a couple of overs, but be was driven, out of the ground by Dunlop twice. A period of dull play ensued, but the score mounted, and at 180 Mcfiie replaced Nicoll. His third ball took Dunlop's wicket. The outgoing batsman got a great reception. 184-4—74. Walker followed and snicked Mcflie for two. Bain went on, and compelled Penny to play cautiously, but the Okaiawii. man had bis revenge Inhitting McOie for eight in one over. He also drove Bain to the boundary, and repeated the dose with Osborne, who had gone on at McGie's end. bringing up 200. Bewley's smart fielding reduced a big hit of Penny's to a single, and Osborne's next ball, an olf-break. beat Walker. 200-5-3. Cantlin was caught at mid-oil oil' the (ir.st ball bv Foreman. 2fl«-li-0. McLeod followed, and saw Penny, who had added a few runs to his score, fall to Hain from a ball which kept low. 213-7-m. McLeod hit two boundaries, but none of the remaining batsmen could do anything against Osborne, who came out with (he line average of seven for 73.

XORTir TAIiAXAKT lUTflNfi. | [.ash ami li-.iin opened to llunlop and | Blamires. The former early got Dunlop away for a four and a two. lie also licat Manures lo Die boundary, fl up ten in quick lime. Runs then came | slowly, the field lieinjr well placed, though tlie batsmen losl no oP'^ rn] ,,i: 1 ties, and scored sin-' - r , u , * , ~ ~ . w i"'s and twos' . where they .---.,„. parti 00',,,.,,, »' ls \«ry miioh Witli ii=> up, rilami.-Ps ' dean howled Lash, who was fcoliii" the effects of an iniured hand. 22—1—1-> ' Osborne took strike. After hitting a boundary, liain fell ( 0 Dimloii, clem- ! oowled. HO—2—l3. Nicoll follower!. J he. bowlers had (he batsmen tliinkin" and after a few singles had been sco"' I ed, Dunlop sot Osborne with an break. 33 -T— I. SU-Cu; who foil- <>"*- gavo a ehance. but Pennv could i J wwl > ' under the. lull. McGie'broug' .lot get by touching- a fast one froir° -it -l" "P w'hirli travelled to the ho' ~ Blamires, Blamircs' next over Nico' jndary. In Smith dropping him. A A luul a life, ed. McGio reached d * maiden resultthen Nicoll was sma ouble figures, and the slips by HI- rtly snapped up in 46—4— 4. /mi res off Dunlop,

After the afternoon tea adjournment, Bewley and McGie resumed, and the latter survived a confident appeal for l.b.w, Bewley snicked Blamires for two, the only runs that were scored off him in four overs, and a couple and two singles off Dunlop brought 60 up. In his next over, Dunlop scattered McGie's stumps. 54—5—14. Scrimgcour, who followed, survived a maiden to Blamires. Bewley was hatting cautiously, and with singles and an occasional brace brought up 80, and then 70, aided by a bye to the boundary. Two couples from Blamires gave Bewley top score Scrimgcour here had a life in the field, and celebrated it by putting Blamires to leg for four. He tried to do the same to Dunlop, but was caught by McLeod. 74—8—6. Foreman was dismissed by Dunlop's first ball. 74—7—0. Stainton drove Dunlop, and ran a very risky 1 three. It was only the wicket-keeper's failure to gather in the ball that saved him. McLeod now replaced Blamires, and his first ball Stainton put up in the slips to Cantlin. 79 —B —4! Hopes of Baving a follow-on were slight when Sarten joined Bewley, but the latter was batting confidently, and the score reachcd 90 before Sarten was clean-bowled by Dunlop. 90—9—4. Richards was last man in. He survived Dunlop's over, and Bewley, who appeared to be shepherding the bowling to avert a follow-on, scored three off both McLeod and Dunlop. Two byes came from McLeod, and then Bewley, opening his shoulders, hit the football rep. for two and fouj, but he fell a victim to the last ball. 108—10—28.

SOUTH TARANAKI.-First Innings. Pratt, b Foreman 52 Cave, c Bewley, b Osborne 13 Blamires, b Osborne i.. 10' Dunlop, b McGie 74 Penny, b Bain 55 Walker, b Osborne 3 Cantlin, c Foreman, b Osborne .. 0 McLeod, c Bewley, b Osborne 8 McKoy, c McGie, b Osborne ~f*-l Smith, b Osborne o Court, not out 0 Extras, bye 1, leg-byes 5 0

Total 224 Bowling analysis.—Osborne took seven wickets for 75 runs; Foreman, one for 10; McGic, one for 11; Stainton, nona for 16; Bain, one for 40; Sarten, none for 20; Nicoll, none for 21; Lash, none for 22. Fall of wickets: One for 88, Iwo for 68, three for 102, four for 184, five for 206, six or 206, seven for 213, eight for 214, nine for 222, ten for 222. NORTH TARANAKI.-First Innings. Bain, b Dunlop 13 Lash, b Blamires .; 12 Osborne, b Dunlop 4 Nicoll, c Blamires, b Dunlop 4 McGie, b Dunlop , 14 Bewley, b McLeod 28 Scrimgeour, c McLeod, b Dunlop ... 8 Foreman, b Dunlop 0 Stainton, e Cantlin, b McLeod 4 Sarten, b Dunlop , 4 Richards, not out 0 Extras, no balls 3, byes 9, leg byes 3 15 Total 106 Bowling analysis.—Dunlop took seven wickets for 50 runs; Blamires, one for 34 (including three no-balls); McLeod, two for 10. Fall of wickets.—One for 22, two for 30, three for 33, four for 46, five for 54, six for 73, seven for 74, eight for 79, nine for 90, ten or 106.