CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 257, 28 March 1914, Page 7

CRICKET.

THE SENIOR COMPETITION. ; One of the last matches of the present season' was played on the Sports Ground on Saturday, when Ijiiw defeated. Serviee by 3 runs. To add to the excitement, the scores went a little astray towards the end, and announced the match, per telegraph board, as a draw, but someone conducted an "audit" and the legal men were declared the victors. The chief feature of the match was the opening partnership between Bewley and Lash, who scored heavily off good bowling. Osborne linally broke Bewley's defence when that batsman had ii on, and Lash did not last long after his bereavement, soon giving Osborne a "e and b" to his credit after scoring 43 in his usual methodical style. Billing, who had joined Lash, had seen Snell and Elliott leave without scoring, when the vigorous Ron Quilliani joined him and soon had the Held working. Quilliam made 4a by dint of forceful batting. Thou, except - for Johnstone's 10 not out, the innings collapsed dismally, not another batsman except "Mr. Extras" (17) adding to the score. Service opened with two hours to make the runs, and their innings Tesolved itself into a one-man affair. Colvile, the lone hand referred to, attacked the bowling vigorously. He gave a chance fairly early in his innings, but later settled dowu and did not disdain singles. Later still he became more "chancy." A lasting partner for Colvile was hard to find, M'Gie, Bain, Osborne, and Sumner only adding 37 to the score between them. The deadly bowling of Elliott in an uncertain light finally accounted for Colvile when he had notched 69, and the tail had an exciting lime. When Colson, the last man, came in, it was thought that only four runß were wanted to secure the victory for Service. Ncwall and Colson notched a single each, but Colson, hesitating before running a leg bye, paid the penalty and was run out. This gave Law the victory by three runs, as the total Service score was in reality only 152. Service fielded splendidly, but the Law fielding might have been better. Bain and Osborne, who handled- the hulk of the attaek for Service, both bowled well, maintaining a good length throughout 16 and 17 oveiß respectively. Bain captured no wickets although his bowling did not permit of many liberties, but Osborne came off witli the fine analysis of seven wickets for 44 runs.

Elliott waß the most successful of the Law trundlers, keeping a good' length and pace and securing four wickets for ol runs. Two men, (.'. Wilson and Scriingeour, were mainly responsible for the Ml runs knocked up against New Plymouth. Scriingeour was the first man in, and rattled the runs up quickly. He was joined by Wilson at the fall of Ihe second ticket. The pair gave tho field a lively time until Scriingeour was caught for 38, Wilson losing his wicket to O'Donnell soon afterwards. Mason was the most successful of the A'-ew {Plymouth trundlers, taking five wickets for 12 runs. Staiuton had a flutter towards the close of the innings, and took two for 12.

There was nothing startling about Xew Plymouth's strike. Of the 48 runs which cost live wickets, twelve was the highest score. Matheson, the not out nuin, was hitting out well when .stumps were drawn, as also was Stainton whom he joined. The matcli was thus drawn very much in favor of the countrv team.

THE NORTH v. SOUTIT MATCH. The defeat of North Taranaki this week by their friymAs of tin- Southern division was not altogether surprising, though it might not unreasonably have been expected that the home team would have made a better stand than they did. The brightest feature, of the whole match was South Taranaki's first innings of 22-2. The second day's i>lay was a desert waste in which the oases were at infrequent intervals and not very green. There was not a bright innings in the whole of Thursday's play. The main cause, of the Northerners' defeat was lack of prnctiee, from which, strangely enough, the natsmeu suffered more than the bowlers. The Southern team was not the best that could have been selected. The Northern team which took the held was not that originally selected, and even the original team was woefully unrepresentative of North Taranaki cricket. The reason for this is not far to seek. There are many good cricketers in North Taranaki who do not belong to clubs aliiliated with the Association. There has been no Thursday competition this season, although there have been several good Thursday teams playing desultory matches. This must be remembered iicxt season, and the Thursday competition revived, providing a far wider range for the selection of a North Taranaki reprsccntative team.

The highest score of last week's match Dnnlop's' 71. Dunlop in a hitting mood can raltle up the runs, and bis batsmanship was enjoyed by the few spectators who' attended Lhe match. Pratt, who made such a good stand against the Australians recently, showed forceful wristv play, and his .t2 runs were well deserved. ' Penny„ played a strong innings, but was- inclined to lift the ball unduly. Cave played a sterling defensive game throughout, and his scoring was the result of shrewd placing and accurate wrist work. Young (Jeorge Court, a one-time New Plymouth boy. did not make many runs, but he showed a good defence, and should develop into a useful player. Of the Southern bowlers, Dunlop in the lirst Northern innings monopolised the honors, and bv dint of a well pitched, good length class of ball, annexed seven wickets for .10 runs. In the N'oiiherner's second attempt, lie was not so successful, lhe highest honors out of the nine bowlers tried going to Penny. There were no brilliant feats of batsmaiisliip of (he Norlheru men. the highest score. 2:i bv (Winnie ill the second inninys. be'mu' due more to patience and aeeiirale sclecliou Ihan to brilliant pla\. Osborne's hading seems to have I altered la I el;,, and nowadays he seems over cautious and di.-plavs no sting. I?lithe bowled well on I lie wicket and with his inevitable break, and took seven wickets in the lirst Southern innings. The best bowling analvsis of the match was Xieoll's civlit for 2li. due lo Unit deceptive ball of his which tempts the balsinon to hit and ends in a catch. Richards, the lligli School hoy, in his partnership wit Lash, displayed a sterling defence, anil ;i coolness which was useful as il was unexpected i„ so young a boy. At tie- sine- time he should learn' to lo back up between (lie wickets a litlle more smartly. Staii'ion pui up 11 line performance behind tlit stick-, and his stumping or IShunires was en especially good piece of work, lie is raphllv becoming acclimatised to Taranaki ivirkcls. The Northern lidding- was smart and clean. Indeed, the fielding of both teams

was one of the best features of the match. Penny, of the Southerns, narrowly escaped being run out, and incidentally bumped up against one of the rule's which are not often called into operation. Ho called Walker for a run, but the latter stuck to his crease, ami Penny, who had run the length of the pitch by this time, struggled to get back. The ball beat him by Yards and he walked off. Umpire Whittle, however, recalled him, as Do appeal had been made, and it turned out that Foreman had knocked the hail off with his hand, and did not, as the rule demands, in such circumstances, immediately pull up a stump. When he did appeal, after Penny had returned to his crease, the appeal was disallowed. It was a lucky escape for Penny, and should teach Walker to run when his partner calls.