CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 156, 27 November 1914, Page 7

CRICKET.

NORTH TARiiNAKI. THE THURSDAY COMPETITION. The woatlicr conditions for the tliird round of the Thursday cricket compoti- ■' tion were about as bad as {hey could be, and it say much for the spirit of the players that Inglewood and Tikorangi managed to put teams in the field. The play was good considering the pouring rain in which the matches were played. E. Roberts, of "All Black" fame, made a great debut in New Plymouth cricket with a faultlessly compiled 6ft, not out. An old player, K. Blundell, came back to the game, and made 23 not out for Tikorangi. It was unfortunate that the weather did not permit of more than one innings being- played, as both • matches looked capable of providing interesting developments. Whittle's performance in the Phoenix-Inglcwood j match was distinctly good, he bowling eight and stumping one man. (iwilliin got the other wicket. The best performances were:— WITH THE BAT: E. Roberts (Tikorangi), not out .. 65 W. Fuller (Tikorangi) 24 >K. Blundell (Tikorangi), not out .. 23 McKenzic (Inglewood) 22

WITH THE BALL. E. Whittle (Phoenix) 9 for 32 Monteath (High School) .... 5 for 43 TIKORANGI v. HIGH SCHOOL. • The Tikorangi skipper won the toss, and elected to bat, Fuller and C. Foreman opening. The first wicket went down for 2(), Foreman being caught by Sykeß off Monteath's bowling, 'Fuller, who was hitting freely, being responsible for the major part of the score. E. Koberts took Foreman's place, and the combination managed to add 5 runs be- , fore Fuller was magnificently caught in the long-field by Sinclair, who was giving a first-class exhibition of fielding. Knuckey was the next man to come along, and managed to add 12 to the score before he left the field. McMurray ■was responsible for bis dismissal with a good catch off Monteath, who also got rid of Knight next over with a medium ' off-break. Jones came out'to face the bowling, but was soon dismissed by | Monteath, Sykes being responsible for another good catch. Sartcn, the next man to face the music, hit out very freely, but was caught by Sinclair after making 13, his score including two boundaries. With the entry of the next Tikorangi batsman, K. Blundell, a great stand was put up. Blundell hit out freely and strongly, punishing all loose ■ stuff with vigor, while. Roberts gave a well-nigh faultless exhibition of cricket, liis carpet drives and beautifully-played leg-glides being pretty to see. His welldeserved (55 contained one ball hit right out of the grounds, the only ball he lifted throughout the game. With the score at 151 both teams called a halt, and adjourned for afternoon tea in the school-house. The rain by this time was coining down in torrents, and further play was impossible. Detailed scores were as follow: TIKORANGI. W. Fuller, c Sykes, b Monteath .... 24 C Foreman, c Sinclair, b Monteath.. 0 E. Roberts, not out 05 Knuckey, c McMurray, b Monteath.. 12 Knight, b Monteath 0 Sartcn, c Sinclair, b Monteath .... 13 Jones, c Sykes, b Candy 3 K. Blundell, not out 23 Extras 5

Total for six wickets .. .. 151 j Bowling Analysis: Monteath, five for j s!3; Hughes, none for 31; Hamblyn, none for 20; McMurray, none for 10; Candy, one for 12; Sykes, none for 15. IXGLEWOOD v. PHOENIX. This match, which would have been a very interesting one to watch, was also spoilt by the terrific downpour, and I only the'presence of Walter Matthews' motor-ear, which he had brought into the grounds for the express purpose, saved the players from being drenched.: In this match Whittle gave a particularly good display of bowling in getting his' nine for 32, showing the wiles of the crafty bowler when aided by wet matting. The four top men—Clegg, McKenzio, do Launay, and Thomsongave a good exhibition of batting, all reaching double figures. The tail was very weak. Considering tlie state of the ground, the fielding of Phoenix showed a vast improvement on their previous game. Detailed scores were as follow: —

'TNGLEWOOD. Clegg, st, b Whittle U McKenzio, lbw, b Whittle 22 De T.aunav, b Whittle 11 Thomson, b Whittle 13 Lewis, c Hasell, b Gwillim 0 Matthews, b Whittle : 1 Harkness, l> Whittle ■.. 0 Williams, lbw, b Whittle 0 Billings, not out 4 ■R. Smith, b Whittle .... 5 Darlow, b Whittle 2 Extras 4 Total 73 Bowling Analysis: Braund, none for 22; Simpson, none for 4; Cwillim, one for 11; Whittle, nine for 33.