CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 28 November 1914, Page 7

CRICKET.

TO-DAY'S MATCHES. I Tikorangi v. Albion, et Tikorangi; United Service v. New 'Plymouth, at Recreation Grounds; Law v. Inglewood, at Western Park. NEXT THURSDAY'S MATCHES. Phoenix v. Inglewood, at Recreation Grounds, New Plymouth; Tikorangi r. High School, at High School. Continuation of last Thursday's matches. POSITION OF THE TEAMS.

SATURDAY COMPETITION.

THURSDAY COMPETITION.

NEWS AND NOTES.

North fParanaki has challenged Wanganui for the Hawkc Shield. Wanganui has replied, suggesting January Ist and 2nd as dates for the match. These dates, however, are hardly suitable to Taranaki, as a number of local players will be "away for the Christmas vacation. Negotiations are in train for an alteration of the date. With the best team available, North Taranaki should be able to put up a big fight, and should have reasonable prospects of success, though it must not be forgotten that Wanganui possesses some doughty exponents of the game, and can put forward a good combination to defend the shield. North Taranaki should be able to put in as strong an eleven as has represented this end for several years. The- selectors, it is understood, have not yet been finally chosen. It is suggestd that there should be a sole selector in place of a committee of three. The matter will probably be decided at a meeting of the Association next week.

To-day will see the conclusidn of the first round of the Saturday competition, save, of course, the match between New Plymouth and Inglewood, and this will be played on the first available Saturday. The greatest interest to-day will centre on the match between the two leading teams, United Service and New Plymouth. United Service have won all the four matches played, one being a threepoint win. Of three matches, New Plymouth have two three-point wins to their credit, A keen contest should result, and the match will probably not be completed in one day.

Last Saturday New Plymouth, Ing'ew>.i d, and United Service gained victories. Only the first-named succeeded in gaining the extra point. Though Sefvice were only robbed of the honor bv tl;e call of time.

New Plymouth had no difficulty i:i polibhing off Law, who ar.> still at the l.otfoni of the list. The fine hatting of Bo't'ill and the howling of Mason were two prime features in New Plymouth's victory. Bottrill played a fine punishing game, timing the hall beautifully. Of his score of 85, 48 was made in eleven hits. Mason came.out with the great figures of thirteen for 38. Law's hatting was correspondingly feeble in each innings, when they compiled 61 and SG. Lash, Bewley, Little, and E. H. Quilliam obtained most of what runs there were. Stainton, behind the stumps for Xew Plymouth, was fairly slide, only allowing two byes past, whilst he bagged two men, one smartly stumped and the other caught. United Service had an easy win against Tikorangi. Bain and Colvile disposed of Tikorangi for 59 runs. Woods alone getting double figures. Bain and Colvile, who opened for Service, quickly ran past this total, and, givnig a fine exhibition of batting, as well as an exposition of free and confident running between the wickets, carried the score to 95 before a separation was effected, Jupp bowling Colvile for 35. Bain rattled up his century in quick time, and United Service declared at two wickets for 170 runs. United Service has very little tail, and only on very rare occasions is it nccescsary to send the whole eleven to the wickets. Bain, who has been batting well this year, must be congratulated on being the first to reach the coveted century in Taraanki this season. Tikorangi, who had to get 111 to save a doublc-in-nmgs defeat, were saved that debacle by the call of time. Half-past 6 struck with "the score of nine wickets for 04, and though thero was one ball of the over to go when the. ninth wicket fell, time had gone, and stumps were drawn. Service's fielding was slack in the second innings, three catches being dropped. There appears to be some doubt as to whether the over should have been finished or not. Dinniss, the Service captain, though acting wisely in keeping Bain off the hall after liis tiring innings with the bat, probably made the mistake of withholding him too long, after his showing in the first innings. . _ Bad fielding, both in ground work and in dropping catches, probably cost Albion the match against Tnglewood on Saturday. Inglewood made 128, but as about seventeen catches were dropped, the score should not have reached more than 80. Moreover, Clarke, who is the mainstay of the team, both with bat and ball, had to bowl throughout the whole

innings, and the number of catcliea dropped off him (in one over two easy ones off successive balls were muffed) caused his bowling to be unduly prolonged. His'fignres, Ave for 49, were very creditable under the circumstances He Wis tired when he went to the wickets I in his first innings, and fell an easv-l victim to a fine ball by Eggleton. (A fine batting performance by Sutherland, who got 30 in good style, alone snved the innings from becoming a procession.' Eggleton was in great form with the ball keeping a good length. Tnglewood's fielding was smart and neat, in striking contrast to their opponents'. Inglewooil made a sporting attempt to notch a' three-point win. Mcßae and Smith batted well, and the innings closed at four wickets for 43. Clarke, with 30 hit up m fast time, including two lifts for 6, soon rendered a three-point win impossible. Inglewood's first innings' total of 128 included no less than six doublefigure scores. Albion should do much better in the second round.

Thursday cricketers were unfortunate this week in the matter of weather. Hcayy rain caused both jnatdi efl t. ,

rangi, with six wickets down for 151, looked like making a big score against High School, especially as the two not out men were well set, Roberts having made Co by free and attractive cricket, and Blundell, who was playing .Tigorously, having totalled 28. W. Fuller (24) made the next highest score. The High School fielding was good, no less than five catches being accepted. Mon- . teath bowled well, and took five wickets for 49.

At the Recreation Ground, Inglewood met Phoenix The former were not represented by their best team, but Phoenix was strong. Whittle made his re-appearance after a couple of years' retirement, and Ms bowling analysis shows that his hand has not lost its cunning. He took a turn with the ball when the score stood at over 30 for no wickets. His first over proved fatal to Clegg, who was smartly stumped by Robertson for 11. MctKenzie, the top scorer, with 22, next fell 1.b.w., and thereafter Whittle took seven more wickets. The whole nine cost but 32 runs. De Launay and Thomson were the only others to reach double figures. The tail, containing some good batsmen, could not get going against Whittle. These matches will be continued next Thursday, and the second round will commence on December 17th. Opportunity may be taken by Inglewood and High School to play oft" their match, which was postponed owing to the High School sports.

ri •p Si c3 o 94 S £ 3 o O United Service.. .. 4 4! 0 ■New Plymouth .. 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 2 .. 4 2 2 —1 , 4 1 3 —5 Law ,. 4 4 —9

Inglewood 1 1 3 Phoenix . 1. ., 2 11 1 1< Tikorangi 2 1 1—1 Law 1 — 11 3 ■Each team has one uncompleted match.