CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 224, 1 March 1915, Page 7

CRICKET.

THE .SATURDAY COMPETITION. UNTIED SERVICE FAIL BADLY. Save for some unfinished matches, Saturday saw the conclusion of the weekend competition. The day was not an ideal one for cricket, the light being bad. United Service suffered defeat for the fourth Saturday in succession, and are generally considered now to have very little hope of winning the championship, which will be contested by New Plymouth and Inglewood. New Plymouth gained a two-point win. disposing of United Service for 28, the lowest total of the season. At Western Park, the Law-Inglewood match was left in an unfinished state, practically on even terms, as was the <"ase when these teams met last round. Albion took a weak team to Tikorangi, and suffered a three-point defeat. The best performances were:—

WITH THE BAT. King (Law)} 42 Nicoll (New Plymouth), not out .. 38 Bewlev (Law) „„ . 38 Lye (Tikorangi), not out 32

WITH THE BALL. •Tupp (Tikorangi) ........ 5 for 7 O'Neill (Tikorangi) 5 for 11 Heskett (New Plymouth).. .. 5 for 12 Nicoll (New Plymouth) .... 4 for 11 Colvile (United Service) .... 4 for 11 Purdue (United Service) .... 5 for 18 Clarke (Albion) .. .. ~ .. 0 for 30 Pullen (Inglewood) 4 for 20 NEW PLYMOUTH DEFEAT UNITED SERVICE. This match was played in the Recreation (Ground under unfavorable weather conditions, the heavy clouds affecting the light, and rain occasionally delaying the game. Neither team was fully represented. New Plymouth having the service of four High School lads, whilst Service played a man sr.ort. New Plymouth opened with neskett and Nicoll, to the bowling of Bain ~and Dinniss. Bain's first over brought Niroll's downfall, the batsman playing one on. Bottrill and Heskett, by fine cricket, added 4!) for the next wicket, despite changes of bowling, and then both went in successive overs, Heskett (25) being well caught by Maekay off Prrilue and Bottrill (22) being clean bowled by Colvile, after just surviving an l.b.w. appeal. Each had several escapes in the field. The tail, however, failed, and the innings closed for 76. Colvile and Purdue came out with fine averages.

Service's innings was a procession. The batsmen eonld do nothing with the bowling of Heskett (who was breaking both ways) and Nicoll, who. assisted hv smart fielding, not a catch being dropped, disposed of the ten men in just as many overs. McGie topped the score with 7. and he had a let-off from stumping bv Stainton, who had previously snapped up Osborne. With about two hours to go. New Plymouth faced the bowling of Bain and Colvile. The innings opened disastrously. After scoring 1, Heskett played Colvile on. Next over, Colvile got Stolir. Tn his third over both Bottrill and Oliver fell to Bain, and with four men disposed of for 5 runs Service looked like making a recovery. Arden and Mason then got together, and the former, playing well, carried the score to 20 for the next wicket before Mason went. With Nicoll he ran the total to 40 before Bain got one past him. for ■ very useful 23. Stainton partnered Nicoll, and these two gave Service some leather-hunting that effectively ruined their ehanre of winning, and when stumps were drawn at 0 p.m.. owing to failing light, were undefeated for 38 and 21, the score being 107 for six wickets. Both batsmen had several chances. Score*:—■

NEW PLYMOUTH. First Innings. Heskett. c Maekay, b Purdue .. .. 23 Nicoll. b Bain 1 Bottrill, b Colvile 22 Stainton, e McGie, b Purdue 'J Mason, e Bain, b Colvile 3 Oliver, c Brabant, b Purdue 0 Arden. e Brabant, 1) Colvile 7 Stolir. b Purdue ft TTamblyn. h Colvile 3 Sykes, c Colvile, b Purdue 0 Hughes, not out 0 Extras 0 Total 70 Bowling Averages: Colvile, four for 11; Purdue, five for IS; Bain, one for in; Dinniss, none for 22. Second Innings. Heskett, b Colvile 1 Stolir, b Colvile « Bottrill. b Bain 1 Oliver, 1.b.w.. b Bain 0 Arden, h Bain 23 Mason, c Dinniss, b Colvile 3 Nicoll, not out 3S Stainton, not out 24 Extras Total for six wickets .. .. 107 Bowling Averages: Colvile, three for It: Bain, three for 48: McGie, none for 1; Purdue, none for 10; Osborne, none for 15. UNITED SERVICE. First Innings. Bain, e and b Nicoll Osborne, st Stainton, 1) Heskett .. 2 McGie, 1.b.w., b Nicoll 7 Maekay, c Stohr, b Heskett •' 0 Purdue, e Sykes, b Heskett 0 Ingram, 1.b.w., b Heskett 3 Colvile, c Hughes, b Heskett .... 2 Dinniss. c Bottrill, b Nicoll .... 0 Crawshaw, not out 4 Brabant 1) Nicoll ® Extras 5

Total 28 Bowling Averages: Heskett, five for 12: Nicoll, four for 11.