CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 236, 15 March 1915, Page 7

CRICKET.

THE SATURDAY COMPETITION*. What illicit bo termed the semifinal of the. week-end coinjji'titiun was reached on Saturday, when two unfinished matches were completed. On the Recreation Oroumls, Now Plymouth gained a throe-point victory over Tikorangi by a very largo margin. At Inglewood the local team, within ten minutes of time, converted a two-jioint defeat into a tin co-point victory after a very interesting game. The position now among the leading teams is: New Plymouth 13 points. Inglewood 12 points, United Service 11 points. Next Saturday's match between Inglewood and Law will settle the championship. Should Law win, Xew Plymouth will remain at the head of the list, otherwise they will be supplanted by Inglewood.

United Service and Albion had a friendly game at Western Park, where there was some big scoring. The best performances were: — WITH THE BAT. Hcskett (Xew Plymouth) 140 Clarke (Albion) ' S7 Roberts (Tikorangi) 70 McKio (United Service) !>:! Sutherland (Inglewood) 3(i Elliott (Law)' 32 WITH THE BALL. Xicoll (Xew Plvmonth) .... (i for 47 McKao (Inglewood ft for IS Elliott (Law) ft for 41 Hcskett (Xew Plvmouth) 5 for 28 Xicoll (Now Plymouth) 4 for i2 Roberts (Tikorangi) ft for 70 Purdue (Albion) , 5 for 47 IXCLEWOOD v. LAW. The completion of tin's match at Inglewjod was witnessed by a good attendance of spectators who were rewarded by an exciting finish. In their fh-t venture. Law had scored 10ft and liiglowiiid U'.t for four wickets. The latter continued their innings, the iiotoiit men (Sutherland 21 ami Thomas 1) fioing the bowling of Elliot and Rilling. Law were minus Lash (who scored Of in the first innings) and R. P. Quilliam. The batsmen opened carefully and very few runs came off the first few overs Rilling being particularly difficult. The score, however, slowly mounted, and the batsmen carried the total to lit! before Matthews, fielding substitute, caught Sutherland off Rilling. M'Rae followed, but was caught by Rowley seven runs later, and in the next over Billing took a hot onehanded catch in the slips and disposed of Thomas, who had batted well for 13. The remaining four wickets added as many riins_ and the innings closed 2S in arrears. ' At about 3.20 p.m., Rilling and Rowley faced Egglefon and M'Kao. The former's fourth ball wax fatal to Rilling, whilst in M'Rae's second over Rewlev touched one, which Matthews held.' With their two best batsmen disposed of for one run, Law's ■prospects looked bad. Elliot and Little soon placed a different aspect on matters. Elliot played carefully, scoring an occasion single, whilst Little was content to block, and remained at the wickets over half an hour before opening. Elliot had a let off in the slips by Smith at six. Roth batsmen now grew a little more aggressive, but the fielding was good, and the score mounted slowly. Various changes of bowling were tried, and at 32 Little had the hard luck to be given out, caught to a bump ball. He had scored 11, and had been at the wickets over an hour. Johnson assisted Elliot to carry the score to ftl, before Eggleton. who had gone on at the other end. got the latter for 32. His stand hail been an invaluable one. The remaining four wickets fell for two runs, and the innings closed for 53. having lasted 100 minutes.

With fiO to flay, and requiring 82 runs to win. Inglewood set out to get them, for failure would have ruined their prospects of the championship. Matthews and Eggleton opened, and went in for bitting. Twos came in quick- (succession, and Vforc the first weket fell in the fourth over 10 were on the board. Eggleton -went two runs later. Mar.-h and McKcnzie became partnered, and neither wasted any chances. Smart running between the wickets, aided by some loose fielding, saw the score mount to 53 before Marsh 7>laycd Elliot on and Smith (13) carvied the score to 75, and then Mcßae (7) assisted McKcnzie (25) to carry the score, past Law's total, and Inglewood gained the victory with ten minutes to spare. Only one boundary was hit, all the runs being scored in singles and couples, and having to be run out. Detailed scores: LAW. First innings 105 Second Innings. Billing, b Eggleton 0 Bewley, c Matthews,'b Mcßae .... 1 Elliot, b Mcßae 82 Little, c Harkness, b Smith 11 Johnson, e Marsh, b Harkness 0 Hughes, c McKcnzie b Mcßae .. 0 Harlc, b M'Rae ...' '.'. 2 Anderson, not out 0 Quilliam, c Darkness, b Mcßae ..'.'. 0 Extras 1 Total 63 Orand Total ...... 218 Bowling Analysis. Mcßae, five wickets for 18 runs; Harkness. one for 4: Smith, one for 12; Eggleton", one for 18. INGLEWOOD. First Innings. Marsh, b La-ili 39 McKcnzie, c Hughes b'Lash .... 1 McDonald, e Harlc.'b Elliot 10 Matthews, b Elliot 3 Pillion, b Elliot ....'.'. C Sutherland, e substitute, b Elliot .. 30 Thomas, e Billing, b Klliot 13 Mcßae. e licwlcy. b Billing f, Harkness, run out 1 Eggleton. b Billing '.'..... 0 Smith, not out 0 Extras 14 Total .'. in; Bowling Analy.-ds.—Elli„t. the wickets for 41 runs: Lash, two for 24: Billing, two fur 10; Anderson, none for 8. Second Innings. Matthews, 1, Rilling 5 Eggleton, <• Hughes, b Elliot 13 Marsh b Elliot 15 MeKen'zie, not out 25 Smith, b Elliot, ....'.'. ... 13 M'lhie. not out 7 Total for four wickets 88 Orand total 225 Bowling Analysis.—Elliot three wickets for .!" ,-uu- Billing, one for 31.