CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1919, Page 7

CRICKET.

TO-DAY'S FIXTURES. Following are the fixtures for to-day's cricket matches:— Senior.-i-New Plymouth A v. Tikorangi, at Tikorangi; New Plymouth B v. Old Boys, at Pukekura Park; High School v. Freezing Works, at High School. Junior—High School A v. Freezing Works, at Show Grounds; High School B v. Whiteley, at Racecourse; Waireka v. Tikornngi, "at Tukapa. THE TEAMS. Teams have been selected rb follow: SENIORS. New Plymouth A team: E. G. Johnson, J. W. Heskett, W. H. Quickfall, E. Lash, E. Dinniss, J. Henderson, T. V. Maekay, P. E. Stainton, R. B. McDonald, W. C. Weston, D. Sutherland. , New Plymouth B team: Purdue, Priar, A. 0. Clarke, Dunstan, Kxapp, V. Elliott, G. H. Saunders, Lawrey, Hewitt, P. Shephard. D. Doile; emergencies, W. Hughes, L. Brabant, Oliver. Old Boys': Bewley, Quilliam, Oshorne, Monteath, Bottrill, Colson, Johnston, Saxton, Oliver, Eggleton, Fox. Freezing Works: Morrison, Clarke. Hellaby, Vaill, O'Donnell. Sheppard, Girling, Bums, W- Kinsella, E. Kinsella, Reed. JUNIORS. Whiteley: Colman, S. White, E. White, P. Wright, Huahson, A. Dickson, Cooper, Morris, Jillett, Sutton, Boon, G. Dickson, Wells. Waireka: Parker, Gardner, E. Hoffmann, B. Carter, Frewin, Brokenshire, Fitzpatrick, Wiley, H. Hoffmann, Morrison, Feek; emergencies, Handley and GaylardFreezing Works: Goodall, Bartley, Foote, Haskell, Barriball, Way, Sutherland, N. Kinsella, W, Gunson, rarritt, Rea. NOTES. (By "Spectator") With the Bat—Heskett 80 and 58, Morrison 05. With the Ball—Heskett, 11 wickets for 48 runs; Johnson, 13 for G3; Monteath, 1 for 10; Clarke, 5 for 20; Purdie, 5 for 20; Sutherland, 5 for 24. A total of 240 runs for three innings made last Saturday in the New Plymouth A and B team must be considered a very satisfactory rate of scoring, ns the outfield was exceedingly heavy. It required solid hittmg to secure boundaries. Indeed, in the B's first innings it remained for the ninth man, Priar, to secure the first boundary for the match. Following on the debacle of the earlier batsmen, his display was a timely effort, and he looked like making a good score when he was caught in two minds and bowled by McDonald off a poor stroke. iLawrey, with two, not out, stood up to the bowling very well, his footwork being very fine. ' He and Shepherd look like making good batsmen, wnilst the latter going in too late to the bowling crease, obtained a good average—--3 for 11. He sent down a few straight balls and had the satisfaction of breaking through Heskett's strong defence. Baker, in the first innings, also played confidently, and with a few more games should do better. The remainder of' the team were too prone to go for a hit, and this was demonstrated in the second innings, when seven batsmen were dismissed by catches. Considering the youthful appearance of the eleven, the fielding was very fair, but Purdue, the captain, appeared to err in his judgment regarding the bowling, keeping on too long himself, and not working his first change until the A's had nearly reached the B's total. Dunstan only had one over and that secured a wicket, and he had to give way. in the next match it might not be a bad policy to open with Shepherd and Dunstan, right and left-handers. Heskett's batting was high-class. He played a straight bat to the straight ■ituff, and anything loose was promptly despatched to the boundary. He was especially severe on Purdue, whose opening over cost 17 runs. He had hard luck in not securing his,century, many of his hits being worth many more runs than his total showed. He secured three catches, but the success of the oper'ng bowlers gave him no chance of visiting the bowling crease.

Mackay was in quite u time for his -0 runs, and his success was very pleasing to his eomradea. He kept the ball well ilfiwn. some of his drives being neat and effective. Sutherland, who scored 11, gave the impression of, being able to hit, but was well held by Shepherd in his first chance ofl' Purdue. Quickfall's six was one solitary hit, but it was a beauty off Purdue that sailed up to the terraces. Trying to repeat the performance he failed and paid the penalty. Weston, like Priar, went out through being undecided, being evidently unprepared "when the ball crashed through his defence. His catch that dismissed Ouickfall was well judged, being out in the country'. Stainton kept wickets very well, and had hard luck in that a palpable catch at the wickets off Lawrey in the "first innings, Avent against him. He had no chance at the batting crease, the innings closing soon after he went in. The fielding of the A team was in marked contrast to that of the B eleven, and they snapped up all the chances offering. One would have liked to see other howlers given a trial, but Stainton was after the three-point victory, and secured this with 2."> minutes' to spare. In Johnson (medium lefthander), and Sutherland (medium to fast right-hander), he has a good opening attack, but until the other material is tried out it is hard to say what might happen if the bowling of the opening pair is collared- On the display the A team is a good average eleven, and worth more runs individually than were secured in the above match. Hcskett is showing fine batting form just now, and if he can retain this his average for the season should be very substantial. Against. Inglewood, on Thursday, he went through a strong batting eleven in a manner that made his bowling quite superior to the batsmen, who were all more or less uncomfortable when facing him. A stylish bat, active in the field, and a good length bowler, Heskett should be one of the first men picked to represent Taranaki. Stainton, like Heskett. plays in Thursday and Saturday matches. , His modesty as captain makes him go in too late, as he invariably is not out. Against Inglewood he opened the second intirngs and made the useful score of 20, which included quite a number of ercep strokes. So far Whittle has accomplished little with the bat. In years past the president of the Association was a proUfifi «r>orer. and thsrs are many an-

thusiasts who would like to see him strike form again* Freezing Works are proving a very fair combination. Morrison's lonehanded batting effort was mainly *esponsible for the victory against Tikorangi, but the Works' eleven contains others who' may bo found capable of knocking up docont seorei. There was a decided improvement in the fielding of the Waireka team in the match against Albion on Thursday. At Inglweood, the ground work was atrocious and catching very faulty. This was not the case against Albion, the stopping and returning being clean ami smart, whilst the bowling was judiciously changed. Waller, as was the case in tlife match, against Inglewood, wielded a straight bat, »nd promises to develop into a fine defensive batsman. At present his chief stroke is the drive, whilst his 1.-undlirtg proves very effective, his Ave. for 22 against the wind being a fine performance. Sole was in a long time for 17, and if he can curb his desire to score off every batl should be worth his place in any team. Danks, usually a very solid batsman, «v«8 palpably unfit to play for Albion, a hard knock in a previous match troubling hiui considerably, and Waireka wore fortunate in securing him cheaply. Elliott liad hard luck in being run nut when playing confidently and looking like making a score. Wood (20) also batted solidly, for his score, and kept wickets very well. Roper, thn <nst change, had 11 runs knocked off him, and then accomplished the hat '.rick, bowling Goodwin and Hoskin, and getting Townley caught at thn wickets. His success was warmly appreciated by his comrades. Partridge and Harkness, who batted well against Waireka. nl«o came to licrht with useful scores against New Plymouth, whilst Partridge did well "in securing three wickets for \\ tuts. Nicholls, who made a good score in the first match, has since fallen from grace, his last three efforts with the but being 10, 0, 2. The Thursday competition is in an interesting position, Inglewood, New Plymouth, and Waireka, having won two games and lost one, Albion have lost botli their games, but will do much better as the season progresses. Eltbam at one time possessed an excellent cricket team, and there appears to be no reason why the old club should not be successfully re-established for there are quite a number of followers' of this popular sport living in Eltham and the district. It is satisfactory to learn that despite the lack of interest displayed earlier in the season there is now some likelihood of the club being re-established with a fair membership. A number of cricketers have promised their active support, while many who would not play have expressed a wish to join the club if formed. If only a few more would come forward the reestablishment of tho club will soon be au accomplished fact.—Argus.