CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1920, Page 7

CRICKET.

The following wilt represent the New Ply I s? in a Practice match against High School, at the school wicket to-morrow, | commencing 1.45 p.m.:—V. Elliott, W. H. Qulckfall, A. C. Lawrey, A. O. Clarke, J. Prlar, 1 P. Sheppard, C. B. S. Russell, S, Dunstan, i J. Henderson, S. Qulckfall, D. Doile; emergencies: W. Hughes, S. Baker, L. Brabant. NEWS AND NOTES. < (By "Spectator,") Although the Northerners had a comfortable win against South Taranuki on Thursday, play was alftvays interesting. Heavy rains had mado tlie pitcli rather heavy, likewise the outuoid, and consequently the ball did not travel trom the bat anything like.it did in the Nomad ® oundarl «* were very hard to register aunng the rooming, many bataniea having to be satisfied with singles that merited fours. Considering that South Taranaki played two emOTgenctes and one "pick-up," the team did m ' an , , generally ihe play demonstrated tnat laranaki possesses the makings of a good eleven. South Taranaki knocked up 64 runs in the morning, and North registered 54 for sli Wlth ,, "jo best batsmen dismissed, South Taranaki had reasonable prospects of securing a flrst innings lead. However, the 1 osb orne and Clarke, <Lispelled that possibility by presenting a. straight bat to «ie oppomton and passed tfie score. Both left sooa after and Nlcoli did not remain long, SO With pahner and Stainton -at the wickets it looked as if the Southerners would not long be delayed. But they were disappointed, as the batsmen played enterprising cricket, nnd added another 40 to. the score. Palmer gave , dls P la y> and only once played a poor stroke, but that was a wretched one that just missed his wicket, and he then kept going, making the best score for his team. South Taranaki improved their total in the second innings, making 87, finding the pitch improving with each over, but the final result was never in doubt, the necessary runs for Stainton 111013 CaUsiDg ao anxlet y to skipper Pratt, who captained the Southerners, was as active as ever In the field. In the second innings he gave a fine display of wrist work, scoring sweetly with the minimum amount of effort. McCarthy, at the bowling crease, proved that ago had made him little less effective than the years past, when his control over the ball secured him a place in the New Zealand team. Beg. Penny, of Okaiawa, looked gpoa for a score in the second inniuga, but, picking the wrong ball from Johnson, lifted it and retired. In the flrst innings he top-scored tor his team, anaking some big hits. Maunsell 5 * J?°n r ; In the -first lnn * n fis. he went nrst ball, and in the second innings he played ? i? dkiwfaid his wicket, so hat Johnson secured him with his first deuvery in each innings. This was unfortunate top the team, as they reasonably anticipated good figures from the Manaia representative He is a very fair bowler, but failed to keep his length like McCarthy. Pearon only recelled two bails in his first innings, and was beaten all the way. In the second stroke he stonewalled" in the most approved style, and looked like being not out when Heskett beat him all the way. Fearon, who has been Playing cricket for a good many years, paid a graceful tribute to .Tohnson, stating that he Was greatly pleased when Johnson went off. He had a couple of overs from the bowler, and they all required careful watching, and he was greatly relieved when Stainton replaced Johnson with Osborne. Johnson, in IVaron's opinion, is an ideal left-hander. Heskett quite failed to reproduce his club batting form In either innings, nnd it looks as if the Taranaki crack Is a. little weak in anything pitched on the -leg side. He made amends for his partial batting failure by semiring two wickets and caught a third man. Hasell played very steadily, presenting a very solid front to the dangerous ball. Palmer impressed one as. a lad with a future. He has a £OOd defence, which he demonstrated to some purpose In the second Innings. Stainlon who is a. better bat than many credit him wth being, should go In earlier. He kept Wickets admirably, the visitors taking no at tho batting creasa. Osborne, as In previous games, showed that he can get wickets when wanted as each visit to tho bowling (Tease permitted him to secure a victim. Clarke is steadily Improving in his batting, bo far he has been a failure in bowling, but proves a difficult man to dislodge from the wickets. Johnson's stay at the wickets was not very remunerative. In the return game I should like to see the selectors give Hugliei, Waller, and Morrison [ a piDie, omitting some of the weaker men Enthusiasm counts for a lot; and the' Albion' team deserve a win, although so fa* that honor has been denied them Despite defeats rollowlng each engagement the team comes up smiling each week. The players, however, require something more than enthusiasm, and the assistance of a few experienced players [ would prove very acceptable just now. Urenul proved a surprise packet, and although they were pitted against an admittedly weak team, the hatting display bv Urenul showed that they possess some good batting material, the Puller Bros, proving very forceful batsmen, whilst Wibon and OVeiil found no difficulty in negotiating tlie Albion trundling O'Neill and Bertrand were also successful at tho bowling crease. The success of Urenul should put them In good heart for next- Thursday's fixture when they plav Walreka. Although physically handicapped Berg showed that he could bowl, securing Ave wickets fof li runs, and then top-scored for Albion Owing to the latter team being short-handed, Berg and Hoftaann, of the Walreka Club, found places in the eleven.