CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 December 1920, Page 3

CRICKET.

I TARANAKI v. WELLINGTON. FIRST DAY'S PLAT. HOME TEAM'S POOH SHOWING. Tlio first interprovincial of the seasou in Taranaki was commenced at Hawcra yesterday, in the presence oJ a fair crowd, when a representative Taranaki team* met a team from Wellington. Taranaki was not at full strength, being without the services of "Gunn," Heskett, Blundell, Stalnton, and others. Nevertheless the team that was put in the field should have been capable of making a better showing. The day was fine, though in the morning a breeze was blowing across the cround, but tils died away later. The pitch was in good order, and the outfield also was good. Pratt, who captained Taranaki, won the toss, and sent his men in, but they failed rather badly, only scoring 75 in an hour and twenty minutes against the bowling of Borrows and Aldersley.

Wellington gave a much better display, notching 207 in 2% hours. Though in the early stages Tsranaki's fielding was inclined to be slack, it Improved considerably in the afternoon.

Taranaki, requiring 132 to avert an innings defeat, started their second innings after the tea adjournment, and at call of time had scored 124 for 8 'wickets.

TARANAKI'S FIRST INNINGS. Taranaki opened with Beechey and Gibson, the former cutting Borrows' first ball to the boundary, and scoring a single off tre same over, aldersley then bowled a maiden to Beechey. After Gibson had scored a single Beechey drove Borrows for two, but next hall was taken by Burt.—B—l—r. Palmer filled the vacancy, and after a couple of singles lifted Aldersley to the boundary, and also scored a single. Borrows Ihen bowled a maiden .to Palmer, who was batting carefully. Smart fielding kept the runs down. Another maiden, and then Palmer cut Borrows to the boundary. Gibson brought up 20 after nearlyhalf an hour's play. Next over Borrows clean bowled Palmer.—2l—2—ll. Little Joined Gibson, who had scored 3, and four byes were scored. Four runs we: e scored off Borrows, Gibson having a lei c by Henderson. Gibson brought up 30 with a smartly run single, the next over producing four, Longhurst cleverly saving a boundary. Borrows' third ball, a. full toss, proved fatal to Little, who ducked to avoid it, but it took his wicket.—3."—3—4. Penny was clean bowled next ball—3s—-

Monteatb also had an escape, the hall just skimming the bails. Aldersley howled another maiden, and Gibson reached double figures with an uppish stroke, and then Aldersley badly heat Mnntenth.—3B—s—o. O'Neil Joined Gibson, v.i:o topped the '-"ore with a single, and byes produced an additional four. Another single to Gibson, and then O'Neil lifted Aldersley to lee for four Gibson, who had played patient ■ cricket, was next caught smartly behind the wickets off Borrows' first bail.—4B—G—l3.

The Innings eventually closed for 73. WELLINGTON'S REPLY.

Wellington opened with Berjry and Ronaldson, the ■ latter taking strike to Beechey, whose first halt went to the boundary for 4 byes, the second being sent to leg by Ronaldsnn for a similar number. Berry brought up 10 by drawing O'Ncil for two, and then a single. RonalOson also scored a three, whilst his partner added a couple, the over producing 'B> Ronaldson brought his total to 10 with a two and a single off Beechey, and the total to 20 with a leg drive off O'Neil for a couple. Another couple and a boundary fell to Ronaldson off O'Neil, who could not get his length. Two singles off Beechey, and then a couple to Ronaldson off O'Neil brought up 31 at the luncheon adjournment, after 15 minutes' play.

On resuming, a double clange of bowling was tried, Hughes and McCarthy going on. The batsmen, however, got busy, Ronaldson lifting boundaries off each bowler, whilst Berry scored a couple of singles. The first ball of Hughes' third over saw Ronaldson smartly caught behind the wickets by Gibson.—4B—l—Bl.

Bull filled the vacancy, arid scored singles cff Hughes and McCarthy, bringing up 50 after 20 minutes' piny. Hughes, keeping a good length, bowled a maiden to Bull, and off McCarthy's first ball Berry was smartly taken in the slips by Hughes.—so—2—9. Morton opened with a couple, followed by a! single. Bull also adding another and cutting Hughes nicely for two. McCarthy was breaking nicely, and kept the score down, as did Hughes with a good length. Three singles came in three overs, until Bull drove McCar-, thy hard back to the boundary, bringing 60 up. Morton did likewise two balls later, the over producing 12. Hughes bowled another maiden, whilst MdAirthy's next over produced 4. Hughes' fourth ball proved fatal to Morton.—"3—3—l3.

Henderson, the next man, scored a single, and with a cut for two oft McCarthy passed Tarannkl's total. Pour off Hughes' next over put on #O. Penny here replaced McCarthy, and Henderson placed his second ball to leg for four, and his sixth for a single. Henderson, after another couple, placed one back to Penny, who held it.—Bß—4—ll. Longhurst filled the vacancy, and after a maiden by Hughes, drove Penny straight back to the boundary, bringing up 90. Three halls later he snicked the same bowler for a single. Bull doing likewise off Penny and Hughes. Longhurst brought up the century by lifting Hughes to the boundary. Bull also drove him for two, the over producing 8. Longhurst now opened out and drove Penny twice to tire boundary, but. in trying to repeat the dose was caught right on the boundary by Osborne.— 110—r,—18.

Steady batting followed, and the innings closed for 207.

TARANAKI'S SECOND EFFORT. Taran'akl opened witb Pratt and Beechey, the latter taking strike to Borrows. Tlie first ball of Morton's neit over, a slow break, clean bowled Pratt.—4o—l—l'. After singles to each batsman, rainier drove each bowler for two, and then Beechey played Borrows' seventh ball on to ibe wicket.—4B—2—l9.

Little joined Palmer. Later Palmer stepped out, and was stumped off (he last ball.— 76—3—20.

Hughes joined Little, and after each had scored a single, Alderslcy clean bowled the latter with a well pitched ball.—7B—4—ll. 'fi'Nell o- carefully, the neit two overs producing only a bye and a single to Hughes. Then O'Neil lifted Morton straight to the boundary twleT in the over, Aldersley bowling another maiden to Hughes. O'.N'eil, with anotter boundary, brought up 90, but two balls later Morton badly beat him with a break.—93—s—l2. When stumps were drawn Tarankl was 124 for 8 wickets. Details :

TARANAKI. First Innings. Beechey, c Burt, b Borrows 7 Gibson, c Ronaldsou, b Borrows 13 Palmer, b Borrows 11 Little, b Borrows 4 Penny, b Borrows o Monteath, 1> Aldersley 0 O'Neil, run out 1,1 Pratt, c Morton, b Borrows , 11 Osborne, b Borrows 0 Hughes* noj out , 3 Extras: Byes S, leg byes 1 , 9 Total .....) 75 Bowling analysis.—Borrows, 14.t overs. 4 maidens, 27 runs, 8 wickets; Aldersley, 14 overs, 4 maidens, 39 runs, 1 wicket. Second' Innings. Beechey, b Borrows 19 Pratt, b Morton 17 Palme?, st„ b Morton 20 Little, b Aldersley 11 Hughes, uot out , 3 O'Neil, b Morton 1 Gibson, b Aldersley 16 Hughes, c Hughes, b Aldersley 4 Penny, o Burt, b Morton 1 Osborne, not cut 1 McCarthy, not out 1 Total for 8 wickets 124 Bowling: Morton 4 for 78; Aldersley'3 for 18, Borrowj'l tn 29.

[ WELLINGTON. First Innings, Berry, c Hughes, h McCarthy 9 Ronaldson, c Gibson, b Hughes 31 Bull, c McCarthy, I) O'Neil 40 Morton, b Huetes 13 Henderson, c and I) Penny 11 Longhurst, c Osborne, b Penny IS Borrows, b Beechey '9 Aldersley, c Osborne, b O'Neil 20 Bremner, not out .^l3 Burt, c Gibson, b McCarthy 8 Hughes, b McCarthy 10 Byes 14, leg byes ' 5 19 Total 207 Bowling' analysis: McCarthy, 10.4 overs, no miaideiis, 35 runs, 3 wickets; Hushes, 18 overs, 7 maidens, 30 runs, 2 wickets; .O'Neil, 7 overs, 0 maidens, 33 runs, 2 wickets; Penny, 6 overs, 0 maidens, 35 runs, 2 wickets; Beechey, 8 overs, 2 maidens, 20 runs, 1 wicket; Osborne, 3 overs, 0 maidens, 16 runs, 0 wick- ■ ets; Pratt, 4 overs, 1 maiden, 20 runs, 0 j wickets. i