CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2054, 4 December 1907, Page 5 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

(By “Short Slip.”) Tho Uniifed-Te Rail match provided a fairly exciting finish oil Saturday, To It’a u winning hy 32 runs on tho first innings. J. Gibson was suffering from influenza and was not expected to do much to fulfill these promises and was easily caught off Pino for 2 runs. J. Lang played a very careful innings for 19, whilst Gorman gavo no chances in compiling 23. .He purposely left the off ball alone,-and was caugliit out at point off a hard square hit—a bou t tho only off stroko •ho tried. Coop and Bowman just reached double figures. Bowman, however, gave three chances. Hutcheson was not out 10, which included a lovely drive over the inside fence and' through the hedge. R. G. Hallamore’s 37 was the best innings in. United’s side. Ho was very careful and although he gavo two difficult chances to tho wicketkeeper his innings was almost faultless from a defensive point of view. United only looked like -wiinningwhen Hallamoro (well set) and Gorman were together with eight wickets down. Baxter and Pino bowled in great- stylo. They hardly sent a loose ball down and being backed up by brilliant fielding they Were very hard to score off. "With tho exception of a few overs from Barnby, they bowled throughout United’s innings : a really great performance. Barnby was very unlucky in having three chances missed behind the wickets. ...

Of Te Rau's fielders Kaipara was the best. ,Ho covered a lot of ground and his picking up was faultless. 'Baxter, Barnby and Olsen, also put in fine work —Baxter took tlireo good caitclies in tho slips. Cary was not at his best behind tlie wickets.

To Rau’s tail were sent in to bat and 5 wickets were down for 20 runs when Olsen and Barnby got together and put oil ""another 29 runs before time was called, both being not oult. Tho light was very bad at the finish! Reynolds bowled well, getting 4 iwickets for 15 runs, whilst .Bowman again showed that ho can keep wickets. Te Rau have now scored three wins out of three matches and aro leading for tho Championship. Next Saturday Taruherii and "Wanderers finish their match at Taruheru.

For a medium pace good length bowler I don’t see anything in tlie Bay to beat Jack Pine. Tbo selectors will have a most difficult task to omit him if ho goes on getting wickets. In Thursday and Saturday matches lie has so far'taken 20 wickets —that is four matches, 3 Saturday and 1 Thursday" matches, and ’they have cost only 7 runs apiece.; Barnby, I believe will be leaving here before Christmas. This will • J very disappointing to Poverty Bay players as his chance for inclusion in tho representative team is very rosy. Barnby in Thursday, , Saturday and off matches, has made to date 238 runs —as many runs as most so-oalled “great” players will get in a whole season —perhaps two seasons. To Rau will miss Barnby badly.

•It is very pleasing to admirers l f R. G. .Hallamoro to see him taking such pains with liis batting. I ami looking forward to see R-. G. getting a' century before long. On Saturday lie played the only game under the circumstances, but be should have gone in first wicket down. Players are all very anxious to get runs this season and are practising hard. The net practice has been a great inducement this season. Those practising last week that impressed me most were:—Hallamore, Reynolds, Bowman, Baxter, Lang, Olsen and Monk. Miller hits too much when at practice. Last Thursday he batted in a different style altogether and made 31 runs.