CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2069, 21 December 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

(Notes by “Short Slip.”) Our Motu friends havo-como and "one, and as -in past seasons have left nothing but the pleasantest of memories behind them. Cricket -lias been steadily and surely gainng ground each season in Gisborne, and the standard of play this -season is fairly high. It w-as truly inhospitable in ti'ie extreme to treat our Motu visitors as tho Saturday eleven did in ■the concluding match of the series last week. When Hal'lamore won the toss, the country men had to take the field with all the meteorological indications pointing to i blazing hot day. Motel started well, and Dere-coin-t sent down three or four very fine overs a.t tho start. These were good enough to dispose of S. Wilson and W. -Gibson. The former turned one into tlie slips, ami the latter was beaten by pace. With three good wickets down for -a small total, the Motu players liad reason to congratulate themselves, but they had to find that there was absolutely no “tail” to the local team. Charlie Lusika-r was the batsman to make trouble for the Motu trundlers. He started in oh-iii'acteris-tic fashion, and smote good deliveries and bad alilco with iinpartiaJity. Charlie is just the stamp of batsman to send in- early. He lias no nerves, and goes at tlie bowling from tlie jump. A beautifully-pitched ball is 'just -as liable to go sailing out of tlie ground a.s a full-toss to log. llie poor bowler is in a quandary, and commences to shorten liis length, with the -result that he is bit -harder and further than ever. After Laskar liad rattled up 38 ill double quick time, a fine stand was made by -Hallamore and George Harker. Hallaniore is -tlio most consistent batsman in tho district this season. He is in capital form; every stroke lings solid and true ; and lie meets tho balll with the full face of the blade, Hallaniore had ■ huut 20 up when Harker partnered him, -and tlie pail- gave one of the most entertaining displays of quick scoring ever seen in a local match of any importance. Harker surprised everyone by the versatility of liis strokes, and the freedom -and power lie infused into -liis piny. This batsman hails from Yorkshire, -and about three years ago played for the Colts against the County eleven. This was the lirst occasion on which ho had got properly going, ami he conclusively proved that he is a batsman of much more than average -ability. Hal'lamore made a mis-stroke when lie had scored 56 by splendid cricket. His leg strokes were -a feature of bis play, while he also hooked and' pulled in capital fashion. He kept the ball down well, and the -leather travelled at a great pace along the carpet from his excellently timed drives, pulls, hooks, and glides. Harker went merrily on until -lie reached the coverted three figures, and how the welkin did ring in recognition pf the first centurv made in a first-class match in Gisborne. AV. Gibson lias on three occasions scored the century in local club cricket. He scored 104 at To Arai. 11l at tlie Reuy station, and 100 at Matawhero, but Harker's was the first three, figure innings wlicli has ever been scored in town. I think the local Cricket Association should take some steps to commemorate Harker’s performance in some way. A. Toung also proved -that he is a first-class batsman. He followed up his fine record in club cricket this season by a free and attractive innings for 67 against (Motu. The total for the innings (342) established a record for Poverty Bay. The Motu men took tlieir leatherhunting like the fine .sportsmen they are, -and pegged away with the ball and in the field as the centuries -appeared on the board with grit and determination that spoke volumes for them. But they were absolutely tired out, and when their turn, came to bat they collapsed. Never mind I The Motu players can console themselves that Australia used to get just such fearful drubbings from England not so very long agoi but tlie tables are turned now and the Englishmen have to chase the leather just a.s hard as the other fellows. Perhaps the day may come when the Motu players may tnr.ii- the tables, and avenge the. severe defeat they experienced at the hands of the Gisborne eleven on Saturday last. Tho sole topic of conversation among local players' this week lias been the failure of Hawke’s Bay to send tlieir team to Auckland and Gisborne. The Napier men an such shockingly poor starters that the intimation did not c-onie as a great surprise. Some wags even went so far ’a.s to say t?hai> the huge totals put up by Auckland against Cnnterbury aiul by Poverty Bay against Motu bad scared the Hawke’s Bay men off tlieir northern trip. ■ The local Association- is now making an effort to get a team away to Auckland at New Year. Our fellows are anxious to meet- Relf, Iladdon, Hem us, Kerr , -Hussey, Howden, and Coy. at the top of tlieir form, as they are at present-, and realise that the only way in which to ascertain- whether you are any good at a game is to tackle the best and strongest opponents you can meet. Reynolds, the United lef-teliand bowler, is deserving of a pat on the] back for liis fine bowling performance] against the Motu in tho Friday’s] ■match. In my humble opinion, this bowler is 'tlie most useful trundler wo liavo in tho district. He comes across from leg to a right-hand batsman, and when lie learns to mix them with more judgment will be a really first-class -bowler.

To llau simply slaughtered C.S. and Co’s eleven-oil Thursday last, notwithstanding the fact that tho 'attar had a strong batting side on paper. Tell it not in Gath, the whole s.dc was dismisssed for 22! Harry \Vaek did the damage, -and bowled very well indeed. He liad all the batsmen feeling forward for -them, and came out with a very fine 'bowling record. Jack Pine also bowled with fine length and kept the batsman quiet- at the other end, while AV-ack bagged tlie wickets. To Rau have a promising recruit in F. Burke. He made 2(3 in good style, and also lielded smartly and well. Teddy Featon proved that lie is a much.better player than many people imagine, and liis 31 was a distinctly meritorious performance. Te Ran had a strong eleven in tne field, and outplayed tlieir opponents in all departments. Local players are all delighted that Australia got the first -leg in for Iho test matches, and. though everyone wants to see the test side will, r.s Colonials we should like to see Australia make the M.C.C. team disgorge the mythical ashes carried away iiy the eleven captained by P. F. Warner,