SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2095, 22 January 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

CRICKET.

SOME TALL SCORING

GREAT BOWLING PERFORMANCE

(Notes by “Short Slip.”)

It is with sorno pleasure that ono can chronielo the rocont performances of our locul knights of tho willow. Bad wickets liavo caused scores to be small for so muny yours past that it requirod players with -a considerable amount of enthusiasm to porsovoro with tho game. Howovor, this season has seen a- change to tho now turf wicket, and the scores mado in recent matches aro ample testimony to its excellence. Tho fmo first wicket port'ormanco put up by Charlie Chapman -and Jack Bowman in the second innings of United against Wanderers last Saturday was worth going a long way to see. Why ! It was like being at a test match to see a 1 ingle lino of three figures posted on tho board, and several late arrivals smiled at what they took to bo tho humor of the man working the “telegraph.” Bowman is playing his first season’s cricket here. Ho hails from Wellington, whore ho played with tho Petouo Club, and more rccontly was stationed at Wanganui, and was reserve man for tlio eleven thero for tbo match against the Englishmen last season. Ho handles his bat artistically, and the variety of his strokes while compiling his fine scoro of GO last Saturday shows that ho is strong ■in scoring strokes all round tho wicked. Ho is also a usoful wicketkeeper, and a- very smart field in any position.

Chapman is an all round athlete, and is renowed as an oarsman. Ho held the amateur sculling championship of Now Zealand for some seasons. Ho is also making a first appearance as a regular player hero. He scored 25 ,ili the first innings and 54 -in tho second, and his batting was marked by a freedom and confidence that was refreshing as it was exhilarating. He is a powerful hitter, and made several hard,clean drives in the course of his innings. This player is a smart and active field, and a keen enthusiast. Chapman rode 46 miles on Saturday morning in order to bo able to resume liis innings. He breakfasted, at Nuliaka, and to watcli him sprinting between tlio wickets in the afternoon one would not have imagined that fie had spent the whole of the forenoon ill tho saddle. I take off my hat to tho Bowman-Chap-man combination ,and when next they collaborate may I bo there to see.

But I must not sing tho praises of the batsmen only. What of the bowling performance put up by tbo colt Yeats, which extinguished every spark of hope Wanderers had of winning tho match 1 Wanderers had only to make 124 to win, and thero was ample time in which, to get them. With, the strong batting sido they possess, this was a task easily within their power of achievement. But, alas for Wanderers! The United captain waved his hand, and Reynolds makes way for the colt Ho had McColl, the Wanderer’s captain, who was batting well and soundly, caught off liis third ball, at first slip. He clean bowled Wilson and McConnell, O’ Donald was caught by Sharp; Adamson was out l.b.w to tho first ball; Harry Maude was beaten with a brimmer; and Doran popped one up to Bowman at cover. Yeats only bowled six overs, yet with theso 36 balls he captured seven wickets for 2 runs. Considering tho calibre of the batsmen, it was a feat which Spofforth in his “demon” days might have had just cause of being proud of Yeats is a recent arrival from Napier, and played in the first eleven of the Scende Club in one or two matches at the beginning of tlietseason. lie is an unassuming youth, and as not at all likely to get “swelled head” as a result of his success. It will only spur him on to renewed endeavor

I must not omit to make reference to the fine first wicket stand mado by Jim Lang and Don Miller for Union against Te Rau on Thursday. To Rau wore strong in bowling, including Harry and Jack Wack, Oliver, Monk, Horne, Moore, Featon, and Kaipara; but the batsmen opened brilliantly, and appeared to get a good sight of the ball from the word “play.” The tens mounted rapidly, and the spirited batting of both men caused groat enthusiasm to bo manifested when tho century was at last hoisted with both men going as merrily -as the proverbial brook. Eventually Miller was bowled by J. Wack, with tho board showing 122 1—65. It was an inspiriting performance; and a few more liko it will in rouse public interest in tho game. Lang carried his score to 83, and had tho bad luck to bo run out. This player is a sound batsman, and can -score rapidly when onco properly warmed lip to liis work. His success is popular, -as he is ono of tho greatest enthusiasts the game possesses in the Dominion. He made a sad error in generalship, however, in hot declaring earlier. He could safely have declared with 150 up. At it was tho fine batting performance availed bis side nothing, as Te Rau wore enabled to make a draw of it. Victoria Domain is not tho only ground on which long scores can be hoisted though, and a couple of fine partnerships have to be recorded in the To Rau-Taruheru match, at Taruheru, last Saturday. J. Moore (55) and B. Dudfield (38) made a fine stand for Te Rau, and put on 107 for the second wicket in the second innings. Both men batted brilliantly against such strong bowlers as Young and Charles, and their display was heartily appreciated by those who had the good fortune to bo present. Those two aggressive batsmen, A. Young and C. Lasker, also gavo a very fine exhibition of fast scoring for the second wicket in Tarulieru’s second innings, and hoisted 90 for the partnership in quick time. Young scored 48 and Lasker 30, and it was well for Te Rau that they severed this dangerous partnership in time. Te Rau won the match on the firstinnings by 22 runs.