CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2139, 14 March 1908, Page 3 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

(Notes by “Short-Slip.”) Saturday was a day more'suitable for' football than cricket. The heavy rain of the two preceding days rendered the turf wet and heavy, while the intermittent showers which 1 ell during the course of the afternoon caused the ball to become greasy, and necessitated- the frequent use of sawdust. Chief interest centred in llio meeting of Wanderers and United at Victoria- Domain.

General surprise was expressed when AlcColl, tilt Wanderers’ caplain, won the losu and decided to bat. It was expected that tlio side winning the toss would take tlio field. AVanderers made a poor stand, and were all out in about an hour lor 39, no one- reaching double figures. F. Burke, a recent arrival from Sydney, was the destroying element. Ho bowls a left-hand, medium-pace ball, and varies liis length and pace well, and keeps them well up. Ho secured six wickets for 22 runs off ten overs. It was somewhat amusing to hear the comments of the Wanderers batsmen as they one by one came in to the pavilion after being dismissed by the new trundler. .Word had leaked out that United had got bold of something out of the ordinary as a bowler, and everyone was anxious to see liow lie would perform. “He doesn’t break an inch,” “There nothing in his bowling,” “1 could play him all day,” wero somo of the expressions to be heard. But

from the rapid manner in which Burke scut the batsmen back one alter the other, it was apparent that lie did break a bit, there must have been something in his bowling, and certainly the innings didn’t lust al’.l day. Glennie was ilio only man who admitted that*ho was beaten by a good bad. It landed a line length, and nipped in from the off, and clean bowled Glennie, who is about tlio most reliable batsman in the Wanderers team, first ball. Ilallaniore, the United, wicketkeeper, states that Burke was turning them well from, both sides. Charlie Reynolds also bowled very well, and captured three wickets for 9 runs off four overs. Ho got a lot of work on from log. It is not often that two deft-handed bowlers aro seen together, but both Burke and Reynolds aro left-handers. In addition to these two trundiers, Adamson (Wanderers) and Dargan (To Raul, who are also left-handers, bowled wed at the Domain on (Saturday. It is rare indeed that 0110 sees so many left-handed bowlers on the same field. United found runs most difficult to get when they took strike. Fire wickets wore down for 19 runs, when Hallamore, the United captain, came to tho rescue of his side, and. with a “luive-at-thee-villain” expression c-f countenance, set himself with dogged determination to stop the rot. When Gorman joined his captain, some good cricket was shown on tlio tricky wicket. Hallamore made somo | powerful pull strokes off short-pitched j ones from Babb, while Gorman gave j a bright and entertaining display, and made one capital hook-stroke ; off a ball that reared up quickly from , the pitch. The innings closed for 83, which j gave United a lead of 44 on the first innings. Harkcr was the most successful bowler with five for 29 off ten overs. AlcColl and Adamson also bowled well.

AVanderers lost Adamson and O’Donnell in the second innings for 9 runs. Tlio flight was so bad towards the close that tho umpires, on appeal, drew stumps ten minutes before 6 o’clock. The second day’s play in this match should bo of a very exciting nature. The Tarulieru r. Te Ran match commenced on the concrete-wicket at the Domain last Saturday at 3 o’clock. The wicket, of course, was not affected by tho rain. The chief feature in Taruheru’s innings was a capital innings by Athol Young for 45, not out. He scored at a much slower rate than usual, but his defence was soundness itself, and his strokes all round the wicket were well-timed and rang true. Had it not been for fact that Young is crippled at present by rheumatism to such an extent that it seriousfly affects liis running between tho wickets, liis score would have been

a much larger one. Charlie Lasker was going strongly, and was punishing the To Rau bowling severely when he. liacl tho misfortune to bo run out through overlapping Y r oung. His 10 was put together quickly by forceful and confident strokes. Tlio innings closed for 106, and at call of time Te Rau had lost Moore's wicket for 15. Dudfiekl and Pine were tlio most successful bowlers, and both secured tho same figures—three for 19 of 7 overs.

Next Saturday’s play will be followed with keen interest, as Wanderers, Te ltau, and United have all a chance of carrying off the championship, and there aro only two more matches 1o be played. The match between the old boys of Wanganui and Christ Colleges at Taruheru last Saturday provided a ; close and interesting contest. Two strong elevens took the field. Selby j Palmer gave a fine display with tro bat for Wanganui, and liis scoro of 92 was put together in finished style. Palmer is a batsman who can get runs against the best of bowling, and it was only natural that he extended scant courtesy to the long-hofis and over-pitched deliveries ho received from bowlers out of form on Saturday .last. Saxby was a surprise picket for fho Christ College -fellows. He was not seriously reckoned with by *ho opposition, but came to light with a higlily-creditable innings of 53, and shaped like a batsman all throug’i. Giiliingham also bitted nicely ’or 21. and George Reynolds, R. K. Murphy, and Burke also reached uouulo figures. The innings totalled 237. Ludbrook bore the brunt of tlie attack for Christ College, and captured five wickets for 82 off IS overs. Hugh Williams (three for 33) and A. B. Williams (two for 17) also trundled steadily. Christ College responded with 207. Jack Murpliy (41). Hugh \\ (Hiatus (34), George Cotteriil (27), Rowley Murphy (23, not out), and H. 15. and A. B. Williams (12 each) did the run-getting. Selby Palmer was Ilm most successful bowler, capturing seven wickets for 66 runs. The teams played for a dinner, < ir’l a most enjoyable reunion was held in the evening, when the losers entertained tha victors. It is to be hoped

that the Jixluro will become a permanent 0110. I would throw out a suggestion lo tho Poverty Buy Cricket Assoeiati ti that ail 'Uiinuiil Town v. Country match should ho arranged when • e full strength of tlio country is down for tlio poffi -tournament each year. This should provide a ca pi tail contest, and give tlio selectors an opportunity of gauging tlio capabilities of the players in tho country.

A Poverty Bay team leaves for Tolaga this week, and plays a match against the Coast to-morrow at Tolaga. Tho team is by no means a representative one, hut it is pleasing to see that the visit of the East Coast men is being returned. On Thursday AVaingake and C.S. and Co. meet at Victoria Domain. A social will he held in tlio evening at AA'hinray’s Hall.

It is probable that AVaingake will also pflay Alangatu on i'riday. Dargan, who played for Te Ran on Saturday, lias long been a prominent member of the Yass (N.S.AV.) representative eleven, and played against tho Englishmen. Bob Cary says ho is tlio best howler ho has kept wickets to this season.