CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2397, 12 January 1909, Page 2

CRICKET.

AROUND THE GROUNDS.

(Notes by “Short-Slip.”)

The various championship competitions were resumed last week alter the break, caused by tho Christmas and Now Year holidays.

Owing to a good number oi the regular players not having returned from their holidays, all the elevens took the field short-handed on Thursdav last.

To Rau, with seven men, ran up the respectable score of 150 against Cosmopolitan. Jim Moore kept up the even tenor of .his ruu-gotting way, and in his customary sound style placed an even bilf-ceutury on the board opposite his name. This young batsman is dn rare batting form this season, and has proved himself to be about the most consistent scorer in the district. Though he does not possess a great variety of'scoring strokes, Moore watches the- ball right on to the but, and his defence is most difficult to nenetrato. Jack AVack (32, not out), Hogan (22), and Harry Wack (14, run out) were the other contributors towards To Han’s good total. The Cosmopolitan bowling was on the weak side. Allan Pirie, a promising voting colt, struck me as being a good" deal the steadiest of those tried. He bowls a good length ball of fast medium pace, and should meet with success. He clean bowled Scholium with a good one, and had only 13 runs scored off him. Rob Carv, with his slows, bagged three for 39, but‘’Sailor” Roderick, whose length w»is erratic, had 34 runs scored off hint for the solitary victim he secured.The Cosmopolitan men did not fare too well on taking strike, and the full strength they could muster (nine men) only contributed by their combined efforts exactly as many as Jim Moore had scored off his own bat —an even 50. Harry Maude hit out well for his IS. and mlide oiie particularly "fine drive over the on barrier for four. Scroggie made a first appearance in this match, and favorably impressed the cognoscenti by the stylish manner in which he flashed bis blade during liis short stay at the wickets. After putting together a dozen by confident and -well-executed strokes, lie was smartly caught at ahe wickets • bv Jack Wack, off Scholium. Seroggie is a recent'arrival from England, and for several seasons past played regularly with the (Stanley Club, of Liverpool, which is one. of the oldest Clubs in the West Lancashire League. Harry Wack (five for 25), Moore (two for 7), and Scholium (one folio), secured the wickets for To Ran. On the concrete wicket, Union proved superior to United on the day's ljlav. and led by three runs on first bands. Rutting eight men, United could only scrape together JSB against the fine bowling of Athol 5 oung, who kept a good length and made great nace off the concrete pitch. He cap-' lured five for 23, his victims including AY. Gibson, Armstrong, Hallamove, and Gorman. Union responded with 01, of which Young, whose day out it wlis, scored no less than 47 by fearless and aggressive- bit ting. He gave several chances, lmt the luck was with him, and his inning; was a distinctly fine effort. Hallamore and Armstrong bowled unci’llngod• the former .securing three for 24 and the latter three for 27. -In Ilnur second innings United nt>a run up 19 for three wickets when stumps were drawn. Gibson scored 2!) anti J. Lang 18 (not out). The concluding day’s play in this match should bo .brimful of mteresv. Only one match was played m the Saturdav competition last week. ’ Exceptional interest attached to tlic meeting of United and AYanderers, >t Victoria Domain, as both teams wero away in tlio lead for the championship", with only one point' separating them. A charge of 6d was mode to thy ground, and a fair number of spectators closely watched the phfiV ■ The spin of the coin favored Charlie Lasker, the AYanderers’ captain, and Hog Hallamore led the United men on to the field. Harry Babb and George Glennie were the opening batsmen to the bowling of Lionel Manning and Jin Itamore. The opening stages wero slow. The bowling was good, and the batsmen took no risks. The first incident of note went down to the credit of Harry Babb, who jumped out to a slow from Hallamore, and .lifted it finely over the press-stand for four. The runs slowly and surely continued to come until 20 appeared oil the board. AVith 25 up, Babb jumped out to a slow off-break from Manning, but failed to get ~ .fairly on to the ball, and Hallamore took _a smart catch high up vat first slip. 251 —14. Scroggie, looking every inch a cricketer, strolled nonchalantly to the crease, and filled the vacancy. A o-ood deal of interest attached to the appearance of this batsman, as good judges of the game had spoken, very flatteringly Of liis ability to wield a first-class blade. He shaped well, and made liis strokes in a manner that proved conclusively he had learned liis cricket- in a good school. He assisted Glennie to take the total to 35. when Hallamore got a nippy offbrealc past the latter, who hud shaped solidly for his 11. Jo—- " , Athol Young joined the Lancas-

trian, but without alteration to the total. Hallamore, who was mixing liis deliveries, sold Scroggio with the pace of a hanging ball, which the batsman made a yorker of, and was lato in his efforfito chop down on the hall, which found the sticks. 35 —3 —7.

Allan Hogg, the colt, joined Young, and the score slowly mounted, applause greeting the posting of the half-century. Young played confidently, and broke a string of six consecutive maidens opposite Manning’s name by driving that bowler finely to the off boundary. Tile colt was palpably nervous, and caused some amusement by his absolute refusal to be tempted by Hallamore’s curly ones. In many instances lie never lifted the bat, and allowed the ball to bump up against his blade. At 51 Young was deceived by la break back from- Hallamore, and was out l.b.w. Young had played well for his baker’s dozen. 51—4—13. Charlie Lasker, the captain, wns the incomer. Many people regard Lasker as a hitter purely and simply. These critics -must have had this erroneous impression dispelled by the solid manner in which the AVanclerers captain played Manning’s opening over to him. Manning was bowling exceptionally well, but Lasker met each delivery with the full face of the blade and the hall travelled back straight along the pitch to the howler. After batting for twenty minutes for one fun, Allan Hogg at last had a go at one of Hallamore’s, but the lull landed iu mid-off’s hands, and •58 —s—l5 —1 appeared on the board.

Lee-Archer joined liis captain, who was now warming to his work, and causing the score to mount bv dealing out impartial punishment to both bowlers. Hallamore was bowling splendidly, and grazed Lasker’s off stick with two very fine off-breaks in succession. Hallamore was too good for Lee-Archer, and found the lefthander’s sticks with an off-break before he had opened an account. GO— 6 —o. Sam McConnell joined Lasker, who made a number of powerful drives off both bowlers, which found the boundary. After scoring, three, Hallamore beat Sam all the way up tho pitch with that deadly hanging hall of his. Sam went out for a big hit, but ended up by doing nothing but watching tho wickets going down. 72—7—3. Adamson joined Lasker, and the best stand of the innings was followed. Adamson is a batsman of the Lasker type. He has no nerves, and takes strike with an “have-at-tlie-villain” air. He'lifted Manning over the on barrier with liis second stroke, and Lasker kept helping himself to runs in aggressive style at the other end. The century soon appeared, amidst hearty applause. The United fielding was not good at this stage. Mnd three lofty hits to loug-off should have been taken. AA'ith 107 up, the innings collapsed. Lasker who had played an invaluable innings for 31, was caught by Gorman off Hallamore, while Adamson, whose 0 was made at a time when runs were badly wanted, was taken by Lang off the same Jiowlr-r. Maude was out l.b.w. to Manning first bill, which left Cummings, who was making a first appearance, not out without having scored. Hallamore and Manning bowled well. The former mixed his 'length and pace, and came across from both sides. He captured eight wickets for 03 runs, off .120 balls, anti should have had even better figures if all the chances offered off his bowling had been taken. Manning also trundled very steadily. He bowled unelsuiged with Hallamore throughout the innings, and captured two for 30. At ouo stage of the game he sent down six maiden overs in succession. His bowling was just a trifle on the short side, which gave the halsmen a elinneo of watching the ball. Bowman was not m liis best form behind the sticks, Curt it must be admitted that Haliamore is a most difficult howler to “keep” to, as he breaks all over the “shop” and at all paces. The United fielding was not good, some of the fieldsmen misjudging catches, which should have been easily taken.

United made a disastrous commencement, a nd at call of time had lost six good wickets for 55 runs- The light was dull, and the wicket was crumbling at one end. On the United captain’s appeal stumps were drawn quarter of an hour beforo the time fixed on account of the bad light. Bowman (14) and Hugh AVhyte (12) wove tho only batsmen to do anything. This was Hugh’s first appearance this season, vmd he handled his blade with all liis old-time brilliancy. Adamson (three for 20), Glennie (three for 10), Young (none for 19)? and Lee-Archer (none’for 2), were the AVanderers’ bowlers. Glennie was a good deal the cleverest of those tried, and his slow hall takes a lot of playing. Adamson also gets in a deadly hall at times, and has a distinct swerve from log. The AYanderers’ fielding was tip-top. The men were keen and alert, while the picking up and returning was clean and accurate. Sam McConnell stumped Hallamore, off Glennie, in smart style. . There will l)e keen iirterest taken in next Saturday’s play in this match. United have still four' wickets in hand, and only require 53 runs to head AVanderers first inmgs total. If Manning, Gorman, Daniell, Earroll, and Jeffreys can rise to the occasion United may yet pull the game out of the fire. On a good wicket and in a good light, tho advantage--may yet rest with United in the first innings.