CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2422, 10 February 1909, Page 2

CRICKET.

ROUND THE GROUNDS.

(Notes by. “Short-Slip.’’)

Saturday Hast-was ainaear day for cricket, and the weather in the afternoon, when the Saturday championship matches were continued at Victoria Domain and Taraheru, was as perfect as the heart of a cricketer could desire. At the Domain Hallamore, for United, won. the toss from “Tiny” Olsen, who, as vice-captain of To Ran, donned for the first time the skipper’s mantle dropped by Bob Cary ou his departure for Auckland. Olsen not only took over, the generalship of the To Ran side, btit also filled the important position of stumper rendered vacant by Cary’s defection. “Tiny” with Lhc gloves is scarcely as expert yet as Carter, Carkeek, or Gorrv, but lie did one capital bit of work on Saturday when he got rid of Hallamore, tho opposing captain. Hallamore felt forward to a slowish ball from Harry Waok, which beat the bat, and Olsen, standing a yard -behind, threw the ball forward on to the sticks, and appealed. Umpire Skitch’s hand went up, and the United captain went pavilionwards with the conviction forced upon him that it is unwise to get out of your ground even with an untried man behind the sticks.

Gibson and Jim Hang opened United’s innings brightly. Harry Wack opened to the former, who lifted tlio first ball of the match between point and cover to the. boundary. Gibson was in an aggressive mood, and lifted Wack with an on drive past the press-stand for four, and drove Monk to the fence near the grandstand. Lang was shaping quietly and confidently, and' 20 soon appeared on the board. With 25 up, Gibson played forward to a fast-rising ball from Monk, which touched the handle of tho bat and flew into the slips, where Harry Wack took a brilliant catch at first slip. Gorman followed, and took up the rungetting with Lang. Both men shaped soundly, and caused the tens to mount with confident and vigorous strokes. Both batsmen employed tho pull stroke to effect, and Gorman found the on boundary several times by bringing balls outside the off stump round with all the wood applied. Scholium and Dudfield had a turn with the ball/' The former nonplussed tho batsnlen with some puzzling swer.vers and kept the batsman quiet .by .sending along a couple of maidens. With 60 up, Harry Wack, who had come on again at the opposite end, found Lang’s wicket with a good length ball, at which the batsman played back. Lang, who is batting well this season, put his 28 together in good style. Manning joined--Gor-man, but the Matter’s time had come, as ho had: the ill-luck to snick one from

•Jock Scholium outside the off-stick on to the wickets. Gorman gave Ins best display this season, and, 'while watching the versatility of his strokes and tho soundness of his defence while making liis 27, one could not help wondering ‘why this capable batsman does not make runs more consistently. Hallamore joined Manning, but neither appeared comfortable to. the bowling of Harry Wack and Scholium, who were keeping a good length and varying pace, and length. Manning was snapped up in the slips by W*aclc, and Hallamore was stumped after getting on a baker’s dozen. Hill, Daniell, Farrell and Jeffrey’s came and went, .and nine wickets were down for J 25. ’Tlio end seemed near, but Hugh Whyte, the lion-hearted, who had arrived late,-went out as the last man and joined Grenfell. Few on the ground were prepared for the inspiriting display of batting which followed. I am an old man now, and in my capacity as sporting scribe for the “Times” have attended nearly every match played in Gisborne during the 1 last eight years. I do not remember in all that time seeing a brighter last wicket stand. Grenfell played beautiful cricket, and two late cuts in,. succession, off Scholium, were executed .with a snap and sparkle which were reminiscent of -Syd., Gregory, at his best. White hit with his cliaracteris-' tic vigor., and made one magnificent stroke clean out of the ground on to Disraeli Street, while be also made three clean and powerful drives for four each, one landing on the top or the hedge behind the grandstand. Ilie pair put on exactly 40 runs for the Vast wicket in about 20 minutes, before Grenfell was bowled by Monk, after playing a really fine innings for 22. Whyte was left not out with 20, and the confident manner in which he picked the ball off tho pitch in making his big drives made me regret that he had not gone in earlier in the innings. The innings closed for 160. H. Wack '(five for 73), J. Monk (2 for 30), and W. Scholium (three for 27), bowled well., and were supported by good fielding. Joe Monk, in particular, did some fine work in tno field, and called up applause time and again by brilliant "round work. Te Ran did not shape well on going •to the wickets. H. Wack (16) ami -Scholium (19) gave promise lor a time of making a stand, but both went out to Farrell’s slow left-handed deliveries, and Hallamore stumped them smartly. Pa'ku (10) and S. Mill (14 not out) shaped well for the colts, lhe record was 71 for eight wickets when time was called at 6.30. Manning (five for 26), bowled well, and Jarrell (three for 29) should have had better figures had he been better supported by tho field. Hallamore also missed a couple of chances of stumping off tito slow bowler. Hats off to the men of Taruheru who made 205 against the redoubtable Wanderers ou Saturday. The wicket was good, and the outfield very fast at Taruheru. The tall and stalwart young giant, Charlie Dillon, was topscorer with an excellently-compiled (58. Dillon is a coining batsman. He has a tremendously long reach, and can hit with great (tower. He played forward to everything on Saturday, and dealt most cavalierly with the strong Wanderers’ attack. George Jlnrlcoi- fta-yo-a ..glimpse of his old.form . in running up 37, and made' good strokes all round the wicket. Whiteley proved that he is a capable batsman bv the manner in which he contributed his quota of 28, while Sharpies (15), Bruuning (10), Gough _(10), Osborne (10), and Mr. Fxtras (17) all helped manfully to swell the largest total put up in the championship innings this season. The Wanderers bowling figures were sadly damaged. * Adamson had to bo content with one for 30, Glennie with two for 47, and McColl with one for 32. Even. Sam McConnell had to take off the pads and have a “go” at the ball. Harrv Babb was the only trundler to meet with success, and Ins length was so good that he captured five for 30 off 90 balls—a distinctly good performance. The success of tlio Taruheru batsmen against the cup leaders is all the more popular as the country club had to battle against adverse conditions. «and it must be gratifying to Jack Charles and the brave little band who have helped, him to keep the team together to have the ! satisfaction of having succeeded in getting such a good side together. At the call of time Wanderers had scored 52 for one wicket. Harry | Babb and Scroggic took the score for the first wicket by good cricket to 33, when Scroggie was taken at nudon by Whitelev off Charles, alter carefully making 9. Cummings joined Babb and the pair were still together when time was called. Babb followed up his 78 against Te Bau with 25 (not out) in this game, and when liis fine bowling performance is taken into account it must bo admitted that he is one of our very best all-round men-at the present time. The conclusion of the TaruheruW 7 anderers match should be brimful of interest, as old cricketers always say it is better to have two hundred on the slate than to have to get them. Still Wanderers have a"strong, batting side and they may succeed m heading the 205 set them.