CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2428, 17 February 1909, Page 2

CRICKET.

THE MEN FROAI TOKOAIARU

(Notes by “Sliort-slip.” The Tokonvaru men have come ami gone, and have left behind them nothing but the pleasantest of recollections of their brief stay in Gisborne. They were essentially a youthful side, and possessed three good bowlers in G. Oates, L. Reed, and AY. H. Skitch, while they were active and keen in the field. The visitors were strengthened by the assistance of those capable batsmen, J. Gibson and J. Aloore, who, though they had not had any practice for months past, proved that their defence was still sound and came out well in the batting averages. The visitors played three matches, on Alonday, Tuesday and AVcdnesday. against fairly strong local sides, and came out with two defeats and a win. Altogether the Tokomaru team in the three days scored 597 runs lor the loss of 43 wickets, wlnle the Ginborne batsmen ran up 445 runs at a cost of 30 wickets.

The following were the leading batting and howling averages obtained by the" visitors:

J. Clayden 13 39 2 19.5 J. Oates is a sturclily-built young player, who bats left-handed, and hits with great power. AVhen ho learns by experience to combine defence with the Undoubted -aggressive powers he .possesses, long scores may bo looked for from his blade. Ho is also a fair wicketkeeper. AV. Oates, the captain, was in much better all round form than on the occasion ho accompanied the Poverty Bay team to Napier at Christinas time, lie started his first innings m the same reckless manner winch marred his hatting at Napier, and soon skied at a ball which was easily taken. In his next two innings, however, lie n-ave a sound display of solid defence, combined with forceful hitting, and proved that he is a really good batsman. This player has made a speciality of the leg-glide, and is as expert as any batsman I have seen m executing this stroke. The l okomaru skipper also bowls a fair bah, but the sooner ho realises tlie futility of endeavoring to- bowl fast leg-bieaks the better will be his bowling figures. He persevered in an endeavor to send along this ball on AA r ednesday afternoon, and his length was most erratic in consequence. L. Reed, as his figures prove, is a capable performer with both bat ana hall. He is a batsman of the freo type, and did some fine hitting dur-ino-.tho series of matches. He bowls fast medium, and has the. requisite physique to stand the strain of lasting for a long- spell at the bowling Skitch, the old veteran of 50 summers, proved that he rt anything but a back number yet. He had no luck with the bat, and bagged no less than four “blobs,”, being bowKd nir Ilk nads in two instances. He made some fine .strokes rulining up his 19 on Monday, and found boundary more than once. -h a bowler that the old veteran excel od, and it was a treat to iiatcli his resourcefulness and strategy howling to Hallamore, when the lat ter was well sot and running up his score of 74. Skitch kept an ejeenent ways. Ho should nave uui with )H alia more *s wicket when tho lat tor had scored 30. ’He uftsball which broke awag from m bats-

man, and the latter, going for tic cut, sont the ball to Connelly at second slip. The latter was caught napping, and failed to hold tho catch. Skitch also showed the younger bowler show to place the field. The latter had too many men on tho on side, and frequently left yawning gaps on the off side, through which it was no difficulty to get the ball away to the boundary. The members of tho lokomaru team made themselves most popular while in Gisborne, and they wi.l always bo warmly welcomed by Gisborne players. . , , The Tokomaru Club is anxious that a Poverty Bay team should visit lokomaru. tliis season. A visit from, a town eleven would do much to revive interest in the game on the Coast, and no doubt the Poverty Bay Cricket Association will do its best to send a learn.

Y CO o o o - "o 5 a £ +3 •J! <9 to cc C-l o w r-> cu o Tc o « o Y .2 c H c -1 K > << J. Oates 5 1 97 39 24.25 J. Moore 5 1 81 33* 20.25 W. Oates 0 0 97 32 19.4 J. Gibson 4 0 (34 29 16. L. Reed 5 0 72 28 14.4 * Signifies Not out. BOWLING. OversRunsWkts Avrge E. C. Connelly 2 5 3 1.66 L. Heed 35 92 10 9.20 W. 'H. Skitch 23 65 4 16.25 G. Oates 32 110 6 18.33 W. Oates 20 75 4 IS.75