CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2434, 24 February 1909, Page 2

CRICKET.

ROUND THE GROUNDS. (Notes by “Short-slip.”) Last week was fateful to those cams which were leading in the iiursday and Saturday competitions, ml the "result of the keen games was hat Te Rail’s banner now proudly oats at the top of the Thursday fort, virile United have regained the Saturday heights from which they were riven pell-mell a short time back by a •ontal attack from those daring raitlr,-;, the Wanderers. Great interest centred in the moet:ig of the United and Te liau in the aid-week competition on Thursday, Vs United were loading with 13 eh amuonship points, and Te Ran were hothot after them with 12 points, with Union and Cosmopolitan out of the Hint in the rear, it was realised that he result of this match would practically determine which team was to 'rave the honor of retaining the Thurslay cliampionslfip for the 1908-1909 eason.

The heavy rains early in the week had done the wicket,and outfield an uicalculable amount of good, and the Lirf was looking fresh and verdant v,t the pitch. A good deal of interest ■out red in the important ceremony of tossing, and the faces of the Hinted learn lit up with seraphic smiles when it became known .that Hallaiuore had I)eaten J. H. Wack for first strike. Those two old tried veterans, W. Gil,son and J. Lang, opened the United innings to the bowling of Harry Wack and Joe Monk. Gibson was m an aggressive mood, and lifted the last ball of Wack’s opening over to the long-on boundary for four. Monk sent down a maiden to Lang, and a single came from Wack's second over. Lang scored a two to cover, and a single past mid-on off Monk, and Gibs m drove the last bail of the over to the grandstand for four. Both batsmen "warmed to their work, and were nlaying both bowlers with ease and confidence. Twenty and thirty appeared on the board, and then Jack Wack, with sound generalship, brought on a double change, substituting Jim Moore and Wally Scholium for H. Wack and Monk. The former bowled a fast over of short-pitched deliveries to Gibson, which rearedymp in an alarming manner. The batsman went for a cut at a bumpy one, and the ball flew low to Mill, at third man. but the catch was dropped. Gibson drove Scholium to the fence with an off-drive for four, and Lang got 'Moore’s first ball away to the long-leg boundary for a similar number. Gibson hooked the first ball of his second over from a foot outside the off-stick over the long-on barrier, and 40 was hoisted. Moore’s next ball, however, found Gibson’s off-pin, and 44—1—22 appeared on tlie telegraph board. From this excellent start, a long score was predicted, and Jim Bowman tvmit out to continue the slaughter of the innocents. But, alas and alack, what a change came over the spirit of United’s dream. The third ball of Scholium's third over clean-bowled Loo(g who had played confidently and well for his 19. 49—2—19. Armstrong stepped jauntily forth to fill the breach" took centre carefully, had a look around to see how Wally had placed the field, and shaped up at the bowler. Heigh presto! The next scene in the picture is a kincmatograph film "of moving sticks and bails, and in the foreground the slow and stately step of the batsman on his way to the pavilion. -But, courage, United! The great Lord of Luna, yclept Hallaruorc. comes wth his giant stride to strip the rot. He takes the remaining two balls from the deadly Scholium without disaster. Jim Bowman notches a single off Moore, and a bye is run. But, see, that demon Scholium takes the ball again, and scatters the United captain’s timber to the four winds of heaven with the first ball of his fourth and memorable over. Another big “blob” goes up on the board, and Fred. Farrel emerges into the fierce light that by this time beats about the wicket. Fred, stops a couple, but the fourth ball rattles the sticks, and still another round ’un is hoisted. Grenfell, the sturdy midget, next appears on the scene, and by this time Jim Bowman is beginning to get angry. He came in first wicket down, and has seen four wickets fall at the opposite end without being able _ to have more than a couple of hits himself. Jim’s anger increases to absolute rage as Scholium sends Grenfell’s wickets flying into space with the first ball, hut he is absolutely speechless when Scholium repeats the trick by clean-bowling the colt, Tom Atkinson, with the next delivery, and thus .accomplishes the “hat-trick.” And now the welkin rings with cheers in praise of Scholium’s fine feat, and “even the ranks of Tuscany” join in heartily from the stand. Joe Monk ihere and then makes the Te Rau men pay up the time-honored levy, and there is more cheering as the blushing Wally, with his honors thick - upon him, "receives the price of a new hat. Burly Harry Hill now joins Jim Bowman, who by this time is very nearly insane as a result of'the fearful horrors lie has been compelled to be an eye-witness of without being able to put forth a hand to assist the hapless victims. Bowman scores four off Moore, and then Scholium brings the innings to a close by bowling ITill. It says very little for United that they were compelled to take the field in such an important match with two men short. The innings closed for 56. The scorCPsheet had a top-heavy look about it. Gibson 22, Lang 19, Bowman (not out) 6, and then follow six dreadful duck-eggs, while “Mr.

Extras” brings up the rear with 9. Scholium secured the remarkable bawling figures of: 26 balls, 7 wic'kots, 7 runs. He bowled well, but it was more due to bad batting than exceptionally good bowling that lie secured such figures:. A good many of the men were beaten by fast yorkers, and when once'the “rot” set in anything seemed good enough to gob . a wicket. To Ran replied with 94. H. Wack 24, Scholium 22, Moore 12, and Dudfield 11 were the principal scorers, the two first-named hitting out with confidence. The United bowling was not dangerous, and lacked “devil.” Farrel was the most troublesome,' and might/Have been tried earlier. He secured four , for 18, Armstrong two for 14, Hallamore three for 33, and Grenfell one for 24.United again collapsed in their second innings, and were all out for 35 rims', batting three men short. Not a single batsman reached doublo figures. H. Wack (three for 14) and Scholium (three for 12) bowled well. The United batsmen shaped like men hopelessly out of form, and if they expect to do anything against Wanderers next Saturday will have to put in some solid practice at the nets. Te Rail thus won by an innings and three runs, and now lead from United by. two points for the championship. U nless Cosmopolitan or Union can defeat To Rau, the latter will again wiii the Thursday championship. United and Te Rau had a keen fight

ni Victoria Domain oil Saturday, and r.t one period of the game they looked nil over winners. In reply to United’s opening set of 165, Te Rau hail scored 71 for eight wickets on the fist day. On resuming on Saturday, the last two wickets only added seven runs, and the innings closed for 78. With a lead of 87 on the _ first innings, United commenced their second essay, but, as on Thursday, gave a most feeble display of batting, and were all disposed of for the miserable total of 41 Gorimfn (11) was the only batsman to reach double figures, and lie was shaping nicely when his old fault of putting his leg in front lost him his wicket. There is no disguising the fact that the majority of the United batsmen are out of form, and a decent team of schoolboys would give a better display than they did on bath Thursday and Saturday last. The United men* appear demoralised in many ways just now. Their running between the wickets was characterised by execrable judgment on Saturday, and Gibson, Hallamore, and Jeffreys were run out foolishly. Harry Wack bowled in rare form for Te Rau on Saturday, and captured five wickets for 11 runs off 36 balls. With 129 te make to win, Olsen and Moore commenced Te Rau’s innings. With five up, Hallamore dismissed Olsen with a fast short-pitched one, which found the sticks. Last season Olsen was one of the most reliable batsmen in the district. This season ho appears unable to stop a straight ball. Loss of form is a tiling no fellow can understand. Harry Wack helped Moore to take tlie total to 29, where Manning took a smart catch in the slips, disposing of Wack off Hallamore. Wack had shaped well for his 10. Monk and Mill failed to score, but the youthful colt, Paku, made a capital stand with Moore. This lad is only ‘about 15 years old, and already shows signs of developing into a really good batsman. . He stood up to some fine bowling from Hallamore on Saturday, and played capital cricket, showing sound defence and scoring freely by good strokes. Some of his off-drives and square-cuts were a treat to watch. Moore showed all his defensive qualities in putting together 26 before he was bowled by Hallamore. Sim joined paku, and another good stand was made. Despite all the efforts of the bowlers, the colts continued to put the runs on at jsi good pacOj and the game appeared to be slipping from United’s grasp. With 60 up for five wickets, and with Scholium and Dudfield to come, Te Rau’s star appeared to be in the ascendant. However, Sim was brilliantly taken left-handed in the slips by Hill off Hallamore. Sim "had showed really good form in making his 14. Hallamore now made a double change in the bowling, bringing Gibson on at tho pavilion end and Manning, who had been spelled for a period, at the other end. Manning bowled the colt, Paku, with an extra good one, after he had played an exceptionally good innings for 19. Gibson quickly brought the innings to a close by howling Duelfield, McLeod, and Scholcs in quick succession, just missing the trick” by one ball. Gibson secured three wickets for five runs, Hallamore five for 36, Manning two for 30. Grenfell bowled really well, sending down five overs for 2 runs, the last three over being maidens. United thus won by 44 runs, and secured a three-point win. At Taruhcru on Saturday, Wanderers had their backs up against the wall fighting for dear life in a gallant effort to overtake the big task of getting the 204 sot them by the Tarulieru men. Right nobly did the Wanderers set about, the big order v and it was indeed hard lines to got within 3 of the required number and yet fail. Harry Babb (50), anil Athol Young (51) both gave a fine display of batting. They had some exceptionally fine bowling to face from Charles and Sharpies, but scored well all round the wicket. Lasker (27), Commons (17), Glennie (10), and McConnell (10), were the others scorers in the total of 201, while the extras amounted to 17. Old Jack Charles once again, .as so often in tho past, proved wliat a marvellously accurate length bowler lie is, and to his long sustained effort Taruheru’s fine victory is due. He

Jogged away on a good wicket tor over or tor over, sending down 174 balls for ".via wickets and 53 runs. He bowled no fewer than twelve maidens. It was the effort of his life, and proved con--1 naively that lie is still a very fine howler indeed. Sharpies also bowled in his best form, lie keeps a good length, gobs a lot of pace on, and, like Charles, has the e tain in a to last well. He captured three for 46 off 123 balls, and bowled seven maidens. Harker secured one for 68 off 90 balls, and Anderson did good work in capturing Babb’s wicket, bowling four overs for 7 runs; Dillon was the other bowler tried, and ho sent along four overs for 12 runs. There is no doubt but that Taruhcru have a fine side at present, and they may effect some more surprises before tlie season closes.

The result of Saturday’s matches places United , two points ahead of Wanderers for the championship, and exceptional interest will attach bo the mooting of these teams at Victoria Domain next Saturday.