Cricket 1913

A p r i l 19, 1913. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 109 South African Cricketers. Johannesburg, March 17, 1913. South A frica has sustained a great loss in the death of poor James Sinclair. For some time he had been unwell, bu t no one anticipated a fatal termination to his illness. His demise on the afternoon of Sunday, February 23, came as a shock to us all. It was onfy on the day before th at he had taken to his bed. I feel that there is no need for me to deal with his career as a cricketer here, as no doubt another pen will have been engaged upon it before this. You in England never knew him as we knew him ; but you have heard and seen sufficient to be able to believe the reports as to his prowess below the line which have from time to time floated across the seas. He was unquestionably the greatest personality which South African cricket has had. It is sad to walk through the rooms of the Wanderers’ Club and see his photos, and to realise that never again shall we look upon the genial face of the man who knew and loved the place so well. Time heals such wounds as this. But James Sin­ clair is not»to be forgotten. A lready an influential movement to commemorate him has been set on foot. The Transvaal Cricket Union convened a meeting where­ at the following resolution was proposed and adopted :— “ That those present at a meeting composed of many I private citizens of Johannesburg and the representatives of many sporting and social clubs of South Africa, affirm the principle of commemorating the memory of the late Mr. J. H. S in clair; that the form of such commemoration be left in the hands of the committee to be elected hereafter at this m eeting; and, further, that those present pledge themselves to do all in their power to assist the said committee in raising the necessary funds to carry out whatever scheme or schemes may be eventually decided on.” As showing the representative nature of the move­ ment, the personnel of the committee elected may be given :— Gordon Beves (South African Cricket Associa­ tion), M. Solomon (Pony and Galloway Club), Dr. Brennan (Baseball), G. W . Twomey (Chairman, S.A. Boxing Association), M. K . McLea (Rand Pioneers), Charles Marx (Turf and Jockey Clubs), H. Nourse j (Chairman S.A. Amateur Athletic and Cyclists’ Associa- i tion), Fred Lenton (Bookmakers Association), Harry I J. Filmer, E. A. Halliwell and T. H. O’Flaherty (Cricket), W. H. Williams (Soccer), Jack Keegan, J. W. Laing (Rugger), W. A. Morison Abel (Hockey), C. A. Wentzel (Country Club), W. J. F . Rae (Golf), H. J. Lamb (Lawn Tennis), G. W. Pope (Swimming), M. Hathom (Wanderers 1 Club), together with members of the Transvaal Cricket j Board, ex officio, and Ivor D . Difford as secretary. I am not going into great detail as to League cricket, for no doubt space will be at a premium with your own season so near. On Saturday, February 22, two matches were commenced and finished, and in each case a surprise was effected, E ast Rand Union beating the Pirates, and Crown Mines defeating Randfontein. The Wanderers had to continue their match with Yeoville into the Sunday, but won com fortably in the end. They made 245 (D. J. Meintjes 75, W. J. Bird 49). F. W. Elworthy (5 for 72) again bowled well. Yeoville replied with 173 (Elworthy 64). Then Wanderers made 200 for 4, E . C. Moses scoring 100* in splendid style. The Fditor’s prediction that the old Reptonian would run into three figures before long has thus been fulfilled. Unfortunately these second innings, when they do not affect the result of a game, are not considered in the averages. Yeoville replied w ith 60 for one. On the following Saturday five matches were com­ menced, and on the Sunday two games were played. A t Pretoria the home team beat E .R .P .M . b y 65 runs, and thus drew level with them at the top of the table. The match was a most exciting one. Pretoria made 1&6, a modest total which would have been much smaller bu t for Stanley Snooke, who played right through the innings for a faultless 75. This was his first appear­ ance for P reto ria ; he is said not to be at all keen on Sunday cricket. In the final stage of the game H. V. Baumgartner proved too good for the champions, who were outed for 121. He had 7 w ickets (5 bowled, 2 l.b.w.) for 56, and was on at one end throughout the innings. On the same day Wanderers A (270 for 6— • M. J. Susskind 73, A . S. Frames 59, H. N. Heeley 41) beat Wanderers (267— W. J. Bird 78, D . J. Meintjes 58, E. C. Moses 44) b y 4 wickets. The games commenced on March 1 were finished a week later. Yeoville (128) lost to S.A.R . (336— E. Meeser 81, P. A . Eland 55). S .A .R . made their runs in 160 minutes. Wanderers " A ” (287— A . S. Frames 76, H. N. Heeley 69, M. J. Susskind 56) beat East Rand Union (162— R. A. Thompson 52). C. D. Dixon had 7 for 35 for the winners. Pirates (186— E . H. Saffery 50) beat Germiston Callies (159— A. W. Tu lly 60*). Wanderers (352 for 6— D. J. Meintjes 144, W. J. Bird 70, H. Quinton 61) won a heavy scoring game against Crown Mines (330— G. Cumming 113, W. T. Gardner 107). No one else reached 20 for the losers. Village | Main Reef (254— J. V. Morkel 54, L. G. Lamont 50) found Randfontein (115— S. Islip 50) easy victims. Last Sunday (March 9) E .R .P.M . had a hard nut to crack in S.A .R ., who have finished third bracketed with Pirates. B y the irony of fate, the Railw ay men went under by 45 runs, one less than the number they threw away b y missing chances which should have been held. E .R .P.M . scored 220, H. E. Smith making 67. S.A.R . made 175, their last three wickets falling at this total. Pegler bowled 30 consecutive overs from one end for the winners, and took 5 for 82. A t the other end the old Bedford G.S. boy and English Rugger international, J. G. Milton (3 for 31) bowled well. On the same day the Germiston Callies (268— L. Bentley 66, E. J. Huelin 57) beat V. M. R . (223— J . V. Morkel 102) b y the same margin, 45 runs. Interest in Cape Town seems to be centred upon the approaching great Currie Cup match, to the exclusion of League Cricket. The “ Shank-enders ” are very con­ fident of victory and the Cup. I cannot quite see why they should be. I fancy their optimism is based on the big scores their leading batsmen have lately been