Cricket 1914

F e b r u a r y , 1914. THE WORLD OF CRICKET. 33 and 3. The home side won an exciting match by a single wicket, with 78 and 219 for 9 to Hawke’s B ay '3 .103 and 193. Kahlen- berg, the Poverty B ay fast bowler, had 5 for 29 in the visitors’ first, and- Napier, who flighted the ball well, 8 for 35 in the home side’s first. Hugh Lusk (58), John Board (42), Geddes (27), and Napier (26*) batted well in Hawke’s B ay ’S second, the latter two adding 51 for the ninth wicket. Poverty B ay had 5 down for 63, but Gartshore, a colt, and Guthrie gavfc L. Macmahon, the team ’s crack bat, good help. Nine were down for 178 ; but Macmahon was then joined by Moore, and these two hit off the runs, Macmahon (who was carried shoulder-high off the ground) being 82, Moore 29, at the finish. Victoria College, Wellington, and Otago University drew at Dunedin in a match played on December 26 and 27. The •Otago side made 168 and 263 for 7 declared, Tweedy top scorer in each innings with 59 and 84. The Wellington men made 253 and 99 for 2, F. Joplin 117 and 52*. There was some effective bowling on the slow wickets in Dunedin on December 6. For Grange v. Albion the veteran Downes took 6 for 31 ; A. Eckhoff (Opoho v. Dunedin) had 6 for 34, and J. Ramsden (Carisbrook B v. Carisbrook A) 7 for 46. Otago lost one of her very best batsmen when Cyril Hopkins (brother of A. J., the Australian international) returned to Sydney after some years spent in Dunedin. In all the long list of matches between Otago and Canterbury only three centuries have been registered, and Hopkins is the only man who has scored one for Otago, the other two having been made for Canter­ bury, by G. Watson (a Tasmanian) more than thirty years ago, and b y Harold Lusk (now in England) four years since. Two centuries were made for Grafton v. Eden A (Auckland) on December 20, R. Sloman registering 132, C. E. McCormick 107. The manager of the New Zealand team to Australia, Sydney Orchard, got a nasty injury to his leg while skipping on board ship, and had to lay up at his hotel on reaching Sydney. Dan Reese, the captain, had a touch of tonsilitis, but happily soon recovered. It is evidently believed in New Zealand that any difficulty which has arisen between the N.Z. Cricket Council and the Australian Board of Cricket Control on the matter of the pro­ jected Australian tour in the Dominion will be overcome, for a schedule had already (on January 8) been arranged for the team when the last mail left. The matches fixed were: v.. South Auckland, at Hamilton, February 3 and 4 ; v. Auckland, at Auckland, February 6, 7, and 9 ; v. South Taranaki, at Hawera, February 10 and n ; v. Wellington, at Wellington, February 13,14, and 16 ; v. Hawke’s Bay, at Napier, February 18 and 19 ; v. Poverty Bay, at Gisborne, February 21 ; v. Wanganui, at WTanganui, February 24 and 25 ; v. Canterbury, at Christchurch, February 27 and 28 ; v. South Canterbury, at Temuka, March 3 and 4 ; v. New Zealand, at* Dunedin, March 6, 7, and 9 ; v. Southland, at Invercargill, March 11 and 12 ; v. Nelson, at Nelson, March 20 and 21 ; v. New Zealand, at Auckland. March 26, 27, 28, and 30. Hitherto all matches between representative N.Z. sides and overseas teams have been played at either Christchurch or Wellington. This time Auckland and Dunedin receive the two chief games of the tour. The financial arrangements for the tour were that the pro­ moter (Arthur Sims) should receive 50 per cent, of the proceeds of the matches with New Zealand and with the minor associa­ tions, and 60 per cent, of these with the major associations, pay all expenses, and make his own terms with the players brought over. It is not likely that Mr. Sims will find the venture a gold-mine ; but then it is not likely that he expected to do so. Auckland wanted a revision of dates for their matches. They were to have played Wellington at Christmas, then Otago, and Canterbury later, while Canterbury and Wellington were meeting (and did meet) at the New Year. Christmas did not suit the Auckland people, and thev asked Wellington to give up to them the New Year date at Christchurch. The Canterbury people did not mind, but the Wellington authorities refused. A t one time it appeared likely that the Auckland team would not go south at all, and that the Cricket Council’s scheme for inter-provincial matches would be upset. But later the northern­ most association proposed to meet Wellington on January 22, 23, and 24, and Canterbury on January 29, 30, and 31. Nothing was said as to a match with Otago, though the scheme will not be complete unless this game is played. T. de Renzie Harman, who made a century in the Canterbury v. Otago Veterans’ Match, had not played any cricket at all for two or three years, and it is a fact worth noting that on the last previous occasion on which he turned out he also ran into three figures. SOUTH AFRICA . Herbert Taylor told our Natal correspondent that what South Africa needs is batsmen. He considers the bowlers quite good enough to get the M.C.C. team out for such totals as would, give the home side a chance if only the batsmen did not let them down. There may be something in this view— and in any case H. W . T*s, opinion is entitled to respect ; but one thinks that what South Africa really needs is half-a-dozen Herbert Taylors. Which, after all, amounts to very much the same thing. Cox got back from the Rand in time to help his side, Greyville, against the Zingari, and going in late hit two sixes and a four, carrying his bat for 16. His side lost by one run only. Rough luck that Cox did not get in one more swipe ! The Wanderers won the Durban Senior Championship for the first time, thanks largely to John Gunn, who in 9 innings, 3 not out, totalled 434 runs (average 72*33), and to J. W. Easterbrook, who took 28 wickets at under 9 runs each. The captain of the champion side, G. H. Whyte, has achieved one of the ambitions of his life. He is a veteran now ; but when he was younger a great chum of his was Bert Shire, a fine all­ round sportsman, who died nine years ago. This gentleman was a member of the Wanderers Club, and his father wanted to give £100 in memory of him to the club ; but its captain (then as now), G. H. W'hyte, suggested that it would be better to give it to the Durban Cricket Union. Out of the interest of the money the Shire caps are bought every year and presented to the members of the side winning the championship. This year G. H. W hyte gets his, and well he deserves it, for at the beginning of the season he found himself faced with the task of getting tog2ther practically a new team, through defections and loss of interest. The Wanderers were last on the list in 1912-3. BLANCO For Gleaning and Whitening White Buckskin and Canvas Shoes, Cricket Pads, and aH "ther artxles of a similar nature. It is prepared in a v e r y careful m anner, a nd e x tr a precau tion s a r e ta k e n to en su re an evenness of colour. It c o n ta in s n o th in g t h a t w ill in a n y w a y in jure th e a rtic le to w h ic h it is applied, and if used as directed, a Splendid W h it e of a glossy, satin -like a p p ea ra n ce and so ft silk y su rfa c e is ensured, w h ic h w ill not re a d ily rub off. BLANCO” CLOTH & LEATHER BALL. For cleaning Suede, Ooze Calf, and Cloth Bools and Shoes, Cord Breeches, Suede Gloves. Cloth Snats, Leather and Cloth Leggings. Made in various shades of Colour. Soldj by Athletic Dealers. Ironmongers. 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