Junior B.

Played, 9; won outright, 1; won first innings, 3; lost first innings, 2; lost outright, 3; Championship points, 29.

This team enjoyed the most successful season the Third Eleven has ever had—a singular contrast to the previous season's performance, when only one game was won. The team was a good one, and could easily have done better. It was, however, very difficult to field a regular team, from one cause and another. In fact, no fewer than 34 players played for the team during the season. Under the circumstances the record was very creditable, and the players had a most enjoyable season. The following are particulars of the games played:—

v. Institute.—'Varsity, 239 (McCarthy 100) and 157 (Cowan 62 not out). Opponents, 361 and four for 44 (Kirkcaldie 4 for 25). Lost by six wickets. McCarthy scored freely, especially with a shot over slips' heads. In the second innings Cowan batted right through the innings, batting very solidly. The rest of the team all made useful scores. This was a promising start, as in the previous year the team reached three figures in the first innings in only the second to last game.

v. Midland.—'Varsity, 188 (Cockerill 72) and 179 for seven wickets (declared) (Martin 59 not out and Walker 51). Opponents, 145 (Fleming 5 for 51 and Francis 4 for 56) and 146 for seven wickets (Francis 5 for 41). Won by 43 runs on first innings. This match was won against a good team after a hard fight, mainly through splendid bowling by Francis and Fleming. Midland had only one wicket to fall when time was up.

v. Wellington.—'Varsity, 350 (McCarthy 109, Rae 47, Sibson 46, and Martin 41). Opponents, 215 (Fleming 6 for 72) and 219 (Francis 4 for 72, Fleming 3 for 53, and Sibson 1 for 4). Won by 135 runs on first innings. McCarthy's knock was a better one than his first century, though his shot over slip's head was still in evidence. The rest of the batting was consistent. The bowlers stuck to a hard task well all the second day, but could give us no time to hit up the runs necessary for an outright win. Ours was a good score against good bowling.

v. Railways.—'Varsity, 262 (Fleming 49 not out, Moore 46, Caldwell 43, and Paton 40). Opponents, 118 (Kirkcaldie 3 for 21) and 82 (Kirkcaldie 3 for 20, Fleming 2 for 5, Middlebrook 2 for 32, and Francis 1 for 6). Won by an innings and 62 runs. Our batting was consistent, and the bowlers all reaped a harvest against a weak batting side, which, however, did much better against other teams.

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v. Old Boys.—'Varsity, 167 and 108. Opponents, 192 (Middlebrook 5 for 73 and Moore 1 for 16) and 93 for two wickets. Lost by eight wickets. This match was played before and after Christmas and New Year, and all our players available for both Saturdays except the Captain were taken into the Junior A team. We knew we would be short for the second Saturday, but the holiday attractions elsewhere proved too much for all but four of the players. These holidays are a bugbear for the Captains and Selection Committee. The Captain congratulates what was practically a Junior C team on their good showing, though in case this should go to their heads he expresses the opinion the Junior B team would have defeated Old Boys without difficulty,

v. Khandallah.—'Varsity, 210 (Caldwell 53) and 103 for seven wickets (Martin 62). Opponents, 390 for nine wickets (declared). (Bowling averages unmentionable). Lost by 180 runs on the first innings. The team still was much affected by holidays, and played several Junior C's and two Junior D's, who all worked hard and well. We were very short of bowlers in this match, and our opponents took advantage of the fact. We really can't blame them. In this match the Captain distinguished himself by saving three Championship points by batting 55 minutes for only one run. If Bradman can score 1000 in May, mathematical students may be interested to work out by a judicious use of x, and with assistance from those tireless workers, A, B and C, how many years it would have taken him to do so.

v. Wellington College.—'Varsity, 165 (Middlebrook 40 not out) and 135 for seven wickets (declared). Opponents, 152 (Clouston 4 for 41, Mcintosh 3 for 33, and Middlebrook 2 for 19) and 57 for nine wickets (Middlebrook 5 for 25, Clouston 3 for 16, and Martin 1 for 0). Won by 13 runs on the first innings. This was a splendid performance. The scores were small, but consistent, but the batting was good, and the bowling and fielding, with occasional lapses, splendid. Clouston and Middlebrook had a good match. It was a fine performance to defeat the strong College team, in an exciting and close struggle.

v. Stop Out.—'Varsity, 87 and 156 (Walker 51). Opponents, 365. Lost by an innings and 122 runs. Though still below strength, we had a good team in, and should have done better. We'll drop the subject in saying our luck was out, and Stop Out were in good form with both bat and ball.

v. Hutt.—'Varsity, 176 (McFarlane 43) and 150 (Martin 67 and McFarlane 41 not out). Opponents, 267 for seven wickets (declared) (Walker 4 for 38). Lost by 91 runs on the first innings. Hutt had some good batsmen past their prime, but their bowling was probably the weakest we struck, and our double batting failure was inexplicable. Pleasing features were the overdue glimpse of form shown by McFarlane and Walker's success with the ball. The match was an enjoyable finish to a good season.

Selected Averages are as follows:—

Batting.

	Innings.	N.O.	H.S.	Runs.	Avge.
Cowan	2	1	62*	69	69.00
McCarthy	5	-	109	242	48.40
Martin	12	1	69	398	36.18
Walker	9	-	51	168	18.67
McFarlane	10	1	42	169	18.78

Bowling.

	Wickets.	Runs.	Average.
Kirkcaldie	13	158	12.15
Fleming	20	314	15.70
Francis	18	403	22.39
C. Middlebrook	18	443	24.61