TO-DAY'S PLAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 301, 29 December 1897, Page 2

TO-DAY'S PLAY.

CANTERBURY WfN BY 126 RUNS

The match was continued at ten o'clock this morning, when G. Mills and Labatt resumed batting. Another seven had been added to the score when Labatt was caught by A. Ridley off Pearce, the ball risin" high and glancing off the bat. 192—5—10.

R. Neill, who followed, was caught in the slips almost immediately off a ball that rose to the shoulder of his bat, having added but a single to the score. 193-6-1.

E. Wright filled the vacancy. Mills was still going strong, with 80 to his credit. The newcomer put on a couple of singles and then retired clean-bowled by Reese. 204-7-2.

The ninth man in, W. Lawson, had only been two overs at the wicket when G. Mills readied the end of his tether, a snick of his bat being smartly snapped up by wicket-keeper Fowke, oft Reese's bowling. 205—8—80. Mills played a fine innings, and was warmly applauded on his return to the pavilion. Dr. Pabst. who was sufficiently recovered from hia indisposition to play to-day, joined Lawson at the wickets. Auckland were still 138 behind with two more wickets to fall. At 206 Lawson was badly missed by Garrard at mid-on, and two runs were scored off the hit, Dr. Pabst bringing 210 up the same over with a two in the slips. Runs came slowly after this, three maiden overs being sent down in succession. Lawson sent Rees to the boundary, for 4, but the bowler had his revenge next over, when Lawson sent a ball right into Cobcroft's hands at mid-off. 218—9—9.

Kelly, the last man, joined Dr. Pabst. With 126 runs needed to win the match Auckland's chances were very slender indeed. But the innings closed even quicker than was expected, for Pearce clean bowled Dr. Pabst before another run had been added. The innings closed at 11 o'clock for 218, leaving Canterbury the victors by 126 runs.

, Auckland played a gooduphill game in the second innings, ana but for their weak display in the first innings they would have given the visitors a close fight at the finish. G. Mills and W. Stemson deserve the highest praise for the great stand they made at a critical period. The former played a wonderfully patient innings, but did not spare the loose balls, scoring many boundary hits off both Reese and Pearce.

Pearce proved the most successful trundler for Canterbury, capturing 5 wickets for 67, at an average of 13 "2 each. Reese had hard luck in not securing more wickets than he did, as several catches were dropped off his bowling. The Canterbury team return home by the s.s. Mahinapua, which leaves Onehunga on the arrival of the mail steamer Manposa. The scores are as follows -.— Canterbury—First innings, 182. Auckland—First innings, 90. Canterbury—Second innings, 251. Auckland.—Second Innings. D. Hay, Ibw, b Pearce 20 I. Mills, c Wilding, b Reese 1 W. Stemsou, c and b Clark 73 Kallender, b Pearce 14 G. Mills, c Fowke, b Reese 80 A. M. Labatt, cA. Ridley, b Pearce... 10 R. Neill, cH. C. Ridley, b Reese ... 1 E. Wright, b Reese 2 W. Lawson, c Cobcroft, bßeese ... 9 Dr. Pabst, b Pearce ... ... ... 5 'F. V. Kelly, not out ... 0 Extras 3 Total 218 , Bowling Analysis. Overs. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. Pearce ... 31 3 8 67 5 Reese ... 38 13 106 4 Wilding ... 9 2 10 0 Garrard ... 3 0 10 0" Clark ... 9 4 16 1 Cobcroffc ... 2 2 0 0