CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 64, 16 March 1900, Page 6

CRICKET.

MELBOURNE V. NEW ZEALAND. ' (By Telegraph.—Press Association.; CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. The match between the Melbourne i Cricket Club's team and the New Zealand eleven was comenced this afternoon at Lancaster Park. The weather was fine, and the attendance I good. The wicket provided was good, j and played truly on the whole. Cob-j croft was elected captain of the New I Zealand team, but lost the toss, and Koss, the Melbourne skipper, had no , hesitation in deciding to bat. The batting' of the Melbourne team was consistently sound, and the rate of scoring was fast, 328 runs being put up for the loss of eight wickets, in just under four hours. Trumble and Mailer were the first two batsmen for Melbourne, and they began very steadily, the first-named doing most of the scoring. It was not! until the total reached 43 that the first wicket fell, Trumble being beaten by a leg-break from Bobertson, after making 32. Graham, who was the next man in, at once began hitting ; freely, and the total was quickly doubled. When 90 was shown on the board, Mailer, who had been in an hour and five minutes for 26, put his leg1 in front of one from Robertson, and wras given out Ibw. Eobertson at this stage was bowling very well, and had puzzled both Graham and Mailer. When Graham was joined by Russell, the rate of scoring became rather slower, and only eight runs had been added when Graham was caught off Upham for the same total as Trumble. Matters now looked fairly promising lor the New Zealanders with three of Melbourne's best bats dismissed for less than 100, but the stand-made by Jacobs with Russell proved the best of the innings. Jacobs was rather streaky at the opening of the innings, but when set he played sound and vigorous cricket. Russell played a pretty innings for his runs, his cutting being crisp and clean. Frequent changes in the bowling were tried, but for a long time they were unsuccessful in bringing about a separation. It •was not until 219 runs had been added that Jacobs, making a misshit, was caught off Upham, the board then showing- 217— i —64. Aitken, who was next in, did not stay long, putting on nine in three hits,when he was caught behind the wickets. Ross then joined Russell, and this partnership also proved very profitable, the score being carried from 266 to 308 before Russell ■was dismissed. Cobcroft had tried many changes of bowling, and the separation was finally effected by Tucker, who clean bowled Russell in Id's first over, when only two short of the century: 308—6—95. The next two wickets fell rather more quickly, Ross only puting on two more when he was given out Ibw to Stem-son, efter having- made 36. Ross did not show such pretty cricket as his partner, Eussell, making most of his runs by hard drives to the on. Fry only made five, when he was caught off Tucker, and Jennings and Mcllwraith played out time. Of the bowlers tried, Eobertson was kept on longest, and very frequently troubled the batsmen, though lie was rather expensive, his two wickets costing about 100 runs. Tucker came out with the best average so far, two ■wickets for 12 runs, but he was only tried late in the afternoon. Prankish was not as steady as usual, and his loose ones were severely treated. Upham secured three wickets for between 60 and 70 runs. He was at times rather short, and he had hardly recovered his land legs, having- only arrived from Wellington this morning. Stemson tpok one wicket for 27. Cobcroft bowled a few overs, but he was very expensive. The fielding was, on the whole, good, but occasionally there were misses which gave the visitors extra runs. Among those who did really good work may be mentioned Cobcroft and Richardson. The following are the scores:— MELBOURNE—First' Innings. H.. Trumble, b Robertson 32 D. Mailer, Ibw b Robertson... 26 H. Graham, c Prankish, b Upham 32 A. C. Russell, b Tucker 98 E. E. Jacobs, c Eobertson, b Upham 04 A. Aitken, c Fowke, b Upham.... 9 C. H. Ross, Ibw, b Stemson 32 11. Fry, c Stemson, b Tucker 36 D. Mcllwraith, not out 12 'P. Jennings, not out 1 Extras 13 Total for S wickets 328

The cup matches will not be continued to-morrow, owing- to the engagement of the cricket ground by the Hibernian Society for their annual sports. The following- outside matches will be played:— Auckland v. Pakuranga (at Pakuranga). —Auckland: Courtayne, Dunning-ham, MeCormick, Hicks, McCoy (2), T. Neill, Nolan, Ryan, Stichbury, and Yon der Hyde. Pakuranga: Roberts, Gill, Phillips, Fitzpatrick (3), Speachly, Cooper, Granger, Long, Robinson. Ellerslie v. V.M.C.A. (at Ellerslie).— Ellerslie: F. H. Brown (captain), C. McKinney, A. Loomb, G. Loomb, Hume, N. Porch, Hirst, Roberts, Robinson, Treadffold, Martin, S. Walker, C. Nealis. Play to commence at 2 p.m. Avondale C.C. v. Messrs Smith and Caughey's C.C (at Avondale).—Avondale: W. Johnson (captain), Archibald (2), Bollard. W. Ingram, Hepburn (2), W. Cairn, P. Batkin, C. Farley, J. Potter; emergencies. H. Bollard and A. Brown. Arch Hill v. Birkenhead.—Arch Hill: Woods, Archer, Jenkin (3), Jouning, Clark, Franklin, Lindsay, Smith, Aldred, Somervell. Bow, P. Tairoa. Pitt-street C.C. y. Surrey Ramblers C.C. (at Ponsonby).—Pitt-street: Manson, Wilson, Pascoe (captain), Whitehead, Gillespie (2), Tucker (2), Buckley, McConnell, Harris. Play commences at 2.30 p.m. A combined match will be played tomorrow in the Domain, at 2.15 p.m., between teams representing: Albany, Ivy Dale, St. Vincent, and West End. The following are the players:—Albany and Ivy Dale: L. Smith, Stacey, Aylett, Ratcliffe, Lowry, Coe, Guerin, Stewart, Gladdin?, Ballin, Baker. St. Vincent and West End: Vause, Smytheman (2), Broberpr, Richmond, Doran, Kendall, Sindlen, Stewart, Bater, McLeod. St. Albans v. V.M.C.A.—The following ieam will represent St. Albans v. V.M.C.A. on Saturday next:— Wilson.Thomson (captain), Roberts, Megerney, Nield, Bond, Williams, Blakey, Nyberg, Hewson, and ■Watts. The following will represent the Ponsonby Cricket Club in a match against Auckland, to be played on the North Shore grounds to-morrow:—Sims, Saimders, Wallace (2), Noton, Robertson, W. Mills, J. Clarke, G. Whitelaw, Service, iimdon, Plunimer. .

On Sunday, March 18th, at the City Hall, a children's song of joy will be a-endered. Parents who wish to encourage their children to be musical are invited to attend. There will be nlothing" to pay and no collection. [Doors'open at 3.30 p.m., and the song [begins at 4 o'clock. The programme of open events at the Onehuriga Cycling Club's carnival, to be held on Saturday, March 31st, appears in our advertising' columns. Entries for all events close on March gist. The cycle events are under the league of N.Z. Wheelmen rules.