NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 303, 20 December 1913, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS.

THE AUSTRALIAN TOUR.

STORY OF THE FffiST MATCH.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

MATTLAND, December 14.

We have just, finished our match with the Northern Districts team, and we arc all highly elated with our performance in beating them.

Owing to strike troubles in connection with maritime matters we were two days late in arriving in Sydney, Consequently we were unable to have the two days' practice on the Sydney Cricket Ground as was originally intended. Our trip across in the Tahiti was a wonderfully smooth one. and the skipper informed mc that such a good passage from Wellington to S3-dney does not occur more -than once in twenty times.

We did have a couple of hours' knock on the Sydney Cricket Ground, but the wicket had been flooded the previous evening, consequently our practice was not very beneficial. We, therefore, had to enter into our first contest without a knowledge of the vagaries of the Australian wickets. The wicket at Maitland is an exceptionally good one, and some huge scores have been compiled on it by visiting Sydney teams.

Dan Reese won the toss, and elected to bat. Hemus and Snedden were the opening batsmen, and they took the score to 12 before an l.b.w. decision from the googly bowler McjLean dismissed Hemus for 7. The fast wicket was disconcerting to the batsmen, but Snedden gradually overcame the difficulties, and took his score to 23, when, in attempting to cut, ihe placed tie ball in second slip's hands. TucfcweH also fell a victim, lA.w., to McLestn, for 2. We had six wickets down for 80 when Hickmott and Sandman became associated, and took the score to 155, when Hickmott was caught behind the wicket for 80. He played very forcibly, and displayed form that was very pleasing. Leslie Taylor helped Sandman to put on 50, and the innings eventually closed for 228.

Taylor's display of 10 not out was exceptionally good, and -his strokes all •round the wicket were made with the full force of the bat. He drove with plenty of power, and found the boundary with a beautiful square cut. He should make a lot of runs on the tour.

Our opponents only scored 120, Reese, Sandman, Bennett, and Robinson bowling very ably. Our fielding was firstclass, and it may cause Aucklanders some surprise to hear that young Taylor was a good as the best of them. He made a splendid catch from a skyer, and also made a magnificent return to Boxshall that resulted in the dismissal of A. Lawrie. His ground fielding was also good. Snedden, as usual, was very good. In our second knock we performed much better. Hemus and Snedden opened, amd took the score to 71. when they both were dismissed. Their displays for 41 and 34 respectively were much better than in the first innings. We closed our innings at 285 for seven wickete. Tuckwell -making 84 by beautiful cricket. He will undoubtedly prove the -best bat on the side. Hickmott knocked up 4!) in quick and lively irtyle, and Sandman and Patrick hit some sixers, and played well. Dan Reese did not stay long, unfortunately, having a misunderstanding with Tuckwell, and being run out. Requiring 393 to win. Northern Districts commenced their innings with 2* hours to go. They only managed to total 00, owing to the magnificent bowling of Sandman, -who was turning the ball both -ways at a fair pace. He got eight for 23. Robinson bowled well, although he did not get a wicket. Our fielding .was good, Robinson, Sandman and Taylor effecting great catches. Taylor's was at long-on, and he judged a very difficult one with great skill. We won by 300 nine. Reese skippered his team well.

We are a jolly crowd, and are enjoying our tour very -much. Sandman is the joker of the team, and keeps things moving. Our next match is at Glen Innee, awl the -wicket is matting, which will be strange to tts all.

There -io a batsman here named Tawcett who is a Ibeantifnl player. He played right through -the. innings for 69 not out.