INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 52, 1 March 1919, Page 5

INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET.

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON. NORTHERNERS' BIG SCORE. TWO CENTURIES RECORDED. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON. Friday. Excellent weather prevailed for the commencement of the Auckland-Welling-ton representative cricket match here. The wicket was in splendid order, and there was a fair attendance, which increased considerably as the day wore on. The teams were: — Auckland: W. Graham (captain), L. G. llemus, E. Horspool, W. Frater, F. A. Midlane, K. G. Sloman, W. R. Garrard, P Beveridge, O. R. Garrard, W. McMath, R. Coates. Wellington: W. S. Price (captain), W. A. Baker, E. M. Beechey, H. E.. Burton. I A. Finlayson, 0. R. Patrick, W. Lambert, I B. Marris, K. 11. Tucker, W. WagstafTe. A notable absentee in the Auckland ] eleven was Smith, the "star" bowler i against the Canterbury team in the i Plunket Shield match. Wellington was without the services of Hiddlcston, who | was replaced by Patrick. It was known | that Auckland were a strong batting side, and their excellent opening was no surprise to local enthusiasts. Taking today's play as a guide, '-there is every ! prospect of an interesting game. The Cmpires were Messrs. W. R. Bock and B. Mabin. * AUCKLAND'S GOOD START. Auckland won the toss and elected to bat, Horspool and He.nus going to the wickets at 11.20. '"■Sixer" Brice bowled from the northern end. and for a start was treated cautiously by Hemus. The I latter got Brice away for two off his third ball, and added a single before the end of the over. Marris took the bowling from the southern end, and Hemus was compelled to feel his way for a time. Marris' over was a maiden. It could be seen from the start that the wicket was extremely fast and true enough to worry the batsmen. For the •first half-hour runs came very slowly, the batsmen declining to take any risks. After 15 minutes' play ten was hoisted, and almost immediately after Horspool sent Marris to the boundary twice, both excellent strokes to leg. Brice was bowling a good length ball, which the Aucklanders found it difficult to deal with. At the end of twenty minutes' 1 play, the telegraph showed 20. Up to this stage most of the runs were coming off Marris, whose length was rather erratic. At the end of half an hour's play both batsmen were etill playing with the utmost caution, 30 being I got as the result of rather scratchy and uninteresting play. When the score j stood at 35, Finlayson relieved Brice at the northern end, and the first score off I him was two by Horspool. The latter followed this up by a vigorous hit to the boundary, and at midday the score stood 40 for no wickets. BATSMEN OPEN OUT. . 1 At this stage both batsmen opened I out to some effect, and it was not long before .10 was hoisted. Runs continued to come more freely, and when the visitors were ;lf> Patrick took the ball in place of Marris. Patrick's first over was a maiden. The next incident was a boundary by Horspool off Patrick, which brought the score to 00 after 50 minutes' play. A few minutes after this Auckland suffered their first reverse. Horspool being given out lbw to Patrick, after playing a steady innings for 28. 02— 1— 28.

Midlane. who replaced Horspool, was centent to start cautiously. In Patrick's second over to him, Midlane sent a pretty shot to the boundary, and a few subsequent singles saw 70 hoisted, after an hour's play.

Hemus was playing a steady, vigorous innings, and a couple of fours brought Auckland's total up to SO. At the end of 70 minutes' play the score stood at 00. Brice resumed bowling at the northern end in place of Finlayson, and nearly had Hemus out. The ball roiled off the bat, but was just out of reach of Wagstaffe (the wicket-keeper), who made a valiant effort to get it. Play now began to liven up considerably, and both batsmen showed more eontldence. Midlane, who received applause for some really clever strokes, distinguished himself by a nice cut in the direction of the northern boundary, but Hutching* saved four 'brilliantly. Wben the score was 115 Marris went on again in place of Brice, and runs continued to come fairly freely. Finlayson replaced Patrick, and, as usual, gave the batsmen plenty to think about. Marris, on the other hand, seemed fairly easy, and Midlane had no hesitation in severely punishing his deliveries. MIDLANE DOING WELL. Midlane was getting in plenty of his characteristic strokes, and a square cut to boundary brought the score to 130. At the luncheon adjournment the score was 137 for one wicket, Hemus and Midlane, tbe unbeaten batsmen, being 56 and 47 respectively. When play was resumed Patrick took the bowling from the northern end. Hemus felt his way for a start, and scraped a single only off the same over. However, Midlane cut nicely to the boundary for four. Bowling from Newtown end. Brice was sent to the boundary for four, but on the whole his deliveries were troublesome. Ten minutes' play saw the score increased to 150, and the batsmen appeared to have settled down to their work. A few minutes later Hemus snicked Patrick to the boundary, nnd 160 was recorded, followed by some careful play. Hemus, opening out to Patrick, two boundary strokes came in quick succession, ano •he batsman followed up that ae'iiev*ment by driving hard for a couple of singles. The board then read: Auckland 170 for one wicket.

Another change of bowling was tried. Hutchings relieving Patrick at the town end. Midlane drove hard to Baker, who missed, the ball traveling to the ropes, and ii half-hour's play saw the score increased by over 40. The batsmen continued to treat Brice with respect, although Midlane occasionally got him away well t _ the boundary. THE DOUBLE CENTURY. Finlayson took the ball from Brice. Hemus got a lucky one to the boundary, bringing the total up to 200 amid much applause. The next incident was a hard drive by Midlane oif Finlayson for four, When the score stood at 214 Tucker was given the ball in place of Finlayson, but the change was of little benefit to the attackers. Lambert relieved Hutchings at the north end, and the only damage he did was to temporarily put Hemus o: . of action per medium of a fast ball, which struck the batsman on the knee. A little later Hemus was compensated in some degree by getting a single, which brought up his century. Hemus, who had played a sound, vigorous innings, was loudly applauded. A feature of the game up to" this point was the frequent changing of the Wellington boxylera in a vain endeavour to move the* Northerners'

steady batsmen. Both men were playing some fine strokes all round the wicket, and were little troubled by the Wellington bowlers. There was considerable applause when Midlane brought his own score up to 100 by a hetty stroke towards the boundary.

After lunch the score board showed 250, and runs continued to come freely, except off Finlayson, who bowled a good length baU. Up to this stage the partnership had realised over 200 runs. In pursuance of the policy of changing bowlers, Marris was put on again at the northern end. This change caused Hemus to settle down for the time being, but there was no dearth of run 9, and 280 was the score when the afternoon tea adjournment was made. Up to this Hemus had got 12 fours and Midlane 14. FIRST WICKET DOWN. Upon resuming, Tucker opened to Midlane, who scored a brace, and followed it up with a boundary hit, which brought the score to 290. Finlayson bowled from the other end, and his second ball proved fatal to Hemus, who hit the ball into Finlayaon's hands. Hemus had played a sterling and careful innings for 130, and received ar. ovation on returning to the pavilion. 291—2—136. W. R. Garrard replaced Hemus, but was quickly disposed of for a "duck." He survived Finlayson's first ball, but the next saw the newcomer clean bowled. 291 —3— OU PILING UP CENTURIES. The next batsman was Sloman, who immediately opened out. His hitting was of the vigorous order, and it was not long before the figures reached 300. A few minutes later, however, Midlane tipped one of Finlayson's deliveries, which was smartly held by Patrick in second slip. The ex-Wellingtonian had played a chanceless innings, characterised by some pretty play, and was loudly applauded, 304—4—126. Graham, Auckland's skipper, replaced Midlane, and with Sloman treated the spectators to some vigorous cricket. Anything loose they treated with little respect, and the fielders experienced a busy time. After a period of quiet play, Sloman got Finlayson over the ropes for six, but apart from this Finlayson's bowling was proving difficult to deal with. The next incident of note was the dismissal of the Auckland skipper, who hit one of Brice's deliveries and apparently misjudged the result. He made a run, but Tucker picked up the ball quickly and had the wicket down before Graham could get home. 344—5 —6.

The next batsman was R. Garrard, and, although he played careful cricket, he was clean bowled by Brice when his total was 8. 355—6 —8.

Beveridge followed, and the pair quickly brought the score to 3(50. Both played steady cricket, and the score continued to mount up. Sloman's batting was particularly attractive, and he managed to score 62 before being sent to the pavilion as the result of being cleverly caught by Tucker off Finlayson. 380—7—62*.

The next batsman in was Frater, who quickly made his presence felt by hitting Patrick for four. Lambert relieved Patrick, and runs came slowly. A few overs later Marris was given another turn with the ball, and the batsmen preferred to treat him cautiously. With 20 minutes to go Auckland were 400, and before the stumps were drawn at six o'clock they had increased their total to 424. The not out men were Beveridge 35, and Frater 11. TO-DAY'S PLAY. EIGHTH WICKET FALLS AT 485. WELLINGTON, this day. The Auckland - Wellington cricket match was resumed this morning, the batsmen not out overnight, Beveridge and Frater, continuing their innings. The pair carried the score from 427 to 485 before Frater was stumped by Wagstaff, with his score at 33. McMath followed. AUCKLAND. —First Innings. Horspool, lbw, b Patrick 28 Hemus, c and b Finlayson 136 Midlane, c Patrick, b Finlayson . . 126 W. R. Garrard, b Finlayson 0 Sloman, c Tucker, b Finlayson 62 Graham, run out 6 R. Garrard, b Brice 8 Beveridge, not out 59 Frater, st Wagstaff 33 Extras 10 Total for eight wickets 484