MAORILAND TEAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 306, 27 December 1935, Page 3

MAORILAND TEAM.

TOUR IN FIJI. FIRST BIG MATCH DRAWN. VISITORS HAVE THE BETTER OF THE PLAY. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA, December 23. The first big match, in the programme of the tour of the New Zealand cricket team opened on Saturday in fine weather and on an ideal wicket. The visitors batted" first, and at the luncheon adjourn--1 ment had lost three wickets for 70, Massey and Walters batting. Massey -was bowled by the clever Fijian bowler Williame, the score standing at S7. When Walters left his partnership with Riley the score had reached 110 for five wickets. When Bright joined Riley things brightened tip, and both scored with confidence until Riley was caught in the outfield by Williame, with the total at 159. After Norris had knocked up 13 Bright and Renshaw became associated, the partnership yielding 53. The innings closed at 5.15. Bright took top honours bowling on Thursday, and on Saturday he top-scored batting. The Suva fielding was only fair, while several good chances were missed at slips. Suva was decidedly uncomfortable under Massey's bowling, which was swinging perceptibly, keeping a perfect length, and at all times, as a critic said, he kept the Suva batsmen anxious. He was recognised as the most dangerous bowler on the visiting side. The Suva innings closed at 3 p.m. on Sunday, and play was continued, Massey declaring with a total of 83, giving the home team 160 runs to win, but when time was called they had lost six wickets for 96. Although the game been technically called a draw, New Zealand had much the better of the play. The visitors' fielding was always good, and Dunning's slip work _ again attracted loud applause, his catching of Williame in the second innings being described as brilliant. Massey's bowling was the big feature of the game, with the batting of Dunning, Riley and Bright full of real merit. The team plays All liji after Christmas. The scores were: — NEW ZEALAND.—First Inninge. Vipond, c Cakobau, b Rennie 3 Dunning, b Cakobau 08 Andrews, c Forster, b Wendt ........ 5 Walter, lbw, b Raddock 30 Massey, b Williame 8 Riley, v Williame, b Fenn ........■. 46 Bright, b Cakobau 72 Norris, c Robinson, b Williame ...... 13 Rensliaw, c Fenn, b Cakobau ........ 26 Martin, c Cakobau, b Williame ...... 6 Windle, not out 2 Extras ....................... 14 Total 263 Bowling.—Rennie one for 29, Moorhouse none for 51, Williame three for .34, Wendt one for 49, Cakobau three for 59, Raddock one for 15, Fenn one for 11. Second Innings. Dunning, c Halsted, b Wendt ........ 54 Vipond, b Rennie ........ 4 Bright, not out .. . ...... ......... ..... 13 Extras 12 Two wickets for ............... 83 SUVA.—First Innings. Halstead, c Sutherland, .b Massey .... 6 Robinson, b Massey ....... 6 Cakobau, c and b Massey 50 Wendt, c Vipond, b Massey .......... 53 Forster, b Riley 14 Moorbouse, b Riley 9 Rennie, c Dunning, b Riley .......... 13 Caine, c Windle, b Massey 9 Raddock, c Massey, b Riley .......... 4 Williame, c and b Riley ............ 0 Fenn, not out 7 Extras ....................... 15 Total 186 Bowling.—Windle none for 22, Massey five for 28, Bright none for 29, Riley five for 83, Renshaw none for 7. Second Innings. Cakobau, b Riley 15 Fenn, run out 26 Wendt, c Vipond, b Massey 22 Robinson, lbw, b Riley 4Williame, c Dunning, b Vipond 0 Caine, c sub, b Riley 4 Rennie, not out 16 Moorhouse, not out 1 0 Extras 9 Six wickets for 96

FEASTING AT OLD CAPITAL,

PICNIC CRICKET ON CONCRETE. When interviewed after the return of the New Zealand cricketers from . the ancient Fiji capital of Bau, _ the captain, H. B. Massey, eaid the Maorilandere' cricket XI. commenced their Fijian tour when they motored to Bau, where they were the guests of the Hon. Ratu Popi Cakobau, grandson of the first and only " King of Fiji," and the Bau Cricket Club. Favoured with a glorious day, the New Zealanders were able to see this beautiful spot—the old island kingdom—in all ite scenic charm. To the visitors Ratu Popi extended a hearty welcome and treated the team and friends in a most hospitable and princely manner. It was a revelation to the cricketers to partake of the Fijian meal, or rather feast, consisting of manv undreamed of delicacies and varieties of foodstuffs beautifully prepared. There were heaps of pig and fowl and fish in all sorts of dishes, with real mountains of native vegetables —breadfruit, taro, cassava, etc. The feast was the star turn of the visit.

During the day the teams managed to exert enough activity to play a one innings match on a concrete wicket, the Fijians proving too good for the visitors, New Zealand scoring 92 to the native total of 122. A delightful day concluded with afternoon tea followed by native mekes or dances and singing, the voices rolling out over the sea in immense volume, with an amazing sweetness and depth of tone and harmony. Mr. E. G. Sutherland, manager of the team, thanked Ratu Popi, the ladies of Bau and the Cricket Club for the splendid hospitality, concluding by congratulating the local team on their success. Captain Maseey followed with a happy speech of acknowledgment of the good time provided. The team landed back in Suva laden with coconuts, garlands and pineapples.