SENIOR CUP MATCH.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 6962, 16 January 1888, Page 5

SENIOR CUP MATCH.

M_ii—nd Eleven v. Lancaster Park _LF.V*_*. Rain fell heavily on Saturday morning, but at noon there wero some signs of the weather —caring, but slight showere fell an hour or so afc-erwards, and it was not till nearly four o'clock that this match was r_urned. The players in this match ■-.ere more fortunate than their confreres, who were unable to resume their games on Hagley Park owing to the amount of water that lay on the ground, and in consequence their matches will have to be continued a Saturday later than was previously arranged. At four o'clock the Midlanders took the _eld, which they did not la&ve till a Quarter of an hour from call of,

time, when the Park's last wicket fell for *££* -*«£ %s£*% batting was the b„c that has been .shown * n Senior Cup matches this season. The wicket was rather agalust the batsmen, w ho have for tho pabt month been playing on very fait wickets, and the sudwithstanding, however, eight of the Pork men were nuccessful in teaching double figures, aud the innings of W. F. Reeves, Labatt, Crawshaw, and H. Reeve*; must have thoroughly repaid the good fc*cnthusiastic lovcru of the game who waded their way to the Park to. witness this match. Ashby undoubtedly proved a tower of strength to tlie Midlandera m tha bowling department, ond the balls that dismissed Dunlop and Labatt, reminded one of the veteran's p.-.linier days. He secured five wickets for 7S runs, ai-d with the exception, of three overs, bowled right through the innings. A word ol praise is due to the Midland's which was splendid all round, and oltcn elicited applause from the onlookers. McDonald, at long-leg and cover, was exceptionally brilliant. The Midlandcrs were without Garrard's .services, and Wheatley too.: his place behind the wickets, and acquitted himself with some distinction, fur he caught Marshall and Crawshaw.

Fowke and Marshall, with •*» not out respectively, resumed their innings to tho bowling of Barnes at the north end, and Ashby trundled at the south end. Marshall had made IS very quickly, and in good form, when he gave two chances, ana was immediately secured the third time of asking without adding to his score, 2'J—l—lt!, and Crawshaw toed the crease only to see Fowke well bowled by Ashby. 31—_—12. The outgoing batsman had made his runs in his usual patient style. Wilding was caught- and bowled by Ashby without scoring, and the score still unaltered Dunlop tilled the vacancy and hael made 12 in eloublc quick time when Ashby bowled him with a shooter, iii—l—l— Labatt joined his Captain and a bit of a stand was made, the colt doing all tho scoring, and soon passed Crawshaw's total of 12, who had been iv an hour for his runs and who was evidently playing all he knew. "With the score at 77 Crawshaw was well caught behind the wickets oli' Macdonald for a very careful and painstaking innings of 15. Reeves followed and Labatt was tlie cause of runs corning very freely. Several times did Macdonald save fours at long-log, and shortly after the century was posted Ashby dismissed Labatt with a shooter. The outgoing batsman, for the first few overs, played rather shakily, but wheii set he hit with considerable freedom and his score of 40 was without a chance and made by first-class. cricket. Ho was loudly applauded on his return to the pavilion. 109—0—40. Cufl" was next man, and after making 10 and apparently nicely set very foolishly ran himself out. 121—7—10. Frith came, and in crying to emulate Cull' lost his wicket. Ridley joined W. P. and kept his wicket up while Reeves brought the score to 132, when he was caught and bowled by Ashby. 11. Reeves partnered his brother, and the stand of the innings was made. Forty-five runs were added to the score during this partnership, both brothers displaying good cricket till Roberts bowled \V. P. Reeves oif his pads for an exceedingly -well played innings of 39, which was not marred by a single chance. The veteran of many a fight still maintains his strong defensive powers, and his run-getting on the leg side was simple perfection. H. Reeves played very carefully for his total of 24 not out, and, like his elder brother, makes most of his runs on the leg side. The Parks innings closed for 177, and the game has so far been most evenly contested, and doubtless will end in a most exciting finish. Appended are the scores : — midland eleven. First Innings .. „ ..181 LANCASTER PARK. ! First I—lings. J.'Fowke, b Aahby 12 !G. Mar—all, c Wheatley, b Barnes.. .. 18 W. J. Crawshaw, c Wheatley, b Macdonald 15 F. Wilding', c and b Ashby .. .. .. 0 1). Dunlop, b Ashby 12 A. Labatt, b Ashby .. .. .. .. 40 W. P. Reeves, b Roberts 39 L. Cuff, run out 10 W. Fi-ith, run out • 0 C. Ridley, c and b Ashby 2 H. Reeves, not out .. .. .. ..21 Extras .. — .. _ ..5

Total - .. 177 BOW——Q ANALYSIS. Balls. Runs. Mdns. Wkts. E. P, Barnes ..120 39 9 1 D. Ashby .. .. 203 78 11 5 F. Macdonald ..35 25 2 1 J. Garty .. ... 50 21 3 0 11. Roberts .. -.21 0 1 1 [PEESS A—OCIATION TELEGRAM.] WELLINGTON, January 15. The Cup Cricket Matches were resumed yesterday notwithstanding that steady rain fell all the afternoon. In the Senior Cup Match the Midlands totted up 168, in which O. Gillon contributed 71 and A. Black—ck 43. The Ponokes started their second innings, being 55 to the bad. They, however, put up a total of 184, and then batted two men short. Stinson made 51. The Midlands have 110 to make to win. In the Junior Cup Matches the second eleven of the Midland beat the Surreys by nine wickets, and the First Eleven of the Rivals beat the Second Eleven of the Ponekes by one innings and 40 runs. In a match between the Officers of the Squadron and Wellington Club, the latter won on the first Innings by 49 runs. Werry scored 50 for the winning side.