CRICKET CHAT.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9289, 14 December 1895, Page 4

CRICKET CHAT.

]By Dark Blue.]

'■' Weekly Press and Referee." Tho Avet Avcather experienced in Christchurch during the past few weeks has greatly interfered with the rep. practices, but Avlien it has been line most of the men chosen have been at Avork at the nets. At I ho time of Avritiug Mr OUivicr has not made his final selection lor the game between New Soulh Wales and Canterbury, which commences at Lancaster Park ou .Saturday, and which will be continued on Monday and Tuesday. Most of tiie men arc allowing good form -with the bat at the nets, and if the weather U only fine, and the wicket in good order, they should render a good account of themselves. With the weather so unsettled I should imagine that the selector Avill find a place in his team for I). Reese, who Avill, I fancy, astonish the Cornstalks if the wicket suits him. It is hard to predict Avhich ride will Avin, but if the rain continues it ought to be in Canterbury's favour, as they have been used to dead wickets so much recently. Tiie visitors usually have to bat on hard wickets, but with the good bowling they are said to possess they may possibly dismiss the home team for a small score and pet plenty of runs themselves to give them the victory. Anyway, I only hope the weather Avill be fine and that the better side mn.y Avin a Avell contested game. I do not envy the Selection Committee their task of choosing the Ncav Zealand team from the 27 nominated, although, of course, it Avill be much cosier for them to make their pick after NeAv South Wales have met Canterbury and Otago. Avhilo possibly the last place or tAvo Avill not be filled until after the match with Wellington is finished. Of course in the matches to be played some men may enhance their previous reputations, Avhile others may show themselves to be clean out of form, but the following eleA-en_AA*onld, I fancy, render a good account of themselves; —Wright, Robertson, Cuff, Labatt, De Maus, Holdship, Upham, Clark, Baker, Rains, and Lusk. Broad, of Nelson, has done nothing of note during the present Beoson, but on last year's form he would, I should think, have been selected, and of the others, Ridley, Pearce, Kallendar, DoAvnes and Fisher, perhaps, have the best show of being chosen. The New South Wales Cricket team were among the passengers by the Talune, which sailed from Sydney for Wellington on Saturday. It is not often a bowler is credited with a "Feat Avith Ball" Avhen his opponents make a total of as many as 272, but BratliAv.aite, playing for HaAvke's Bay County against the Napier United on November 50th. secured three wickets for 4 runs, and the United made the total named. W. J. CrawshaAv scored 33, not out, for Wuirau v. Koromiko at Picton on November SOtli. A match was played at Pahiatua on NoA*ember 30th betAveen teams representing the Bush and Wnirar.ipa Associations, Avhen the latter Avon by eight wickets. Scores:— Wairarapa 122 (W. Judd 34, not out, E. Udy 19 and F. HaAvke 17) and 20 for two wickets (H. HaAvke 14, not out) ; Bush 61 (Lucena 21, not out) and 80 (Wilson 28 and Cato 19). GalloAV and Judd boAvled best for the Avinners, and Chambers for the losers.

J, Borton, who is, I fancy, an old Christ's College boy, scored 100 not out for the Oamaru Club against a team representing the combined schools of Oamaru at Oamaru on Saturday week. Scores :—Club, 208 for Beven wickets—innings declared closed—(J. Borton 100 not out, Hewat 46 and O. Borton 35); Combined Schools, 82 for two wickets (A. Crawford 37, G. Macdonald 23 and M. Holmes 15 not out). Waddell bowled best for the schools. L. Monk bowled well playing for West Taieri against Milton on November 30th, but his average in both innings just fails to come under the heading "Feats with the Ball." In the first innings he took five wiokets for 11 runs, and in the second he captured six for 13. West Taieri won by an innings and 29 runs, scoring 83 (L. Monk 31 not out and Inglis 22) tb 30 and 24 by the losers. At Melbourne on November 23rd the Melbourne Club increased their score from 221 for six wickets to 385, thus defeating Fitzroy, Avho scored 321 the previous Saturday, by 64 runs. For Melbourne Roas contributed 84 and R. M'Leod 71. East Melbourne beat St. Kilda by 247 runs, and South Melbourne beat University by 200 runs, both games being decided on the first innings. On November 16 th and 23rd G. Giffen ■cored 174 for the Norwood Club against Hindmarsh. On the former date the Australian champion scored 96, not out, and on the latter he increased his score by 78 before being bowled. Norwood scored 404 for seven wickets. On the same days Hogue scored 180 for Wickham Albion against Burwood at Newcastle (N.S.W.) " Up to November 23rd Glebe was leading for the New South Wales First Grade Championship with three Avins and no defeats and Waverley and East Sydney followed %vith 2 wins each and no defeats. North Adelaide concluded their innings for 270 against the Australs on November 23rd and the latter scored 178 for the loss of one wicket, E. Leak contributing 85 not out and S. Leak 77 not out. The committee of the Taranaki Cricket Association have chosen the following players to go into practice in view of the matches between Taranaki and HaAvke's Bay and Nelson:—H. Baily, Izard, Harden, Ogle, Monteath, Coppard, Heenan, Coutts, Lusk, A. Bayly, G. T. Bayly, F. Mooie, Pratt, Milk, Syme, H. Elliot and B. M'Carthy. The match with Hawke's Bay takes place at Christinas, and the contest with Nelson next month. A most extraordinary instance of the application of the closure comes from Perth (W.A.) The Suttons were playing the Verya'rds at Perth. The former went in, and were put out for 56. Then the Veryards Tost five wickets for 5. At this stage, finding the chief bats had fallen, Veryards decided, much to the surprise of every person on tbe ground, especially Sutton's men, to close the innings Avith 51 runs to the bad. Then in forty miuutes they disposed of the Suttons for 21, and were left Avith the task of making 73 runs to win in fifty minutes. This task the team, which had previously five wickets for 5, actually accomplished with eight wickets to spare. Another illustration of the glorious uncertainty.