NOTES ON THE GAME.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11525, 6 March 1903, Page 5

NOTES ON THE GAME.

(srr.cuL to "mx pbsss.") . . WELLINGTON, March 6. There was again a good attendance" at the cricket match this afternoon, and the onlookers were treated to a fine dfeptoy«f batting by tlie Warner's \ : iinings in particular being a faultless one. The decisions of the £nglish umpire 4 (Mr JAmbridge) of New Piymoutfi) again caused great dissatisfaction. In the two innings and the short space in which the New Zealand team was batting this afternoon, he has given no fewer than five men out leg before wicket, and if he keeps I on at this rate to-morrow he -will probably establish a record. Yesterday it was «xi. ' dent, even to the people in the pavilion, that at least one of the low dealnans was wrong. I find to-day that many txperjenced cricketers are at on« with me ia* the opinion I telegraphed last aight. Tonights "Post," referring to yesterday's play, says that "out of Thompson* eighß wickete tihree were given Ibw to him by " Mr Ambridge, and a good deal of dissatisfaction woo expressed with more than one of those three decisions. Thompson •bowled round the wicket, and an appeal - for Ibw -was given in Jiis favour- when ifc ' eeemed almost impossible, considering toe rate be was bowling, that, the ball could! have broken back And' taften a wicket if ' the leg of the batsman had not bfeen in the way. There was a great deal of appealing from sora* of the visitors, %ot only at times when -it seemed to be a fair thing, ' and there was a freely, expressed feeling.: that Mr Ambridge Was unduly influenced " - by tk sharp confldent appeal more tiuw 1 I once." ' ' - • ;•>:,•■- .;■■■■• - That Williams played the 'ball -on fer'nia pad, yes|crday is now a© established fact, and of course he ehquld not have been, given out! This afternoon, juat a* he tad \ I got set, Buraup fell a Victim to another"' of Mr Ambridge*s decisions. Soon'after ' tie first hundred appeared oa the board Fisher appealed to Mr Ambridge for Ibw. Burnup (not out)/ The next boll I' he appealed again, and tbe batsmai} wae, - "' given out. . Kaher was delivering left hand, and around the wicket. Just oa the call of time Richardson wae given out Ibw— -a I decision that seemed to, surprise him, andi ' even some-of the supportere of the English- • ■men. Ife is pleasing ■: to v nofce, however, i that all the dedsione were takm witli the best of good grace by the retiring batemen, and there were no commenta made by tii«'>' players. The. onlookers, however, could f not refrain from comment among themselves. ;'-. ■ . ■ :.•■.■:■■ Apart altogether, however, from this J phase of the game, the EnciHshmen eeemed j certain of victory, for they are certainly f much tho better team. Still, but for these misfortunes we might havo had a more interesting finish. Aβ it ie the batemen are beginning to be "as much afraid of the t'mpire an of the bowler. Unless something unforeseen happens it is now only a > question of how many wickets tho English team will win by, If, indeed, they do not . «acure a one innings victory. This evening there h every appearance > of rain. • , Williams'e wicketkeeping.to-day wa* ex- I" cdlent, and Uio catch with which Taylor / dismissed Eeese was worlS going to ccc. Reese hib a ehort uppish one towiu-de equaro leg, and the fieldsman ran in fMm mid-on f beyond the farther wickefc—a distance of , " about thirty yards, and, with excellent judgment, secured the catch. It was a' brilliant bit ofnrork, and it probably saved ' the field a good deal of'subsequent trouble. To-night the visitors were entertained at a private dance, arid to-morrow tlwy •Mβthe guests of members of the Welliogtos Club at dinner.; •' ./;,-, . 'h A meeting of the Competitions Commit* ' tee of the Canterbury Cricket Association j was he'd at Warner's Hotel, Mr CaygiU in , tho chair. The umpires in the next round! ' of senior matches were appointed ac foi- j low-a:—Lancaster Park v Midland, - air Hap'ey Park, Meaene Spencer end Gerard; United v Sydenham, at Lancaster Park, ' Messrs Brinsden and Murray. ,