CRICKET.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIV, Issue 996, 13 January 1857, Page 3

CRICKET.

The return match between the-non-commissioned officers and privates of the 58th Regiment v. Cricketers of Auckland, commenced on Wednesday the lslinst., but was not completed. Some showers of rain, and better batting than ordinary, prolonged the first innings, and a determined rain in the evening put an end to the pl.iy. As no special arrangement was made for such a contingency, the game, with all bets on it, was drawn. It was, however, resumed on Wednesday. Although the very close contest which took place at the first match had raised considerable excitement as to the result of this, yet a strong wind and a threatening sky caused the attendance of spectators to be small. The military, having won the toss, sent in the civilians, and Brennan and Simms appeared to the bowling of Russell and Lucas. Scoring began slowly with singles —the military fielding close, and allowing no balls to pass. Simms, having marked 3 singles and a double, was dismissed by Lucas, and Cooper took the bat. Brennan was persuaded by one of Russell's insinuators, and sent the ball into the bowler's hands, having put seven to his name, all in singles. When Harris went to the wickets, heavy hitting seemed abandoned for the day, the batters appear • ing convinced that no ball could pass through the line of fielders, who appeared to be everywhere _all at once. Cooper having cleverly got 7 singles', gave a chance of which Brown took advantage. Young, who came 'iext, hit hard at a full pilch from Lucas, and lost his leg stump, saving the scorers all the trouble. Hargreaves now took the bat, and soon shewed symptoms of a determination to change the appearance of things. Harris having disappeared for 6 runs, and Wood for 1, Fenton joined Hargreaves. At length a stand was made, and singles and doubles were rapidly accumulating when the military fumbled the ball and missed the chance of a run out. Hits for three and four began to disorder the field when Russell tempted Fenton, and got amongst his timbers. He retired, having added 22 to the score, and was relieved by Fountain. This player also yielded to Russell's temptations, and returned him the ball, having served a single. Marlow was sent back to his anxious friends by Lucas, for 0, and Barley allowed Russell to disturb his stumps, without scoring. Hargreaves having seen five men out, carried out his bat with 20 to his name. Total score 75. Lucas and Hall appeared as'the military champions to the bowling of Young and Fenton, and the first overwarned the civilians that mischief was intended. Fenton was wide-batted the second over, for a ball which passed over the popping crease, and finished his over underhand. A shooter from him dismissed Hale, after he had given a contribution of 2 singles. Westfold succeeded, and twos and threes became the older of the day, when Hargreaves took the bowling at Fenton's end, and Fenton relieved Young. At leiigth Westfold ran himself out, and Stirling appeared. He and Lucas batted well, but runs were becoming scarcer, when Lucas gave a chance, which was declined ; and, emboldened by impunity, he gave another, which was cleverly taken by Barley at a long slip. Aidborough succeeded, and drove Fenton back into his hands, but with such force that the chance was missed, and he scored one. But the next over he was waited upon by Fenton at point, and retired to his friends. Brown and Stirling played well and carefully —adding to the score in a very artistic manner. They appeared likely to stay at their posts, but Stirling allowed Fenton to lower his wicket, by playing too late at a ball. This is the great fault of back-players, and shooters are generally fatal to them. OBrien succ c led, and was bowled by Fenton for one. Riibsell played well for nine, but hitting round at a ball (a twister from Fenton) which he could not reach, he lost his leg stump. Brown managed to get run out, having scored 13 in a very able and cricket-like style. McLean marked 3, and was caught by Young at midwicket oft. Richardson scored 11 in three hits, and sent back the bowler's ball into his hands leaving Wilson not out, with 1. Total score 99. After some delay, caused by showers of rain, the civilians sent in, for the second innings, Harris and Brennan. The rain had made the ground slippery, and as few of the military were' properly shod for cricket, their fielding and bowling suffered considerably. The batters seemed determined to avail themselves of the circumstance, and scored with rapidity. Brennan made his usual on hits with great success, and Harris maintained his reputation as the best off-hitter in the country. At length, after half an hour's rapid play, Brennan was bowled by Lucas, for 26 runs, composed of 2 threes, 5 twos, and singles. As the rain was now increasing, the umpires stopped the game — Harris (not out) having contributed 23. One wicket down for (with byes) 51 runs, the chances being in favor of the civilians. The following is the score :—: —

The game was resumed on Friday, — betting even 1 Our space will not allow us to give a detailed account of the play. We can therefore only say, generally, that the fielding of the military was very far superior to that of the civilians, who seem determined never to catch a ball, unless it would otherwise hit the mouth. During the second innings Hargreaves bowled beautifully, and few runs could be got from Fenton. Seven chances were missed by the civilians, but none by the soldiers. The former show signs of having been players in former years, though many of them now " lard the lean earth as they run." The following completes the score for the second innings : —

Thus ended the best match we ever saw in Auckland in" favor of the civilians, by 4 runs. In consequence of this second triumph they arranged a match for the following Wednesday, against the garrison, including the officers and the artillery. The return match duly came off on that day, the Garrison scoring 114, with two wickets to go"down, anoV the Civilians 111. The score in our next.

First Innings, Brennan— c, &b. Russell 7 Simms— b. Lucas 5 Cooper — c. Brown, b. Lucas 7 Harris— b. Russell 6 Young -b. Lucas 0 Hargreaves— (not out) '. 20 Wood— run out 1 Fenton— b. Russell 22 Fountain — c. and b. Russell 1 Marlow — b. Lucas 0 Barley — b. Russell 0 69 Byes 3 Wide balls 3 Total 75

CIVILIANS.

Second Innings Brennan — b. Lucas 26 Harris— (not out) 23 Byea 2

MILITARY.

First Innings. Lucas — c. Barley, b. Fenton 27 Hale— b. Fenton 2 Westfold — run out 8 Stirling— b. Fenton " 14 Aldborough— c. Fenton, b. Hargreaves .... 1 Brown— run out 13 O'Brien— b. Fenton 1 Russell — b. Fenton 9 McLean c. Young, b. Fenton 3 Richardson — c. JFenton, b. Fenton 11 Wilson — (not out) 1 90 Byes 7 Wide balls 2 Total 99

CIVILIANS.

Harris — b. Russell 30 Brennan— b. Lucas 26 Barley— b. Russell 4 Fountain — b. Russell • 1 Cooper — c. OBrien, b. Westfold 4 Hargreaves— b. Westfold 8 Young — b. Westfold 8 Wood— b. Russell 0 Fenton— b. Russell 3 Simms — (not out) 5 Marlow— b. Russell 3 87 Bye« „ 6 Wide balls 1 T«t*l 94

Lurns — b HargreaVes <..!. v ..«<y * i ,-1 ttnle— e. Fenton. b. Hargr^aves . '. ,. 3 Westfold— b Hargreayes . . . ; *1 . > Richardson — b. HnrgrVaves 2 ! Payne— c and b. Hargrea\es . . 7 \ Brown — run out • ' 2 Stirling — b. Fenton 14 McLean— b. Hurgreates 0 Russell— c. Harris, b. Hargreaves 3 Aldborough— c. Harris, b. Hargreaires ... 4 Q'Brien-^(not out) * 61 Byes w ? Wide balls :•••• 3 Total 66

MILITARY.