CRICKET. THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM AT HOBART.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 31, 7 February 1899, Page 5

CRICKET. THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM AT HOBART.

A GOOD START AGAINST SOUTH TASMANIA. [PBESS ASSOCIATION.] Hobart, 6th February. The New Zealand cricket team opened ' its Australian tour at Hobart to-day with a match against a team representing South Tasmania. Ashbolt (Wellington), and Sims (Canterbury) stood out of the New Zealand team. The wicket was wonderfully fast, and Cobcroft, the New Zealand captain, winning the toss, decided to bat. With the score at 78, Eady bowled George Mills with a shooter. Mills's 29 included' three 4's, two 3's, and eleven singles. Baker gave a sharp chance at the wicket, wbich M'Allen snapped up. The Dunedin man batted three hours, and played the fast bowling of the Tasmanians with consummate ease. He rendered invaluable assistance to his side by taking the sting out of the bowling. He never, played a finer innings. His score was made up of twelve 4's, five 2's, and twenty-three singles. When the score stood at 240 Cobcroft dragged Burn on. He, too, gave a fine exhibition of patient play, combined with sound defence, with not a semblance of a chance. Cobcroft's score included eight 4's, five 3's, and six 2'b. At 261 Fisher was given out leg before wicket to Burn. At 291 Boxshall was caught behind the wickets, and with 5 more added Downes was caught on the boundary. Fratikish, hitting vigorously; carried the score to 332, and at 335 Lusk was beaten by Eady. The Hawkes Bay man opened badly, giving two easy chances ; but when , once fairly set he played a splendid game, Ms cutting and driving being particularly brilliant. He contributed eleven 4's, three 3's, and seven 2's. With three-quarters of an hour to play, Tasmania sent Burn and M'Allen to face the bowling of Upham and Frankish. Both batted with great freedom. The Tasmanian captain's cutting was faultless. The score mounted up rapidly. At 68, Boxshall took M'Allen smartly behind thY wickets, and when four more runs were added Burn snicked Downes into the slips into the safe hands of Frankish. All the men bowled a good length. The fielding left nothing to be desired. The attendance was only moderate. The following are the scores :—: — New Zealand, first inriings. — Reese, 1 ; Baker, 81; G. Mills, 29; Cobcroft, 83; Lusk, 91 ; I. Mills, 3 ; Fisher, 6 ; Boxshall, 2 ; Downes, 5 ; Frankish, 19 ; Upham, not out, 2 ; extras, 13. Total, 335. Bowling analysis. — Eady took six wickets for 150 runs ; Maxwell, one for 25 ; Burn, three for 37. Eady bowled three no-balls. South Tasmania, first innings. — Burn, 41; M'Allen, 30; extra, 1. Total for two wickets, 72. THE TEAM'S OPPONENTS 4.TSYDNEY. (Eeceived February 7, 9.35 a.m.) Sydney. This Day. _ The New South Wales Cricket Association has recommended the Selection Committee to include some of the colts who have not taken part in intercolonial matches this season in the team which is to play against, the New Zealanders. ' HUTT VALLEY CRICKET ASSO- / CIATION. A meetingof the delegates of the country cricket clubs was held in Casey's Hotel, Lower Hutt, last evening to consider the Juestion of forming an association. The 'etone, Waiwetu, Western Hutt, and Johnsonville Clubs were represented. Mr. Mirfield was voted to the chair. Several speakers were in favour of the scheme of playing home and home matches on a social scale between country clubs only. It was unanimously decided to form a Hutt Valley Cricket Association. Mr. W. Gould was -elected Secretary pro tern, and* Messrs. Falder, M',Menamen, and Gould were selected to draft rules and submit them to another meeting to be held next Monday. It was not considered expedient to commence matches this season in connection with the association, but it was suggested that the different Secretaries arrange a tournament, and that a representative team be selected to play teams from Wellington and Wairarapa at the conclusion of the tournament. The election of officers will take place at next Monday's meeting. ' The following Junior and Third-class fixtures have been drawn for the 11th and 18th February :— Junior— Wellington v. Johnsonville, No. 3, Basin Reserve j .Rival v. Old Boys, No. 4, Basin Reserve ; Midland A v. Phoenix, No. 1, Athletic Park ; Midland B v. Petone, No. 2, Athletic Park; Kilbirnie v. College, College ground. Third-class— Karori v. Old Boys, at Karori; College No. 1 v. Petone, at College No. 1 ; College No. 2v. Rival, at College No. 2 ; Kilbirnie A v. Johnsonville, at Athletic Park No. 1 ; and Kilbirnie B v. Phoenix, at Kilbirnie. > A team from the Horokiwi Club journeyed to Waiwetu on Saturday, and defeated the local club by 22 runs on the first innings. For the winners, R. Abbott (32) and C. Brady (12), and for the losers, A. Pringle (23) and Brown (7) batted best. W. Blackey and C. Blackey shaved the bowling honours in the winning team, and M'Menamin and A. Pringle did well for the losers. The visitors speak highly of the hospitality of the Waiwetu team. In the Cliristchurch senior matches on Saturday, Midland scored 411 against Sydenhara. Barry was responsible for 194, which constitutes a record for individual scoring for Ohristchurch senior matches. Orchard, playing for Lancaster Park against United, advanced his 121 (not out) to 140.