CRICKET. SATURDAY'S , MATCHES.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 115, 12 November 1900, Page 5

CRICKET. SATURDAY'S , MATCHES.

Contrary to expectations the weather turned out beautifully fine for the resumption of the championship matches on Saturday afternoon. The rain of the earlier part of the morning did not affect the wickets, which were fairly fast. The meeting of the old-time rivals, Wellington and Midland, drew a large attendance of spectators. As far as i^e game has gone Midland has the upper hand. The principal features of tae day's play were the fine bowling of opham and the batting of Gore ior Wellington and Holdsworth for Midland. WELLINGTON— MIDLAND. Richardson, captain of the Wellington team, won the toss, and sent his opponents into the field. Weybourne and Ashbolt opened the batting, to ihe bawling of Tucker and Upham. Lusforlune came to Ashbolfc before he had scoiied. He went forward to the last of Tucker's second over, and William's removed his bails in a twinkling. Hickson came next, bufc did not stay, long, Holdsworth accepting a chance off Upham. Gore was the new comer. Weybaunie did not shapo with confidence at Uphamt, who was bowling dead' on the spot, and was well-nigh unplayable. The .wicketkeeper (Williams) missed an opportunity odf stumping Weybourne off Upham. The batsman also escaped an appeal from a fieldsman for a catch hy Williams off the .same bowler. There had been an undeniable click, but the umpire was uncertain, as to the |ound, and he gave the batsman the benefit of the doubt. The let off made no- difference as immediately afterwards Upham, with a ball which kept low and whipped in from the off, levelled Weybourne's middle stump. He had made some pretty strokes, including two smart cuts. Richardson started his characteristic game, and gave Gore no material assistance. He was very quickly given out lbw to Upham. Four wickets for 28 was a poor start, but Upham was bowling very accurately, and the Datsmen. could do little with him. Neither Hcldship nor Pavitt (a promoted junior) stayed long, a bumpy ball from Upham going off Holdship's bat into Hickson's hands, while Ste^henson, who had replaced Tucker, scattered Pavitt's stumps. Wilson came in, but Stephenson tempted him to step out to his next ball, and Williams quickly had the bails off. Duncan, after an. absence of several seasons, made his reappearance in the Wellington ranks. He was starting well, when J he made a mighty slog at Stephenson, and the ball found 1 its way into the safe hands of Tucker. When Duncan strikes form he should give the bowlers trouble. A serviceable partnership came about with the association of Redmond and Gore, the former keeping up his wicket while his companion did the run-getting. The combination was finally broken up through Gore having the bad luck to play Upham on to his middle stump. He had played a very- nice innings, which was marred by no chances. His cutting was capital, amd his driving strokes were 'clean, crisp, and vigorous. The spectators gave him a warm ovation. On thf last' man (Hales) joining Redmond, the latter commenced to punish Stephenson. Nine runs came from his bat in one over. Eventually Upham upset Redmond's timbers, the innings closing for 95. Against such a strong batting combination, Upham, who always excels himself against the Wellington team, bowled in great style. He got on a big off-break, and at" no time could the batsmen take liberties with him. Tucker got on a lot of •work at' the" start, and Stephenson at times beat batsman, stumps, and wicketkeeper. The fielding was good, and Williams, behind the wickets, missed few chances. Quee and Holdsworth started the Midlanders' innings, Redmond and Hales bowling. With his third ball Hales sent the ball crashing into Quee's stumps. Some vigorous hitting followed the advent of Williams, who, after placing a couple to his credit, slammed two full-tossers from Redmond to the Caledonian boundary for five, and w^u another terrific smack, sent a ball from Hales to the fountain for a number. Hales, however, ended the Midlander's short but aggressive innings by levelling his stumps. Robertson joined Holdsworth. The latter, in a run-getting humour, delighted tho crowd by an exhibition of free and vigorous hitting. He scored at a rapid rate, bringing on the bowling changes and causing a sensation by hitting Hales clean over the pavilion — the loftiest hit seen on the Basin for many a day. At 78 he was caught in the outfield by Gore, off Ashbolt. His own contribution had been 41— made up of seven threes, one' four, five twos, and six singles-. There were two difficult chances debited against him, otherwise it was a fine exhibition of batting. Not many runs later Robertson was smartly caught M&y Richardson, off Ashbolt. He had'W.tted fairly well for his rUns. When* Tucker took Holdsworth's place the* spectators remembered his failure in the Phoenix match— when he went out first ball in both innings — and gave him a hearty round of applause on his safely passing the opening ordeal. Hickson did n,ot trouble the fieldsmen. After putting four singles on the slate, ihe failed to stop a good ball from Ashbolt. [ Read assisted Tucker to play out time, the latter showing something* of; his last season's form, and executing his' favourite cut veiy prettily, while Reas shaped confidently. In the early part of the innings Hales bowled really wellj and at no time was he severely punished. Ashbolt got the majority of the wickets. At times he sent down some teasers. The fielding was first-class. As Njven was absent, Weybourne played as a substitute with the gloves, and Messrs M'Kenzie and Drummond "were the umpires.

WELLINGTON.— First Inriiugs. Weybourne, b Uphani 11 Mibolt, st Williams, b Tucker ' ... 0 Elickson, c Holdswortb, b Uphara ... 8 •Jo re, b Uphara ... ... I ... 38 Richardson, Ibw, b Uphaiu ... ■ ... 0 Holdship, st Hiokson, b Upham 1 ... 3 Payitt, b Stephenson , ... ' 2 Wilson, st Williams, b Stephensdu ... 0 Duncan, c Tucker, b Stephensoni ... 8 Redmond, b Uphaui 19 Liales, not out ... „ ... 0 Extras ... ... 6 Total , .., 95 Bowling Analysis, j Balls. Mdns. Kiins. Wkts. Upham ... 118 6 30 6 I'uoker ... 54 3 1 3tephenson 54 0 «^2 3 MIDLAND.—^Pirst Innings. [Toldswortb, 6 Gore, b Ashbon ... 41 b Hales j, ,„ 0 Williams, b Hales ... ... ... 17 Robertson, o ltichardson, b Ashbolt ... 19 fucker, uot out... . ... ... ... 27 Hioksou, b Ashboli ... .1. ... 4 Read, not out , ... .., 9 Extras „. , T l\>tal for five wickets i 124