Cricket.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 131, 29 November 1902, Page 14 (Supplement)

Cricket.

£Btt Ye Kxioht 1 The senior matches at the Basin Reserve on Saturday that promised to be so interesting fell somewhat flat. Only one innings Mas completed in the "Wel-lington-Midland match, and, excepting for one exhibition of hitting, the batting in that was a long way below what it should have been. Holdswortk, who banged up 54 for Midland, had as much luck as a batsman who' thumps some life into a trailing game deserves. He Hogged away regard-les-s of science and the position of the field. Mostly when he hit the ball ' it went up amongst the spectators, or over the fence, or into the grandstand, or on top of the baud retunda. In a big field he would have been caught about thr-e* times every over — provided, of course, h» was allowed to bat on after the first dismissal. Moss, a promoted junior and ex-Mount Cook schoolboy, made 23 — second highest score for Midland. He shaped very well except that he poked away at off balls with as much unconcern as if he had made a special study of the off-theory. Ultimately he came to giicf for his foolishness. He was one and a-half hours at the wicket for his runs. Staples, another junior who has been making some reputable play in the junior paddocks, als.o appeared in the Midland senior eleven for the first time. The Midland century was hoisterl at the end of two and a-half hours' play. Seven runs wa* the most hit off any Wellington bowler in any one over, and of the ten dismissed batsman seven Avert caught, two were bowled, and one was stumped. The Wellington fielding was baa—unquestionably bad. A team like they arc should be able to keep up a real good field standard, and not potter about and drop simple catches like some of them did on Saturday. A decent batting and bowling average will not^ win a gam* if the field work is not on a par. Hales, the Wellington "express," had a hard -afternoon's work. He bowled 180 balls — 144 of them without being given a rest — and finished with an average of five for 55. Ten of his thirty overs were maidens. Ashbolt is doing nothing valuable witu the' ball this year. There was much speculation last weelc as to how the Phoenix-Old Boys maicn would pan out, and opinion was verj evenly divided. On the face of the gams now, however there seems to be a potwhalloping waiting for tne Old Boys. Hickey's bowling average — nine for 2<3 — on paper was the best on the ground and a performance of genuine merit, bur in reality he only bagged eight wicketsWilson was practically run out, althougn it was marked "stumped." The batsman struck a, bail and went a few yards np the pitch. Niven chased the ball, and on his return found that Wilson was sleeping outside the markings, and lifted the bales. Tucker captured nine batsmen for 27 — fine work. 4 C. I. Blacklock, Old Boys' stickminder, stumped three men cleverly and smartly. He made the highest score tor his team in the first innings. It amounted to 8. J. P. Blrcklock made his first appearance for Old Boys. He brought olf a pretty catch in the outfield sent to him by Waters. At one stage of the game Old Boys had three wickets down for one run, and at the close of the fir?t innings five men had 0 against their name. Brice bowled seven consecutive maiden overs for Phoenix in the Old Boys' first innings, and has two wickets for one run in the second innings. Waters made 28 — top score for Phoenix —by bad fielding oil the other side. Twice he was dropped, and if thcie is one team more thnn another that ca.n ill afford tp give chances away it is Old Boys. There Mere only three singles in Waters'* score, and he si:nt away a beautifully r dnven ball for 5. it is improbable that Hales ana Tucker will be available for the Wellington representatives' Southern tour. The fact that Tucker for the Old Boys and Hickey for Phoenix each captured nine wickets in an innings last Saturday recalls similar performances by Upham (9 for 10 against Rivals 1896-97), Benbow (9 for 25 against Rivals 189697), Holdsworth (9 for 75 against Wellington. 1896). The Rest of Australia Eleven, to meet the Australians on the Sydney Cricket Ground in a four days' mutch, commencing on 12th December, will be selected by Messrs. F. A. Iredak (N.S.W.), F. Layer (Victoria), cind G. Giffen (S.A.). The terms, of the match are that the Australians take 50 per cent, of the gross prpceeds, and the Association takes 50 per cent. ?nd pays all expenses. It is stated that Frank Iredalo has definitely retired from the game. The Sydney Referee is s-111l nopeful of seeing the Englishmen playing there; and says that if they do, it will be on the invitation and under the management of the Xe-.r South Wnies Association, which, one ventures to any, is prepared to meet the New Zealand Council liberally in the matter of terms. A cricket curiosity: — In the Second Grade match, Petersham v. Burwoorf 11., at Burwoocl, on Monday, 10th November, A. Lennartz and T. Alcock were batting for Peters-ham, when the former batsman struck the ball and they ran two runs, both of which were short, with tue result that no runs were scored for the stroke." Australian XI. (252 and 59 without loss) defeatefl South Africa (85 and 225), by ten tickets at Capetown on Tuesday last week. It whs the closing match in couth Airica. In the Australian Eleven's first match against South Africa at Johannesburg (^ys the Referee), Hugh Trumble bowled 138 bal.? for 103 runs and no wickets. It is the first time in his career in firstclass cricket that one hundred runs have been hit from his bowling without his getting a wicket. The match was started after the team had finished a rail journey of 3 days and 2 nights following immediately after the voyage from England "Joe" Darling was 32 yeais of age last week. Fred Midlane made top score (35) for Sydney juniors against Central Cumberland. Harry Trott is &aid to 'be in great form with the bat this year. A. E. Ridley, of CUristchurch, has broken down in health, and will probably not be able to play in representative games this season. He is going on an extended holiday. The Canterbury Cricket Association intends issuing half-crown tickets which will entitle the holders to. admission to Lancaster Park during the three days on which Lord Hawko's match is being placed.

Report has it that Clem, Hill intends to settle in South Africa, after returning and finishing the present Australian cricket season. Dan Reese gave a vigorous display in the match between Melbourne and Hawkiburn. In twenty -two minutes he put together 39, and that he nearly monopolised the scoring is shou n by the fact that only 44 runs were scored while he was at the wickets. According to the Australasian, this was probably Reese's last match for the Melbourne Club, as he leaves shortly for England.