Cricket.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 136, 5 December 1903, Page 14

Cricket.

TBy Tub Mid.] THE SENIORS. Last Saturday afternoon's play on No. 1 and No. 2 wickots differed very much in quality, the two unbeaten teame — Midland and Phceuix — making thoir licut 'much inoco interesting to onlookers than tho players in the Wellington-Old Boys' boat. Tho scoring gives an indication of tho differing games. Tho Phcenix men scored 141, aud tho Midlanders 117 for «x wickets; tho Old Boys 91 and Wellington 72 for ono wicket*, There wero some changes in the teams. R. L. Popo (7 not out, and 15 for no wickets), who played threo seasons ago for Phconix, went out for tne Old Boys in place of Cieland, who was out of town ; and Sprott (4j, who figured well tho other, day in tho third-class division, took the placo of Jacobs, who was on t hie sick list. U'Sullivan (43 not out) and Crombie wero promoted from tho junior team to replace Arthur Qoro and Taylor in tho Wellington team. Fituimons, tho veteran, went into tho field for Quco, who was micor in health, and a sub. nUio went out for Chirk, whose hand wn» damaged. Th* Midlauders were afraid, us their wicketo wont down quickly, that they would be caught without thoir two abscntceo, but Hutchings and Stophcnson "played tho game." The only now man in tho Phoenix team was Bnrtldt (who had been dropped in tho third heat) in place of Hurley, out of town. Tho Midlundcrs had 26 when tho first wicket (Wcybourno'*) fell, and two balls later Mass lost his wicket without adding to tho score. Hickey captured Weybourno and Moss in tho same over. Tho third wicket fell foy 46, tho fourth for 85, tho fifth for 110, and'tho sixth (the last of tho day) when tho score was at 113. Tho team put ou 100 runs in 95 minutes. Tho following figures show tho totals at tho fall of each of tho Phconix wickets : — One for 0, two for 17, three and four for 35, five for 44, six for 84, seven for 108, eight for 131, nine for 131, qnd ton for 141. Wators played a dashing gumo for tho top score (48}, and Brice (23), and Naugbtou (26) ably supported him. . j Upham sent down exactly the ' same number of balls (96) as Mitchell, Hutchings, and Stephoiunn combined, and got the name number of wickets as tho combination, but tho hitter's fivo wickot» cost 92 i-uns, ns against Upham's 38 only. Only 22 of Upham's 96 balls were scored oil, whilst tbu scoring against the other trio was made oil 44 balls. Hutchings sent down only 18 balls, 12 were scored off, for 28 runs (no wicket). This bowler's first over read : 333440. Twenty of Mitchell's 48 balls were hit for 37 runs (two wickots), and 12 of Stephenson's 30 for 28 (threo wickots)?» A remarkable fcaturo of the day's play was tho large number of mon who wero clean bowlod, and on a batsmen's wicket, too. Of the 27 wickets which fell in tho two matches, no fewer than 12 woro beaten by tho bowler without the aid of tho fiold. Five of tho «ix Midlanders | who went under wero clean bowled by Phosnix men. Very littlo can bo written of the Wel-lington-Old Boys' heat, which was deadly slow to watch, and was chiefly reniarkablo for the production of a new stoncwtillcr — Ken Tucker. He scored six runs in 40 minutes. Staples (27) and C. P. Blacklock (19) made decent stands against bowling Unit hadn't much in it, and wero jointly responsible for half tiho total score. There wero 14 extras; Mahony had developed a thumb. Tucker, tho bowler, had tho usual lack of help from tho field. The Old Boys' wickets went down at tho following rate : Ono for 8, two for 10, three for" 18, four and fivo for 68, six I for 70, seven and eight for 72, nine for 84, and ten for 91. "Felix" sends mo an idea. Ho suggests tlwt tho Old Boys' team should withdraw from tho Senior contest," and its placo taken by a combined team chosen by the Association front the most promising of tho junior players. He thinks that ouch «. selection would not only provo satisfying to tho cricket-loving public, but be a strong incentive to young players to qualify for tho combined team. Tho idea is a pretty ono until tho practical critic rises up and uske if it is reasonable to expect clubs to sacrifico tlieir best juniovs | on tho common alUir? ; THE JUNIORS. Midlands again made a poor showing j against tho Wellington meu. Considering j the fine wicket, they should havo beon j able to add more thun 26 runs to their previous total of 11 for five wickets. The lion in tho path was tho consistent I Luckie, who secured the splendid average I of seven wickets for 11. When will this bowler socuro recognition by tho Senior Selection Committee? Robinson (four for 30) and Mills (two for 10) were Midland's best bowlers. Midland's task of scoring 248 to win seems somovUat Nwoih 3 +ham. (Jiiee

good wickets being down for 17 runs, Luckie (two for 7) iigiini bowling well. Tho Old Kovh- Wellington' game wiw continued yesterday week, when the latter team concluded its hecond innings for 234. Orgnn (37) and N«»h (15 not out) made a good stand for tho last wicket. Tho Old Boys will have to improve on posh form to win tho match, 320 runs being loquired. The Gaa Company-St. Patrick's Collage heafc was completed after a few moments' play, and without the loss of a- wicket. None o[ the Waiwetu imtsmen succeeded in troubling the scorers owing to excellent bowling by Picken (five for 22), J. Mooro.(four for 24), and T. Rothio (one for 0). Johnsonvillo won by an inninga and 43 runs, und the countrymen should extend tho Uas Company this afternoon. After scoring 112 for no wickets, Phoenix weio aU out for 222. Skipper Andy Houston led tho way with the respectable total of 82. ' The Old Boys again disappointed their admirers by"t>atting in a feeble manner for a sscore of 41. The consistent Shand improved his bowling average by capturing eeven wickets for 19 runs. Owing to postponement, the CollegeNew town heat only occupied one aftornoon, and on the day's play the latter team is in a fairly strong position. Hales (27) was top scorer of a total of 98, and Nowtown replied with 105 for six wickets. THIRD-CLASS. At Karori, tho local club completed its first innings for 106, 2 loss than Wellington. E. S. Pearco and Pearson went for tho Karori bowling from tho jump, making the pace a cracker. The exKarori captain, knocking up 29. Pavitt (47) also extended tho fieldsmen. When stumps were drawn the Wellington score was 247 for seven wickets. No less than 754 runs were scored in tho KaroriWellington game last season. My selection for tho completed games of • the last drawing 'resulted as I predicted. For tho present round I fancy Midland B, Rover, Wellington A, Vivian, Midland A, College B, Johnsonville, and Karori. Tho Midland A-Old Boys A match was concluded at Day's Bay, Old Boys failing to save an innings' defeat. M'Mahon bowled splendidly for Midland during tho match," taking fourteen wickets for 39. P. J. Moran has been elected captain of Midland B. Tho brake engaged to convey Midland B to Johnsonville last Saturday failed to put in an appearance. The town players were unablo to procure another conveyanco. Tho utter futility of trying to play cricket on tho upper ground at Day\'s Bay was again demonetrated last Saturday. Tho Association is making a move\,o improve tho two seaside wickets. The Vivians occupied tho wickets till 5.30 o'clock iv tho match with Phoenix B, scored 186 for tho loss qf seven wickets, and then "declared." The Phcanix bowling was rather woak, but was used to the best advantage. Pliamix had to make 214 to win, but they were unable to make any headway against J. Pudney, who wus in great form with the ball, obtaining seven wickets for 23 runs. Batting two short, tho side was out for 50. The Collcgo A team did not play their tutors last Saturday on account of the second eleven playing against St. Patrick's College Tho latter players, excepting Moore (11) wero unablo to M'ithstand the deliveries of Moaon (six for 19) and Fittoa (five for 18). The Wellington boys, by even batting all round, compiled 146, Goodbohero (36), Fisher (25), and Moaon (20) beading the list. St. Patrick's Collego bowling was weak. Old Boya B mado a good fight with Nowtown, and wero defeated by only four wickets, thanks to tho brisk batting of Cleland {22), Matthews (20), and Gardiner (15). Tho last-named pluyer -also Oowled well. T. Condliffe, tho Rovor ekippor, struck form last Saturday against Phcenix A, and woe heartily congratulated on his 76. Phoenix A made tho Rovers a gift of 41 extras, which is cloeo up on a record for third-class cricket. ' firuco Midlano and tittle knocked up the required 48, -which ounbJcd i'hisnix to win by ten wickets. During tho present month stumps aro not drawn until 6.45. Third-class captains plea.io not*. Third-class matches commencing on the 19th inst. will not bo resumed until the 9th Januiuy, owing to the Christmas and New Year holidays. Tho V.M.C.A. elovon put up a creditable performance in cutting rid of Collego B for 120. Bee (50) plnyod the bowling with confidence. Tho V.M.C.A. are much weaker in batting, making only 49 for the loss of oight wickets.