CRICKET.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12635, 21 December 1903, Page 4

CRICKET.

WELLINGTON v. HAWKE’S BAY. The interprovincial fixture, Wellington v. Hawke’s Bay, was commenced on tiie Recreation Ground on Saturday under ideal conditions, the weather being perfect, and the wicket a firstclass one. Play was commenced at noon. During the afternoon there was a very good attendance of the public to witness the contest, and it was generally agreed that the local men, who had first strike, gave a very creditable all-round batting display, onlv two or three of the batsmen failing to play up to form. The visitors might have been stronger m the howling department, but both Hickey and Redgrave troubled the batsmen a good deal, the former coming out with a fair average, considering the perfect batsman’s wicket. Macassey was the bright particular star of the home batsmen, his contribution of 75 being a really splendid performance. The bulk of his runs were the product of clean carpet cuts to third man and cover, and he never gave a possible chance until he had reached 70, when the wicketkeeper missed an opportunity of stumping, He was warmly applauded for his meritorious effort. Lusk and Hallamore also shaped well, as also did several of the others, but it is generally admitted that the total of the innings should have been larger, considering the favourable wicket. During the afternoon the visitors were treated to afternoon tea, and yesterday were driven round the country, via Hastings, where they were the guests of Mr A. L. D. Fraser, M.H.R., and Mr E. H. Williams, president of the Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association. The match will be continued to-day, play commencing at 11 a.m.

THE PLAY: Upham captained the visitors, and Lusk the home team. The latter won the toss, and promptly elected to bat, sending in Hawke and Macassey. The former opened to Upham, and the first score was registered with a single off the third ball, Macassey following up with two pretty square cuts for fours off the last two balls. The pair got going steadily, and appeared likely to make a stand, but with the total at 17 Hickey beat Hawke with a ball which came in slightly from the off. 17—1—5. Lusk filled the breach, and both batsmen settled down, scoring freely off both bowlers. At 40 Brice went on, vice Upham, but the change proved ineffective, and the pair were still together at the luncheon adjournment, the score standing at 67 (Lusk 34, Macassey 24). Play was resumed at 2.15, Redgrave and Upham taking up the attack. Runs at once began to come, both batsmen getting in some neat strokes, but with an addition of 15 to the total Upham beat Lusk with a fast shooter, the Hawke’s Bay skipper having added only 9 to his morning’s contribution. 82—2—43. Cato, who succeeded him, did nob settle down kindly to his work, but succeeded in materially assisting Macassey (who was shaping splendidly) to augment the score, and notwithstanding several changes in the bowling, the runs increased, and 150 appeared as the result of an hour and 50 minutes’ play.. Soon afterwards Cato lost his wicket to a ball from Brice, which the batsman left carefully alone, considering it a dangerous one to touch, and being under the impression it was well oft the wicket, whereas it took the bails—much to the batsman’s surprise and chagrin. 156—3 —29. Fenton followed, opened nicely, and quickly ran into double figures, when he misjudged one of Upbam’s fast ones, and was clean bowled. 171—4—10. Bishop, the next man, opened his account with a nice leg glance for 3, off Brice, following it up with several good boundary strokes. With the score at 191 Macassey’s time came, as he lifted one of Hickey’s tricky ones over the bowler’s head, and was easily caught by Mowatt. 191—5—75. The retiring batsman played a fine innings, and the ball with which he lost his wicket was the only one he lifted all through. Williams, who followed, opened carefully, playing a maiden to Upham. He then began to open out, and after skying a couple of balls, which, however, tell clear of the fieldsmen, played neat cricket, and the second century appeared for two and a-halt hours’ play. Eleven runs later, Bishop, who had just lifted vine of Hickey’s slows over the swamp fence, ' tapped the next ball back to the bowler. 211—6—19. Cotterill joined Williams, and the scoring was fairly fast, but at 227 Williams was well taken ..by Moss at third man, retiring with 20 to his credit. 227—7—20. Fulton, the next man, lost Cotterill 5 runs later, clean bowled by Hickey. 232—8—6. Hallamore, who succeeded him, quickly livened up the scoring, and he and his club mate did some of the best running of the day between the wickets, a matter which the earlier batsmen entirely discarded, thereby undoubtedly sacrificing many runs which easily might have been obtained. Fulton played steadily and Hallamore hit out freely, and the pair put on 56 for the ninth wicket, when Fulton was badly beaten by a slow from Redgrave, who had replaced Hickey, 288—9—18. Ryan, the last man, survived but two balls, and notched the only duck of the innings. Hallamore carried his bat for a very creditable 32, marred by a couple of hard chances. The innings closed just before 6.30 for 288. Staples and Moss opened (or the visitors, and it was at once apparent that they intended to play a defensive game until call of time. Ryan opened the attack to Staples, two byes and a single resulting from the over. .Sixteen runs were soon registered, when Fenton, who was bowling well from the other end, beat Moss, who played a curly ball on to his wicket, 16-1-I—9. Day was next, and by steady and careful play assisted Staples to fetch time, the score standing at 32 for 1 wicket, which Fenton had to his credit at a cost of 14 runs. Appended are the full scores;—

HAWKE'S BAY. First Innings. G. Hawke, b Hickey 5 J. E. Macassey, c Mowatt, b Hickey 75 11. B. Lusk, b Upham 43 C. H. Cato, b Brice 29 A. Fenton, b Upham ... ... 10 H. Bishop, c ant) b Hickey ... 19 J. N. Williams, c Moss, b Latham 20 B. Cotterill, b Hickey 6 P. Fulton, b Redgrave 18 R. G. Hallamore, not out ... 32 B. Ryan, b Redgrave 0 Byes 23, leg-byes 6, no balls 2 31 Total 288 Bowling Analysis.

Mr P. Ashcroft was umpire for the visitors, and Mr C. E. Johnstone for Hawke's Bay, and Messrs Lydford (Hawke's Bay) and Bogle (Wellington) were the scorers. SCHOOL MATCH. The Norsewood and Ormondville schoolboys plaved a cricket match on the ground of"the latter on Thursday afternoon, resulting in the defeat of the home team by an innings and 7 runs.

TEST MATCHES. SYDNEY, Sunday. At a meeting of the Cricket Associa- , tion to be held on Monday a motion will be submitted, asking the New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian Associations and the Maryle-

bone Club to co-operate to provide a gold cup for test matches. TREMBLE’S DECISION. MELBOURNE, Monday. Trumble lias decided to play in the next, test match, and pfobably in the third one. Laver is likely to stand out. THE ENGLISH TEAM. MELBOURNE, Sunday. The Englishmen yesterday began a match against 18 juniors. England in their first innings have lost seven wickets for 349. Warner 76, Hirst not out 85, and Knight 60 were the top scorers.

NEW SOUTH WALES v. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. ADELAIDE, Sunday. In the inter-State match, New South Wales v. South Australia, the visitors have lost three wickets for 273 (C Gregory 97, Farquhar 30, Mackay 66, Trumper not out 47, and Noble not out 39J.

Ovrs. Mdns. Ens. Wkts. Upham ... 30 4 99 2 Hickey ... 19 4 63 4 Brice ... 16 3 44 1 Redgrave 9.5 0 35 2 Latham ... 5 1 16 1