CRICKET.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3751, 21 January 1898, Page 2

CRICKET.

THE LATE TEST MATCH. Per Press Association. — By Electric Telegraph — Copyright. Adelaide, January 20. From beginning to end the Australians had the upper hand, and maintained their advantage by a series of fine catches, which brought the second innings of the Englishmen to a rather sudden close. These catches, two of them by Jones, one by Noble, and one by Kelly, were worthy of the occasion. After the match McLaren took the best bat he had in his bag and sent it to Kelly to show his appreciation of the catch which dismissed him. It was a graceful act of recognition. McLaren's batting was the feature of the day. The Australians fear him more than Banji. The latter, they say, risks his wicket sometimes, but McLaren does not. The bowling was excellent right up to the end. It was the bowling as much as the batting that won the match. The Australian bowling was better in the second innings, divided between Noble and McLeod; the analysis to the contrary notwithstanding, Noble's performance was the superior. Howell bowled admirably, but without luok. Banji reckons he found him more difficult than anybody. Jones, owing to an injured shoulder, was unable to send down more than one over. The fielding throughout was first class, though scarcely up to the level of the bowling and batting. Tbe wicket lasted splendidly, and spo^s which at one time threatened failed to develop. Banji, interviewed, said, " The catching of the English was abominable, and I was the chief culprit on the ground. The fielding was not, in reality, so bad as supposed, for the field was on ihe rough side, and tbe ball dodged away ; but the Australian's fielding was superior to ours. In every department of the game we were outplayed, and beaten in bowling, batting, and in fielding more especially. That is the long and short of it, and I agree ungrudgingly in praise •f the bowling." Sir Edwin Smith, in proposing the health of the teams, apologised to Banji if anything in the conduct of some of the spectators had hurt his feelings. He hoped it was not true that he had expressed the determination not to play at Adelaide again. Banji accepted the apology. It was quite true, he said ; if Stoddart had no objection he would not play again in South Australia, as he thought his presence there was unwelcome, and he had no wish to play. Bad feeling had been aroused against him by the press of the colony, who had gone out of their way in commenting on certain articles he wrote in tha Beview of Beviews. Stoddart says the Australians played vastly superior cricket to his -team. WANGANUI v. TARANAKL > This match was commenced this morning on Bayly Park in perfect weather, and a splendid wicket. Taranaki were short of Robertson, Izard, and Lash, and McLean played for Wanganui; while Wanganui in turn were weakened by tho absence of L. P. Cave, the woll-known bowler, and also Wilson. The match commenced at a quarter to ten. Bayly, winning the toss, sent in Crawshaw and Pratt, the bowling being entrusted to H. B. Cave and Haldane. At first runs came slowly, both bowlers being dead on, several maidens resulting. Eventually the batsmen settled down, and fifty soon appeared. Change after change was made to no purpose till 100 was reached. Pratt gave a couple of difficult chances, and there were one or two narrow escapes from run out. At 116 up Pratt was quite beaten by H. B. Cave, and Fowler had a short life. McCarthy, who was next, played vigorously, his driving being very clean and hard. Buns came rapidly, and at luncheon time the score was 178 for two wickets. At 170 up McCarthy gave an easy chance to Cresswell in the out-field, but he did not seem to try for it. On resuming, one of the first incidents was that Crawshaw had a narrow escape of being run out, owing to a misunderstanding. Free-hitting soon brought up 200, and about twenty minutes after his second start Crawshaw achieved his century. McCarthy lifted one of Marshall's on to the track, and was nearly caught, out, and Marshall gave him a similar ball, which he lifted clean out of the ground and over Mr Bond's house. The bowling was in a knot, and Wanganui was sadly missing Leonard Cave. At 240 up McCarthy was rather badly ' missed by Haldane, at square leg, off Walker, but an over or two later on the bowleL- had his revenge by clean bowling him. The partnership had put on 141 runs. 262—3—66. Haggett was next, but only to be unfortunately run out immediately from a very smart return by McLean. 263—4—0. Buckley, next man, made eight, and was very nicely caught at the wickets by Marshall. 296—5—8. Heenan was the new-comer, and Crawshaw with a fourer brought up 300, and raised his own score to 150. When we went to prebs tbe scores were —

Tabanaki.— First Innings. Pratt, b H. B. Cave 59 Crawshaw, not out 160 Fowler, b Walker 5 McCarthy, b Walker 66 Haggett, run out 0 Buckley, cP. Marshall bH. B. Cave 5 Heenan, not out 1 Extras ' ]" 19 Total for 5 wickets 300