Cricket.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 215, 14 November 1896, Page 2

Cricket.

AUSTRALIANS v. WELLINGTON. The Australians began their match against a Wellington 18 on Thursday. Holdship won the toss, and put the visitors in. Iredale was soon disposed of by a remarkable catch at point, but Darling and Giffen did some brisk hitting, the former twice sending the ball over tho ropes. He had some luck, being missed two' or three times, and his partner al&o was missed once. Hill played steadily, and hit crisply and freely, but mostly for singles. Three wickets only were down for 111, but the game then took an unexpected turn, as the local captain went on and got man after man caught. The last seven wickets only added 36, the total being 147. Of these Darling made 59, Hill 32, Giffen, 23, Iredale 11. Holdship took five wickets for 18, and Upham (who really showed the best bowling) three for 30. He bowled for an hour at the start without any luck, and very few runs were made off him. Wellington's display with the bat was not prepossessing, four wickets rapidly falling for 13 ; Holdship and Warren are the not outs. McKibbin took three of the four wickets, and Trumble one. Play was resumed yesterday afternoon, when the Wellington 18, on an improved wicket, scored a total of 124. Holdsworth (30) hit well, but had some luck ; Warren played freely and confidently for 23 ; Levers IS, and Tucker 10, showed good defence, I while, towards the close, Wakes stayed in a ! long time and played really well for a ! youngster, though he only made 10. Jones j was tried for four overs, but was not so fast as usual and not very straight. MoKibbin | -only took one wicket, and Giffen proved the most effective bowler, his break and de- ; ceptive pace being too much for the batsmen. He took 7 wickets for 38, Trumble 4 , for 36, and McKibbin 4 for 28. 1 When the Australians went in again their batting was a great contrast to the slow play at the beginning of thacgaine. Chiefly ■ by Darling's vigorous efforts, more were scored in half an hour than in double the time on Thursday. The left-hander twice , landed the ball over the ropes, and continued hitting in the same style till caught in the long field with the score at 43, of which he had made 37. Eady was quickly caught at I the wickets, and Iredale and Hill played out time. The score is 56 for 2 wickets—lredale 15, Hill 2. The game -was resumed' this morning. It has been decided to play 15 in the New Zealand match.