CRICKET.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12750, 24 March 1914, Page 2

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIANS AT PALMERSTON. "WELCOMED BY THE MAYOR. The Australian visitors arived f roil Wellington by the morning train. At l.:io a number of local citizens extended them a welcome at the Empire Hotel. The Mayor, Mr J. A. Nash, said the present visit would prove of great interest to Palmerston. Had they expected the Australians to arrive so early they could easily have arranged a civic reception. The effect of the visit would be to stimulate cricket in this town and he pointed out that in the past cricket had not been too prosperous here. He referred to the excellence of the local cricket pitch which had been so favourably commented on when the last team visited Palmerston and they had pronounced it one of the best in New Zealand. He could assure the visitors that the pitch had still been kept in good form. He asked the visitors to have a look round the beauty spots of the town and trusted they would enjoy their visit. Cr. Armstrong, the town's veteran cricket enthusiast, also welcomed the visitors, and intimated that he saw the first match the Australians played in England and took great interest in their teams ever since.

Mr Onglev, Mayor of Feilding, welcomed the team on behalf of his district which he contended was the bettter and more important sporting district of the two. He was sorry they could not welcome the team to Feilding. I He also referred to the action of a few citizens who had refused to close their businesses for this match and assured the team that Feilding was prepared to close for a week if necessary. He also guaranteed that if they looked round the crowd on Tuesday afternoon they would find half the spectators would be from Feilding. He invited the team to motor through to Feilding in the morning,- which offer was accepted. Mr Greer, President, of Palmerston Association, in welcoming the visitors said it would be. a good thing if the Australians visited New Zealand

every year. Mr Laver thanked the local Association for their welcome. Their trip through New Zealand had been most enjoyable and they had found time to accept the numerous invitations to visit spots of interest. They were leaving by the midnight train to inspect the Waitomo Caves. Mr Trumper said they had found the wickets generally in Npw Zealand particularly good and more so in the provincial districts which were better than provincial pitches in Australia. This w T as no doubt due to a plentiful supply of water. He hoped that cricket in New Zealand would benefit by their tour. Cheers were then given for the visitors and the local secretary.

THE MATCH. MANAWATU BAT FIRST AND MAKE 177. HODDER MAKES TOP SCORE. LUXFORD BATS PATIENTLY. The match between th® touring Australians and Manawatu commenced on the Sportsground this afternoon shortly after 2.30 o'clock in threatening weather with a cold easterly wind blowing. Trumper captained the visitors and McLean led the local team. G. Greer and McVicar opened for Manawatu, but the start was disastrous, Greer being bowled by Crawford with his second ball. Ongley partnered McVicar, but the latter was also bowled by Crawford in the latter's second over, the ball hitting McVicar's pads and cannoning into the wicket. McLean, the local skipper, was next, and made a useful 19. Ongley contributed 10. Brennand failed to score. Hodder and Luxford were now associated, and put up a fine stand, and at the tea adjournment were still together. Hodder made some nice shots all round the wicket. On resuming after the tea adjournment Armstrong started bowling with the score 100 for 5 wickets. Crawford missed Luxford in the slips off Laver. Hodder was beautifully taken at first slip by Armstrong off Laver, after playing a fine innings for 51. He received a great ovation. 120—(i—51.

Webster was next but was soon out. 12.1—7—1. Bartlett then came in and opened with a single off Armstrong and then a four to leg off Laver, 130 going up. The scoring was very slow. At last 140 went up. A drive along the ground by Bartlett to long-off brought 150 up. Crawford was now put on to bowl from the top end and off his first ball Bartlett drove one and through smart Feilding by Trumpet 1 . Luxford was run out. Luxford had made 3!t by careful cricket. He also received an ovation. 154 —8 —.'!!•. Elliott then came in. and three byes were run. Bartlett got :i hit for four t<» leg o!'." Armstrong, I<>o going up. Then Elliott was bowled by Annstrong. 1 fi.'l—!•—o. Bennett was the incoming batsman. Bartlett \s end then came, Crawford bowling him with a beauty, there being no further addition to the score, lie played free cricket. The total was 103 —10 —24 when

Tottman came in. He opened with a nice two off Crawford, Armstrong then bowling him. 10(5—11—3. Allingham was next, scoring one off his first stroke. He was then stumped off Armstrong. 170 —12 —3. The next batsman was Harwood and he opened with a nice four off Armstrong. Crawford bowled him, the telegraph reading 175—13—4.

The last batsman was Cornish, and he opened with one off Crawford. Bennett was then caught in the slips off Armstrong, the innings closing with the total at 177. The innings lasted three hours 20 minutes. Scores:— MANAWATU. First Innings. McVicar, b Crawford .. .. 4 G. Greer, b Crawford .. .. 0 Ongley, c Mailer, b Crawford .. 10 McLean, c Waddv, b Armstrong .. 19 I ' "' ° Brennand, b Armstrong .. .. 0 Hodder, c Armstrong, b Laver .. 51 Luxford, run out . . . . .. 39 Webster, c Waddy, b Armstrong 1 Bartlett, b Crawford .. .. 24 Elliott, b Armstrong . . 3 Bennett, c Mailey, b Armstrong .. 0 Tottman, b Armstrong .. .. 3 Allingham, st McGregor, b Armstrong .. .. .. 3 Harwood, b Crawford .. .. 4 Cornish, not out .. .. .. 1 Extras .. .. .. 15 Total .. 177 Bowling.—Crawford 5 for 19, Armstrong 7 for 48, Laver 1 for 42, Dolling 0 for 37, Mailey 0 for 16. Wickets fell—o, 7, 22, 23, 48, 120, 123, 154, 163, 166, 170, 175, 177. The match will be resumed to-day at 12 o'clock.