THE AUCKLAND CRICKETERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6572, 9 December 1882, Page 5

THE AUCKLAND CRICKETERS.

MATCH AT WELLINGTON,

[BT TILEORAPH. —PRESS AS3eCIATION.] Wellington, Friday. The cricket match, Auckland t. Wellington, was commenced on the Basin reserre at noon to-day. The weather was all that could be desired, there being a fine clear aky, and a light southerly breeze blowiag. The wicket, which had been prepared, played very fast, and was purely a batsman's wicket. At the commencement of the pame the attendance was not large, but during the afternoon there could not have been less than 1000 present, among whom -were the Premier and the Hon. Mr. Rolleaton.

Firth was captain of the local men, and Robinson as usual of the Aucklanders. The former winning the toss, elected to go in first, thereby gaining what little advantage in batting was to be hail from being first on the wicket. From the start the Aucklanders have been the favourites, as much as 3 to 1 beinjj laid that they would win, while in some instances odds were offered that the visitors would be the victors in one innings. So far as the game has f;oiic- .it present there has not been any great display of cricket. The only men able to m:ike a stand on the Wellington side were Knapp, Alpo, Firth, and Lynch. The former, however, ought to have been taken before the innings closed, having given O'JJrien a couple of chances which were well within his reach. In fact one lodged in his hands and then hopped out again. The Auckland men in their innings soon showed their superiority with the bat, Yates not out 44, Tcstro 34, Barton 2r', and Robinson •Jβ being the highest scorers, while there are ouly live wickets down with the respectable scoru of 131. Yates and Tustro played a very patient innings, the funner giving one chance to Kreelt in slips, which was rather diilicult. The .'idding to-day on both sides was passable, that of Wellington eliciting the most praise. At a quarter-pasttwelvethe Auckland team took the field. Brown and Alpe being first to represent Wellington against the bowling of Laukham and Gill. Both lntsmen played cautiously until the score hail risen to 13, when Brown, in launching out at oue of Gill'E, skied, and it fell into the hands of Dufaur, who was keeping wickets : 1— 7 — 13. Heenan joined Alpe, but his life was not of long duration, sendintr one of Gill's baek to him, where it was eafely held : 2— 2—20. Firth, the captain, was the next man, and a couple of good drires to leg by Alpe caused 30 to appear on the board, when the ! latter drove Lankham back te him and he had to retire: 3--0—32. Alpe obtained his 20 by good cricket, and never gave a single chunce, most ot his hits being along the carpet. Lynch followed, and the score was increasing rapidly until Lankham changed ends, and Buckland relieved Gill. This change had the desired effect, for in playing back to a ball from Lankham, Lynch knocked his stump down : 4—11—55. An adjournment was uow made for luncheon, resuming at 2.12. Blacklock filled the gap caused through Lynch's retirement, Lankham and Bucklan.l still being in possession of the ball. When five runs had been added Firth was given out lhw to Laukhain : 5—15—00. Knapp came in, but only in time to see Blacklock clean bowled by a bailer from Buckland, he being the first man bowled: G—4—o4. Salmon joined Knapp, and the field were treated to a deal of leather hunting. Knapp lifted Lankham clean out of bounds for a run, and immediately afterwards placed a ball into O'Brien's hands at long off. but the chance was not accepted. Knapp showed his gratitude by again putting Lankham outof bounds. This brought about a change in the bowling, Robinson relieving Lankham■ The first ball Knapp received, he gave another chance to O'Brien at square leg, and ayain it was refused. Kobinson, however, bad his revenge by clean bowling Salmon with the next hall : 7—2—83. Kreeft filled the vacancy, but had to retire after scoring a single, Buckland having found a weak spot : S—l—S4. Luxford came in, and had a short but merry innings, being dismissed by Robinson when he had totted up 8, 9—S—93. Xicholls was run out when the score stood at •14, thus closing the innings, Knapp carrying out his bat for 21. The following is the score : — WKLUNV.TON.—First Inninos. .7. lirow.M, c Hnf.iur, b Gill 7 Alpo. c and b Lankliim 20 Ueenan. c and 1) Gill 2 1.v.-.ch. h w. l> l.inkhnm 11 Kirtli. l'.w. bUnkluni 15 Hlacklock, h liucklaml ■* Knapp, nut out -1 Salmon, b Kobinson 0 Kreeft, b Uucklaml 1 l.uxfonl, b Kobinson 8 Nichulls, run out •. .. -. 0 Byes, A;c - r ' Total 94 Howi.iNil Analysis. Balli. Runs. Maidens. Wkts. Lunkham .. 100 28 10 o Oill .. .. US 2'.l 2 2 liuckland .. (10 26 3 2 Kobinson ..22 8 2 2

At half-past three o'clock the Wellington men took up their positions, and l.obinson and Barton were the first to do battle for Auckland, Firth and Krecft being entrusted with the trundling. Both men appeared Huito at home, and drove the ball all over the field, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 appearing in quick succession, until it appeared as if these two alone were going to top the Wellington score. Kirth made a change of bowling, Luxford relieving Kreeft, and with the score at 57 he sent a shooter which scattered Barton's stumps : I—2S—s7. Barton's innings was a very pretty one. am' his clean liita to boundary elicited rounds of applause. Testro joined his captain, but the company was not one of long duration, Robinson hittiMK at a bumpy one from Firth, who had relieved Luxford at the north end, and played it into Kreeft'a hands at mid- on : 2—26—55. Vates came in, and now a most determined stand was made. Both Testro and the last comer were satisfied with keeping up their wickets, and scoring was therefore slow. Change after change was made in the bowling, but without effect, and these two brought up the 100, which was received with enthusiastic applause. Yates, who had strained his leg at .Dunedin, was allowed to have a person to run for him. The score gradually rose to 132, when Testro spooned one into the hands of Lynch at mid on, who mulled it. The next ball, however, proved fatal to him, Kreeftloweringhisstumps. Testro played a stonewall innings of 34, which, if not pretty, was very effective for the visitors : 3—34 — 132. Arncil was the next man, and after scoring 3 was clean bowled out by Firth : 4—3 — 135. OT.iienfollowed,butwasunlucky in hitting his first ball from Firth on his stumps, having to retire with a duck's egg : 5—0—135. Gardner partnered Yates, and the wickets were kept up until time was called, Yates having a score of 44, which, with the one exception mentioned above, was obtained by splendid cricket. Gardner had made 12 when the stumps were drawn. The following is the score : — AUCKLAND. — TIRBT Ixmsiik. Kobinson, c Kreeft, b Firth 26 liarton, b Lujtfonl !!8 Vates. not out 44 Testro, Ij Kroeft 31 Ar eil.b I'irtli \i O'lSrien, b Firth 0 C:iviliii!r, not out 12 Kxtras 4 Total for r, wickets 181 .The game will bo resumed at noon tomorrow.

Our correspondent telegraphs as follows: —The team had practice ou the wicket yesterday (Thursday). -All showed in good form. They drove to the ground to-day in a drag. Tlio weather was beautiful. The Aucklanders agaiu lost the toss and had to field. The game at lunch time waa four wickets for !55. Gill bowled at the north end and Lmikliaiu at the south. Buckland afterwards relieved Lankham, who went on at the other end. Blair is standing out as he lias to return to Auckland to-morrow. This is a good run-getting ground, and large scores are expected on both sides if the wicket wears, which is doubtful. The people began to collect about lunch time, principally belonging to the male sex, very few ladies being on the ground, llobiniion relieved Lankham soon after luncheon, and O'Brien missed Knapp off his first ball, and a single resulted. Salmon was bowled by the second from the Auckland captain, Buekland bowling well at the other end. Luxford began to hit the lefthander, who had his revenge by bowling him. Buckland got rid of Kreeft, and the last man was run out, the innings closing for 94. The wicket having been rolled, Barton and Robinson, aa usual, began, and runs came apace. Barton's leg play pleased the onlookers, and Robinson's drives helped the score by fours and threes to the boundary. At last Barton played late for a ball which shot, and he retired for a well {»ot 2S. Testro followed instead of Arneil, and

Robinetn, who played too far forward to one that hung, was caught mid-on for 26. Yates followed, and a long stand was made. Teetre at length was bowled by Kreeffc for 34, got by careful style, mostly by leg hita and cuts. Arneil followed, and was bewled by a shooter. O'Brien cut the first ball on hie wicket. Gardner played out the time by steady batting, interspersed by a drive or two. Yataa being not out for 44, the total reaching 151 for five wickete. The fielding of Blacklock and Heenan was very good; also Salmon and Nicholls were efficient in their positions. There were a great many people on the ground—about 1000—during the afternoon. More are expected to-morrow. The wbket played very well.

THE CRICKETERS' DINNER AT CHRISTCHURCH. At the dinuer given to the Auckland cricketers at Chriatchurch, Mr. Robinson, the captain of the team, said that the Auckland cricketers had looked forward to the present trip for nine years. They had won a match against Canterbury nine years ago, and had not done talking about it yet. Indeed two books had been written about it. (Laughter.) With regard to the other match, in which all the Auckland men went out for 13 runs—he himself was t&e first to go—it was all owing to good bowling. He saw two of the bowlers Messrs. Frith and Ashby, present that evening. With regard to the present trip, the Auckland team had been 80 far successful till they came to Canterbury, where they expected to get beaten, and it now looked very like it. If they were beateD, however, it would be by a splendid team. (Applause.) In reference to a ground, the Canterbury inf-n were better off than they were in Auckland. In Christchurch they had a pavilion, a ladies' lawn, and even, he believed, coffeeaud lemonade. (Laughter.) They had iione of these in Auckland. He hoped, however, that when a Canterbury team next came to Auckland they would find things better. "A'ith regard to the kind manner in which the health of his team had been drunk, he felt he could not return thanks in a proper manner. He could only assure them, on behalf of the Auckland team, that his thanks caime from his heart. He would now propose the health of the " Canterbury Team," coupled with the npme of Mr. Ashby. Mr. T. D. Condell, in proposing the toast, "Success to Cricket," coupled with it the name of Mr. Buckland. The toast was drunk with musical honours and three times three, with " One more for Mrs. Bucklaud and the little Bucklanda." Mr. Buckland, who was greeted with loud applause, returned thanks in a humorous speech. He could say that he loved cricket as perhaps no one else in the room loved it. He balieved that on Tuesday night the Canterbury men would find out that the visitors had beaten them. His idea, so far back as 1873, was that eacli of the leading towns of New Zealand should send a team round the colony, one town each year. This fell through in 1873, but he did not see why it should fall through now. (Applause.) The Auckland team had, so far, got on very well, and he hoped they would have fiue weather and good luck throughout the remainder of their trip. He also hoped that Auckland would soon have as good a ground as Christ - church. One disadvantage the Auckland cricketers laboured under was that they could not legally charge the public for admission to the ground, still the public had nobly supported them so far. They paid what was asked and there were no brass buttons put into the collection bags. On behalf of cricket, as represented by himself, he begged to return his sincere thanks for the way iu which the toast had been drunk.

AUCKLAND v. PATEA. Patka, Friday. The cricket match—Auckland v, Patea— concluded yesterday with an easy victory for the local team. Auckland collapsed sudilenlj, the last five wickets falling without an addition to the score. Scores : Auckland—First innings, 40 ; second, z>s. Patea — First innings, a 0; second, 47, with six wickets to fall. The return match will be phi)id to-day.