CRICKET MATCHES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9398, 3 January 1894, Page 5

CRICKET MATCHES.

- •■■■ ... ■ .»■■.■■ , I AUCKLAND V. OTAGOVICTORY OF AUCKLAND. : ; [SH TELEGRAPH, — SPECIAL gOCaiESPPNRESt.] ', DosfEniN, Monday. The morning broke dull and threatening, followed soon by a Blight misty rain. , On reaching the ground it was decided to postpone the match till 1.30, to see if the mist would only clear off, Our players ma de a, great mistake in not insisting that the game ' should gp p,n, as with ft wet ball the runs i would have come fast. So, slight was the rain tha-t practice went on the whole time. However, when play was commenced, \b was soon seen that Mills and Jaqobs meant business. Jacobs made some neat strokes, scorin fast, but when 24 was caught in the slips ' off Downes. Our own Johnny came in and the stand of the match was made, bowler after bowler being tried to separate the pair. However, the end came, and, with the score at* 127, Fisher , smartly threw Fowke's wicket down. , The stand was one of exceptional merit, and showed what two such sterling cricketers as , Fowke and Mills could do. Great as the success was at the start greater was the downfall — Downe's bowling Lawton and Weill without the score being increased. One run more, and Kalleuder again put his leg before wicket, Lawton being the bowler. Stemaon, Lundon, and Holle were bowled by Downes in successive balls— three last of the over. The first of the next over saw MacCormick sail back to the pavilion, King, the last man with Mills, managed "to raise the scope to 156, when Lawton clean bowled huiir-Mills being not out with 88. This innings of Mflls 5 was one of the 1 finest I hare seen— runs being cot by excellent cricket, and throughout the innings he only gave one chance. He was heartily applauded on leaving the ground. Downes again proved the best i bowler of Otago, keeping a splendid length, using great judgment, * The fielding of Otago ; was really first-class. The Southerners i commenced their second innings by sending , Lawton and Boddington to face the bowling of Stemson and Lawson. Runs came freely, and Lawson was replaced by Neill. Stemson, bowling splendidly, soon gave Mills a 1 chance to get the first wicket, which was thankfully accepted. Noill showed that he was still a bowler by getting Macneill clean bowled by the. first ball of the fourth over. • In consequence of the postponement it has been decided to continue the match tomorrow, which now baars a very open aspeot, and with a reasonable amount of luck we should just about win. Our boys are in firstclass spirits, and their .fielding in the second ' innings so far has been good. 1 Dunkdin, Tuesday. Shortly after ten the match between Auckland and Otago was continued, and it was at once seen that both teams were determined to uphold the honour >of their province. Lawton and Johnston carefully played to the bowling of Stemson and Neill. Johnston soon succumbed to Stemson, being caught off a mis-hit. Baker made matters look very serious. With excellent cricket and with one exception careful play raised the score to 53 before Neill compelled Lawton to play so far back that he hit his wicket, Lawton's play was again first-class, and our boys looked quite cheerful when his burly form was seen retreating to the pavilion. Baker was still in and, well sat; this made our boys pluck up. When Fisher came in Lawson went on in the place of Stemson, and at 67 had the pleasure of seeing Fisher caught at the wicket by Fowke. With the score at 68 Parker followed but only to retire with--1 out scoring. Lawton getting him caught in the slips off the next ball. Bell coming in made matters merry, so Stemson relieved Lawson with the score at 79. Bell was smartly stumped by Fowke, his place , being taken by the Otago bowler Downes. This player also showed that be could bat as well as bowl, and with a four and two twos they got into. double : • figures. But Stemson who was still on the spot all the time got the measure and clean bowled Downes—the Bth wicket. Croxford coming in.* saw only two registered, when Baker, who had so long kept up Otago's spirits, and played so carefully, was caught at the wickets by Fowke off Neil!. The last man Hope, with Croxford, played steadily, , raising the score by singles till the century was reached, when Neill clean bowled Croxford, leaving Auckland victors by 14 runs. 1 Lawton; Boddington, and Baker, all gave great trouble; to get rid of them was difficult, and if it hud not been for the indomitable Eluck of such bowlers as Neill, Stemson, and lawson, together with the determination of each fielder, Otago must "surely have registered a win. Anxious as pur boys i were yet they were quite i hopeful and seemed each to recognise .that the match: depended, perhaps, on a single ' mistake made by any one of them. Once, when Baker was missed, it looked as if the game had been thrown away. But steadily and pluckily the boys went on. With one or two exceptions the fielding was grand, especially that of Fowke at th« wickets, Parker. Fisher, and Baker being caught and Bell stumped. The catch Fowke made disposing of Fisher off Lawson was worth a day's journey to see. Then the bowling: What of Neill'ii performance— wickets for 38 on a perfect wicket and against the pick of Otago. Lawson and Stemson also did good work, the former two and the latter three. On all sides it was agreed that Otago could not put a stronger representative team in the field, and yet with only 113 runs to wiu our bowlers were equal to the task of getting them out. As a captain, Holle excelled himself, never making a mistake. He seemed to always do the light thing at the right time. Thus ended the most memorable match I have ever seen, and which for pleasant reminiscences and exciting episodes has not been equalled in the colony. Our worthy friend, Mr. A. iVhitaker, has been guide, counsellor, and friend, besides helping us to enjoy ourselves. Tomorrow will see us in Christchurch, where, judging from reports, we shall meet a strong eleven. This evening Messrs. Broneh and Boucicault have invited us to the Princess Theatre, where they are successfully performing "Niobe." The following are the scores :— * Auckland—Second innings. A. Jacobs, c Hope, b Lawton 24 I. Mills, not out ... 84 J.N. Bowke, runout 25 H. W. Lawson, b Downes 0 ' R. Neill, Downes .. , 0 J. A. Kallendcr, lhw, b Eawton 0 K. L. Hollo, b Downes ... ... ;.. 9 W. Stemson, b Downes , ... 0 J. R. Lundon, b Downes 0 C. R. MacCormick, b Downes 0 C. B. King, b Lawton ... ... ... 8 Extras 3 Total 148 BOWLING ANALYSIS. Balls. M'd'ns. Runs. W'k'ts. Downes ... 130 10 35 6 Lawton ... 168 11 49 3 ■ Fisher 20 1 5 0 i McNeil ... 20 22 0 ' Hope 100 9 19 0 i Balibr 40 3 11 0 ' Parker ... 20 0 18 0 Downes bowled 1 no ball. [ Oxa«o.—Second Innings. 1 Lawton, hit wicket, b Neill 20 1 Boddington, c Mills, b Stemson ... ... 11 1 MacNeil, b Noil 1 » Johnston, c Fowke, b Stemson ... ... 1 I Baker, o Fowke, b Neill .. 20 Fisher, c Fowke, b Lawson ... ... 7 Parker, c Meill, b Lawson ... 0 Bell, st Fowke, b Neill ... ... 4 Dowries, b Stemson ... ... ... ... 11 Crawford, b Neill ... ... 4 Hope, not out ... ... 5 Extras ,<?... ... 7 Total ... .:. ... ... ... 91 BOWLING ANALYSIS. 1 Balls. M'd'ns. Runs W'k'ts. • Lawson ... 65 4 24 2 I Stemson ... 141 10 31 3 , Neill 137 11 38 5 Stemson bowled no ball. 1 fBY TRLKGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] ! Chrtstchubck, Tuesday. . The cricket match, Midland Wellington v. . Midland Canterbury, was drawn. The visi-. . tors declared the second innings closed when ' 220 had been obtained for the loss of five. I wickets. This left the homo team 150 to got .I to win, and an hour to play. During that , time they lost two wickets for 37.