CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11347, 16 April 1900, Page 3

CRICKET.

WELLINGTON Y. AUCKLAND. ( AUCKLAND LEADING BY 25 RUNS. ' LOW SCORING BY BOTH TEAMS. The interprovincial cricket match between Auckland and Wellington was commenced on the Domain on Saturday morning in perfect weather. The wicket, unfortunately, was somewhat soft and difficult, owing to the recent rains. His Excellency the Governor, Lord Ranfurly, and Lady Eileen Knox, accompanied by the Hon. Chas. Hill-Trevor, were present during the afternoon. The attendance was moderate. Perfect arrangements had been made for the convenience of the public, thanks to the energetic secretary of the local Cricket Association, Mr. G. H. Broughton, who kindly provided a new scoring board, with the names and numbers of the players on both sides, shown in bold letters. Messrs. E. Ford and T. Neill made very efficient umpires. Auckland winning the toss elected to bat, Olilson sending in D. Hay and Carlton to fnco the deliveries of Upham and Tucker. Runs to start with were few and far between, and only six runs were scored off tho first threo overs. Ten went up on the board after twenty minutes play, singles having been the order of the day. Carlton, with a nice leg hit for two, broke the monotony. Runs were hard to get, as both bowlers wero keeping a good length, and no liberties could bo taken with the bowling. At last, Tucker threw up a short-pitched one to Hay, which the latter promptly drove to the boundary, drawing out the plaudits of the spectators. Assisted by leg-byes, the score reached 20— Hay 9, Carlton 9. Carlton was then nearly out through stealing a risky run, and a few runs later, he was nicely caught and bowled by Tucker, with the score standing 23—1—9. Stemson joined Hay, but with one run added, Hay was beautifully stumped by Niven, off Tuckor: 24-25-11. Ohlson followed, but met the same fats as Hay, Niven again showing very smart work: 24-3-0. ?'

R. Neill was the next batsman, and, after a risky stroko by Stemson, opened with a single to leg. A fine off-drive for four by Stemson, off Tucker, brought 30 out, but tho United player was missed two balls la er in the slips by Hickson, off Upham, who was bowling really well, hut with bad luck. Wellington's erojnd fielding was excellent, and many likely runs were saved by their smart picking up. Singles were again the order of the day. Upham put down a. maiden, and then Stemson got two twos in succession off Tucker, both by lucky strokes. Neill, replying with a two, also off Tucker, raised the scoro to 40, after an hour's play. With the score unaltered, Niven again did the trick, causing Stemson's dismissal by a very smart catch off Upham: 40—4—11. H. B. Lusk joined Neill, but after a single had been added by Neill, the newcomer threw his wicket away by attempting a foolish hit off Tucker 41—5—0. George Mills took tho vacant crease, and after poking at two balls, was out to a ridiculously simple catch in tho slips, with the telegraph reading: 41—6—0. 1 N. B. Lusk joined Neill, and the latter, with a nice leg-hit for four, brought 50 on the board. Tucker's last over had realised 10 runs. ( Neill was now batting nicely, but lost Lusk, who was nicoly caught at long-on by Midlane, off Tucker: 51—7—5. Wynyard went to the wickets, and saw Neill missed by Robertson at square-leg. Hie chance, however, was a difficult one. Wynyard opened his score with a very pretty leghit off Upham. Cricket now became a little livelier, the newcomer playing a very free game. A few runs later, however, Neill was well taken in the slips by Hickson, off Upham. Tim outgoing batsman had exhibited patient but sound cricket for his runs: 64-8 -18. , ~ , Clayton followed, and opened with a four off Upham. Tucker, who bowled well, continually troubled tho batsmen, but 70 went up without any further loss. The teams adjourned for lunoh shortly afterwards, with the score at 76-Wynyard being 11. Clayton 8. On resuming after lunch both batsmen played very crisp cricket, and runs came rapidly, but at 84 Clayton was splendidly caught by Quee, off Upham: 84-9--12. ' Elliott, last man in, spooned the first ball ho received into tho hands of Hickson, at "Tucker and Upham bowled unchanged throughout, and although their bowling did not give tho spectators an impression of being anything above the averago, they nevertheless both put up capita performances. Wellington's fielding, on the whole, was

g °Wellington commenced batting with Quee and Robertson, NeiU and Stemson opening the bowling for Auckland. Scoring for the first few overs was slow, and NeiU seemed to find some difficulty in getting his length, but in his third over Quee was clean bowled. Dickson joined Robertson, who With a Hiekson joined Robertson, who With a somewhat lucky snick for two brought 10 on the board.. Runs came slowly, until 16 was reached, when H.ckson sumimbed to a fine catch at the wickets off Neill. 16-2 4Midlane took the vacant crease, but after adding a single, Robertson was out, caught at point: 3—9. , , , , Midlane did not long survive, and with onlv another run added, was well caught bv Lusk behind the wickets: 18-4—i J. 'Tucker and Holdsworth were now together, but the rot which had set in still continued, and at 23 Holdsworth spooned one softly into Clayton's hands at mid-off, Iseill again being the bowler: 23—5—0. Read partnered Tucker, but fortune still favoured tho local team, and at 26 Lusk smartly stumped the last-comer: 26-6—l. Tucker, who had been batting well, began to score rapidly, and, assisted by pham, the newcomer caused tho Aucklandors some trouble. The Auckland fielding, however, was good, and twos and singles were the order of the day. until 40 was reached. Both lwtsmen, especially Upham, seemed to relish Stemson's bowling, and were the first men during the innings who seemed to play with any degree of confidence. At 44 Carlton displaced Stemson at the brewery end, and after a two and a three had been placed to TTpham's credit, split tho partnership by clean bowling Tucker with tho last ball of the over: 49-7—16. Jacobs did not stay long, as with 'first ball ho received he was clean bowled by Neill: 50—8—0. . , „ Niven the Wellington wicketkeepor, joined ijpliam, hvlio continued to exhibit really good form. The score rose slowly, until Upliam returned a smart one to Oar - ton, a chance which the Victorian was quick to avail himself of: 569 —17. Hales, tho last man, was soon out. and the innings closed with the board showing: 59 10—1. , , t Wellington's batting throughout was very weak, and, with the exemption of the stand made by Upham and Tucker, was one of the feeblest displays over scon in the Domain, and, although' Auckland wore, little better, they probably deserved their Lmall gain on tho first innings. Auckland, 25 runs ahead, started, as beloip, with Hay and Carlton. Upham again bowled from tho brewery end, and after a sinulo to Carlton, Hay hit his wicket: 1— 1 Wvnyard went in first wicket down, but with the score unaltered Carlton, in trying to pull a straight ball, was clean bowled by Tucker: I—2—l. , .. , Stemson followed, and opened with a singlo off Tucker. Cricket was, if possible, slower than over, and with the score at six Stoinson was caught out by Quee bv one of the finest catches ever seen on the Domain: 6 3—4. George Mills joined his club mate, and shortly after his advont got Tucker nicely away to log far four. Wynyard also played nico cricket, and when stumps were craw at five o'clock tho scoro had readied 1/ without any furthor loss. Tho match promises to be a close one, and with fine weather a largo attendance is expected to-day, when tho match will be 10surned at ten o'clock precisely. Following aro the scores:

AUCKLAND.— First Innings. D. Hay, 11111411. st Niven, b Tucker ... 11 W. Carlton, 111112?., b Tucker ... ... » W. Stemson, 114221, c Niven, 1> Upham 11 F. J. Olilson, st Niven, b Tuckor ... U R. Neill, 111121412211, c Hickson, b Upliam ... ••• -• . * n 11. 1!. Lusk, st Niven, b Tucker ... J G. Mills, c Upham. b Tucker " N. I!. Lusk, 221, c Midlano, b Tucker ... & W. T. Wynvard, 21211121112. not out ... i 5 D. Clayton, 413112, o Quce, b Upham ... U T. Elliott, c Hickson, by Tucker « Extras (byes 1, leg-byes 2) Total ... 84 BOWLING ANALYSIS. Ovors. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. Upham ... 18 5 33 7 Tucker ... 17-1 1 48 7 WELLINGTON.—First Innings. W. Quee, 1, b Noill ... ••• ••• \ F. 11. Robertson. 2111211, c Mills, b iseill 9 0. Hickson, 1111. 9 Lusk, b Neill ... » F. Midland, 1, c Lusk. b Stemson ... 1 K. H. Tucker, 1121111121211, b Car ton... 16 F. Holdswortli, c Clayton, b Neill ... 0 It Read 1, st Lusk, b Stomson ... .1 F." Upliam, 111112223111, c and b Carlton 17 S. Jacobs, b N"ill ••• ••• " R. C. Niven, 111, not out _■■. ... * 15. 0. Hales, 2, • st Lusk, b Neill ••• £ Extras (byes 4, leg-hyo 1) ... _ i Total M M IB ra m 59

j BOWLING ANALYSIS. • . Overs. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. ; Neill ... 16.4 -2 . 29. 6, Stemson' . *~. "13 , 4 ' 18 2 • Carlton ... 3 0 7 r ,2 < AUCKLAND.—Second Innings. W. . Carlton, ;l, b Tucker ... 1 D. Hay, hit wicket, b Upham 0 Wynyard, 122, not out ! ... 5 Stemson, 121, o Quce, b Upham ... 4 G. Mills ■ 14, not out ... , 5 Extras ... ... ' ... ... 2 Total for three wickets 17 BOWLING ANALYSIS. Overs. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. Uplam ... 4 0 8 2 Tucker ,v ... 3 0 7 1 Y.M.O.A. V. TAUPIRI. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Tacpiri, Saturday. The Young Men's Christian Association cricket team played the Tnupiri club yesterday, and were beaten on the first innings by seven runs, the totals being: Taupiri, 58; Y.M.C.A., 51. A return match will bo played on Monday. The visitors play Hamilton to-day. . ,