CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11825, 30 November 1901, Page 7

CRICKET.

The fourth series of matches in the first grade champi° nsni competitions, under the ausnices 0 the Auckland Cricket Association, «ill be commenced this afternoon at the Domain and North Shore Grounds, the fixtures being Gordon v. United, Ponsonby v. Parnell, and Auckland v. North Shore. Gordon, Ponsonby, Parnell, and Auckland are at present on level terms, with two wins each, and the struggle for tho championship this season should provide some interesting cricket.

Tho surprise of the season to date was the defeat of Auckland by Ponsonby, who won on the first innings scores by a margin of 35 runs. With 70 runs tc their credit for the loss of five wickets, Ponsonby only required 44 runs to win, but theh ability to get them looked doubtful in the early stages on Saturday, as the not cuts, Lundon and Robertson, wore quickly disposed of. Kemp and Fisher, however, got together, and between them rattled up the required runs, Kemp's 21 (not out) being tho result of nice, patient cricket, while Fisher, who scored 36, gave an attractive display of batting. St. Paul came through best of the Auckland trundlers, with six wickets at a cost of 61 runs, while Cossoy, who bowled steadily, secured three for 41. The Auckland skipper, K. Neill, was not up to his best form with the leather. In .their second innings Auckland scored 177 for the loss of eight wickets before time was called, the feature being the batting of llemus (72. not out). This young batsman is evidently getting back into form, and now that he has got going, may be expected to improve his position considerably in the club's batting averages. Mills bore the brunt of the bowling for Ponsonby. and wound up with seven wickets for 93 runs. He made a splendid catch when dismissing Schmoll off bis own bowling, but had the misfortune to sprain his thumb. The bowling of Williams and Southall, the Gordon trundlers, proved too much for Parnell, no less than five wickets going foi the small total of 21 runs, the innings thus closing for the small total of 83. Kallender (42), Pab3t(2l), and Williams (22) played well in Gordon's second innings, the former in particular being responsible for some hard hitting. These were the only double-figure scorers, and although the scoring board showed 101 runs up for the loss of five wickets, the tail showed no life, and the last wicket fell with the score at 122.

With less than 40 minutes to go, and wanting 145 runs to win, Parnell naturally attempted to force the pace, and as a result, lost their wickets rapidly, the eight men available being all out a few minutes before call of time for 88 runs. Lusk, Gavin, and Gardiner made things very lively while at the wickets, the trio getting no less than 11 boundaries between them. Among the absentees was the Parnell skipper (F. J. Ohlson), and though nothing could have saved the side from defeat under the circumstances, the question suggests itself "Was ho looking after his batting average?"

The United-North Shore match, as anticipated, resulted in an easy win for the firstnamed team, the bowling of Stemson and Lusk tyinc: the Shore batsmen completely in a knot. That these trundlers were in great form with the ball may be gathered from the fact that Wynyard, usually a free scorer, was at the wickets lor the best part of an hour and a-half fo* 15 runs, while Denby, who scored 19, was in for an hour and thirty-five minutes. The United fielding was also of a high order.

In United's second innings P. Hay (71, not out) and Foster (37, not out) played capital cricket, and the latter, xho has a nico style of batting, should make some good scores for his side before the season closes.

HERE AND THERE. The Domain having been placed at the disposal of the Auckland Cycling Olub, the cricket championships will be suspended next Saturday Carter, late of Sydney, has joined the North Shore Club, and will make his first appearance with the suburban club's first eleven to-day. An application was before the Auckland Cricket Association from the Parnell Club at last Wednesday evening's meeting asking permission to play E. Mills. The management Committee, however, decided that Mills would have to comply with the clause relating to residential qualification of 28 days, and Mills will therefore not be able to play until the fifth series of matches start. The secretaries of the Aratapu, Ohaupo, and Opitonui Clubs have written to the Auckland Cricket Association asking that teams from town should arrange for visits to the respective districts. Th.e matter has been left in the hands of the hon. secretary (Mr. Broughton) and Mr. Groville, who will endeavour to comply with the wishes of the country clubs. Cricketers have been complaining lately about the state oi the Domain ground, and a deputation has been appointed to wait on the caretaker (Mr. Yates) in the matter, and report at next meeting of the committee of the association. There are a number of small holes about the ground, and these are a source of danger tc the fieldsmen. The English cricketers are at present playing the Albion CO. team at West Maitland. The first test of the tour will commence at Sydney on December 13.

Playing against a Canadian team at Toronto last month Mr. Bosanquet's team of English amateurs won by an innings and seven runs.

Mr. M. A. Noble has been appointed to represent New South Wales in selecting Australia's team for the test matches. Referring to the Now Zealand Cricket Council's cablegram, inviting an Australian team to visit this colony, and asking Major Wardill if the Englishmen could include New Zealand in their tour, the Sydney writer, "Not Out," says:—lf the message refers to the Australian Eleven going to England, there is little hope of its acceptance, since the first-class matches of the English team will not finish before the middle of March, immediately afte- which the Australians \vi probably set off for England. The programme of the Englishmen is already fixed up to March 18, and they are to leave for England on the 20th in the Omrah. Commenting on the play of the ex-Auck-lander G. Mills, in a recent match, a writer in the Otago Witness says:—" Mills' leghitting was very clean, and off it the majority of his runs were scored. Probably he is the best leg-hitter in Dunedin at the present time. His driving also was good, especially when he ran out to Robinson's slow lobs. He always managed to get them, but I am afraid it he had missed oik of them Macormac ever on the watch, would have bagged a wicket. He is certainly not the most stylish bat in Dunedin—far from it; but he gets the runs Ml the same, and that is the main consideration to both himself and his Bidt." A letter, received by Mr. C. R. Smith, of Dunedin, from Mr. De Vncs, of Christchurch, who was a fellow passenger of Maolaren's cricket team in the Omrah from England to Australia, indicates that there may yet be a possibility of that team visiting New Zealand. It was in the contemplation of th„ team when they left England that they should come to this colony, and it was only when they reached Fremantle that they learnt that the programme which had been arranged for them did not include a i,ew Zealand tour. It is apparently, therefore, not because of want of time or want of inclination on the part of the Englishmen that no provision has been made for a visit to these shores. This suggests that it may yet b 0 possible to secure that, after the team have completed their programme in Australia, they should come to New Zealand. Mr. E. H. Williams, in a letter to Mr. Ludwig, lion, secretary of the Bawke s Hay Cricket Association, relative to the engagement of Mi. Albert Trott as proiessional bowler and coach fos Hawke's Bay, says: — "Mr. Trott is going out alone, his wife remaining here. I am satisfied that we have secured the best man in England fok the position. Mr. Trott will be quite prepared to return to us next yeai ii the work suits him, and we must make it oil aim that he will be so satisfied with his position that be Will return. I have only made a binding arrangement for this season, but have secured the first call for Mr. Trott'.. future services should he return. , I shall return to Napier the first week in December, and you may expect Mr. Trott in the middle of the same month. An endeavour should be made to arrange ihterprovincial fixtures, so tnat we may have the benefit ot Mr. Trott's services. He may have to return to England in the

middle of March, but will endeavour to stay until tho end of that month. He must be back here early in May." JESSOP'S HUNDREDS. The following list of hundreds compiled by the English " smiter," Jessop, at present •with Maclaren's team in Australia, is taken from a recent number of Cricket: — 140, Cambridge University v. Philadelphia, in 9o minutes. 101, Gloucestershire v. Philadelphia, in 90 minutes. 126, Gloucestershire v. Warwickshire, in &> minutes. 101, Gloucestershire v. Yorkshire, in 40 minutes. 112 not out, Rest of England v. A. E. Stoddart's Second Australian team, in 68 minutes. 171, not out, Cambridge University v. Yorkshire, in 105 minutes. 126, Gloucestershire v. Notts, in 90 minutes. 100, not out, Pest of England v. Home Counties, in 68 minutes. 179, Gloucestershire v. Sussex, in 105 minutes. 109, Gloucestershire v. Middlesex, in 67 •minutes. ' , 157, Gloucestershire v. West Indians, in 60 minutes.

104, Gloucestershire v. Yorkshire, in 70 minutes.

139, Gloucestershire v. Yorkshire (same match), in 95 minutes, quite 10 minutes of which were occupied in finding the ball after it was hit out of the ground. _ 102, Gloucestershire v. Worcestershire, in 75 minutes.

123, not out, South v. North, in 75 minutes.

169, M.C.O. and Ground v. Leicestershire, in 90 minutes.

124, Gloucestershire v. Middlesex, in 75 minutes.

106, Gloucestershire v. Warwickshire, in 85 minutes.

125, not out, Gloucestershire v. Surrey, in 105 minutes.

233, not out, England v. Yorkshire, in 150 minutes.

MACLAREN'S TEAM IN AUSTRALIA

The Englishmen completed the third match of their Australian tour on Wednesday, suffering defeat at tho hands of the New South Wales representatives by the narrow margin of 53 runs, the totals for the two innings being: Now South Wales 710, England 657. The century was reached on two occasions, first by the" English captain, Maclaren, who knocked up 145 in the Englishmen's first innings, and then by Sid. Poidevin, tho young New South Wales batsman, who put on 151 (not out) in the homo team's second innings. Up to the present the "smiter" of the team, Jessop, has not got fairly going, having only just whetted tho appetites of the onlookers before succumbing, but when he does get to work we may look forward to some big scores from his bat. Commenting on the match against Victoria the special of the Sydney Mail says:— contest just concluded was an unsatisfactory one in many respects. Although the weather, as far as the comfort of the spectators was concerned, was perfect, the soaking which the ground received on Thursday afternoon and tho showers on Sunday rendered the pitch in such a condition that the trial of skill lay between the opposing bowlers and fieldsmen, and the team with the best bowling and best fielding won. In the interstate matches Victoria has defeated New South Wales. simply because the members of the former play a harder game in all departments, and more especially in tho fielding. In the engagement between England and Victoria the latter showed so many failures to hold chances in the field that their form in that respect was too bad to be true. To-day the fielding of the defeated side was excellent, but tho effort came too late. Had even a few of the many opportunities offered on Friday and Saturday been accepted the margin of runs between the two sides would have been much smaller, and possibly the result would have been reversed. On the other hand the Englishmen accepted every reasonable chance. All the honours go to EnglandMcGahey, top-scorer of the match; Karnes, head and shoulders above the rest as the best bowler on figures in the two sides. The Victorian captain won the toss, but he would probably have preferred to have lost it, for the occasion was one on which a captain would be pleased to be relieved of the responsibility of deciding which course to pursue— go to the wickets or send the opposing side in. Worrall sent the Englishmen in, and the latter won. Had the Victorian captain taken first innings he might have had a little bit of the good wicket on Saturday, and leaving out for the moment the lost catches, that couple of hours batting decided the result of the match. Maclaren is particularly gratified at tho success of his experiment in bringing out Barnes as one of his team. Of course the tour is still in its infancy, but if a line can be taken from what has been shown at Adelaide and Melbourne it is clear that the Englishmen have a bowler with them of undoubted merit. In the opening match he secured five wickets for 67, and in to-day's match 12 for 99. The whole team have shown an all-round improvement in form, though they regret the frequency of wet weather, which prevents them getting into form for the more serious engagements of the campaign. It was a great disappointment to the English captain to have to stand down in this match. He is suffering from rheumatism, but it is satisfactory to be able to say that he finds he is improving. His medical adviser did not think it necessary to apply leeches, a necessity for which had been feared. Maclaren still looks far from well, though he intends to have hard practice to-morrow morning. To return to the match. There was quite a number of coincidences—Graham in each innings was bowled by Barnes for 26; Worrall in each Victorian innings opened with McLeod and himself in first; Worrall was caught in the slips off Barnes for nothing, and in the second innings McLeod was taken also in the slips off the same bowler for nothing ; in the first over after lunch on Saturday Barnes secured two wickets, in the first over on resuming to-day McLeod was similarly successful. The aggregate amongst the home team was secured by Graham, who in the second venture was the only one on his side to play a good game under the most difficult conditions. On the same side McLeod was easily first with the ball, though in the second innings it was a close race between him and Collins. The match afforded no information regarding the prospects of (tie test matches nor of the composition of the Australian team.

The wing table gives details of pre. vious matches between English teams and Victoria — Eleven a-side matches, 19; English teams won 15, Victoria won three, one match drawn. Victoria beat Lord Harris' team by two wickets. Lord Harris' team beat Victoria by six wickets. Shaw's first team beat Victoria by 18 runs. Shaw's first team beat Victoria by eight wickets. The Hon. Ivo Bligh's team beat Victoria by ten wickets. "Victoria boat the Hon. Ivo Bligh's team by 73 runs. Shaw's second team beat Victoria by 118 runs. Shaw's third team v. Victoria—drawn. Shaw's third team beat Victori? by nine wickets. Vernon's team beat Victoria by an innings and 18 runs. Vernon's team beat Victoria by 282 nine. Shrewsbury and Lilly white's team boat Victoria by an innings and 456 runs. Lord Sheffield's team beat Victoria by an innings and 107 runs. Lord Sheffield's team beat Victoria by nine wickets. Stoddart's first team beat Victoria by 145 runs. Victoria beat Stoddart first team by seven wickets. Stoddart's second team beat Victoria by two wickets. Stoddart's second team beat Victoria by seven wickets. Maclaron's team beat Victoria by 118 runs.