MELBOURNE CRICKETERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13134, 24 March 1906, Page 6

MELBOURNE CRICKETERS.

l ' MATCH AGAINST NEW f ZEALAND. HOME TEAM ALL OUT FOR 77. VISITORS MAKE 140 FOR FOUR WIOKKTS. [in* TKLKtJRAPH. — I'BKSS ASSOCIATION.] • ('URisrcyußCH, Friday. Tin-; cricket- match, New Zealand v. Melbourne Club commenced at Lancaster Park a few minutes after noon to-day. Owing to injury Bennett was unable to play for the home team, and his place was filled by Malone. The weather was fine at the start, and as 110 rain had fallen for some time the wicket was in good order, and the out-field fast. Tucker was elected captain of the New Zealand team, and on winning the toss had no hesitation in sending his team in to bat. The display of the New Zealanders with the batwas most disappointing. Hicksori and Redgrave were the tirst pair of batsmen, and only live bad been made when the latter was caught at second man from a very poor stroke. Graham had notched seven when he. threw his wicket away by running out to hit Armstrong, and Oliivicr failed to trouble the scorers. Ltt-:k contributed three singles, and then returned a bill tamely to the bowler. Then BrookeSmith and Hickson carried the total to 47 before the latter was dismissed for 18, which had taken him over an hour to compile. He had exhibited his usual sturdy defence, but he gave a chance in the slips just before he was disposed of. Tucker then joined Brooke-Smith, but just 011 lunch time the latter was caught for 11, seven wickets being down at the adjournment for 54 runs. The halting up to this point had been weak in the extreme, and after lunch it was, if possible, even poorer. For a representative New Zealand team on a good wicket to lose six wickets for 54 runs, and then to be disposed of 'foe a paltry score of 77, passes comprehension. When the Melbourne Club started their innings they fared but little better. After the interval the visitors began their innings with Mailer and Vaughan. Downes and Malone had charge of the attack, and seven runs wen? made off the former's first over. Malone was then opposed to Mailer, who was clean bowled by the (iist ball of his initial over. Run-getting nowslowed down, and nothing further than a single was- scored until a two by Vaughan sent 20 up. With the score unaltered Downes bowled Rausford : 20—2—6. Armstrong followed, and with only four, added, Malone bowled Vaughan : 24—3—11. Wilkinson then joined his captain, but the total was only taken to 32 when the newcomer was bowled by Malone. McLeod then joined Armstrong, and nothing above a single was recorded for several overs, and then two to leg by Vaughan saw 20 I posted 011 the board after twenty minutes' play. Malone then clean-bowled Vaughan. and the telegraph board snowed: 24—5—11. * Wilkinson then joined his captain, and played the remainder of the over without 'disaster. Each batsman scored singles off Downes, and Wilkinson gut three tor a,u overthrow in the same over. The batsmen showed good judgment in running between the* wickets, but alter 30 had been posted, Mailone bowled Wilkinson: 32—4—5. McLeod came next, and Armstrong hit Downes to the off tor a pair, and each batsman got singot Malone to the on for hree, sending 40 up, double figures. The Melbourne captain next ! got Malone to the on for 3, sending 40 up, ! and lie drove Downes to the off for a pair, McLeod getting a hit 1:0 leg for the same value. Each got singles, and Armstrong caused 50 to go up by hitting Malone to the off boundary, the half-century taking exactly 50 minutes to make. After further singles, McLeod got Malone to leg for a, couple, and his partner got the last ball of the over in the same direction for three sending 60 up. Armstrong then drove Downes to the off » for three, and a single to McLeod saw 10 posted.against.his name. Armstrong drove Malone a finely to the off boundary, making his 'individual score 33, and he drove him to the on for four in the same over. At 75 Monaghan was deputed to bowl in place of Downes., and two singles were scored in his first over. Armstrong hit Malone to the on for two and to the off for a single, sending 80 "up on the board. Runs continued to come steadily, and at 85 BrookeSmith took the ball from Malone at the railway end, and McLeod got a two to the on in his first over. Singles to each batsman and a, two to the on by McLeod off Monaghan saw 90 go up on the board, and the x same batsman placed 20 against his name by an on drive for three in the same over. .-Further singles and Armstrong completed his 50, the century being hoisted at the same time. At 103 Graham was deputed to bowl in place of Brooke-Smith, and each batsman scored a single in his lirst over. Rain had been falling slightly for some time and sawdust was taken out for the bowlers. Armstrong hit Monaghan to the off boundary, and BrookeSmith resumed bowling at the railway end, Graham only having bowled one over. McLeod hit the Aucklander to the 011 for three, and Armstrong got him to leg for four, bringing 60 against his name. The Me'bourne captain sent 120 up by a hitto leg for three, and his partner finished up the over with a four to leg. Each scored further singles off Monaghan. and Armstrong drove Brooke-Smith' to the off for three, sending 130 up. Armstrong, who was scoring more freely, hit Monaghan to the off boundary, and two twos by McLeod brought his score up to 40. and caused 140 to be hoisted on the board. , At live p.m. rain came 011 111010 heavily, and play was abandoned for the day. Heavy rain this evening made a. postponement to-moirow appear probable. The scores are as follows: — NEW ZEALAND.—First Innings.

J. Hiekson. c Wilkinson, b McLeotl ... 18 I .5. Redgrave. c Butler. b McLcod ... 3 IH. < Iraliairi. si Wilkinson, b Armstrong 7 |K. M. Ollivier, b Armstrong ... ... 0 IH. B. Busk. c and I) McLeod ... ... 3 ;W. Bionke-.Xniitli. c Mailer, b McLeotl 11 jlv Tucker. c Wilkinson, b McLeod ... 10 j A. Downc.s. c Ilenty. b Armstrong ... 10 (J. Roxsliall. not out ... ... ... 5 I - ]. Monaghiiu. 1) Aimfitrong ... ... 1 ' 'J'. Malone, b McLeotl ... ... ... 1 Extras 8 Total 77 Bowling Analysis: McLeotl look six wickets for 39 runs; Armstrong, four for 23 runs. MKL BO URN E .—First Innings. 1). Mailer, I) Malone • ... 4 F. Vauglian, b 'Malone ... 11 I V. Ransford, b Dowries 6 W. W. Armstrong, not out ... ... 72 W. Wilkinson, b Malone • ... ... . 5 C. McLeod. not out ... 40 Extra* ... ... ... 2 Total for four wickets ... ... 140