THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13369, 26 December 1906, Page 8

THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

MATCH AGAINST WELLINGTON

VISITORS MAKE 204 IN FIRST

INNINGS.

WELLINGTON LOSE 2 WICKETS

FOR 27.

[BY TEl.l-.np.VPII.—PRESS ASSOCIATION-.]

Wellington, Tuesday.

Tfte innovation of cricket on Christmas Day was quite, a success, judging by the attendance to see the Englishmen play their firpt , match in Wellington,, for though no trams were running there were some 4000 people on the ground this afternoon. The day'was sunny, but breezy; and the ground very fast. The ball fairly .bounded, and it was difficult to stop, a good hit reaching to the boundary. The fielding of the local men, however, was very good, and many fine strokes were well stopped. The visitors were fortunate enough to get the first hit, and as they are already feeling the effects of constant: travelling they were-not-sorry to.miss an afternoon's fielding. Burns was in exceileut form, and, with Harrison, ;put on 64 runs at the start. Upham bowled in a way that forbade many runs being made, but the. Englishmen did well till Monaghan went on. He secured three wickets quickly, and had two difficult chances missed as well. After him Branston scored smartly,' but so far the side have scarcely batted up to expectation.

England having won the toes Johnson and Douglas began batting, Upham and Tucker bowling, the latter with the wind behind him. Douglas survived an appeal for legbefore first ball, but Johnson had barely time to get in three or four nice boundary hits when Upham was successful with a second appeal, and Douglas had to leave: 22-1-5.

When Harrison came in Johnson mishit Tucker, and by a great effort Hawthorne held the catch at cover, rolling over in the effort: 24—2—

Burns joined Harrison, and both men gotoccasional fours off the slow bowler, but they treated Upham, who was very straight, with great respect. A drive by Harrison for three was the only stroke of consequence made from him for a number of overs. At 45 Brice relieved Tucker. A run was stolen from his first ball,-which nearly cost Harrison his wicket. With the help of a fine off-drive by Burns 50, appeared at twenty-five minutes past three. As the men got set they began to hit with more confidence. ' Seven were scored off an over of Upham's, and at 60 he gave way to Monaghan. Harrison gave a- difficult chance off his second ball at mid-oil, for which Collins did not start soon enough. The next over Burns drove Brice three times for four, making 76 for an hour's play. Brice was thereupon changed for Cobcroft, who had the pleasure of seeing Burns send him over the ropes, to leg, nine in all coming from his first ; essay. In Monaghan's next over Harrison was stumped: 90—19. • ~

Two balls later Page was bowled. Cobcroft made amends for a .bad beginning by bowling Simpson-Hayward second ball. The. batsman played forward and missed it, and seemed very surprised to find himself out: 93 —51.

Branston joined Burns, and assisted to bring 100 up. Burns at the same time reaching 50. Cobcroft's next over produced nine, mostly to Branston, and the score was advancing very quickly when Burns at last returned one to M'onaghan : 111——51. His was a vigorous innings, and included a six and seven fours.

With Torrens and Branston together, Tucker came back to the crease. A better change would have" been Upham, who had been bowling well. Tucker was hit for - four, and a number of singles followed. jMpnaghan, however, stuck the batsmen up. -Off him Branston gave a hot chance at leg, which Beec-hey stopped, but could not hold. Just as another change seemed advisable •'Monaghan bowled Torrens: —7—B. Branston, who had been scoring briskly, brought 150 up with Wvnyard's help, and was then caught at point in trying to cut Monaghan: 152—8—32. Wynyard, when joined by Fox, lifted Monaghan to the ropes, one of the only two boundaries scored off him. Fox was quickly stumped, and nine -'wickets were down at 163. The last wicket was rather costly, and the innings closed for 204. The following are the scores: — ENGLAND.First Innings. Johnson, c Hawthorne, b Tucker ... 15 ..Douglas, lbw. b Upham , ... ... ' 5 Harrison, st Williams, b Monaghan ... 19 Burns, c and b Monaghan ... ... 51 Page, b Monaghan ... ... • ... 2 Simpson-Hayward, b Cobcroft- ... ... 1 Branston, e Hiekson, b Monaghan ... 32 Torrens, b Monaghan ... ... ... 8 'Fox, st Williams, b Monaghan ... 6 Wynyard, not out 27 May. c Bruce, b Monaghan 29 " Extras 9 Total 204 Bowling Analysis: Upham took one wicket for 18 runs; Tucker, one for Monaghan, seven for 50; Brice, none for 23: Cobcroft, one for 48. Wellington had half-an-hour's batting, and lest Hiekson (10) and Collins (11) for 27. The amount taken at the gates was £350.