THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13398, 29 January 1907, Page 3

THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

THE AUCKLAND MATCH.

VISITORS SECURE A LEAD OF

87 RUNS. AUCKLAND THREE WICKETS FOR 102.

The second day's play yesterday in the representative match between the English cricketers and Auckland, was decidedly more interesting than that of the first. The visitors, after losing six wickets for 87 runs, made a great recovery, and reached 214 before the last man lost, his wicket. Auckland, with a deficiency of 87 runs on the first innings, started on their second innings very promisingly, and at, the end of the day had 102 on the board for the loss of only three wickets. The position is consequently very interesting, and, the attendance will, no doubt, lie larger to-day, than it was yesterday, when there were only a little over a thousand people present. The weather, although at times doubtful, held hue, and the wicket, contrary to expectations, played well. Hay ward" and Douglas played a very fine partnership, putting ou y3 lor the seventh wicket; wlule the SaleMacCormick partnership realised 8"/. The fielding ou both sides was good. Play will commence at eleven o'clock today. ENGLISHMEN AT THE WICKETS. At a-quarter past eleven the Aucklanders took, the field, followed by Fox and Torrons, tho not out batsmen from Saturday. iiowden bowled from the hospital end, having Jour men placed on the ou-boundary. Two singles were scored off the over, ana an unsuccessful appeal was made against Torrens for leg-belore-wicket. Hay bowled from the pavilion end, and Fox. late cut him for a couple, and square cut him through iiussey's legs for lour, bringing double figures up. I'orrens opened his account bv despatching Hay to the boundary. Jn Hay's next over 20 was hoisted as the result "of a quarter of an hour's play. Only an occasional single* was being scored off Howden, who wa.s bowling a good length, and keeping the batsmen in their crease. Hay had only one man on the on side. Fox late cut him nicely for four, and in the same over took a short one round to the leg boundary. In twenty odd minutes' play lorrens had scored half a dozen, but they were only off two strokes. After twentyfive minutes' play 30 was hoisted. At this point Hussey replaced Hav, who had taken no wickets for 20 runs. Hussev's field was placed the same as Hay's. His first over was a maiden to Fox. The next three overs only realised two runs, and Hussey and Howdeu were keeping both men very quiet. Howden made another unsuccessful" appeal for leg-before, this time against. Torrens. After Fox had been at the wickets forty-five minutes 20 runs were to his credit. "With the total at 38 Howden, who had bowled one wicket lor 10 runs, was replaced by Olliff, and off his first over Torrens got into double figures. Torrens relieved a stretch of slow scoring by diving llussev nicely to the boundary, which brought. 40 up. Olliff was bowling somewhat, on the short side, and Hussey changed the field for leg theory, all but two men crossing over to the on side At his second ball' llussev appealed for a leg-before against Fox. And two balls later Torrens was given out caught behind wicket: 2—15—45. Torrens had been an hour all but. eight minutes at the wickets. W. B. Burns came next. Olliff did not appear to be bowling with much sting, and, generally speaking, the Aucklanders were fielding well. A few minutes later Olliff clean bowled Fox with a leg break: 3—30 —51. Fox had played a sound innings, and brought, some crisp off strokes. C. C. Page joined Burns, who had been at tho wickets a quarter of an hour for four runs. The bowling analysis, as far as Olliff, Hussey, and liowden were concerned, made good reading, the figures being respectively as follows: One for 8. one for 1.1. and one for 10. Page opened his account with a nice drive off Olliff for four, but did not exhibit much knowledge about the last ball of the same over. The same batsman also got a lucky two off Hussev, which brought 60 up after an hour and twenty minutes' play. Page was riot, shaping two well. Burns, who had got into .double figures, got Olliff away for two. After a series of twos and ones, Page went out to Hnssny and hit. him to the boundary, which brought him into double figures. In his next over Olliff secured his second wicket clean bowling Burns with an off break: 4—13—72.

.T. W. H. T. Douglas, who came next, opened with a nice four to leg off Olliff, whoso two wickets had cost 23 runs. Howden was given a turn in place of Hussey, who had taken one wicket, for 21. Rage hit, Olliff high to the boundary. Howden then clean bowled Rage. The 'ball seemed to come off the pitch quickly: 5—22—87. Pago had played some good strokes, but did not open well. G. T. Branston, who followed, had a short life, getting his leg in front to Howden before he had scored : 6—C—37. Things were much brighter for Auckland now. Uowden had the good figures of three for 11. Simpson-Hayward joined Douglas, who had only made one scoring stroke in 25 minutes. Olliff sent down an over of good stuff to Douglas, and although the latter scored two he was never at. home. Howden was mixing them well, but Douglas managed to send him around to the on boundary, which brought him into double figures. The same batsman opening out to Olliff brought the century up after two hours', all but. ten minutes*' play. Howden boat Havward badly, and he was nearly stumped. Mason replaced Olliff at the hospital end. Tho Parnellite's two wickets had cost, him 40 runs. Howden made an unsuccessful appeal lor leg-before against. Hayward. After a couple of unsuccessful strokes at Howden Douglas got him to within a yard of the boundary, but for only a single. Hay-ward got Mason, who was bowling the off theory, away to leg for three. A quarter of an hour before the luncheon adjournment Haddon took a turn with the ball at the hospital end himself. His third ball Havward hit very hard back to the Ixiwler, but if, was too hot. and (be chance was refused. After two hours and a-quarter 120 was hoisted. Hussey was given a turn at the pavilion end. A period of inontonotis play followed, but the Auckland score of 127 was passed when Havward twice lifted Iladdon to the on. At. this stage the luncheon adjournment was taken, the scoreboard reading as follows: Douglas, 20; Havward, 18: total for six wickets, 131. Play, was resumed at twenty minutes' past two. The wicket, was beginning to show signs of wear, but. nothing very serious. The pavilion end was if anything the worst. Howden was entrusted with the attack at the pavilion end, and, as before, maintained a good length. D. Hay was given another turn with the ball at the hospital end. Runs came slowly, but by occasional ones and twos the total reached 140. Smith received applause for a piece of smart, fielding, Havward in playing hack to one of Howden's poked it. up, but it fell safe. At twenty to three 150 was on the hoard, while 30 was opposite Hayward's name. In twenty odd minutes after lunch Douglas, who had not had his share of the. bowling, had only made four. To the amusement of the spectators both umpires saved fourers for Auckland, Moss getting one from Hayward in the middle of the back, and Sharpies one on the foot. Hayward was nearly thrown out by Mason from the long field, the batsman ' being in just, in time. Douglas scored the first.'four since lunch by sending a full toss from Hay to the leg boundary, and two balls later despatched another from the Grafton ire to the boundary. This brought, Douglas' score to 35. which was the same as Havward's contribution. Hussey was given "a turn with the ball when the total "stood at 165. Howden standing down for him, and Hav, who had not howled a good length was replaced by OHiff at the uavilion 'end. Hayward did not. shape wolf at Olliff'a first bail, playing too soon. After scoring two off the Parnellite to leg Havward lifted him clean over the on boundary, this being the big.gost hit in the match, and the first six. this brought the lob howler past 40. After sending up a few slow ones to Havward Hussey caught him napping with a fast one: 7—l 80. The partnership had put 'ii 93. Hayward played some good strokes, but was not always at home. "A lot of his rims were the result of singles, but the lob howler put the wood on to anything off the wicket.

W. .1. H. Oilmen joined Douglas, who was 36. Hiisscv's two wickets had cost, him 23 runs. Curwon opened with five, in one of Hussey's overs. while Douglas reached 40 by a big nil off Olliff. He was now batting well, especially making neat forward strokes, but was weak on the leg. Hussey continued to mix the pace and length of the ball, and with a fast one thai hit Oilmen's nails made an unsuccessful appeal for leg-before, With 190 odd up Brooke-Smith was tried in place of Olliff, the field being placed for the off thcorv. His last ball being on the. leg side was despatched by Curwon to the boundary. In Brooke-Smith's next over Curwon touched one that kept low on the off. and Robinson, who was keening wicket beautifullv, accepted: B—ll—l9B.

C. E. do Trafford, the visiting skipper, came next, and opened with a couple to

the on, which brought the visitors' second hundred up. The next ball ho snicked to MacCormidk in the slip?: 9—2—200. The 200 had taken three hours and 20 minutes to make. P. R. .May, the last iran in, opened with a single off Hussey, and hit one of Smith's high past point, just out of Hemus' reach, which realised four. After hitting a two he sent another to the boundary, over third man's head. Smith then gave him a high on© to bit, which he missed, and was bowled: 10 —13—214. Douglas was 46, not out, and ho received an ovation on returning to the pavilion. Ho had played a really excellent innings, his placing being particularly good. His best strokes were on the off, and although Ire scored on the cm. side lie missed numbers of chances;. AUCKLAND'S SECOND INNINGS. At four o'clock, the afternoon tea adjournment having been taken at the conclusion of the Englishmen's innings, the visitors took the held, closely followed by Auckland's opening batsmen, Hemus and MacCormick. Douglas took up the attack from the pavilion end, Hemus opening with a single. May bowled from the hospital end, and Hemus also got a single off him. In Pouglas' second over Hemus in endeavouring to cut one. snicked it, and Fox accepted: — 2. —2.

B. V. Sale filled the vacancy, and MacCormick opened with a single off May, and Sale snicked the fast bowler through the slips for four, and followed it by cutting him nicely for a couple. MacCormick snicked Douglas lueikily to leg for two, but played a better stroke for a single to third man. Sale was applauded for a pretty late cut. to the boundary off May. which brought him into double figures. The next ball he repeated the stroke a. little finer, which also went to the boundary, and brought 20 up after 24 minutes' play. De TrafTord stopped several hot, ones at point. Both bowlers were sending them down at a good rate, and the runs were coming from back strokes. Sale's eye must have been in, for he in particular had no hesitation in playing them. Sale was getting most of the bowling, and pushed Douglas nicely to the ou for a couple. Playing forward and missing, however, lie might, have been stumped had Fox taken the ball. Thirty was up after 35 minutes play. Sale continued to bat confidently, a-ud got into the 20's by playing Douglas to the on for a couple. MacCormick was then half a dozen. Douglas made an unsuccessful appeal for leg before against MacCormick. A few singles followed. and SimpsonHayward replaced May. The City representative had not hail his share of the bowline, and had been in 40 minutes. Sale lifted Douglas to the leg boundary, which brought 50 up, after 40 minutes' play. MacCormick hooked a leg break from Douglas for three, and a couple of minutes before the hour's play was reached 60 was on the board, of which Sale had more than 30 to his credit. Both batsmen were playing soundly, and Hayward was not troubling them much. At this stage Branston took the ball from Douglas. Hayward continued to mix his lobs, varying height, pace, and length, but all to no avail. The light was failing somewhat, and the rate of scoring slackened a little, and it was not till ten past five that MacCormick got into the 20's. Two or throe overs passed without a run, but MacCormiek then got Branston away for a couple. Sale had quietened considerably, and was some time in the 30's. He placed Hayward nicely past point, anil this brought 70 up. A difference of opinion over a run nearly lost, one of the batsmen his wicket. MacCormiek pulled Branston well to the boundary, and Sale then swung round to Hayward to leg, and hit his wicket: 2—40—81. The Parnellifce had played a fine innings, batting throughout with the utmost confidence. He was very free at first, and 'made some beautifully-timed strokes behind tho wicket. His strokes on the on side were also very neat, while his defence was admirable.

The local skipper, in view of the failing light,, changer! his order, and sent Hay in instead of himself. MacCormick welcomed the Graftonito with three through the slips, and Hay opened his account with an excellent three to the on. There was still half an hour left for piny, and the light was gradually growing worse. Two to Hay and one to MacCormick brought 90 up, which' meant, that, every run made was profit, the deficiency being wiped off. Hay put one from Brans ton up, but the ball fell safely. At twenty minutes to six Haddon went out, and appealed on account of the bad light, but after a conference with the umpires play was resumed. Hay snicked Branston, for which three runs were scored. Curwen replaced Simpson-Hay ward, whose wicket had cost him 18. Hay brought up the hundred, amidst applause, by cutting Branston nicely for three. Douglas was given an opportunity of taking advantage of the bad light, lie bowled the slow leg theory. Two minutes before the call of time Hay was given out leg-before-wicket to Douglas. Stumps wore then drawn : 312102, MacCormick played' an innings that must have dispelled all doubts as to his qualifications for inclusion in the team. He was very quiet at. first, but. punished anything off the. widket. Besides this his defence was all that could be desired.

ENP.LAND.— Innings. R. H. Fox, 1> OlliiT SO N. C. Tufnoll, b Howden 0 A. A. Torrcns, c Robinson, b Hussey... 15 W. B. Burns, b Olliff 13 0. 0. Page, b Howileti ... ... ... Y,l .T. W. H. T. Douglas, not out 46 C. T. Branston. lbw, b Howden ... 0 (J. H. Simpson-Hayw&rd, 1> Hussey... 47 W. J. H. Curweu, c Robinson, b Brookc-Srnit.li ... 11 ('. B. do fiord, c MacCormick, b Brooke-Smith ?. P. R. May, b Brooke-Smith 13 Extras 15 Total 21* BOWLING ANALYSIS. 0. M R. W. D. Hay 12 I 39 0 A. Howden ... 21 4 37 3 •T. Hussey ... 18 6 31 ?. C. OllifT ' ... 14 2 56 2 F. R. Mason ... 3 0 6 0 Haddon 3 0 9 0 Smith 25 0 18 3 Hussey bowled five no hall?, OllifT and Mason, one each. AUCKLAND.—Second Innings. L. Ci. Hetnus, o Fox, b Douglas ... ?. ('. K. MacOormick, not out ... ... 35 K. V. Sale, hit wicket, b SimpsonHavward ... 40 D. Hav. lbw, b Douglas 1?. Extras 13 Total for three wickets 102 BOWLING ANALYSIS. O. M. R. W. Mav 6 1 19 0 Douglas ... 10 1 27 2 Simpson-Hayward 10 1 20 1 I Branston ... 9 3 23 0 Our wo ... 3 3 0 0 HOW THE WIOKETS FELL. England: On* for 0, two for 45. three for 51, four for 72, five for 87. six for 87. seven for 180, eight for 198, nine for 200, ten for 214. Auckland: One for 2, two for 89, thrro for 102.