THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13399, 30 January 1907, Page 5

THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

MATCH WITH AUCKLAND. AX EXCITING FINISH. VISITORS WIN BY TWO WICKETS. The English cricketers concluded the match with Auckland's representative eleven yesterday, and. after air exciting day's play, won in tin; last half-hour by two wickets. The weather was good, and the wicket, for a third day. in very fair condition. The attendance was larger than on the day before. Auckland started the day's play badly by losing two good wickets for practically nothing, but- a tine partnership by MacCoraiick and Brooke-Smith saved the situation. The greatest of excitement prevailed towards the close of the match. The Knglismeit won. but the. Auckland team deserve the greatest credit tor the magnificent uphill fight they made. One lesson the Aucklanders may have learned from the match is the value of making every tun possible. A number of runs were lost through slow running on the first day. The Englishmen consider Auckland the strongest batting side they have met in the colony, while some of them regard it as the strongest, allround team. The fielding on both sides wax good, while Fox (England) and Robinson (Auckland) kept, wickets in great style. Douglas was the best bowler for the visitors yesterday while Howden was best for Auckland. ' ' A CCKLAXD RESUMES. At ten minutes past, eleven MacCormick the not out batsman, in company with Haddon followed the Englishmen into the held Haddon had to take strike to Doughs. and after playing the first ball he "'as clean bowled with the second- 4—o- - u with a. square cut for four and a single off ■lie remainder or Douglas' oyer. Mason took a, maiden from Simpson-Havward, who had charge of the attack from {he pavilion end. Douglas threw up ... full toss to Mason, who, in endeavouring to place it, was clean bowled: 5—7—110. It did not look promising when Hussev joined MacCormick, Auckland only beinT, to runs to the good with live wickets down" Douglas was bowing leg breaks, but his length was indifferent. MacCormick got the lob bowler away for a couple, and Hussev opened with a single off Douglas. MacCormick passed Sales' score of 40 bv getting Douglas away for three. Trie same batsman got. bimpson-llayward aw.-y for two two's and a, single in the one over, and Hussey | survived an appeal for leg before with the ; next ball. Opening out to the lob bowler's . last ball, Hussey gave a difficult chance to i May at square-leg. However, Hussev • touched the first one in Douglas' next over and Fox. after juggling with the ball, caught it: 6—2—122. Brooke-Smith joined MacCormick, who ; was 46 and shaping well. Douglas* five wickets had cost him 40. The Edenite 1 opened with a well-run single off the lob bowler, and a couple off Douglas, which brought 125 up, the 23 runs made having taken a little over half-an-hour. In the lob bowler's next over Auckland's first innings total was passed. MacCormick reached his half century in Douglas' next over. The Cityite had been at the wickets two hours and 40 minutes, and. had not given a chance. May relieved Simpson-Huyward at the hosI pital end, and MacCormick late cut him I lor a single, and Smith also registered a single off a nice stroke. Two scoring strokes to leg off Douglas brought Smith into double figures, and MacOomick went out to the same bowler, and drove, him for three, which brought 140 up. Douglas, who had been bowling slow stuff, now changed _ his field, and sent down faster stuff. Each batsman late cut him for a single. Smith got May away for tluee with a good stroke to trie on, and late cut Douglas for a similar number, which brouckt 150 up. MacCormick got the last mentioned bowler to the leg for three. Branston was given a turn with the ball at the hospital end, in place of the fast bowler, and Smith got into the twenties by lifting him to the leg boundary. The next ball the Edenite sent to the. tine-leg boundary, ami three balls later he late cut one for four, thus scoring 12 off the over; 160 was hoisted at ten minutes past twelve, and Smith got into the thirties after 40 minutes' at the wickets. Douglas now bowled round the wicket, and once more resorted to slow stuff, and each batsman scoring, 170 wa.s put up. Both batsmen were now playing with confidence. Smith was getting most of the bowling, and taking full advantage, of opportunities to score. The running between the wickets was also very good, and a number of short ones were got through it. Branston kept Smith quiet in his next over. Simpsou-Hayward replaced Douglas, whose five wickets had now cost him 63. The rate of scoring slackened, but Smith lifted Branston to the boundary. A delay of a few minutes was occasioned by Fox netting a fast one from Branston on the knee. Cur wen was given the ball in place of Branston. MacCormick was in the sixties for a considerable time. At a-quartor I to one ISO was on the board, and 1 consequently Auckland was 103 to the good. MacCormick got into the seventies a few minutes later. Smith got the half-century with a. big hit to the leg boundary into the scorers' tent off Simpson- Hay ward. This brought 200 up. made in three hours and 40 minutes. MacCormick had been at the wickets all this time, while Smith had been there an hour ami a-half. Both men were playing excellent cricket, and- did not look I like getting out. C C. Page was given a ! turn with the ball, in place of Simpsoni Hayward, off whom 49 runs had been made. , ! Smith trot Page away for three, and i ! glanced Curwcn to leg for a similar number. ' and two balls later repeated the stroke for ! ."our. all tin, which brought him into the ; sixties MacConniek pulled Page nicely to ! t-!ie on-houndarv. (Jreal interest was beI ing evinced in the batting by tie spectators. I a.- the batsmen were racinit for the cent my. ; When the partnership had ju.-i realised 100 ; MacCnruiick was bow led by Curwen: ! 7—77 -222. It was ,i tuagniti -nt partner- i ; -hip. both nit batting with ab-olutc confi- j ! denee. MacCormick hid h:-n at the | wickets four hours, and had not given a. I i haiice. He batted beautifully, his defence i being of Hie soundest. He svon d freely all | [ round the wicket. His eutum;. driving, 1 i .md placing were neat and well timed. i Olliff joined Smith, and Douglas was ! given the ball at the pavilion end. May ! fielded and returned a couple nicely. Olliff I opened by pulling Douglas to leg for a j single. Smith opened out to Curwen. and ! -cached the on-boundary. Olliff glanced ' J/o,iglas nicely to leg Cor three, and then look a maiden over from Curwen. Douglas sent a faster one in to Olliff. and the ball keeping low took the wicket: 8—6—239. A. M. Howden joined Smith, who was 69. Hayward went mi in place of Douglas, and Howden opened with a single off him. and the luncheon adjournment was then taken. Smith being 69, not out. .At a-quarter past two the players again took the Held, and Howden was" instantly caught behind the wicket, off (.'urwen': 9—1—24. Robinson, the last man in. played the remainder of the over, and Smith, getting a I single off Siuipson-Hayward 70 went op- j posite Ids name, ami the last ball of the I over Robinson skied, and was caught : 10—0—241. Smith played a very line innings, and gave the s|>eeta.t'>ts a sample of his true form, which it was thought he had lost. He was at the wickets a little over two hours, and had only given a single ghost of a chance, a hot one to square-leg. " He scored freely all round the wicket, and made some good strokes behind the wicket, and anything loose was quickly despatched in the right direction. His hitting was hard and clean throughout. ENGLAND'S SECOND INNINGS. The Auckland innings closed at half-past two, and at twenty minutes to three the. Englishmen started their second innings with a deficiency of 154 runs. 'the openiii" batsmen were ('. E. De. Trafford and J. YY H. T. Douglas. Howdw, was entrusted with the attack at the pavilion end, and De .1 ration! survned^aa.appeal or leg.before,

and was nearly bowled the next bull. Ho then placed Howden to the on for a. couple, and the next ball he skied, but Mason just missed touching it, after running a distance. Hussey went on at the. hospital end. and had his field placed for the off theory. De Trafford got Howden to the on-boundanr, and in t.' : e ? anie. over had a couple of attempts to get him away to leg, tint the last hall of the over clean bowled the visiting skipper: ]—B—lo. W. B. Burns was next in, and Hussey bowled his second maiden over to Douglas. Burns put Howden through the slips for two, and two balls later reached out to a :nli toss from Howden, and gave Sale a litticult chance on the on-side, which he ac- \ cepted: 2—2—12. Ilowden's two wickets had cost him but ,10 run--. Pace joined Douglas, who had not scored. Page stored one off Howden, 1 but was clean bowled hv a last one. from Hussey: 5—1—12. ! In less than half-an-hour three wickets had fallen. W. J. W. ('unveil joined DougI las. and opened with two to the on off j Hussey. Husey'.s one wicket had cost him none. Cm-wen hit Hussey high to the boundary, and it passed dangerously close to the bowler. Howden bowled a maiden to Douglas, who had been at the wickets half-an-hour without scoring. In Hussey's next, over Cm wen touched one. and Robinson accepted : 4 —6—19. (>. fl. Simpson-Hay ward followed, and instantly got Hussey nicely to leg for three, which brought 20 'on the' board. Hussey had taken two wickets for six. and Howden two for 11, The lob howler survived an appeal for leg-More by Howden, and did not shape at all well at the next, two balls. Great interest prevailed, and every stroke was watched intently, and good work applauded. When he had been at the wickets 36 minutes Douglas made his first scoring stroke, a two, off Hussey. He had made several attempts to get the. slow bowler away to lea, but. as was the case on Monday, he was weak on this side. In Hussey' next over, however, lie lifted a ball to the. oil-boundary, and pulled another for three. Simpson-Huywaid pulled a short one from How den for two. and followed it with a single. Howden bowled an over of good stuff, which kept Douglas quiet. A long hop from Hussey was brought round to the on-boundary by Simpson-Havward, hut with the next ball the lob howler was clean bowled by the fast bowler: 5—14—46. Auckland had every reason to feel gratified by Harvard's return to the pavilion, for in the Englishmen's first innings he and Douglas hud put up a valuable partnership. U. 'J'. Branston joined Douglas, who was displaying sound defence. Hussey had taken three wickets for 28, while Howden's figures were two for 17. Branston scored two singles, and Douglas, for the first time, hit Howden to leg. ' The ball was welltimed, and went into the trees on the hi!.' opposite the grandstand. Fifty was up after an hour's play. Branston was shaping nicely, and cut Hussey neatly, but Hemus fielded well. Douglas was still quiet, but getting Howden away reached the twenties. Douglas skied Hussey safely for two, while Branston got Howden to leg for three. Winn the tea adjournment was taken the score board showed .- Douglas 22, Branston 12: total for five- wickets 69. The Englishmen had 86 runs to make, and five wickets to fall, and when play was resumed, there was two hours .and a-quar-ter to play. Howden continued to bowl at the pavilion end, and his second ball Branston drove nicely to the boundary. Olliff replaced Hussey at the hospital end. Both batsmen scoring several times, 80 was hoisted. Hussey was triven another chance i this time in place of Howden., at the pavi- ; lion end. Ho had his field placed for leg > theory. Brnn&ton brought, up 90 by get- ? ting the Shoieitp, to the leg boundary. Rale > was applauded for a couple of smart pieces » of fielding. Branston hit a full toss past > Olliff, off his own bowling, and Sale running in, missed a one-hmded chance. - Douglas continued to strike at the leg i stuff, but seldom hit one. Branston drove. [ Olliff nicely for a. couple, and Douglas ; opening out to Olliff, got a boundary i which brought 100 up, and both batsmen - were in the thirties. In one of Olliff' ■ overs, 12 runs were scorch Branston cot. , Hussey away for three two's. Hsddon tried j Brooke-Smith at the hospital end, and ' | Douglas got into the forties. The Aucki ] land captain took a turn with the ball hitni | self at the pavilion end. In Smith's next *■> I over Branston played too soon to one of I I Smith's and knocked it. up to Hemus at - cover: 6—30—11.2. Branston had played i a good innings, and Ill's Kitting was cleaner - than his partner's. His strokes on the on I were very good, while he timed the. off ' stuff beautifully. The partnership put on ' 76. ~ I With 33 runs wanted, R. H. Fox joined i Douglas, who n minute later got Hiddon > to the on boundary. Fox played forward ' to one from Smith, and knocked if- up just out of the bowler's reach. Hiddon took I himself off and give Howden a chance when 130 was on l*:c board, and Douglas 1 survived an emphatic appeal for leg be- ' fore. He then got a lucky snick to leg ■ for a single off Smith. The changes neces--1 sitated more cautious tactics bv the batsmen. At a-quarter past five Douglas had 50 opposite his name. Fox was then vork- ' ed by Howden: 7—1—138. Only 17 runs were wanted when X. C. Tuffnell joined Douglas, who. in running a short one, was nearly out. Both bowlers were mixing their deliveries, but Douglas hit Smith to the off boundary, which brought 1-15 up. and made him 60. Tuffnell got Howden away for two, which brought the visitors within four of Auckland's score, when Howden dean bowled him: 8—3—150. P. R. May came next, and Howden just missed his wicket, and a bye was scored. A boundary hit was onlv required, and Hussey was given the ball in place of Smith. ! May scored a single off a, no-hall, and I Douglas, getting the howling, drove the Shoreite to the boundary, and tints the match was won. The spectators cheered both sides, evidently having thoroughly enjoyed the sporting finish. j Douglas carried his bat. for 64, and I established a reasonable claim to being the ! most useful man on his side for the match. | His was certainly a commendable innings full of dogged determination and patience, which must have told on the bowlers. His defence was like a stone wall, and he was some time in getting under way. lie made? lirst rate strokes in front of the wk:ket but was again very weak on the leg side. ACOJyLAXD.—FirM Innings ]27 r;\OT>A\D.-Fii?t Innings 211 I I AUCKLAND.—Second liming. j j 1., i.'. Iletnus. c Fox, l> Douglas ... 2 It' K. MucCormick, h Curwen .. 77 j K. V. Salt-, hit. wii k.-i. b Simp.-on-llayward . .. 40 ID. J lav. low. li Douclas ... '" 12 lA. addon, 1) Douglas 0 !•'. It. Mason, I) Douglas V .1. M. Hussey, c Fox, b Douglas ... 2 ('. Oliff. b _ Douglas 6 \V. B. Smith, not out ... 70 A. M. Howden, c Fox, b Curwen ... 1 W. Robinson, c and b Simpsou-Hatward 0 Kxtra,s ' ... 24 Tola! 241 I'.IIWLIXC ANALYSIS. O. M. It. W. May 9 1 27 0 Douglas ... 24 3 73 t> | ward ... 23 i 51 2. Branston ... 23 - 4'-', 0 '•tirwen ... 12 7 16 ?. Page 2 0 8 0 BMJLAND.— Second Innings. 0 K. dc Trafford, b Howu„n ... 8 i .1. W. H. T. Douglas, not. out ... 04 j\V B. Burn., c Sab', I. Howden ... 2 I C. ('. Pace, h Hus.-:ev 1 \V. .1. H. Ourwcm, .• Robinson, b Hussey 6 <■. 11. Simpson-Havward, h Hus.-ev ... 14 (5. T. Branston. c Hemus, b BrookeSmith 30 R. W. Fox. I, Houd.m .. '" I X. V. Tuffnell. h Howden... ..'. "\ I P. ft. May, not our ... * I Extras [[[ '" 14 Total for eight wickets 155 BOWLING ANALYSIS i „ . 0. M ' U. W - Howden ... 19 3 47 4 17 t ct: 7 Olliff • ... ::: ,-) \ 12 0 Brooke- Smith 7 ■>. \"j, \ Haddon ... ? 0 DO HOW Tim wickihs FELL. Auckland, second innings: One for i two tor. 89. three for 102, four for 102. five for HO, en for 122, .seven for 222. eight for 259, nine for 240. ten for 241. England, second irjninp*: '.)«<? for 10. two It tor 12, three for 13, four for 19, five for I 4b, ?ix f0r.123, sewn, for 13$, eight for 150. Jj