CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14925, 24 February 1912, Page 9

CRICKET.

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON. SOUTHERNERS " BAT FIRST. EIGHT WICKETS FOR 203. [BY TELEGRAPH.PBESS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, Friday. The wicket was good, the weather fine,.-and tho attendance fairly large for the match between the Auckland and Wellington cricked representatives, which was commenced on the Basin Reserve to-day. 'I lie whole of the afternoon was occupied with Wellington's first innings, which is not yet con\pletod. Auckland were rather weak in bowling, the first partnership lasting almost two hours, and yielding 127 runs. Tho scoring was slow at the start, but brightened up later. .Wellington won the toss, and decided to ba., sending Blamires and Gibbcs in to face the attack of Thompson and Jones. Two fours got by Gibber through the slips off Thompson saw 10 up after two overs. Very little was scored off the bowling of Jones, the left-hander, his first two overs being maidens. It was from his bowling that Blamires, when ho had got two singles, ripped one just out of the reach of Hemus in the slips. After five overs, which had yielded seven runs. Jones was replaced by Snedden, who sent down a maiden over. A few overs later the left-hander went on again, replacing Thompson, whose record was nine overs for 21 runs. Mason at t!io same time displaced Sneddon, and from his bowling 31amires, who had just reached double figures, sent up 50 with a drive to the boundary. Just before 70 was posted Wallace, tho fourth change, went on in place of Jones, who had been keeping (he

runs down, but not doing much damage.

Gibbes go; a four off the now bowler's first over, booting the ball well round to leg. A couple more overs saw the score carried to 80 ' for an hour and a-quarter's play. Fifty of the runs had come off Gibbes's bat. Quick change bowling was the order of the day, and after Wallace had bowled 12 balls for as many runs, he was taken off to give Thompson another chance. Mason, whoso six overs had yielded 15, was relieved in favour of Taylor, the medium-paced righthander, in whoso second over Blamires got an on drive for four, sending up tho century for 90 minutes' play. Blamires had contributed 31 and Gibbes 61- When Taylor had sent down three, overs he was.replaced by Somervell, and Thompson, from whose 14 overs 26 runs had accrued, was again taken off in favour of Snedden. Just before tho afternoon tea adjournment Blamires got sn front of a ball from Somervell, and was out: i 127—1—46. Tho hall which put Blamires out was pitched on his leg stump, and appeared to be breaking away.

Gibbes, whose total stood at 71, was joined by Baker. Somervell and Thomson bowled after the adjournment, and the latter early had Baker in difficulties. In his second over he got the newcomer's_wicket with a well-pitched straight ball 130—2—2The incoming batsman, Mahoney, 'batted with more confidence, driving his second ball for three. His partnership with (Jibbes was gradually being cemented, when, a stright ball from Thompson touched Gibbes'i bat, and passed neatly into the hands of the wieketkeeper. Ellis: " 146—3—81. Gibbes's score included, 12 fours, and had been compiled in 140 minutes. When Midlane joined Mahoney another change of bowling was tried.. Jones taking the ball from Somervell. Off his bowling Mahoney rapidly carried the total to 150. Both batsmen hit out vigorously, and accelerated the scoring pace, which up to the present had been slow. When his score stood at 18 Mahoney tipped a ball from Thompson through the slips. Auckland were fielding three men in the slips, and so should have missed no chances there, but this ball was let go by Jones. Generally the fielding had been smart and run-saving-. There had been few chances given by the batsmen, and, indeed, this was the first one that had been lost. • At five minutes past fivo the 11th bowling change was made, Snedden replacing Jones. Hitherto Sneddon had been bowling steadily, though with little •effect, but in his first over after the change !he beat Mahoney altogether, getting his wicket with a ball which the batsman misjudged sadly: 176—4—25. , Blacklock filled the vacancy, and the crowd looked for some good batting, but they were doomed to disappointment. Blacklock made a single, and then tried to pull a ball from Thompson, and missed it: 179—5—1.

Dickson came in and batted with care. His strokes were clean and scientific, and he appeared to get the strength of the 'bowlers quickly. lie and Midlane carried tho score to 200, Midlano sending up the second" century with a leg glance. Immediately, afterwards Dickson's innings came to a premature end, Ellis doing a neat I bit of stumping: 201—6—8. . ; ~ Seven minutes off the hour 'Robinson went in. but had been in only a couple 'of minutes when he lost his partner, who was caught by Hemus at square-leg: —7—31. i Orimmet went, in, made a single, and was caught and bowled by Thompson: 208—6—1. When stumps were drawn the scores wore: — WELLINGTON.-First Innings. Blamires, lbw, b Somervell ... ... 46 Gtbbes, c Ellis, b Thompson ... ... 81 Baker, b Thompson ... ... .:. ... 2 Mahoneyj b Sneddon ... ... 25 Mtdlane, c Hemus, b Snedden ... ... 31 Blacklock,' b Thompson ... 1 Dickson, st Ellis, b Snedden ...... 8 Robinson, not out ... .„ • 0 Grimmer* c and b Thompson ... ... 1 Extras ... 13 Total for eight wickets ... •.. 203 Bowling Analysis: Thompson took four wickets for 64; Snedden, three for 34: Somervell, one for 21. Jones, Mason, Wallace, and Taylor also bowled. OTAGO V. SOUTHLAND. [by telegraph.— ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, Friday. A cricket match between Otago and Southland was commenced to-day in unfavourable weather. The wicket was saturated, and play was impossible until throe o'clock. Heavy showers fell intermittently afterwards. Less than one hour's play was possible, heavy showers shortly before four o'clock necessitating tho drawing of stumps forthe day. Otago won the toss, and decided to bat. After 20 minutes' play. 25 runs having be»n scored, play had to bo adjourned for a quarter of an hour. On resumption, Wat-, son was clean bowled by Poole for 13. i Condi iff c and Hopkins played out time, the j former scoring 11, and the latter 3. The I total was 31 for one wicket. !

NOTES AND COMMENTS. The eighth series of senior grade district championship matches will bo started today. Tito fixtures Grafton v. Eden, at Eden Park; Parnell v. Ponsonby. at Victoria Park; and University v. North Shore, at Devon portThe only championship matches to be played on'the Domain to-day will bo two fourth grade matches, each of which occupies only one afternoon. The absence from the ground of: teams in the higher grades is due 1 to the fact that next Saturday—the second day of the matches—the Domain will bo occupied by tho Auckland Amateur Athletic Club for its autumn carnival. C. (J. Wilson, tho ex-Melbourne and exSouthland cricketer, and latterly captain of the Otago representative team, is being transferred to "Wellington. Wilson has been a prominent man in the government of several sports in Dimedin, and his removal will be a severe loss to athletics in that city. . T5 ICortlang, tho well-known Victorian eleven player, has returned to Sydney, and is now playing for tho Middle Harbour club. Kortlang made 52 not out on his first appearance for Middle Harbour. The phenomenal success of ,J. B. Hobbs in the current series of test matches, in which he has scored 65. 22, 6, 123. 137 3 ami 173, recalls the great things' dono' bv ,T. Darling against Stoddart's team in 1897-8 when ho compiled centuries .at Sydnev* Adelaide, and Sydney again. In the last, '^ tcl ' at . Melbourne Hobbs completed his 1000 runs in test matches with Australia, t "ma at 57 per innings. Ln 1307-8 he scored 302 runs, averaging 43; and England, in 1909, 152 runs at 26. He, is toe first player ti make a century in three matches in su sees ion.