CRICKET.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 764, 22 October 1886, Page 14

CRICKET.

The first heats for the Senior Cup were commenced on Saturday, the clubs competing being the Midland and Phoenix on No. 1 pitch and Ashley and Hutt on No. 2. The Junior Cup match, in which the Phceaix and Surrey Clubs were to compete, did not come off, as the S urrey p’ayers, relying on the notice appearing in Fri lay c-vening’s pipers respecting the postponement, did not turn up, and it was arranged to begin it next week, and to finish on the Pi ce lix ground at Island Bay the following Saturday. In the Midland-Phoenix match, Motley, for the Phceaix, wou the toss,, and elected to bat, Malcolm and Creeks appearing to the howling of McGirr and Lawson, with the following result :—Malcolm, bowled McGirr, 1 ; Creeks, bowled Lawson, 0 ; Foley, bowled McGirr, 16 ; Motley, caught R. Blacklcck,

f bowled Lawson, 9 ; Wilson-Duret, run out, 2 ; Parker (sub), bowled Lawson, 0 ; Riley (sub), bowled Lawson, 3 ; Webb, not out, 19 ; Alpe (sub), bowled McGirr, 3 ; Maurice (sub), run out, 1 ; Vincent, caught Holle, bowled Lawson, 12; extras, 4 ; total, 70. After the usual interval Holle and Smith appeared to bat for the Midlands, and at call of time the score stood at 58 for three wickets, made op as follows :—Smith, Ibw, Motley, 14 ; Holle, bowled Creeks, 21 ; R. Blacklock, bowled Morice, 11 ; A. Blacklock, not out, 2 ; Lawson, not out, 2 ; extras, 9 ; total for three wickets, 58. The Phoenix were unfortunate In being drawn so early in the season against such formidable opponents as the Midland, as they have many new men in their ranks of the right sort, who have not been playing for several years, and are quite out of form. The team put in the field appears to be a strong batting combination, but weak in bowling, and under the circumstances the score of 70 against the best bowling in Wellington (which the Midland Club undoubtedly possesses), on a soft wicket, was very creditable. The Phoenicians will probably make some large score? as the season goes on, when the wickets are faster and the men get into form. Of individual players, Foley, Webb, and Vincent stood out conspicuously. The first-named has returned to Wellington after an absence of some years, and played with much of his old coolness and steadiness. Webb made, some ,good hits, and did valuable service for hie side, whilst Vincent hit cleanly and carefully for his 12. ft is somewhat premature to speak of the Midland batting, as so few have, as ' yet,' been in ; but of those who have appeared Smith played very stubbornly for his 14, and Holle with some dash for his 21, while R. Blacklock put together a nicely compiled 11, and the bowliug against them being only mediocre, the Mid'aaders have had, at present, undoubtedly the best of the match. The bowling and fielding of the Midland was very good, Lawson coming off with the average of 125 balls, 1 no ball, 35. tuds, 9 maidens, 5 wickets—average, 7'2 ; and McGirr 120 b»lls, 31 ran?, 6 maidens, 5 wiekeis -average, 10‘5. The Phceaix averages will be given when the innings is completed, but their bowling and fielding, taken all round, are indifferent. The Ashley and Hutt Clubs made their first appearance as eeaiors o*s Saturday, when they commenced their match for the first heat in the cup competition. The former went to the wickets first, aud succeeded in placing to their credit the first century of the season. Robinson and Coltman took up the defensive for their side, and Welch disposed of the latter in his first over after one bye had been scored. McCulloch joined Robinson, and the two ran the score up to 28, when Robinson was run out, after making 15. Rose, captain, followed, and after putting on 19 by good cricket was run out, the score then standing at three for 65. Hawthorne joined McCnllocb, and when 8 runs had been added the former was bowled for five ; 4 for 73. Hawke partnered McCulloch, but the latter’s time bad now come. Following up one of his hits he was late in returning aad retired with 38 to his credit, the three top score men having thus been all run out ; 5 for 78. The other scores were : Hawke, 2 ; Marryatt, 7 ; Paul (not out) 6 ; Gamble, 3 ; Grigg, 0 ; Haddon (sub) 1 ; the total being 106. Pringle took two wickets for 14, and Bell three for 26. The Hutt men went in, and when time was called had scored four lor two wickets, Robinson and Coltman each taking one wicket for two. As the country team had to leave by the 6 o’clock train, ths match will be resumed next Saturday, at 2 sharp, aud stumps will be drawn at 5 30. A novel and interesting cricket match was played at Island Bay yesterday. The teams were chosen from sides representing owners and bookmakers, as against jockeys and trainer?. The jockeys were to play in colors and top boots. We shall report the match in. our nest Issue.

A special general meeting of the Poneke C.C. was held on Monday at the Post Office Hotel, when the balance-street in connection with the Club’s annual concert held lately, was presented, and sho-.ved that ths-net proceeds amounted to £l4 14a 6d. Mr W. Beck was elected to the vacant placs on the committee. Messrs C. J. Hill and J. Hutchison were elected life members of the Club.

The proposal of the Wellington Cricket Association for a cricket match North v South Island has not met with much favor at the hands of other associations, and the project will fall through. The cricket (cup) matches begun on Saturday last will be continued to-morrow. These are :—Phoenix v Midland and Hutt v Ashley. The Junior Cup match Phoe iix second v Surrey first will be commenced on the same day. A cricket match will be played at Petone to-morrow (Saturday) between teams representing the Petone and Wellington Working Men’s Club 3. The team from the Wellington club will be as follows : —Prideanx, Smith, Kelling, Pell, . Dankr, Cheeseman, Hammond, Claridge, Myers, Ashdown and Mills ; emergencies—Morris and Freeman. A special meeting of the Wellington Cricket Association was held at the Post Office Hotel on Wednesday night. There was a large attendance, and MrF. Allan occupied the chair. .sThe principal business for transaction was the revision of rules, which occupied a considerable amount of time. Among the new ruleß adopted was one authorising an annual meeting of cricketers for the purpose of making suggestions aud recommendations to ths Association. This was Mr Motley’s proposal. A new rule, proposed by Mr Bate, excluding junior players from representative matches, was, after some discussion, lest by a considerable majority. A new rule was passed to the effect that only bona fide residents of the Wellington province, and members of Association Clubs, should bs allowed to play iu interproviucia! matches. Mr Bate moved; “ That, iu the opinion of th’s meeting, it is desirable that a Wellington representative team should be sent to Auckland and Napier this seasoo, aud that the Comm tte9 be requested to take etsps to ascertain whether and when this proposed visit can be made.” This was seconded by Mr Alpe, and after some discussion carried. Various other business was transacted.

In the return match played by the Australians against Gloucestershire, the former’s second inning 3 was a genuine cricket curiodty, Palmer 29, Blackham 37, and Bruce 30, being the only ones .to get into double figures. The above players aggregated 96 runs out of 108

made eff the bat, Trumbie, Garrett, Evans, Jones, Spofforth, and Jarvis failing to contribute a run amongst them. The following particulars of the matches played in England by each of the Australian teams that have visited the Old Country will prove of interest :

THE CUP MATCHES. TO' THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND MAID Sir, —The arrangement of cricket matches to be played this season for the Senior Cup seem? to me to be very unfair towards some of the clubs. instance, the Phceaix and Wellington each play five matches on No. 1 pitch, while the Midland, Star and Poneke play three, the Aehley two, and the Hutt only one.. As I think each club should, have an equal share of No. 1 pitch during the season I subjoiu a list, from which it will be seen that although the order is the same as that published, still the Star is the only club which plays four matches on No. 1, the others playing three each. Hoping you will insert this— I am, &c., Cricketer.

No. 1 Pitch. No. 2 Pitch. Phoenix v Midland Ashley v Hutt Star v Poneke Wellington v Midland Hutt v Star Phoenix v Ashley Midland v Ashley Poneke v Wellington Hutt v Poneke Phoenix v Star Wellington v Ashley Midland v Star Phoenix v Hutt Poneke v Ashley Wellington v Star Midland v Hutt Star v Ashley Phoenix v Poneke Poneke v Midland Hutt v Wellington Phoenix v Wellington

Year. Played. Won. Lost. Drawn. 1878 41 19 7 15 1880 37 21 4 12 1882 38 24 4 10 1884 32 18 7 7 1886 38 . 9 8 21