CRICKET.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1182, 26 October 1894, Page 26

CRICKET.

Notes By Point. The season was opened last Saturday under circumstances the reverse of favourable. When play began there, was a strong northerly blowing, but within an hour and a half a southerly buster with heavy rain set in, and play had to be abandoned at 4 o’clock. The wickets were in good order, but the light was none too good.

The Wellington captain won the toss against the Midlands, and of course decided to bat. 0. Gore and Aslibolt, who it was noticeable has been promoted to first man in, opened the innings..,- They started very well, Ashbolt quickly' scoring two three’s, one -for a nice stroke to leg, but when 15 had been reached tho colt was easily caught by Roberts at the wickets. Holdship followed, but he soon lost Gore, who was bowled by Upham, who was trundling against the wind. Duncan, who seemed to be very much out of form, did not remain long, Fitzsimons mons sending him to the right about, and three were down for 27 —anything but a good start. Gore scored 8, which included one fine hit to long leg.

On Izard joining his captain, however, a change came o’er the scene. The new man was in one of his best hitting moods, and he hit very hard, and very often. Holdship, too, was punishing anything at all loose, making one or two fine off drives off Fitzsimons, and so the score rapidly mounted. At 55 Izard hit one from Upham up in the outfield, but R. Blacklock missed it. That was the only distinct chance he offered, although he skied several balls, but they£always fell clear of the fieldsmen. Warren, who gained a reputation as a good fast bowler in the junior matches last season, was put on with a view to effecting the desired separation, but he was very rudely treated by Izard, who drove him for four and five, the latter being a magnificenPhit, in his first over. Over 20 runs were scored off his first four overs. However, some allowance must be made for him as it was his first appearance in senior cricket. Probably we have not seen his best form yet. The pair carried the score to 102, and the threatening rain then fell, and there was a rush for ohe pavilion. Holdship had scored 40, and it is doubtful whether he has ever shown bettor form in Wellington. On the off he was particularly strong. Izard’s total was 38, and the total score 102, the partnership having produced 75 runs. ••• • • With a good wicket next Saturday the total should reach 200. 4 The fielding of the Midlanders was very good, Upham showing up-well in fielding his own -bowling. Roberts, who kept wickets in place of Nicholls, did very well. On No. 2 wicket the Rivals and Phoenix began their heat. The latter went in first. Burton and Chisholm; (who should be of some assistance to the club this season) were the first batsmen, and they carried the score to 13, when Dry den found his way to Chisholm’s wicket. Niven followed and contributed half-a-dozen before Drytlen bowled him. Benbow was bowled by Haldane for one, and it looked as if a procession had started. Burton, however, was batting in fine form, and Ogier, who joins 1 him, soon showed that there is still some life in the Phoenix yet. Both men hit out splendidly, and the runs soon piled up. /They were following the example of Izard, and Holdship in the other match, and at times the scores were equal. It seemed certain that they would carry the score into three figures, but at 88 Burton was caught by Fuller, after playing a capital innings for 3)3. , s A .

Roberts, who followed, put his leg where the hat ought to have been, and retired with the first senior duck of the season.

Webb now came out, and he. soon showed that ho was in a businesslike mood. He seemed to throw his whole soul into one hit, and he must have nearly knocked a piece off the ball, which went flying over the fence into Cambridge Terrace. The elements prevented a repetition of this performance and stumps were drawn. Ogier was not out with a well played 80 to his credit, and Webb had 6 opposite his name, the total standing at 94 for five wickets. Tho fielding was good, Read doing some very smart work. Haldane secured three of the wickets. Foster went on to bowl, but he did not perform up to his reputation. The'iargest score on record in an runnings in America was compiled on August 21 and 22 on the grounds-of the Belmont Club, at Elm wood, Philadelphia, in a club game between teams captained by G. S. Patterson and A. M. Wood. The former’s team batted first and were at the wickets during the entire two days, making no fewer than 689 runs. Patterson scored 271, Clark 147 and W. Brockie 135.

The objects of the proposed New Zealand Cricket Association are “ The advancement of tho game cf cricket through-

out New Zealand, the arrangement of intercolonial and foreign cricket matches, and the management of all teams visiting New Zealand and all New Zealand teams travelling outside New Zealand."

It will be noticed that it is not proposed that the Association shall have anything to do with the infcerprovincial matches. Are the promoters afraid of Otago ?

Spofforth played for south against north at Scarborough, but did not perform like the demon of old. He only got two wickets for 62.

O. White, the well-known N.S.W. footballer, scored 199 for the Maitland Pearls against East Maitland recently.

With a view to affording batsmen practice against fast bowling, so that the catapult trundlers of the English team may net have things absolutely to themselves when they appear in Sydney, the Cricket Association has engaged Kearns, the fast south coast trundler, as a professional.

The English cricketers are expected to reach Adelaide on Sunday or Monday next. They play their first-important match on the 9tli November, when they meet South Australia.

Canterbury will meet Southland at Lancaster Park on November sth and 6th. This will be the first meeting between the provinces, and it is intended to make the match an annual one.

The London Daily Ghtouxcla states that each professional of Stoddart’s team receives a sum of £250, out of which he pays all his travelling and hotel expenses in Australia. The passage money does not come out of this sum. The terms under which the amateurs have joined the team are uot reported, but (remarks our contemporary) “it is rather an anomaly to find that as a general rule the expenses of the amateurs exceed per man_ the amount received by the professional players."

A curious incident occurred during the progress of a match between Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire at High Wycombe on August 28th. Saunders, of the latter county, hit a ball just over the square leg boundary, where 0. M. Woodbridge was fielding. The latter ran backwards to attempt the catch and tumbled head over heels over the low fence into tho river Wy6 which bounds the ground on the lower side. The unfortunate fieldsman was completely immersed and presented a sorry spectacle on emerging from his unexpected bath, the bed of the river being evidently very muddy. After changing liis clothes he resumed play. •'- • • *

The Otago Cricket Association is in favour of the formation of a New Zealand Cricket Association for the purpose of controlling intercolonial and other New Zealand representative matches only, the headquarters of such association to he in Christchurch, .each province affiliated to be represented by a delegate.

A GREAT GAME OF CRICKET.

From Our Special Correspondent. London, August 24. “ Tie " matches in first-class cricket are like angels’ visits, few and far apart. One was made on Saturday afternoon at the Oval, the contending teams being Surrey and Lancashire. In the first innings Surrey had made 97, to which total the northern team opposed 147. Surrey’s second essay resulted in 124, so that the Lancashire eleven only wanted 75J;0 win. They commenced their task at 1.85 p.m. with McLaren and Ward, Lockwood and Richardson sharing the attack. The northern batsmen started badly. Ward played Lockwood’s first ball. into . his wicket, and Sugg, who followed in, retired to the same bowler without scoring. Rain stopped the game for a time with the score at 2, and on resumption the Lancashire wickets fell fast. Paul fell to Richardson at 5, and Briggs to Lockwood at 8, and Baker to Richardson at 9. The position of Lancashire was desperate, but Tindall and McLaren took tho total to 25, when the latter was snapped up at slip. One run later Tindall was caught at the wicket. With 49 to win Tinsley > and Smith became associated in the defence. They played with nerve and spirit and soon the score was 65. Then Smith was caught at cover point. Only ten runs were wanted when Bardswell joined Tinsley, and the excitement of the crowd —and players too —was tremendous. The new-comer got three by means of a pretty stroke through the slips, then two singles brought 70 on the board. The Surrey folk cheered vociferously at this point, though the victory of Lancashire seemed assured. Tinsley drove Richardson 16 the off for three, but Bardswell was snapped at the wicket off the Surrey man’s next ball. With one to tie and two to win Mold took his place at the crease. Tho spectators were silent as mice. There was just a chance that Surrey might win. Tho fielders closed in, each man alert as a terrier at a rathole. Lockwood, hitching up liis pants, took a long run and sent the ball swift as lightning down at Tinsley s wicket, the batsman attempted to pmy it and just touching the sphere it flew up in the slips, straight into Broclcwell s hands it seemed. A groan burst from the crowd as the famous pro. failed to hold the ball, but he fielded it smartly and returning it like lightning to Lockwood, the mistake was nearly atoned for, Tinsley only just get-

ting his bat down in time. _ The single registered made the game a tie, and from Lockwood's next ball Mold was caught by the wicket-keeper standing back. The pent up excitement of the crowd burst out in one terriflic and continued roar. Hats were throwp. up, handkerchiefs waved, and the next moment the crowd swarmed on the field of play, rendering the return of the cricketers to the pavilion a difficult task. The previous tie matches in important cricket occurred in ’6B, when Surrey and the M.C.C. met at the Oval, in . ’76, by making 245 in the last innings, when, on the same enclosure, Surrey, managed to avert defeat- at the hands of Middlesex, in ’B3 when the Gentlemen and Players achieved identical aggregates at the Oval, in ’9O when Middlesex and Somerset batted at Taunton. As far back as 1847 Surrey and Kent played a tie match. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. The Senior Championship contests began on Saturday last on the Basin Reserve. The weather was fine when the matches began, and it is worthy of note that the determination of the Championship Committee to enforce the rule relating to the hour of starting has had a good effect, the teams being on the ground and ready to start at the appointed time. Unfortunately about 4 o’clock a southerly “ buster,” with heavy rain, sprang up, and play had to be abandoned for the rest of the afternoon. Very fair form was shown all round, Burton, Ogier, Holdship and Izard especially distinguishing themselves with the bat. Following are. brief descriptions of the games:— ; WELLINGTON V. MIDLAND. No. 1 wicket was in splendid order, and the Wellingtons were fortunate in having first use of it. Salmon and Nicholls were absent from the Midland team, Tucker filling the former’s place, while W. Roberts kept the wickets in place of Nicholls. C. Gore and F. Ashbolt were the first batsmen and they put up 15 before the latter was easily caught at the - wickets. Gore did not survive long after, a good ball from Upham beating him, and Duncan was also quickly dismissed. Three were down for 27, but Izard and _ Holdship put an entirely different complexion on the game, the former treating the spectators to seme fine hitting. The score rapidly rose, but when 55 had been reached Izard should have been caught in the outfield by R. Blacklock, but the Midland captain dropped the ball, and a very expensive mistake it proved, too. Izard’s score was then only 16. The pair kept possession of the wickets until play was. abandoned, the score standing at 102, the undissolved partnership having added 75 runs. Holdship, who had played beautiful cricket, his off strokes being especially good, had scored 40, and Izard 38. The latter’s score included one grand drive for 5, all run out, and several fine square-leg hits, two_ of the latter, which produced four each, being obtained off successive balls from Fitzsimons. Upham secured one wicket and Fitzsimons two. Warren, one of last season’s juniors, was tried with the ball, but/was not a success, Izard especially treating him most unkindly. The umpires’ duties were carried out by Messrs Knapp and Ashbolt. The scores were as follow : Wellington.—First Innings. F. Ashbolt, c Roberts, b Fitzsimons ... 6 0. Gore, b Upham ... ... 8 Duncan, b Fitzsimons’ ... 3 Holdship, not out ... ... ... ... 40 Izard, not out... ... ... 38 Extras ... ... ••• * Total for three wickets 102 RIVAL V. PHCENIX. This game was played on No. 2 wicket, the Phoenix batting first. The first three wickets fell for 22 runs, and Ogier and Burton then got together and by good play carried the score to 86 before Burton, who had played a capital innings for 38, was caught. Burton’s hitting to the off <ras very good. Roberts did not score, and the fifth wicket fell with the total at 86. Webb partnered Ogier, and with a prodigious hit—the ball when last seen going in the direction of the Destructor —helped to raise the score to 94, at which stage rain came down and play was stopped. > Ogier was not out with 30 to his credit his runs having been obtained by nice free play. Haldane, with three wickets for 37, had the best bowling average. The fielding was good, Read, as usual, being very smart. Messrs Munt and Guise were the umpires. Following are the scores : Phcenix. —First Innings. Chisholm, b Dryden... ... 8 Burton, o Fuller, b Haldane ... ... 38 Niven, b Dryden ... ’ ... 8 Benbow, b Haldane ... ... 1 Roberts, 1.b.w., b Haldane. 0 Ogier, not out... .;. ... ... ••• *0 Webb, not out ... ••• ••• ® Extras ... ... ... ... 3 Total for 5 wickets ... ... ... 94 JUNIOR CUP. The Phcenix mot the Stars on No. 3 wicket, and batting two men short made 72 runs, when play was stopped by the rain. Mullins scored 40 not out, and Millward came next with 16. Mcßain secured the bowling honours. The Stars did not bat. The St. Patrick’s Collage and Kilbirnie teams, who have not met for two years, occupied No. 4 wicket. Kilbirnie started badly, losing three wickets for eight runs, but when rain stopped play for the day had registered 91 for eight wickets. Savage, who formerly played with the Midland second in Christchurch, was not out with 54 to his credit, Restieaux, with 13, being the only other double-figure man. Kerley, the College skipper, took four wickets, and Driscoll three. The Excelsiors met the Wellington College C.C. on the College Ground. The College team were the -first to bat, and were all disposed of for 69; the double figure men being Bee 10, Ward 12, Cocks

15, Tripe 17 (not out). Staples (one for 17) and Bannister (seven for 25) were the most successful bowlers for the Excelsiors. The Excelsiors started their first innings, and had made nine when the rain put a stop to play. A. Staples and W. Phelps being at the wickets. JUNIOR CRICKET ASSOCIATION. ‘ The St. John’s v. Mascotte heat, was to have been played on ho. 3 ground. The Mascotte captain won the toss and elected to send his men to the wickets, but it was then found that the requisite material bad not arrived. A request for the loan of material was refused by St. John’s, who also declined themselves to goto the wickets After waiting the required half-hour, the missing material had not come to hand, and the St. John’s accordingly claimed the match. Kaiwarra defeated Tustin and Godber by 85 runs on the first innings. Tlie winners scored 106, of which Gardner, contributed 30, Golding 20 and Overend 19. The losers scored 21, of which MeDougall made 9 not out, and Rennie 7. Fitzgerald and Gardner bowled well for the winners, as did Quee and Tapp for the losers. MISCELLANEOUS. The match between the Rivals and Woodcote House had to be abandoned on account of the rain. The Rivals scored 83, of which Buck made 20, McNeil 14 (not out), Deighton 13, and Henderson 10. Bannister, Otterson, Higginson and Grimes divided the bowling honours. The House eleven had secured a single when play was stopped. The Petone first and Kilbirnie second elevens met at Petone on Saturday, the game being drawn owing to the wet weather. When the rain set in Petone had scored 131 for nine wickets, Arnold making 57, and Inglis (captain) 42. Philpott (four for 56) and Chambers (four for 35) bowled best for the visitors. The New Zealand Times Cricket Club journeyed to Poi'irua on Saturday and met the local team, who batted first and knocked up 97. The chief scorers were J. Windley (33), A. Wall (15) and H. Eastwood (10); Mills and Carman bowling with most effect. Carman performed the “ hat trick,” taking one wicket with the last ball of one over and two wickets with the first two balls of the next over. The rain commenced while the visitors were at the wickets and play had to be discontinued, the Times having lost two wickets for 23, Mills being not out with 11. Dickson, of Porirua, deserves a word of praise for his splendid form behind the wickets. The Rival C.C. loses two of its members to-day. Mr H. Haggett leaves by ' the early train for Hawera, and Mr A. B. Yates takes his departure for Invercargill this afternoon. The loss of both these players will be severely felt among the junior contingent of the Club. Christchurch, October 19. At a meeting of the Canterbury Cricket Association to - night, arrangements were made for a meeting to be held in Christchurch, on December 6tli, to consider the formation of a New Zealand Cricket Association. ® It was resolved, if possible, to send a team to the West Coast this season, and a team through the North Island in 1896. ;;*J Sydney, October 22. The Cricket Association after hearing an explanation from the President of the Victorian Association that Mr BlackhaM did not intend to impute dishonesty to the New South Wales umpire in the intercolonial match last season, rescinded the previous resolution, thus ending the difficulty between the two associations.