CRICKET.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1249, 6 February 1896, Page 30

CRICKET.

FIXTURES. JUNIOR CRICKET ASSOCIATION. The following is the result of the drawings for the second round in the competition for Mr A. Hoby's trophy : February B—Kilbirnie8 —Kilbirnie v. Kaiwarra, No. 1 : Vivians v/Times, No. 2 ; Painters v. Thorndon, No. 3. February 15 —Vivian v. Painters, No. 1 ; Tiiias v. St. John's, No. 2 ; Kaiwarra v. Thorndon, No. 3. NOTES. By "L.D.W." There were some long stands last Saturday. For the Midlanders, Williams and S. "Tucker added 11-7 for the fifth wicket, and Lovers and Holdship added 137 for the fourth wicket, while Topp and Bell made 127 for tho second wickot in the Kilbirnie-Midland junior match. The Midlanders are to be congratulated on their fine batting display in the match with the Rivals. A total of 431 for seven wickets is something' to bo proud of. With one exception, all the. men who have batted have reached double figures, and there is every probability that two of them will have three-figure scores opposite their names. The next question is can they reach 500 ?

Last Saturday was a day to be remembered. Excellent batting was shown all round, and two or three of the men played brilliantly. As an exhibition of real hard, and at the same time safe, hitting, Williams' innings has never been equalled in Cup cricket in Wellington. Some of his leg hits and drives were beautifully made.

Holdship's unfinished innings of 131 was another fine exhibition. He batted carefully at first, but after he had gono over the half-century ho played much freer, aud when he had readied tho century he lashed out right and loft. If he gets a start again next Saturday ho should beat Williams' record scoro of 150.

j There has been much discussion as to ' whether Holdship was not caught by ! Benbow in the slips when ho had ! made only 21. Mr Ashbolt, the I umpire, did not have the least doubt j about it, and he has gone so far as to I declare that it was one of the clearest I cases of bump ball ho has seen this season. j The other umpire, Mr Guise, also states j that it was a bump ball, and Holdship j states emphatically that ho was not out. 1 A batsman cannot expect to bo a witness against himself, and so Holdship's evidence may not be worth much. The other batsman (Levers) also says that Holdship was ! not out, and this view is concurred in by many of the spectators who were able to j see and judge. The bowler (Millward), I I understand, says that be was perfectly ! satisfied with the decision. On the other I hand several of the Phoenix men are equally I positive that the ball came straight off the ! bat. Several spectators also hold this view. j If Holdship really was out, and Mr Ash- | bolt has ened, as all mortal umpires must I expect to do, then it is very hard lines on ! the Pncanix. Mr Ashbolt is an experienced I umpire, and he gave his decision according 1 to his judgment, i Up till last Saturday Levers had not j been a great success in senior matches. ! After a wonderful slice of luck ho settled I down, and played very good cricket. His j .'lifting was of a high (not necessarily lefty) order. ! S. J. Tucker's, 85, not cut, was an excelj lent display. He played an immense ! amount of bowling for his runs. Some of j his strokes on the off-side wore capitally j made. He fully deserves to make tho • century. i Tucker the younger, one of the most promising batsmen we have, scored 46 in j nice style. i R. Gore's average came down with a run last Saturday. The second ball he got I knocked his leg stump over. j Niven seems to be quite up to his best | form behind tho wickets just now. Ho j has only allowed three byes out of 314 j runs. Stevens is to bo congrafoilated^^}-,^ SC well, and *~¥*»ade the runs just when they were ! wanted, i L. T. Cobcroft, the captain of the New j South Wales team, interviewed at Sydney, ; said, with reference to the intercolonial j match played at Christchureh, that it was i not the good cricket of the New Zealand j team that won the game for them, but the , | bad play of the New- South Wales team, j most of whom seemed to be out of form | from the great amount of travelling.

Izard made 23 for Taranaki against Nelson. Heenan, another old Wellington man, scored 10.

The annual match between Otago and Canterbury is to be played on the loth and 17that Dunedin. Most of the Canterbury men have signified their intention of going to Dunedin. The game should bo a real good one.

Not one of the Australian writers " tipped " the Australian team. Like reasonable men they nearly all included A. E. Trott.

At a recent meeting of the New South Wales Association, J. C. Waine, manager of the New South Wales team, spoke eloquently of the hospitalit3' of the New Zealand people. Cobcroft, the captain, J|V

were most hospitably treated everywhere. In fact we could not have been entertained better. The people at each place we visited tried to out-do the others. &t Christchurch it was beyond description, and for the kindnesses heaped upon us we all owe a debt of gratitude." a In the Junior Cup match Kilbiruie v. Midland second, the former went in first and batted all the afternoon for 257, which is 103 more than the Kilbirnie Club's previous " high-water mirk," and only S runs less than the Junior Cup record of 295 recently made by the Excelsiors against the Wesleys. The first wicket fell with the score at 80, Baron (captain) being caught at point for 27, and the second wicket fell at 207, A. Topp being caught in the slips for a splendid contribution of US, which is the first century made for the Kilbirnie Club. His success was deservedly popular. C. Bell was shortly afterwards caught in the long field for 55, compiled without giving a chance. The other " doubles " were: Savage, 17 ; Carswell, 15; Hoar, IS; and MeMeuamin, 10 not out ; extras, IS. C. Taylor took four wickets for 68 ; McGirr (captain), two for 70 ; A. Smith, two for 52, and Latta, two for 21. Manning, Steele and 11. Taylor failed to get a wicket. The Midlanders wore handicapped by having to field substitutes for Pauling, Jones, O'Malley and Weybourne, all of the Permanent Artillery. Curiously enough Drummond and Kelling, i he two ex-lvlidlanders, were both dismissed first ball.

The Third-class Championship match Johnsonville v. Kilbiruie second was concluded at Johnsonvillo last Saturday, the visitors winning by (31- runs. The second innings of Kilbirnie realised 87, of which Pudney made 27 ; Emeny (captain), 15; A. Claridge, 11; A. Chapman, 10 (in two hits) ; Chambers and Churchill, 8 each. Robson, four for 23, and A. Picken, two for 8, bowled best for Johnsonville, whose second innings closed for 29 (J. Moore, 7 not out). For the winners Chapman took six wickets for 21 and Chambers three for 5.

Karori is now the only unbeaten team of the 12 competing for the Third-class Championship.

The Canterbury Midland Club's batsmen were in rare form on Saturday week, their three teams in Cup matches scoring 5G7 ruus for tho loss of 22 wickets.

The captain of the New South Wales team in an interview in Sydney said : " Our best performance, by a long way, was in tho opening match against Canterbury, without Callaway. I think the Canterbury team stronger even than New Zealand. They all bat well to tho last man. In this match our fielding was grand, but afterwards it was poor, and numbers of catches were missed. . . I think New Zealand's victory will encourage them to send a team to this colony next year. They, of course, are not good enough to meet our best team, but I think they will play a good game with one about tho same strength as ours, though on our fast wickets I'm afraid we would beat them. They have some really good cricketers, but not enough of them. Tho grounds, you might mention, are splendid. We were also royally received in Dunedin, Wellington (where Mr Holdship was very kind indeed), and Auckland."

Cobcroft also said that " Holdship, who captained the rei>resentative team, is right out of form, but you can see he is a good batsman."

Mr Harry Wilson (a:\ys a Canterbury paper), the well-known Rangiora footballer and cricketer, who was thrown out of a situation owing to the amalgamation of the Colonial and New Zealand Banks, has obtained a berth at Najner, where his all-round athletic ability is sure to be welcomed. Is this Wilson who played for the Athlwtics ?

Harry Musgrovo may find his post as manager of the .1896 Australian team no sinecure. He will often have to travel day and night, and to drink with at least 60 people, make about 30 speeches daily, and every morning at 3 o'clock make the round of the pubs, and gather up the drunks of the team, and on his return be careful not to trip over the inebriates who^baiVfl-J?iifl'j*lUU4ilt£d -QB-feteeTpub. mats

during his absence. Musgrove, as manager of an opera company, has had experience of the eccentricities of the ladies with their golden hair a-hanging down their backs, but he will find an Australian cricket team on the loose in England slightly different. For instance, there is one man, who may possibly go this time, who has a standing thoory that he cannot make a score unless he has had six rums, several long beers and numerous whiskies the night before ; and unless Musgrove exercises great difdomacy that batsman will go through a window if interfered with in his programme. The great qualities required in a manager are discretion, a colossal thirst, and the power to settle brawls arising from mixed liquors and jealousy ; but a man who has managed an opera co., and is still alive, deserves respect, anyway. —The Bulletin.

Blackham has gone with the Australian eleven to England every trip since 1878 — eight visits in all. A. Bannerman and Boyle have been six times, Bonnor and Spoil orth five times. Georgo G iff en has had four trips, Turner three.

Of Australian elevens that have visitod England, the most successful was Murdoch's 1882 team, which won 23 matches, lost 4 and drew 11. The least successful was Murdoch's 1890 team, which won 13, lost 16 and drew 9. McDonnell's 1888 team played most matches, 40 ; Blackham's 1893 team the least, 36. Altogether Aus-

England, won 139, lost 55, drawn 88. The ISBS-6 team drew 22 matches out of 39".

The highest score ever made in Eugland! by an Australian eleven man againstEnglish players was Murdoch's 256, in«1882 ; he made 211 in ISSI. Massie scored 206 in ISB2, Graham 219 in 1593, and Lyons 191 iu 1593. The IS7B team bad only one individual century score —C. Bannerman's 133; the ISSO team one also Murdoch's 153. Tho ISS2 team recorded five individual centuries and two double centuries; the ISS4 team put up four individual centuries and one 200; the 18S5 team got five individual centuries, the 18SS three, the 1890 two, and the 1893 eleven and one 200.

The Bulletin was wide of the mark when it said A. E. Trott would be a draw with the next Australian team. Albert has not even been selected, but methinks he will be yet.

The difference between Lord Sheffield and A. E. Stoddart has been settled, and the Australians will play their opening; match at his Lordship's ground.

A Southern paper is funny over the selection of the Australian team. It says : —"The gentlemen who picked the Australian cricket team to visit Eugland have made a frightful hash of it. r Jh\y didn't know anything about cricket or they would have put in C. McLeod and A. E. Trott, substituted Lewis for Harry, Tom Bowling for Geo. Giffen, or Bob Hewat for Tredale. At least so the local quid mines say, and apparently they are better qualified to judge than the original Selection Committee. One prominent local cricketer did pick the exact 13 chosen, but his selection was made not on the merits of the men, but on the known predilections of the Selection Committee.. Even the Daily News supports the local critics, and has evolved from its own inner ignorance the fact that many of the names are strangely unfamiliar. Personally we consider the team a very incdicore one and far from representative in its constitution. Our own selection would have included Caibine, Zimmerman, Oom Paul, Steve Boreham, Governor Brassey, The Soudan Donkey, Fire-Low Price, Damchicago Dibbs, 'Enery Parkes, Jabez Balfour (to keep wickets), The Editor of the Bulletin (as umpire), and possibly George Giffen as emergency. Another gentleman, asked to pick the best eleven, promptly responded, " George Giffen."

W. E. Holdship, brother of A. R. Holdship, captain of the Wellington Club, is now on a visit to Wellington. The visitor is said to be a belter cricketer than his brother.

So far only two prominent players have expressed their willingness to go to Auckland. It is almost certain that tho team will be a weak one.

Holdsworth has returned from his holiday trip to Tasmania, and will be available in the remaining fixture of the season.

Sixers were almost as plentiful as blackberries last Saturday. Levers and S. Tucker scored two each, Williams and Ashbolfc one each. Williams also scored a seven, run out —a magnificent square-leg hit.

SENEOE CHAMPIONSHIP AVERAGES.

By ""001." Batting. The following are the first twenty-five in the Senior Championship batting averages, revised up to Wednesday, February sth, 1896 :

* Not out. f Does not include uncompleted innings against Phoenix. X Does not include uncompleted innings against Eivals. Bowling. Following ar'e the first dozen in the Senior Championship bowling averages, revised up to Wednesday, February oth, 1896 :

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. SOME TALL SCORING. Saturday was quite a remarkable day. A distinct triumph was achieved by the bat over the hall, and no fewer than four records were established. Some magnificent hitting was shown by Williams, who scored 100, the record individual score for Senior Championship matches; and Holdship, for the Wellingtons, plaved a fine innings for ldl (not out). S. J. Tucker made 85 (not out), and from the way he was shaping would have reached the century if there had been sufficient time. Levers also distinguished himself by making 66 by vigorous cricket. The Midlanders put up the big score of 4d4 for only seven wickets against the Rivals—which is the record total for championship Watches. The wickets were in excellent order, and this may, no doubt, in a great measure account for the high scoring. Unless the unexpected happens, the Rivals should be beaten in one innings. In the WellmgtonPhcenix match the former have the advantage, as they are 230 runs to the good with four wickets in hand. Altogether the batting was of the liveliest order, and it was a most refreshing change after the slow play we have had lately. Both matches will be resumed next Saturday. A few details ol the gamos follow.

WELLINGTON V. PHOENIX. The Phoenix with eight wickets down lor 79 continued their first innings. The not out batsmen were Stevens and Millward, and they Offered a Stubborn resistance, and Were Hot parted until the Wellington's total had been passed and a lead of IS runs obtained Only two runs were added for the last wicket, the innings closing for 115, or 20 runs ahead of the Wellingtons. Stevens played capitally for 28, not out, and Millward made a useful 13. Ashbolt and Kirker divided the bowling honours. The excellence of Niven s wicket-keeping is shown by the total absence of byes. The Wellingtons started their second innings with Holdshi r *uid Ashbolt, and when tho total was 22 the latter was nicely caught at the wickets. His score was only seven, which included a fine hit to square-leg for six. Howell helped to raise the <total to 58 before he was bowled, his contribution being 20. R. Gore was clean bowled second ball without scoring. 3 for 58 Levers came in next, and he too should have been dismissed without scoring. He made a miss hit and the ball went straight up in the air—the easiest of chances, but the wicket-keeper by one of those strange chances lost sight of the ball, and tho oatsman was let off. This was the turning point in the game. Holdship was playing excellent cricket, and Levers, who is nothing if not vigorous, scored rapidly, and the score soon mounted. After they had put on no fewer than 137 runs, having carried the score to Ud, the big man was bowled. Levers had made 66 and on the whole it was a capital innings, his hitting on all sides being clean and vigorous His score included two b s, two o s (he wound up with them), two 4's and nine 3 s Wood and Strange did not stay long but Cuff played out time with his captain the score being 25i for six wickets Holdship s score wnslJU not out, which included three 5 s, live ?s and eighteen 3's. The Wellington cap+am one or two chances, but on the whole Played good cricket all through. The Phcenix claim that he was caught in the slips early n: his innings. There was certainly a difference of opinion about the decision of the umpire (Mr Ashbolt). Messrs Ashbolt and Guise were the umpires. The following are the scores : Phcenix.—First Innings. Burton, c Kirker, b Ashbolt 4 Benbow, runout ,•••., A Naughton,c Nivenb Kirker u Chisholm, c Niven, b Kirker i Page, c and b Kirker *| Ogier, run out Webb, b Ashbolt ... •» Harris, c Ashbolt, b Kirker 0 Millward, b Ashbolt g Stevens, not out ••■%■• <j Roberts, st Niven, b Ashbolt u Leg byes __^ Total 115 BOWLING ANA VE SIS. Balls. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. Ashbolt lg J * J Kirker ... - A °° x \ 23 0 Holdship... -. |2 4 g u B6t WBLLINGTOF.-Second Innings. Ashbolt. c Page b Millward 7 Holdship, not out Howell, b Millward *J R. Gore, b Millward Strange, 1.b.w., b Roberts ... « Cuff, notout ... ••■ 1-4 Byes, 6; leg-byes, 8 _** Total for six wickets 254 MIDLAND V. RIVAL. With three wickets down for 122 the Midland s^S^W»wiS wicket fSlint at 146. Then came a great stand S T Tnfker and Williams adding 147 for the hiZ • w -Roth men <*ave a fine display. play was marked by steadiness, T £?i« wfnSm? was more aggressive while Williams. w » hit brilliantly ! han nTrt of the field his leg hitting and to m all P*ris tf^g* a ' hard and as clean Thespectator*

had a rather anxious time dodging the might} hits of the vigorous Midlander He finally retired with 150 to his credit. In his score there was one 7, one 6, -four 5 s, three 4 s, seven 3's and tsventy-eight 2's. The spectators were delighted with Williams brilliant play, and he "received a tremendous ovation from players and public when he retired. On K Tucker joining his brother another fine stand resulted, the total being carried from 293 to 367, the younger Tucker being then bowled after compling 4G in good style. Fitzsirnons also came and went, but b. Tucker continued on the even tenor or his way, and when stumps were drawn had bo to his credit, and he is to be congratulated on the excellence of his play. There were two 6's, three 3's, and 13 2's in his score. Lash was also not out with 25 opposite his name. Tho total was 434 for seven wickets when time was called. The bowling of the Rivals was not good, but, considering the large amount of work they had to do, they fielded well. The umpires were Messrs Knapp and Sampson. The scores were :

Midland.—First Innings. Warren, c Read, b Crawfurd 3" Gardiner, c Read, b Dryden 1U R. Blacklock, o Baker, b Haldano ... Williams, c McNeil (sub.), b Pritchard 100 Nicholls, c Read, b Crawfurd M

K. Tucker, b Haldanc Fitzsirnons, b Pritchard S. Tucker, not out ... Lash, not out ... Byes, 31; leg-byes, 3

Total for seven wickets

The Junior Cup match Wellington second v Petone first was commenced ou Saturday afternoon at Petone. Tho Wellingtons batted first and scored 103. Sanderson made <6 t Hickson24and Pope 21. The Cricket Association has decided to send a letter to Mr F. E. Brittain, who is about to leave Wellington for Dunediu to take up the position of district secretary lor to the Mutual Life Association ol Australasia, thanking _ him for his past services to the Association. , The rule relating to the time at which tbe Championship matches shall be started is to be strictly enforced in future. During the remainder of tho season a bell will be rung at 2 15 and 2.30, and all matches are to be commenced when the second bell is rung _ A team representing Kirkcaldie and Stains played a Waiwetu team at Waiwetu last week, the local team winning by 49 runs The scores were :-Waiwetu, 83; Kirkcaldio_ and Stains, 34. Of the Waiwetu score, A. Prmgle and Judd contributed 60. The visiting team were hospitably entertained A return match between the Bland Holt Company and the New Zealand Times was played on the Basin Reserve on lhursday, the company winning by 80 runs. Ihe IIMES team made 58-France, 22 ; Howe, 10 rhe Company made 138-3 eager, 53; Whalen 39; Baker, 13., Whalen five lor 32) and Hickey (lour for 24) did the bowling for the winning team, and Marshall vfive lor 11) secured the best average for the limes. The Phteriix-Midlaud heat of the Junior Championship was concluded on lhursday on tlie College ground, and resulted in a win for the Phoenix by 51 runs. The Karori is now the only unbeaten team of the twelve competing for the Third-class Championship. Five records were established on the Basin Reserve on Saturday. First of all 1079 runs were scored m the afternoon (312 in the Midland-Rival match, _ 290 in the Wellinsrton-Phoenix heat, 287 in the junior match Kilbirnie v. Midland, and 190 in the n hcenix- Wesley junior match). Ihe Kilbirmes h"d2ooon the board with only one wicket down The Midland first eleven brought their total to 434 for only seven wickets Williams of the Midland Club, made 150, the highest individual score yet made in Senior Championship matches, while three players scored over a century each. Holdship scored 131 (as he is still not out he has a chance of beating Williams record, Topp 113 (Kilbirnie v. Midland), and Williams made 106 of his total. The Junior Association match Kilbirnie v. St John's was won by tho latter by 13 runs.

The following table shows the position of the various teams competing for the Junior Championship up to date : Won. Lost. Excelsiors ... ••• ••• £ 0 Wellington College ... 3 0 Petone United 4 1 Wellington | j Kilbirnie » i Rival 2 d Phcenix \ * St. Patrick's College 0 " Midland 0 * Wesley ° 4 THE AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN FOR ENGLAND. Sydney, January 29. The Selection Committee has chosen the following thirteen players to form the Australian Eleven which is to visit England: - Donnan, Gregory, Iredaleand McKibbin Now South Wales ; Graham Harry, Johns, Trumble and H. Trott, Victoria; Darling, GiffJn and Jones, South Australia; Eady, Tasmania. Johns goes as wicket-keeper In the Victoria-New South Wales match the New South Wales team in their second innings have lost nine wickets tor 307.

Sydney, January 29. In the intercolonial cricket match, the Victorian team's first innings closed lor olj, and the New South Wales' second innings lor 335. The Victorians made the number ol runs required to win with the loss ol six wickets. _ 0 , Sydney, January 31. The Cricket Council meets at Melbourne on Bth February to receive the report ol the committee selected to choose the Australian cricket team. It is believed that delegates from all the colonics have grievances over the exclusion of certain plaj era, and it is not improbable that a resolution will be carried referring tho report back to the committee lor reconsideration. Sydney, February 1. At a meeting of members of the Australian cricket team, it was decided to ask the Cricket Council to increase the team to 14, and include Lyons, whoso consent has been obtained. It is understood that, failing to obtain a place in the team, Albert lrotb will SO to England as a professional. London, January 30. The Sportsman says the personnel of the Australian team has caused much adverse comment in England, and the absence ol Albert Trott has been especially criticises. Melbourne, February o. _ There has been some sensational scoring in senior cricket matches lately. _ East Melbourne in the match agaimt Richmond lost six wickets for 773, while Carlton, playing against the University, scored <o3 lor six wickets (Worrall, not out, 337).

=4 _, m ga c so C2 *£* o Batsman. , 0 -C £ '5 so '".2 o s fco iz H S H-g d 2 °l HM > *"* fc S M £T < Williams 7 0 J 50 150 269 39 8 A. Blacklock 2 0 53 75 75 37-5 bteveus 3 2 28* 28 29 29-0 Waters ■1 2 31 32 56 28 0 R. Blacklock 7 0 69 69 1SS 26-8 Benbow 8 0 76 86 210 262 Howard 8 0 56 62 205 25-6 E. Goro 8 1 87* 87 176 251 Cuff 1 0 23 23 23 23 0 fHoldship H 1 42 63 156 22 "2 Levers 4 0 66 7S 84 21-0 Warren 8 0 63 63 167 20-8 FulteT~-——--8 1 69 72 139 198 £;■?. J. Tucker 7 133 49 118 19-6 K. Tucker 7 0 51 52 132 18-8 Howell 7 0 32 32 117 16-7 Cross 6 0 38 50 95 158 Fitzsimons 7 1 38* 38 92 153 O'Sullivan 8 0 44 49 121 151 Upham 6 0 37 37 91 15'1 Dryden 8 1 25 35 91 13 0 Burton 8 0 47 47 102 127 Naughton 9 1 54 6S 99 133 Ashbolt 9 2 52* 53 80 12-7 Holcisworth 5 1 17* 22 49 12*2

n3 as o m o "3 g 3 M a bo c o Ashbolt 891 36 31335 8-9 K. Tucker IOC 3 57 0 9 5 Upham y;?3 3i 341 35 9-7 Harris 27 0 20 2 10-0 Holdsworth 104 4 44 4 11-0 Betlmue 432 19 15G 14 111 Crawfurd 25)5 5 147 13 113 Mill ward 202 8 119 10 11-9 Fitzsimona 711 29 270 22 12*2 Jones 234 6 93 7 13*2 Kjrker 755 42 265 20 132