CRICKET

New Zealand Mail, 22 January 1902, Page 39

CRICKET

(By “The Ilittite.”) Last Saturday’s senior, cricket was of a high order. As regards hatting, the best exhibition was that of the Midland Club. Williams and Holdsworth gave what was probably the best display of aggressive batting ever seen in Wellington The change from the bloek-and-stop tactics of the average local batsman was highly appreciated by the crowd, and hearty applause punctuated the lofty hits of Holdsworth and the lengthy daisy-cutters of Williams. There was another noticeable feature about Midland’s play—and that was the execrable fielding. It was the more apparent because usually Midland is far and away the best team of fieldsmen in Wellington. On Saturday, though, quite a number of their team could not have stopped a rolling football. Richardson crowned the Wellington score against Phoenix with a carefully compiled 103 not out. This player’s batting average must now be approaching phenomenal figures. Crombie put on sixty odd mainly by hard hits to leg and lefty drives to butter-fingered Phoenix fieldsmen. S. Hickson made 32 in attractive style. The best bowling feats on Saturday were those of Connell (five wickets for four runs in the incomplete innings of Phoenix) and Vpham (6 for 41 against Old Boys). Tho latter team, by the way, excelled itself on Saturday in the field. Notwithstanding the severity of the Holdsworth-Williams combination oil their bowling, they bowled well and fielded brilliantly, with the result that although the first wicket put on 124, there was only 173 on the board for five wickets when stumps were drawn for the day. Staples, who is the most improved howler in the city on this season’s doings, bowled with positively deadly effect at the end cf the innings. In five overs he took three, wickets without a run being scored.

The “Town and Country Journal” remarks that Duff and Armstrong m the second test game justified their inclusion in the Australian team by putting a new record for 120 for the last wicket. Of course, under ordinary conditions they would not have been playing the last wicket. Seeing that the ground was so bad on January Ist, Darling sent in what was practically the tail of the team first, in tlie hope of keeping his better hats to make runs on the following day, when the wicket was good. His hopes were realised by Hill who made 99. Duff 104 and Armstrong 45 not out. Armstrong went very close to making another record, and if his partner had remained at the wickets fie probably would have done so. This was the record for the eleventh man, which is 50 put up by Spofi’orth at Melbourne, in March, 1885.

Duff has the honour of having made one of tho fifty-four centuries which have been scored in test matches, and thc performance is more meritorious in that it was his first appearance in these contests. The first century was made by C. Bannerman, who in the very first test match at Melbourne, in March, 1877, put up 165, and then had to retire, owing to an injury he received.

There seems a strong chance that before the final test game against England comes on for decision, recourse will bo had to the veteran Gilfen. The question of so doing was “in the air” at Sydney as long since as the beginning of this month. “Shortslip,” cf the “Sydney Mail,” who is a recognised authority on the game, wrote thus in his budget of notes on January 4th: “Howell is a much improved batsman, and is now almost good enough to play for batting alone, and should certainly be given a show earlier in the innings. He has gone right off with the ball. The selectors must be guided a lot by form on the ground, and I am sorry that they have not thought fit to send for George Giffen, who holds the best performance against the Englishmen to date.” The incidents of the third test match demonstrated that Howell’s leg is likely to incapacitate him from future service as a bowler, so there is a strong probability that a call will he made on “George” for the next test game, unless the personal prejudice against him be given weight to.

The appointment of A. C. Maclarcn as paid assistant treasurer of the Hampshire County Cricket Club has raised much controversy in the English papers with regard to tho paid amateur. It is argued that his clerical services are not really required, hut that his cricket is really paid for. On this subject, the

Manchester “Athletic News” of December makes the following remarks:—Mac- . laren was the so-called assistant secretary for Lancashire, receiving a salary of £3OO a year for imaginary duties. The ex-captain of the Palatine has not made a sacrifice, for he is to be the “assistant treasurer” of Hants, presumably on the same terms. Does it not seem the height of folly to pay £3OO per annum for an “assistant treasurer” when the total gate receipts last season in Hampshire were £lll7, and when the county did not meet their liabilities by £2OO out of ordinary income. Of course, if Hampshire chooses to pay Maclaren £3OO a year, they do so in the hope of'obtaining double value for their money, as apart from his official duties Maclaren is to be the magnet to draw the people to the cricket grounds of Southampton, Bournemouth anti Portsmouth. But under such circumstances Maclaren is paid for the same purpose as a high-class professional. The question then arises, what is the difference between the “paid amateur” and the professional? The wonderful recovery made by the Australian team in the second innings of the second test match has never yet been equalled in any of the series. The nearest approach was during the match at Melbourne in January and February, 1893, when the first six Australian wickets fell for 57, and thc remaining four carried the total to 323. The match is thus described in “Wisden” :Of the five test matches, this was perhaps the most eventful. The Englishmen started in wonderful form by getting six wickets down for 57 runs; but after that they were quite outplayed, the Australians gaining a brilliant victory by eight wickets. The turning point of the Australians’ first innings was the partnership of Clement Hill and H. Trumble, 165 runs being put up for the seventh wicket. Never before had Hill given quite so fine a display as his 188. He was batting a little over five hours, and all things considered, his innings may be described as perhaps the best seen in the colonies during the season. With only a total of 323 to face on a parfecti ly sound wicket, the Englishmen seem- | ed to have very good prospects, but they failed miserably, their dismissal : for 174 marking the lowest point reach- ; ed by their batting during the whole i trip. They did not do very much better when they followed on, and it is : no more than the truth to say that they j richly deserved to he beaten. The Aus- • tralians played their thinning game wonderfully well, thc- variety and excellence of their bowling calling forth a high compliment from Mr Stoddart when the match was over.

In 58 test matches, tlie toss has been won 31 times by England and 27 times by Australia. On 55 occasions, the captain winning the toss lias decided to hat first. Three times only has the captain decided to send his opponents to the wickets. Thc first occasion was at Melbourne on December 29, 1894, when, the wicket being in a very bad state from recent ram, George Giffen, on winning the toss, sent the Englishmen in to hat. In two hours, the visitors were disposed of for 75 runs. The wicket had improved when the Australians went out to hat, and they put up a total of 123. A dry Sunday intervening, tho wicket thoroughly recovered, and on the Monday and Tuesday, thc Englishmen registered 475 runs for the second inliings. The Australians made a good stand during the fourth day, and a couple of overs had to be bowled on the fifth day before the second innings closed for 333. The Englishmen thus won the match by 94 runs. It was at Sydney a month later that the second occasion occurred in which tiie captain, winning tiie toss, sent his opponents to the wickets. The ground had been so greatly affected by recent rains, that Stoddart. on winning the toss, decided to send the Australians in to bat. The first six wickets fell for 51 runs, and things looked rosy for the Englishmen. Then Graham and A. E. Trott got together, and completely altered The aspect cf affairs. The former made 105, and Albert Trott carried out his bat for 86. The innings closed for 284. Bad weather prevented play on the second day, and on the third day (Monday) the Englishmen only succeeded in putting together 65 runs. Following on, their second attempt only yielded 72 runs and Australia won the match by an innings and 147 runs. In this match G. T. B. Turner took three wickets for 18 runs and 4 for 33, and George Giffen secured 3 for 14 and 5 for 26. Thus on both occasions, the policy of putting their opponents in proved disastrous to the side which won the toss. The only other occasion on which this policy was pursued was in the second test match, and as will be seen, a similar fate awaited Maclaren.

The third test game on present appearances is likely to prove a gigantic struggle. For England, with five wickets down for 266, with Quaife and Braund not out, and such batsmen as Jones and McGahey yet to perform a very fair score should be assured. Australia’s team is admittedly a strong batting one, so a good total should be practically sure to follow tho team’s first essay. Tho wicket is likely to wear well (bar rain), for the average Adelaide wicket) is the fastest and truest in the whole continent. So fast, indeed, is it that the Englishmen have an objection to it on that very ground for tho long experience they have on the slow grounds of their native land in a measure handicaps them on the

faster pitch. This theory is real I y dejnonstrated to bo sound—not contraverted—by the good stand made by McLaren and Hayward in the present game, for their past experiences of the wicket are spread over a lengthy period. The present score of the Englishmen is not sufficient to discredit in any measure tho bowling of the Australians, but still wo venture the opinion at this early stage that the lack of a fast bowler will land the Australians in trouble before the game shall be concluded. The excellent stand of Hayward and Maclaren can scarcely be too highly commended. It is a coincidence bordering on bad luck that both should be run out. It is worthy of mention that in the third test match of 1899 (played on the same_ ground) Hayward ran up a score of 70 in the first innings. Maclaren could only knock up 14 in the same innings, hut he made amends in the second one by compiling 124. It is also worthy of remark that while there are eight of the 1899 Australian team in the present eleven, only two of the present English team were in the eleven of 1899. The failure of Tyldesley and Jessop in the innings now in progress to score to any extent is matter for regret from a spectacular point of view—• especially as they are “big reputation” batsmen. Tyldesley showed his mettle in the last test game with a score of over 60, but Jessop has hitherto failed consistently. There remains Jones and McGahey to follow when Quaife and Braund shall have joined the majority. Jones has been a failure in the test games which have gone before, hut he and McGahey each struck form in a game last week, when Jones made 95 without giving a change against eighteen fieldsmen; so it may fairly be reckoned that he will produce a score in the big game now being played. Braund and McGahey made 224 in this same match before they were separated. Trumble has evidently regained a lot of his temporarily lost form, as shown b y, his record of three wickets for 74 runs. Certainly McLeod’s failure will not propitiate his enemies. Armstrong’s doings with the ball have been handicapped by lack of good fortune, but he may yet get a wicket or two to improve his average. It may he remembered that he got two wickets for 14 runs against the strong N.S.W. batting team last month. ' The fact that Maclaren j has for the third successive time won | the toss in these test matches suggests j that the mantle of G. H. S. Trott has J fallen upon him. Darling no doubt re- ■ ; grots now that lie did not acquiesce ■ ' when the English captain suggested ■, that the choice of order of innings should he made rotary between the teams until the last match came on.

The Englishmen have satisfied ail reasonable supporters by tlieir score of 388. With the fine start made by Hayward and MacLaren for the first wicket almost anything in reason was possible, but after the fall of three wickets more for comparatively nothing between 250 and 300 looked like a sanguine estimate of the inning’s product. Braund’s century, however, proved a sterling contribution at a time most opportune, and resulted in a good main being set for the Australians. Braund’s century is the first made by him in a test match. He is to be congratulated on his performance. He had luck in being twice let off, but such are the chances of the game. The encomiums passed by the cablegraminer on the Australian fielding seem rather strained. It will be remembered that catches were dropped in the first day’s play as well as on Saturday—so “brilliant” seems to be too commendatory a word to use even if the ground fielding was really good. Reverting to Braund, it may be said that he is a consistently good batsman, although he has done no sensational scoring before. In first-class cricket last year he was in the thirtieth position out of some hundreds of first-class batsmen. His average score was 36.92 —a better average than MacLaren’s, by the way. The account of what happened to Jones, when read between the lines, suggests that lie sacrificed his wicket to save Braund—a piece of unselfishness for the sake of a man’s side now uncommon. Noble’s figures of three for 58 read well, hut they are discounted by the fact that lie missed the worst period of the bowling and went on in time to slaughter the tail of the team. Hill and Trumper seem to have given a taste of their best quality to the onlookers. Hill “on his native heath” is generally in fine form. In almost every match that he has played in Adelaide against the Englishmen he has notched scores of 80 or over in at least one innings. The fine score of 173 for two wickets puts Australia in a very fair position. Two hundred and fifteen is not an exorbitant total to expect from eight representative wickets — and that is tho total required now to tie with England’s score. All the same, though, the Englishmen’s chance for biggest first innings score is best — for they have the 388 runs already made. It is unfortunate for the Englishmen that so good a howler as Barnes should have ricked his leg. It is a coincidence that a leading bowler of each team should become incapacitated in the same way in this match. It is to be hoped in tho interests of a fair and equal trial that a bandage will bo of the same benefit to him that it was to Howell. Tho news that Braund’s bowling was knocked about need not disconcert English supporters, for unless that howler is getting wickets, runs always come fast from his bowling. He may he expected to do better later on in the innings.

THE THIRD TEST GAME. ADELAIDE, January 17. • Tho morning broke dull and threatening for the third test match. As the day wore on, however, the sun broke through the dun, and when the time arrived for the game to begin the weather conditions approached perfection. There was an attendance of nine thousand at the match, including the Governor and Lady Tennyson. The spin of the coin gave Maclaren the choice of order of innings, and he decided that his team should go to the wickets. Maclaren and Hayward opened for England to the bowling of Trumble and McLeod. Both began cautiously. Ten runs was the total on tho board at the end of twenty minutes’ play, but after that the rate of run-getting livened. Runs came chiefly at the expense of Trumble, who was tempting Hayward to give chances to tho outfield. The captain accepted the “ soft stuff,” and lashed it to safe quarters. Noble and Howell replaced Trumble and McLeod. Maclaren made a bad stroke off Noble, which dropped safely behind square-leg. The bowling lacked “devil.” the fact being due to the wicket being slower than is usually the case at Adelaide. Howell’s off-brealcs puzzled tho batsmen, and gave them some trouble. Three times he beat both the batsmen and the wickets. Just before the luncheon adjournment Armstrong and Trumper were tried in the hope of effecting a separation, but their efforts availed not. When the adjournment took place each batsman was 43, and not a chance had been given.

Howell and Armstrong took up the trundling when play was resumed. Hayward was severe on the latter bowler, making 10 in three hits off his third over, and bringing up the first- century with no wicket down. The time occupied in compiling the hundred runs was just the same number of minutes. When the score reached 110 Trumble went on, vice Howell. Three runs had been added when Armstrong clean bowled Maclaren, whose score was then 51. A shout of acclamation arose as tho batsman stepped out for the pavilion, but the applause was short-lived. Armstrong had bowled a no-ball, and the umpire had so called it. Maclaren was not aware of this, but in accordance with the new rules of the game the umpire had to enlighten him on the subject, and he returned. Hayward forged ahead of his captain, making fine strokes all round the wicket. Some of Maclaren’s strokes were not so certain. McLeod relieved Armstrong when the score was at 120, but runs now came rapidly, although the fielding was smart. When 149 was on the board Maclaren hesitated about running for a stroke of bis own to third man—and the hesitation cost him his wicket. He batted for two hours and a quarter, and gave no chances. His score included seven 4's.

lyldesley filled the gap. He pottered about for a quarter of an hour, and then tried to make a big hit—as a result of which he skied the ball back to Trumble who accepted the chance. 2—o—l Go. ’ Four runs later, Hayward rather ingloriously ended a fine innings by slogging at a ball from Noble and mis-hit-tmg it, as a result of which it rebounded from the wicket-keeper’s hands on to tho stumps. Hayward had gone out of Ins crease to hit the ball, and consequently he was dismissed “run out.” He played a perfect innings of two hours and fifty minutes’ duration, and hit eleven fourers. Jessop again disappointed the spectators. He made a single, and then ballooned the ball to Trumper at long-off. Tho Sydney-sider judged the catch perfectly. The toa adjournment followed. Tho score was now three wickets for 171 runs.

Quaife and Lilley became associated when play was resumed, Trumble and Noble bowling to them. Quaife batted with his accustomed lack of vigour for twenty minutes, and then varied the monotony by scoring a single. Lilley got to work steadily. When he had put on ten runs ho was missed in the slips by Irumble off Noble’s bowling. When Quaife faced Noble the field assembled round the blcckhole, but Quaife astonished tho multitude and the fieldsmen by driving Noble hard to the bounaary.

When the score was at 18G Trumble made partial amends for having missed Lilley off Noble by getting the former out l.b.w. without any additional score to tho ton runs ho then had. Trumble’s last twelve overs at this juncture had yielded only seven runs and had secured three wickets. Braund went in, and Armstrong replaced Noble. The newcomer quickly notched double figures, and the second century appeared after three hours and forty-five minutes’ play. Braund continued to bo aggressive, and the score mounted steadily. At 220 Trumper replaced Armstrong, and shortly afterwards Howell gave Trumble a spell. The runs still came, and a further change of Trumper by McLeod failed to alter tho aspect. When stumps were drawn for the day the score stood at 2GG for five wickets. Quaife s batting was slow and chance-

less. Ho was at the wickets for two hours. Braund's was a dashing display. The fielding of the Australians was brilliant throughout the day. ADELAIDE, January 18. For the second day’s play of the third test match the weather at noon was sultry but slightly threatening. There was an attendance of about fifteen thousand. The wicket was in excellent condition.

Trumble and Howell resumed bowling to Quaife (31) and Braund (35), the Englishmen’s score standing at 2G6 for the loss of five wickets.

In Howell’s second over he had to retire in consequence of an old strain to his right leg having re-asserted itself. After having the leg bandaged, the player came on again, and resumed bowling. Both batsmen played cautiously, and only 25 runs were put on in the first forty minutes.

The first incident that occurred was a let-off of Braund by McLeod at mid-on (off Trumble’s bowling) when the oatsman had made 44. The fieldsmen continued to crowd around Quaife. At last he touched a ball, which the wicketkeeper held. He lrad played a chanceless innings of two hours forty minutes’ duration. His score included only six 4’s.

The partnership between Braund and Quaife had added 10S runs to the total score.

Jones had a brief life. He saw the third century go up —the outcome of five hours and twenty-five minutes’ play. When two runs more had been added to tho total, Jones was run out by Braund, who bolted for a third run without being called on. Gunn, who succeeded to the vacant crease, began very nicely, and Braund persisted in cautious play. With 320 passed a double change was made in the bowling. McLeod and Armstrong taking the places of Trumble and Howell. Since the beginning of the day’s play Trumble had sent down sixteen overs for 21 runs.

When the adjournment for luncheon was made the total score was 330, Braund being 62 and Gunn 15. Only GO runs bad been made in ninety minutes.

Trumble and Howell resumed bowling when batting began again. Off the last ball of Howell’s first over Trumble missed an easy chance in the slips from Braund, whose score at the time was still G2.

After this reprieve Braund became more vigorous, and bis score increased rapidly, principally at the expense of Howell. Twice in one over lie cut the latter to the boundarv.

With the score at 363 Noble replaced Howell. Shortly afterwards Braund lifted Trumble into the long-field, but the ball fell safely just out of Armstrong’s reach. Two more bits by the Somerset man made him top-scorer. With the total at 371 Noble bowled Gunn, who had played a steady but attractive innings. A fine drive for 5 off Trumble and a stolen single completed Braund’s century. Its compilation had taken him three hours and a half.

Barnes, after making 5. spooned one up to Hill at short square-leg. It was easy, and Hill took it.

Blythe succeeded to the crease. After making a brace, lie hit one up in an apparently safe place. Hill, however, ran in from square-leg. and while still running hard took the ball with his back turned to the wicket. This brought the innings to a close. Braund batted for three hours and forty minutes altogether. He gave only the two chances mentioned in the foregoing report. He began slowly, but tho latter part of bis innings was brilliant. Ho hit one 5 and ten 4’s.

Noble, who kept off until late owing to a strained groin, finished with 35 balls, 3 maidens, 7 runs, 3 wickets.

Trumble kept a splendid length, but did not look dangerous. Kelly, though lame, kept wickets well.

Gregory and Hill fielded brilliantly. The innings lasted six hours and thirty-five minutes. Tho Australians began inauspiciously. Darling scored a single off Barnes’s first over, but facing Blythe lie put ono up into the slips, where MacLaren took the chance. Trumper joined Hill, and tho two young players made things merry for the fieldsmen. Trumper gave a dashing display, scoring ■37 runs in twenty minutes.

Braund replaced Blythe, but shortly afterwards Barnes had to leave the field—lie having ricked bis leg—and Blythe went on in his place. Hill’s individual score reached GO in an hour, his style being very free. Braund, proving expensive, Gunn bowled in his place, and then Blythe changed ends with biin, and the scoring was thereby steadied. Hill brought the gross total lib to 100 for 78 minutes’ play. Scoring became rapid again, the batsmen doing some smart running between wicket*.

Trumper put on fifty in an hour and a,half, but when his score was 05 he lost his wicket through over-eagerness making him attempt an impossible run. Hi s innings, which lasted for an hour and three-quarters, was faultless. He hit eight fours. Tho second wicket put on 138 runs.

The partnership showed the best batting seen in Adelaide for years. Hill and Duff played out time. The former batted without giving a chance for two hours and a quarter, and hit ten fours. v The following are the scores: — ENGLAND—First Innings. MacLaren, run out ... ... ••• 67 Hayward, run out 90 Tyldesley, c and b Trumble ... 0 Quaife, c Kelly, b Howell 68 Jessop, c Trumper, b Trumble ... 1 Lilley, 1.b.w.,b Trumble ... ... 10 Braund, not out 103 Jones, run out ... 0 Gunn, b Noble ... ... ... 24 Barnes, c Hill, b Noble ... ... 5 Blythe, c Hill, b Noble 2 Extras ... ... 13 Total ... 388 Bowling analysis—Trumble, three wickets for 124 runs; Noble, three wickets for 58; Howell, 1 wicket for 82; McLeod, no wickets for 49; Armstrong, no wickets for 45; Trumper, no wickets for 17. AUSTRALIA—First Innings. Darling, c MacLaren, b Blythe ... 1 Trumper, run out 05 Hill, not out 83 Duff not out 22 Extras 2 Total for two wickets ... ■ ... 173 NEW SOUTH WALES v. SOUTH .AUSTRALIA. ADELAIDE, January 14. New South Wales won the match against South Australia by an innings and nineteen runs. Noble bowled with great effect. South Australia’s second innings closed for 191, Kirkwood (06) and Travers (40) being the only batsmen to make a stand. Following are the scores:— NEW SOUTH WALES. First innings 472 SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Second Innings. Hack ... ... ... o W. Giffen ... ... ... 3 Reedman *9 Jarvis ... ... ... 44 G. Giffen ... ... ... 22 Claxton ... ... ... 4 McKenzie ... ... ... 2 Kirkwood GO Travers ... ... ... 40 Jones ... ... ... 3 Extras 15 Total ... ... ... ]9] First innings 202 Grand total 453 Noble took four wickets for 27 runs; Howell, three for 71; Clarke, one for 22; Hopkins, one for 22.

SATURDAY’S SENIOR GAMES. Tho second round of the Senior Championship was commenced last Saturday on the Basin Reserve. Perfect weather conditions obtained, and the public were present in large numbers. At times the play was a trifle slow in the game between "Wellington and Phoenix, but a lively exposition of the game dear to the eyes of the onlooker was given IP tho game between Old Boys and Midland. The Boys batted first, and put up 124, Sanderson (24 not out) being the principal scorer. He played for twenty minutes without making a run, but when lie started to score he maintained his rate fairly fast. Staples (17), Douglas (15) and Kirkcaldie (14) were the other men to reach double figures. Wilson, a new man, shaped nicely, but he was run out when he had scored 9. The "all through” scorer notched 19—a bio"extra” total out of 124. The Mid° land fieldsmen gave absolutely the worstexposition of fielding known in the history of their club. Tired to a man, they permitted probable singles to be turned into threes and fours by reckless ground fielding. On one occasion a ball that, smartly fielded, would have meant a certain wicket, was returned so wildly that six runs resulted. The Old Boys* fielding was by contrast, and by fact also, positively .splendid. Their work throughout the Midland innings was equal to a saving of 30 runs on their average fielding performance. The opening of Midland’s innings was sensational and record-breaking. Williams and lioldsworth went to the wickets, and began to hit freely from the first. 111 twenty minutes’ time 03 runs were registered, Holdswortli making hits right [ the ground on several occasions. ! imams Lit a 7—all run out. After I thirty-five minutes’ play -had gone the l centmy was hoisted, amid vociferous applause—the occasion being the first in the Midland Club’s history of twentyone years that 100 had been put on for the first wicket At 124 Ralph bowled iioldsworth with a yorker, and two overs later Williams walked out to staples, and was stumped by Blacklock, with the score still at 124. Tho play , . r tms became a contrast to that which had preceded. Tho next 34 runs took three-quarters of an hour’s time ; 0 be compiled. Staples’s bowling was splendid after this, and lie sent down hve maidens following, with a result of ZZ ’T£. tickets. Stephenson, luckcr and Hickson were out for 11 between them but then Quee and Mantogether, and played out time, the latter being 18 not out, the former

12 not out, and the total 173 for fi wickets. Wellington ran un the total of 247 against Phoenix, son putting together 102 not out Crombie 62. The latter player very severe on the loose bowling he was leniently treated by thefield men. Richardson played with bis cn tomary caution. Hickson (38) „ > “ extras ” (14) were the other doubhf figure scorers. Phoenix were in an '< o f» mood, and their wickets were con quently unstable. Connell again B°* monstrated liis undoubted bowlhW abilt ty by taking five wickets for four runs Midlane and Saunders were both 1, out. At the end of the day’s P i a n seven Phoenix wickets were down f y 32 runs. Of the Phoenix bowlers was tho best. He'.got four wickets for 53 runs, a small rim-proportion out 247. The Phoenix fielding v,- as as mu-l below form as their batting was. lington’s fielding left nothing to cam at, but one or two of that club’s team need running exercise. The day’s pl av as a whole, may be truly written of as the most interesting exposition of cricket seen in Cup matches 011 the Basin Reserve for several seasons past. Be-' low will be seen the full scores in eacli game;— OLD BOYS v. MIDLAND. OLD BO\S. —First Innings. Staples, run out ... ... ° _ Jacobs, c Holdswortli, b Upham ... e Blacklock, b Upham ... « Douglas, b Upham ... . jg Sanderson, not out ... t> * Wilson, run out ... ... g Kirkcaldie, b Tucker ... tt> i. Ralph, b Upham ... ... j Odlin, c Hoidswcrth, b Tucker ... 2 Gilmer, 1.b.w.. b Upham ... ... McGowan, b Upham ... ... g Byes 16, leg-byes 2, no ball l"’ 19 Total ... ... ... ... 224 Bowling Analysis. Upham, 19.4 overs, 5 maidens, 41 runs, G wicketsTucker, 17 overs, 4 maidens, 30 runs! 2 wickets; Stephenson, 7 overs, 2 maidens, 8 runs; Holdswortli, 8 overs, 4 maidens, 11 runs; Hutchings, 3 overs', 15 runs. MIDLAND.—F'rst- Innings. Holdswortli, b Ralph 53 Williams, st Blacklock, b Staples 62 Stephenson, b Staples ... ... 8 Tucker, b Staples ... 1 Hickson, c Jacobs, b Staples ... 2 Quee, not out 12 Manson, not out 18 Byes 9, leg-byes 3 . 12 Total for five wickets 173 WELLINGTON v. PHOENIX. WELLINGTON.—First Innings. Richardson, not out 1@ Gore, run out & Hickson, c Naughton, b Pope ... 32 Ashholt, b Pope 8 Weybourne, b Benbow 7 Taylor, l.b.w-., b Greenfield ... 7 Crombie. b Hickey ... ... 62 Girdlestone, st Saunders, b Hickey . 2 Izard, run out ... ... ... 5 Hales, c Carswell, b Hickey ... 0 Connell, c Taylor (sub.), b Hickey 2 Byes 13, wide 1 14 Total £46 Bowling Analysis.—Hickey, 24 overs, 8 maidens, 53 runs, 4 wickets; Benbow, 21 overs, 6 maidens, 54 runs, 1 wicket; Greenfield, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 21 runs, 1 wicket; Pope, 15 overs, 1 maiden, Gi runs, 2 wickets, 1 wide; Waters, 4 overs,29 runs; Harris, 3 overs, 1 maiden, 15 runs. PHOENIX.—First Innings. Midlane, run out ... 7 Waters, b Connell ... ... 7 Naughton, c Hickson, b Connell ... 1 Saunders, run out ... s?•* Carswell, c Richardson, b Connell -1V Benbow, b Connell ® Hickey, not out Harris, c Hales, b Connell * Byes 6 “ Total for seven wickets •••