CRICKET

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1617, 25 February 1903, Page 53

CRICKET

(By “The Hittite.”)

There is likely to be some cricket played at the Basin .Reserve on Saturday, the occasion being the second meeting between the Wellington and Midland teams, each of which is capable of fully extending the other. The change will be most iveloome, for the senior games of late have degenerated greatly. Bast Saturday’s games were the abomination of badness. There was some hard hitting at times, and on the whole the ground fielding was f&ir. but the catching was execrable, and there was a lackadaisical. aspect about the competitors that tired the onlookers. Bor the 479t1i time this writer recommends Wellington cricketers to do less batting practice and spend the extra time in the outfield. The team picked to represent New Zealand against fiord Hawke’s team is or about sufficient ealihre to avert a defeat by one innings if it plays hard. It would be profitless to discuss at length the constitution of the team now that the mischief has been done. Two examples (\\ ellington ones) will suffice- as well as a hatful would. Mahony (in this writer's opinion the best batsman in Now Zealand, and an excellent wicket-keeper to boot), has been passed over in favour ol Boxshall, who on the very best showing is only a little better than Mahony as a wicket-keeper and as a batsman a smiter of the., purely village-green variety Mahony, it may be mentioned, notified the selectors some days before the team was published that he would be- available for the match, so the excuse about his initial hesitancy on the question is a weak one. Then Richardson, to the surprise of almost everybody, has been pitchforked into the team on the strength of old performances, to the detriment of better players, if recent form (the only dependable criterion) be considered. There are at least half-a-dozen men in the colony who could better have filled the position. This writer is willing to that Richardson may possibly justify his selection by striking his old form and wearing down the bowling, but the real point of the matter is that on recent form Richardson should not have been given this chance. The players who by good form have earned a right to preference should not be deprived of that right. The semi-final match between North. Sydney and Leichardt-Ralmam, played at Leichardt a fortnight or so since, seems to have been a very thrilling event. The match, saj*s the “Sydney Mail,” was in an interesting stage on the last day, North Sydney requiring to get 341 to wm. The public thought it next to impossible for that team to play two great games in succession, and it would have caused no surprise even to ihe most sanguine if ' North had lest. fieichardt-Balmain had their usual bowlers. Duckworth. Young and Sullivan, supplemented by Ivolkard, who has been performing sensational batting and bowling feats for Callan Park team —it is only a couple of issues ago that I published his performances. R. A. Duff was soon out for 11, he being caught by Pitt, who was fielding as a substitute. Hopkins retired at 30 and Hickson at 13, and the hopes of the local people rose very high. Iredale and Hadden, the heroes of the 'victory against W aver ley, added a substantial number, and then Haddon was sent pavilionwards for 25. The fifth wicket fell at 148, and ISB yet wanted. Iredale was still there, and hitting hard. With three wickets to fall 72 were required, and the chances of the game were for a third time in the innings a good deal in favour of Leichbardt-Bal-main. Hartigan played up well, and Carlton added just double figures, but when Ellis and Pitt become associated for the last wicket 30 were wanted. Pitt played in dashing style for 42, and was still in possession, when Ellis lost his wicket at 17, and North secured an exciting victory by 28 runs.

THE ENGLISHMEN'S TOUR. INVERCARGILL, February IS. The Englishmen commenced a match against a Southland fifteen to-day. The local men were disposed of for 87. The highest scorers were Tapley 25, Wilson 13, Kean 11, Poole 10. The Englishmen made 107 in their first innings. Bosanquet was highest scorer with 47. Keenan took four wickets for 18. Taylor five for 59. The home team have lost four wickets for 15 in their second innings. INVERCARGILL, February 19. The match between Lord Hawke’s team and a. Southland fifteen was resumed to-day in showery weather. The innings clo'Sed for 104, making the grand total 191. Wilson made 28, Burnes 23 and Thompson 17. The Englishmen made the 85 necessary to win for the loss of two wickets. Buruup made 3-1 not out. MATCH AGAINST THE SOUTH ISLAND. DUNEDIN. February 21, The cricket match between the Englishmen and a South Island eleven was commenced to-day. The weather was fine. The attendance was five thousand. The visitors won the toss, and went in first. They monopolised an excellent wicket until 4.40, and put on 314. In less than an hour remaining they made such a show of the South Island team as to have the match well in hand. The gate money on Monday will suffer. The English skipper and Burnup opened carefully, and 66 was up before the first wicket fell. Three more of the visitors were disposed of in somewhat quick succession, four wickets being down for 81. Then Taylor and Bosanquet put a different complexion on the game. They piled on runs quickly, and 223 was on the board before a separation came. Both men played the bowling confidently and freely, despite several changes. Taylor gave a chance

of stumping before lie had scored, and Bosanquet gave two chances off successive balls when he was 28, Dhwncs being in each case the sufferer. The fielding of the South Island team was very good, though occasionally ragged. The skipper persevered rather much with Callaway, and did not givo Fisher, who comes out with a better average, a second opportunity. Ongley did not troublo the batsmen very much. The display of the South Island team was most" indifferent, and. a total of seven for 32 does not read like the real form of the team. Hargreave and Thompson were in great bowling form, and gave none of the men time to play themselves into form. The light was not too good, but the fact appeared to bo that the South Islanders wore out bolero they went in. Scores: ENGLISHMEN.—First Innings. Warner, b Fisher ••• ••• 37 Burnup, lbw, b Fisher ... ... 29 Fane, c Wilson, b Fisher ... ... 3 Taylor, lbw, b Callaway ... ••• 103 Dowsoh, b Downes ••• 0 Bosanquet, c Orchard, b Howell ... 82 Thompson, c Callaway, b Onglev ... 3 Johnson c Orchard, b Downes ... 21 Stanning, not out ... ... 12 Beat ha m, b Downes ... ... 8 Hargreave, lbw, b Downes ... 1 Extras ... ... ... ••• 10 Total ... ... ... 314 Bowling Analysis.—Downes, 197 balls, 7 maidens, 102 runs, 4 wickets; Fisher, 90 balls, 3 maidens, 53 runs, 3 wickets : Callaway, 132 balls, 2 maidens. 87 runs, 1 wicket: Howell 42 balls, 34 runs, 1 wicket; Ongley, 30 balls, 28 runs, 1 wicket. SOUTH ISLAND.—First Innings. Reese, c Leatham, b Hargreave ... 4 Siedeherg, b Thompson 9 Wilson, lbw, b Hargreave ... ... 8 Howden, b Hargreave ... ... 2 Ongley, not out ... ... 2 Orchard, b Thompson ... ... 1 Fisher, b Thompson ... ••• 0 Downes, c Dowson, b Hargreave ... 5 Extra 1 Total for seven wickets ... 32 REPRESENT ATI VE PLAYERS. Mr Fowke has selected the following team to represent New Zealand against the Englishmen on February 27th, 28tli and March 2nd: —C. Boxshall (Canterbury, S. Callaway (Canterbury), A. Downes (Otago), A. Fisher (Otago), F. S. Frankish (Canterbury), D. Hay (Auckland), C. Hickson (Wellington), B. McCarthy (Taranaki), D. Reese (Canterbury), C. Richardson (Wellington),. A. Sims (Canterbury), K. Tucker (Wellington). Twelve men have been picked, but one will be excluded from the team on the morning of the match. SATURDAY'S SENIOR GAMES.

Saturday’s senior games were quite below par. Wellington fielding has always been bad, but on Saturday it was awful. The catches that should have been made, but which were not, numbered some dozens. The batting was vigorous at times, but as a whole the play was very inferior. Following are details of the scores, from which it will be seen that the Wellington team has defeated Old Boys by an innings and 50 runs, and that Midland is likely to defeat Phoenix by a margin of about eight wickets: —- ' WELLINGTON v. OLD BOYS. WELLINGTON. —First Innings. C. Gore, run out ... ... ... 11 A. Gore, o Staples, b McGowan ... 20 S. Hickson, b McGowan ... ... 19 Mahoney, c McKenzie, b Ralph... 20 Weybourne, c J. P. Blacklock, b McGowan ... ... ... 8 F. Ashbolt, sfc C. P. Blacklock, b Tucker ... ... ... ••• IS Wilson, o McKenzie, b Ralph ... 3 Pery, b McGowan ... ... ... 63 Latham, cJ. P. Blacklock b Tucker 18 Richardson, b Tucker ... ... 27 Hales, not out ... ... ... 12 Byes 11, no-balls 3 ... ... 14 Total ••• ... ... ... 233 Bowling analysis.—Tucker, 36 overs, lOjnaiclens, 105 runs, 3 wickets; Ralph, 21 overs, 6 maidens, 56 runs, 2 wickets; McGowan, 20 overs, 5 maidens, 54 runs, 4 wickets; Ingles, 3 overs, 1 maiden, 4 runs. McGowan bowled three noballs. OLD BOYS. —Second Innings. Staples, b Latham ... ••• ... 0 J. P. Blacklock, cC. Gore, b Hales 0 Wedcle, oG. Gore, b Hales... ... 3 Ingles, run out ... ... ... 9 Tucker, c Weybourne, b Pery ... 23 Kirkcaldie, not out ... ... 27 Ralph, b Pery ... ... ... 6 C. P. Blacklock, run out 4 McKenzie, c Pery, b Hales ... 0 Wilson, b Hales ... ... ... 4 McGowan, o Weybourne, b Hales... 8 Byes 9, leg-bye 1, no-ball 1... 11 Total ... ... ... ... 95 Total first innings 88 Grand total _ ... ... ... 183 Bowling analysis.—Latham, 5 overs, 2 maidens, 8 runs, 1 wicket; Hales, 11 overs, 2 maidens, 38 .runs, 5 wickets; Pery, 6 overs, 38 runs, 2 wickets. Pery bowled one no-ball*

MIDLAND v. PHCEXIX. Phoenix, first innings ... ... 148 MIDLAND.—First Innings. C. Hickson, b Waters ... ... 04 Williams, o Brice, b Hickey ... 20 Weybourne, b Day ... ... 5 Houidsworth, c Chisholm, b Hickey 17 Quee, b Day ... ... ... 41 Smith, b Waters ... ... ... IS Davis, c Day, b Brice ... ... 15 Upham, b Brice ... ... ... 1 Moss, not out ... ... x ... 7 Read, e Niven, b Waters ... ... 0 Stephenson, c Day, b Brice ... 5 Byes 10, leg-byes 4 ... ... 14 Total 211 Bowling analysis. —Hickey, 20 overs. 2 maidens, 70 runs, 2 wickets ; Brice, 2.5 overs, 0 maidens, 51 runs, 3 wickets: Day, 20 overs. 8 maidens, 43 runs, 2 wickets; Waters, 14 overs, 5 maidens. 27 runs, 3 wickets. PHCENIX. —Second Innings. Chisholm, c Williams, b Upham ... 4 Naughton, b Stephenson ... ... 10 Brice, b Upham ... ... ... 0 Waters, b Stephenson ... ... 3 Hickey, b Upham ... ... ... 0 Lash, not out ... ... ••• 39 Day, c Weyhourne. b Upham. ... 25 Pearce, lbw, b Vphain ... ... 1 Niven, c Read, b Davis ... ... 0 Moore, not out ... ••• 8 Byes 9. leg-byes 4 ... ... 13 Total for eight wickets..* ... 109 This match will be continued this evening at 5.15. JUNIOR CTTAM.PIOXSHIP. Phoenix, continuing their first innings against Midland, made 141—McCardell 04. Shand 27, Ogicr 12. Mitchell obtained six wickets for 20 and Read two for 6. Midland, batting one short in their second attempt, made a poor showing, being ail out for 38 — Wind ley 14, Staples 11. Burns (who got six wickets) and Niven bowled remarkably well for Phoenix, -who, requiring 159 to win, have lost three wickets for 43 —Me Car deli 13 not out. The- Old Boys-Ga-s Company fixture was continued on the Basin Reserve, tho former team winning by «i:x wicisots. The Gas Company concluded their second 'linings for 96, having at one time lost seven wickets' for 35. The chief scorers were—North 24, Taylor 21, Hutchings 12. Smytho obtained four wickets for 47 and Girdlestone one for 3 Three men were run out. Requiring 130 to win. Old Boys secured them for tho loss of four wickets —Jacobs 36, Girdlestone 31, B. L. Salmon 17, Macintosh 25 not out, Jameson 14 not out. Tho Nowtown-College game was resumed on the college ground, when tl >' latter scored 176 in their second attempt. Turner got 39, Fred Alpe 33, Day 26, F. Plimmer 15, Frank Alpe 15 not' out, Hawthorn 12, Ivellijng 11. Firth (five for 00). Monaghan (three for 33) and McDougall (two for 22) bowled best for College, who have lost one wicket for 120 in their second innings. Firth played an excellent 57 not out; Hales got 45 not out, Monaghan 13. The game will be resumed at 5.30 this evening, when the College should have a comfortable win, only requiring 31 runs, with nine wickets in hand. THIRD-CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. College B scored 173 (Jordan 80 not out, Renner 03., Gifford 12 not out) for tho loss of two wickets against Midland A. The latter team compiled 152 (Snenco 77, Dixon 28). Bee (three for 40), Jordan (five for 50) and Renner (two for 11) divided the bowling honours for College B. In the College A-Phocnix B heat, the latter team obtained 310 (Alowat iOl, Wilson 63. Midi ano 33, Cunningham 31, Bray 18, Harvey 21, E. Ryan 12) and the" former 15 for the loss of one wicket. The best of the College A trundle rs were Brodie (throe for 48), Ross (three for 65) and Ward (two for 45). Phoenix A were not disposed of by Karori until 267 was hoisted on the board. Alii 1 ward (75), Roberts (53), Smith (35), E. B. Vance (30’. Lynam (21), Deslandes (13), Johnson (10) and “ extras ” (20) were the main contributors. Karori lost five wickets for 56 runs (Spiers 24 not out, Cathie 13 not out). Tho ' scores in the Wellington-John-sonville heat are —Wellington, 118 (Pearson 45, Pearce 36, Woon 11, Nash 11 not out); Johnsonville, 173 for the loss of three wickets (W. Moore 72. Cook 64, Luxford 14, Brown 10 not out) Picken (seven for 26) and W. Moore (three for 16) bowled well for Johnsonville.