CRICKET.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 7370, 9 January 1885, Page 3

CRICKET.

AUCKLAND y. WELLINGTON.

The interprovincial cricket match, Auckland v. Wellington, was commenced on the Ba<dn Reserve yesterday morning, and so far as it baa gone at present the visitors appear to have the best of it, their score being 224 in the first inning*, while the Wellington eleven have put on 124 for 8 wicket*, leaving them 100 to get to tie the first inning’s score with two wickets to fall. Play was commenced at about a quarter-pant eleven, the number of spectators then on the ground being very small, although daring the afternoon the at* tendance was very largo. It had been anticipated that a change would be made ia the personnel of the team, in consequence of the inability of one of the selected eleven to get : away ; but this was not so, every man picked I being present. The skippers were Mr W. W. I Robinson for the visitors, and Mr J. H. Wilson for the local team. The Aucklanders winning the toss, elected to bat, on a perfect wicket. The Wellington men were placed as follows ; Lawson and Holle started the bowling, Alps was long-stop, BUckhick and Rlgg coverpoint and loug-oa alternately, Cross slip, Nicholls wicket-keeper, Roberts and Brown long-off and long-leg alternately, Keenan short-leg and Wilson point. The umpires were—for Wellington, Mr Twist, and, subsequently, Mr Mclntyre; and for Auckland, Mr Reid. Barton and Teatro ware the first to appear to represent Auckland, the latter facing Lawson. Off the second ball of the over Teatro was given out leg before. o—l—o. Mills, who came next, negotiated two from Lawbod, and played the third on to his wicket. o—2—o, and the Wellington supporters jubilant. This concluded a somewhat sensational over from Lawson, and Holle started on Barton, who hit a bumpy ball into Blaoklock’s hands, and then scored the first run by a leg ' glance, putting on another single immediately afterwards. Stafford, who bad succeeded Mills, played very steadily, getting a fluky boundary hit In the slip* for 4. Run getting, however, was very slow, and it was some time before a single from Stafford brought 10 up. Barton cut one of Lawson’s, and Rigg mulling the ball, a 3 was scored for a boundary hit, a stroke by the same batsman immediately afterwards getting past the ropes for 4. These and an occasional single brought 20 up very shortly, Barton doing the lion’s share of the scoring. Both men now began to get set, and runs came pretty fast, Ho!ie seeming to suit the batsmen best. Presently this bowler was taken off, and Roberts, who went on in his place, bowled bis first over for 1. 30 and 40 appeared ou the board, Roberta bowling unusually well, and the fielding of the Welling- ! tonians as a whole being very good. Lawson, 1

at the far end, was bowling iu rare form, the batsmen being evidently not at saie with bis trundling. At 42 Stafford was magnificently stumped by Nicbollsoff Lawson, having made 19 by good, though at times rather flaky, play. 42—d—19. Cozon partnered Barton, and 50 came op speedily, both men putting on runs quickly by pretty cricket. On the half* century appearing, Roberts was superseded by lligg, off whom several clean bits were made by each batsman. 60 and 70 came up in the next few overs, Barton making some very well-jugded hits to leg. At 80, both batsmen still scoring freely, Gross went on in place of liigg. Off his fir*fc over Cozon bit one fair into Heenan’s bands at mid-off. The hr ’hich ' ■ , '' r newbi

jance, however, wL was a somewhat eaaj one, was not taken, and the batsman showed his gratitude by hitting Lawson bard for 4 immediately aftorwawi* °

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Holle went on in place of Lawson, who had bowled right through, so far, in excellent form. At 9-4 Barton had a narrow escape from being' run out, the fieldsman not being quick enough in returning. Shortly afterwards a 4 by Coxon, off Cross, brought the hundred up, and Barton bad another life—a very difficult chance to Gross, at short slip. At 104 Coxon played one of Holla's on, and bad to retire. 104—

4 —Bo. The outgoing batsman made his rune by sterling cricket, and hie partnership with Barton was one of the features of the day’s play. Lynch, who came next, was bowled by Holla without adding to the score, which now stood at 104—5—0. Robin* son {the captain) filled the breach, and a bye for 4, off one of Cross’ fast ones, brought up 110. Runs came freely agaiji, the skipper making some excellent hits to leg, aud at 1 o'clock Lawson took Cross' place. The change, however, was not a very profitable one, the Auckland captain scoring re ry fast, while Barton adopted steady tactics. On adjourn' for h 'jh ' N half .hr '

ing for lunch at half past 1, the total was 145 for Sts wickets, Barton and Robinson being not out for 62 and 24 respectively. On resuming, Wilson went on to bowl at the southern end in place of Holla, who fielded at point. The batsman were soon at work, and 160 came up very shortly, Barton making several boundary hits. At 167 Lawson got a break-back past Robinson, who retired amidst loud applause from all parts of the field, after piling up 36 In a very short space of time by vigorous hitting ; 167—6—86. Swing partnered Barton, and Wilson went off in favor of Roberts. The newcomer opened his shoulders, and hit Roberts’ first clean over the ropes for 4 a boundary bit. The next ball proved fatal to him, however, for be bit into Heenan’s hands at long-off, where it was safely held, 174--7—6. Osmond came next, and tapped one of Robert’s to leg. No run was taken for the bit, but through mulling by the fieldsmen 3 were scored off it. A bye brought np 180. 130 soon afterwards appeared, and then Barton’s time came, Lawson bowling him at 101. The Auckland crack had played a magnificent innings, his bitting on both sides being well timed and judicious, his leg strokes being made in his very beet form. 191—8— 83. McCormack filled the vacancy, and scoring was very slow, the new comer doing most of it. The fielding at this juncture brightened up considerably,. Blactiock and Lawson doing some remarkably smart work. The batsmen, however began to warm to their work, and 200 speedily appeared. Almost immediately alter this Osmond was bowled by Roberts. 203—9 —B. Meldrum joined McCormack, and bit Roberts for a 2 and a single. Both men now began to bit ont, and 220 came up, Holle going on to bowl in place of Roberta. The change proved a good one, Holle taking McCormack's wicket with his second ball. This closed the innings, the score being 224. Following are the detailed spores : Auckland— First Innings, Testro, 0. Ibw, b Lawson ... 0 Barton, 11134113123334121112111421133211 1113311311412, b Lawson ... ... 83 Mills, b Lawson 0 Stafford, 14111U1111113, at NichoU, b Colon, 113111144141241, b Holle !!! 30 Lynch, bHolle... 0 Robinson (captain), 41142242111X4122111, b Lawson ... ... ... ... ... 36 Ewing, 114, c Heenan, b Roberts ... ... 6 Osmond, 143, b Roberts 8 McCormack, 134114, b Holle 14 Meldrum, 2144, not out 11 Byes, 4to m ... 17 Total... ... .., ~.224 BOWLING ANALYSIS. Lawson—l7s balls, 68 runs, 7 maidens, B wickets; Holle—S3 balls, 48 runs, 3 maidens, 3 wickets; Roberts—7o balls, 44 runs, 3 inaidens,_2. wickets ; Rigg—2s balls, 20 runs ; Cross—4s balls, 15 runs, 4 maidens; Wilson--15 balls, 12 runs. The Auckland men promptly took the field, Beeuan and Cross appearing to bat on behalf of Wellington at 4 o’clock. Meldrum opened the bowling at the southern end, Heenan fait a single to the on, the only score in the over, Mills bowling at the other end. Heenan added anoiher single la tills oyer, rpas coming very glowly. Presently, however, Heenan bit Meldrum bard to'leg for 2, Cross putting on a similar number by a hit off Mills.; The batsmen, although playing very cautiously, were. showing splendid form, Cross’ back play being particularly noticeable, A smart tit of fielding by Testro at long off is worthy of special mention, though the visitors were all fielding excellently- Heenan lifted Mills over the ropes for 8, bringing 10 up, and almost imme* - diately after made a similar bit. In Meldtam's next oyer, boweyer, Heenan

played back to a ball pitched wel up. and lost his wicket in conae q-ienc©. 14—1—It. Alpe joined Gross,, a , n -' hit up aa e*«y catch, which Lynch held 16 2—o. Blacklock Alpe, am; commenced very steadily, de»-liniog to ridi anything. Presently the new comer hit Mill' for 2, and brought 20 up, following up with a boundary hit for 4 off the sanu bowler. At 25 Cross was easily c.iughr. hy Ewing behind the wickets off his wrist. 25—3—6. Nicholln filled the breach, and 30 appeared on the telegraph, Blacklock ddng most of the scoring- After negotiating two or three overs Nicholls hit Meldrum hard to the on for 4, and a 2 off the same bowler to Blacklock brought 40 op. The latter was now getting well set, and opening his shoulders he made several big hits, principally off Weldrum, A boundary leg bit for 3 to Nicholls, and 60 appeared. Meldrum was now taken off bowling, and Lynch substituted. The change did n«*t produce any immediate good result, both Nicholls and Blacklock scoring freely, and bringing 60, 70, and 80 up in rapid succession. The scoring being now rather rapid, Stafford went on bowling in place of Mills, and Robinson superaoeding Lynch. These changes were rather beneficial, the scoring receiving a palpable check, but only for a very short interval ; for both men beginning to get used to the bowling, the hundred being reached by a boundary hit to the off by Nicholls. Meldrum now went on at the northern end in place of Stafford, and in lbs next over the Auckland skipper bowled Blacklock, who had made 51 by grand cricket, his bitting being welltimed and clean, and his defence strong. Wilson joined Nicholls, who Immediately afterwards was given out Ibw to Meldrum, having contributed 32 by sound play. Brown came in in time to see the Wellington captain clean bowled by Robinson. 105—6—0. This was a rather sudden change from the fast scoring which had just been witnessed, three wickets having fallen without adding to the score. Roberta partnered Brown, and the play for a time was very alow. Eventually, just before time was called, Roberts was given out log before to Robinson. 123—7—6. The outgoing batsman had played careful cricket for bis runs, and was rather anfortunate in getting oat as he did, leg before :o a left-arm bowler bowling round the wicket. Rlgg, the next man, was caught by Stafford it mid-on for 1. 124—8—1. Following are the letailed scores so far

Wkllinoton— First Innings. Keenan, 112133, b Meldrum XI Cross, 222, c Ewing, b Mills... 6 Alpe, c Lynch, b Meldrum ... 0 R. Blacklock, 241133112434U14414114. b Robinson 61 Nicholls, 43133232323111, Ibw, b Meldrum 32 Wilson (captain), b Robinson 0 Roberts, 12111, Ibw, b Robinson 7 Brown, 1113, not out ... ... 6 Rigg, 1» Stafford, b Robinson ... ... 1 Extras 10 Total for eight wickets 124