CRICKET.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 7707, 15 February 1886, Page 3

CRICKET.

ASSOCIATION MATCH.

On Saturday afternoon the Basin Reserve was the scene of a match between a Trial Eleven and a Fourteen, arranged in order to allow Mr Firth, the selector of teams, an opportunity of testing the merits of the candidates for interprovinoial honors. As was expected, when the names of the respective aides were published, the contest proved to be a very evenly-contested one, and although the scoring waa low—considering the strength of tbe batting of both teams—some at least of the players whose el»ims to a place in tbe representative team were looked upon as doubtful, had ample opportunity of showing their form. Prominent among these was Roberts, whose batting this season bat been inconsistent with his performances of previous seasons. On Saturday, however, his old skill returned to him, and he played not only the highest aud the prettiest innings in tbe match, but one of the wry best we have ever seen him play. Patting on one side Cox, Heenan, and R. Blackiock, who fully maintained their reputation, and Lawson, Nicholis, and McGicr, who are all generally looked upon as certainties, ns come to Gore, a decidedly rising young “ all-round" player. Of his batting iu this match one bad not much time to jndge, as after scoring 6, including a fine off-driva for 4, he was bowled off his pads by a bail which kept very low, and one which would have brought about the downfall of many a better cricketer. Patrington, an undoubtedly good bat, was even more unfortunate, as he was ran oat through bis partner relating to badge when called, although the run was safe. 0. Dryden failed to come off either with bat or ball and Whiteside also succumbed after scoring a single. Of tho Fourteen, special mention mast be mads of McCausiand and A. Blackiock, who both batted and fielded extremely well. The former scored remarkably fast off both Lawson and MoGirr, and seemed stuck up only: by Gore, who eventually bowled him. A. Blackiock played in earnest, careful stylo, and wae thoronghly set J—a run out, Motly ; played a mainly wftli at point. Of

defensive game., ana • . * the bowlere for the Eleven. Lawson seemed quite off the spot, and MoGir was not at all caoeesafal until bis second essay, when he procured ’ the’ downfall of four wickets in ample succession. Gore bowled fairly wbll, as did Roberts, bat the two “demons _ turned qp ia thp persons of Go* apd Whiteside, who Veie tried last. JTor the Fourteen, Kirkor bowled w*U fop a time, bufc : eveqtqaljy went off, and was then iieyerely pjxalabed. BpualdBon and W. Dryden did by far the roost execution; and-although the latter gained ■much the . bast average,; it must- pot be forgotten that his confrere had stronger batting to deal with; It will bo noticed that nearly every available’ bowler in both teams waa tried, and it was perhaps mainly owing to the frequent- changes that the scoring was lower than might have been expected on a good wicket, " „ , Judging the play of Saturday and previous matches, we are inclined to express an opinion that, provided Mr Firth can secure tbe serVieeo of tbs hast men (who, it is to be hoped, tvjU be able to procure the neeeUs&ty Wellington will fcV represented agaiort Hawses Bay by one of tbe strongest all-round teams she has ever sent into the field, despite its being composed solely of numbers of pity dabs.

Onenoticeahlefignrewas absent from the ranks of the players on Saturday; although present 'On the 'field. We allude 1 to Mr'Sirth himself, end tru'd; we may be allowed to express a hope -n-ln which we feel ■assured most cricketers here will join' —that be will see' fit to include himself in the team, as, without taking into consideration his all-round ’ excellence as a player, his abilities as' d captain would alone entitle him to> a place. l -Without’him at the head the team could hot be regarded as a really representative one, ‘ Of Saturday’s match the annexed scores, taken in conjunction with' the above remarks, will be a sufficient description It Is only

necessary to add that, although during the partnership of McCausiand aud A, Blackiock, it appeared likely that the total realised by the Fourteen would be much larger than that scored byuthe Eleven, the expectation was not fulfilled, as after the departure of McCaus. land at 57 for two wickets the scoring was comparatively slow, and the fall of wickets the reverse ; the remit being a narrow victory for the Fourteen by 3 runs. Scores ;

TRIAt KLEVEN. Heenan, c Kirker, b Kreeft ... 18 Cox, )j Kreeft 6 Gore, b Kirker 6 R, Blackiock, b Ronaldson ... 19 Barrington, run out 0 Roberts, not out 40 C. Dryden, c Rigg, b Ronaldson... 1 Whiteside, b Ronaldson 1 Lawson, b W. Dryden 0 Nicholis (captain), b VV. Dryden 0 McGirr, c Kirker, b VV. Dryden 11 Byes, 3 ; leg byes, 3 9

Total ..-I°s Bowling analysis.—Xreeft, CO balls, 29 runs, 1 maiden, 2 wickets ; Kirker, 80 balls, 34 runs, 4 maidens, 1 wicket; Ronaldson, 50_ balls, 12 runs, 3 maidens, 3 wickets ; Rigg, 25 balls, 12 runs ; W. Dryden, 21 balls, 4 runs, 1 maiden, 3 wickets; Creeks, 15 balls, 8 runs.

tub fourteen. McCausiand, b Gore 39 Wilson, run out “ A. Blackiock, run out 23 Newbold, b Roberts 1 Motly, b Whiteside 13 Rigg, c Roberts, b McGirr ... 1 Knapp (captain), b McGirr ... 0 Kennedy, b McGirr 0 W. Dryden, b McGirr 1 Creeks, at Nieholl, b Cox 14 Ronaldson, c Gore, b Cox ... 0 Chapman, not out ’ Kirker, b Whiteside 2 Kreeft, b Whiteside •> Byes, 4; leg-bye, 1 •>

Total 108 Bowling analysis.—Lawson, 30 balls, 20 runs; McGicr, 00 balls, 23 runs, 3 maidens, 4 wickets; Gore, 45 balls, 17 runs, 1 maiden, 1 wicket; 0. Dryden, 13 balls, 13 runs ; Roberts, 40 balls, 14 runs, 2 maidens, 1 wicket; Whiteside, 29 balls, 8 runs, 2 maidens, 3 wickets ; Cox, 20 balls, 8 runs, 2 wickets. THE HAWKES BAY MATCH. Mr Firth, the selector, has picked the following twenty to practice for the Hankea Bay match : Roberts, Nicholis, Lawson, Heenan, MoGbr, Cox, Gore, Partington, W. Dryden, R. Eiaokiook, C. Drydeo, MoCansland, Kirker, A. Blackiock, Wilson, Ronaldson, Kreeft, Chapman, Motly, Whiteside. Batting aud fielding practices will be held every evening during this week from 4 to 6.30. As the selector will very largely consider fielding ability in picking the team, players will no doubt bo on their mettle in that department of the game. The final selection will be made on Thursday. As the Canterbury Association owes Wellington a visit, it would be as well if some definite arrangements were made in the way of fixing dates for the match. ASHLEY v. MIDLAND (2nd ELEVEN). A return match, Ashley v. Midland (2nd eleven), was played on Newtown Park last Saturday, and proved exciting, the Midland team winning by 4 runs. Scores—Midland, 61 (Danks 14, Rolling 12. A. Isherwood 11); Ashley, 57 (Haldane 23, Rose 9, and Smith 8). Haldane, always so useful to the Ashleys, again proved himself their premier bowler, taking 6 wickets fnr 19 ; while Easton, for the winners, also obtained a good average (8 wickets for 19 runs). Lionel Isherwood was too unwell to show bis usual form, both with bat and ball.