CRICKET.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8572, 29 December 1888, Page 3

CRICKET.

WELLINGTON - v. NELSON. The annual cricket match between the 'Wellington ami Nelson representatives was , commenced on the Basin Reserve yesterday • morning. The weather was fine, although there was a cold south-east wind blowing. An excellent wieket had been prepared in the centre of the Reserve by Mr Twist, who deserving of all credit for the care and • attention he had bestowed on its prepara- < tion. The attendance was not large when play began, but it improved in the afternoon. The catering was in the hands of Mi God- ■ ber, who provided an excellent lunch. The teams were the same as published, with the exception of Motley, who played ;in place of Cotterill in the Wellington team, the latter being unable to get away. Dr ■ Collins captained the local team, and Mr Ford the visitors. The latter won the toss, and of course decided to bat, and it was - expected that Nelson would make a respect- • able score. The innings started fairly well, bat after the fall of the second wicket there was a complete collapse, four of the best wickets in the team falling for nothing. ■ Greenfield, who was top scorer, made his runs just when they were wanted, and he infused a little life into the play by hie vigorous hitting. Wood and Atkinson batted very nicely, butthe|othera madeavery feeble show. The innings closed for 60—a very small score indeed considering the state of the wicket, and the collapse of the visitors on such an • excellent wicket caused some surprise. Both Hewat and Gore bowled splendidly, and the • fielding of the Wellington men was also , good, very few, if any, mistakes being made. Moorbouse was in good form at the wickets. The Wellington men made a bid start, but when Moorhuuse and Salmon gob together, the aspect of affairs was considerably altered. Both played first-class cricket, and as a re- ■ eult of the partnership nearly 100 runs were added. Moerhouse played a tine dashing inn- , Inga for 63, which included nine fours and one five. It was quite a treat to see him lay the wood on. Salmon’s innings of 49 was also a very -fine display. fie played steady cricket throughout, and his defence was excellent. A. Blaeklook—who made the top score—is deserving of all possible praise for his really excellent performance. He batted with judgment, and bis bitting was effective all round. McGirr, who was not out, rattled no 47 by vigorous hitting, but his innings was rather a luoky one. R. Blaeklook iplayed carefully for his 20, and the same may bo said of Morey. Generally, the display of batting by the Wellington men was brisk and vigorous, and in strong contrast to what has usually been the case in representative mat-he*. The fielding of’ the Nelson men on the whole was very good—although, now and then it was rather loose. Wood and Atkinson were about the best of them. They were placed at a disadvantage owing to Cooke, their best -bowler, being disabled early in the match. Messrs A. Ashbolt and R. Topliss officiated • as umpires. Atkinson and Wood were the first to re. •present Nelson at the wickets to the bowling of Hewat and, Gore. The first score in the •match was made by Wood snicking Gore for 3. Atkinson put Gore to leg for 1, and Wood hit the same bowler to long, leg for 4. A single to each batsman and the first 10 appeared. The scoring was very slow, both men playing the bowling with the utmost; care. At 15 Wood gave a difficult chance to Salmon •off Gore, which was not accented. In Hewat’a next over Wood gave another -chance to Salmon at short-leg, whioh was taken ; 15 —I—ll.1—11. Fowler, a left-handed batsman, filled the vacancy. Several singles were scored, and 20 went up. Atkinson put . Hewat nicely to the on for a brace, and Fowler drove Gore to tho off for a single. - One more run was scored, and then Gore found his way to the left-hander's wicket with a yorker ; 25—2—4. Broad partnered Atkinson, but Hewat clean bowled the latter before the score was increased ; 25—3—8. Ford came next, but only to see Broad bowled by Gore. As Cooke joined his . captain the .telegraph showed 25 4—o. The newcomer played put the over, and then the field spread out in anticipation • of. some big hitting by Ford, but all to no , purpose, for Hewat clean bowled him first ball with a fast yorker ; 25—5—0. The last ■i four, wickets had fallen without a run being - added to the score. Cross joined Cooke, and i put Hewat nicely away to the on for a single. The same batsman , drove Gore for a couple . and a single, and then Hewat completely beat him with a fast one ; 296 —4. Green- , field became Cooke’s companion. In Gore’s next over Cooke ran out to ope, of his . straight ones, and, missipg, it,, paid the (penalty; 29—7—0. Humphries filled the • breach, and cut Gore couple. The bowler, however, had his revenge by clean bowling him next ball; 31 —B——2l. Eden came, next and played Gore’s last ball. Greenfield opened his shoulders to Hewat, scoring 10 off one over, two of them being fine hits for 4 each. Greenfield knocked one of Gore’s up near the wickets, and Moerhouse made a great effort to reach it, but without success. In the following over Hewat bowled Greenfield - 9 17. Bolton was the last man. A leg-bye and a single brought 50 up, and then Eden made an off-drive for 3 off Hewat, A, Blaeklook just saving the 4. Seven more tana were put 0n,.. and then Hewat beat Bolton with a beauty, and the innings closed for. 60 runs. An adjournment was then made' for Inndb. On resuming, tho Nelson men took the field, Salmon and Motley starting the battingfor Wellington. Salmon scored 1, off , Eden,. and then Motley was Smartly caught at the wickets by Ford half p dozen runs had been added,when Gore was given out Ibw to Eden, the. board, showing 6—2—2. Dryden f olio we J. Salmon mads a beautiful drive for ,4 off Cooke and 10 was regiateredi ' Salmon again put Cooke, to thejoff for a brace, and Dryden snicked the (Same’ bowler for 3, 'Wood,, by smart rnnpih& saving, the 4.. Both batsmen got Edep'away for 2, and then Dryden, snicked one of Cooke’s into the Blips, where Wood canght.it ; 17— 3—4. Mqorhouso partnered Salmon and cut Cooke nicely for 1, Wood fielding, the ball very smartly. The same batsman'again cut Cooke for 4. A couple of byes were run, a.sniok for 3, and a hit to leg'jfor. the same number by Moerhouse off Hoote jphtSO np. Moorhou'se returned a ball very hard to Cooke, and the latter in fielding it split one of his fingers, and was compelled to retire for a short time. During bis brief absence Broad took up the bowling. A beautiful drive to the ropes for 4 by Moorhouse off Cooke brought ,40 up. The next ball Moorbouse hit to long-leg for 5. The same batsman placed Eden to leg for 4, and •drove Cooke to the on for 2, bringing 60 up. Moorbouse made another fine drive tor 4 off ■Cooke, and Salmon put Eden to leg for a ' -couple. At 66 a doable change was made in the bowling, Broad relieving Cooke and "Wood, Eden. 'Moorbouse. bit the latter to leg for 4, and 70 appeared. The same 'batsman cut Wood’s first ball beautifully for 4, and Salmon placed Broad to square leg tfor a similar number. Moorbouse made a mine cut for a couple off Wood, and then hit •the same bowler to the boundary for 4, earning 80 to appear. Moorbouse here gave _a chance, to Humphries, but tho latter flipped in running to meet the ball. Ford was obliged to leave the field for a few minutes at this time, having received a severe blow on the band from Moorbouse. Each batsman ran a a ngle, and Moorbouse made a pretty on drive along tho turf for 4. Salmon got Broad away very prettily for 1, a second ran being got through bad returning—9o up. At 91 Bolton replaced Broad. Moorbouse knocked the new bowler’s second ball up to short leg, b«t there was no one there., Several singles were run, and Moorbouse brought the century up by hitting Bolton to the fountain for 4. He sent the next ball to long-leg for a similar numbsr. Singles and four for byes brought 110 up. Three runs were added, and this formidable partnership, 1 which had produced 96 runs, was dissolved, Moorbouse playing a ball from Bolton on to his wicket. R. Blaeklook succeeded Moorbouse, and opened his account by 'hitting Bolton to the on. for a single, and Wood to leg for 3, following this

np by driving Bolton to the trees —a beautiful hit—for 4. This brought 120 up. A check was put on the run getting for a time, Bolton especially sending down some good balls. Owing to the rather loose fielding of the visitors at this tune a large number of byes were run. At 140, Eden took up the bowling at Bolton s end. Blaeklook made a pretty cut for 3 off ood, but a little later on he played a ball from the same bowler on to bis wicket; 148—5 20. Dr Collins joined Salmon, and assisted in carrying the score to 166, when ho was clean bowled by Eden; 166—6—10. A. Blaeklook came next, and Bolton relieved Wood. When the score was 170, Salmon, who had been in since the beginning of the innings, was bowled by Eden ; 170—7 49. Morey filled the vacancy. Runs still came freely, and 180 was soon telegraphed. At 187, Broad went on in place of Bolton. A fine drive to the off by Blaeklook for 4 brought 190 up. Morey made several nice strokes, and then cut Broad for 3, which sent 200 up amidst applause. Three more runs were added, and Eden found his way to Morey’s wicket; 203 —B—ll.8—11. McGirr was the next batsman, and he soon set the field in motion. Both men hit very vigorously, and 230 was soon recorded. A few more runs had been put on, when McGirr gave Bolton an easy chance, which was not accepted. At 247 Cooke went oa in place of Edtn. A. Blacklock drove Wood to the - off for 4, which brought 260 up. The run-getting still continued, 4 after 4 being hit. At 281 McGirr gave a chance to Greenfield in the long-field, which was refused, and a little later on he had another life at the hands of Cooke, At 291 Cross went on and bowled underhand, and Eden relieved Cooke. At, 296 A. Blaeklook ran out to Cross, and missing it, was smartly stumped ; 296—9—69. Hewat was next man, and he sent Cross to long leg for 3. McGirr made a fine drive for 4 off Cross, bringing the third century up amidst great applause. Hewat got fairly hold of one of Cross’s slows, and sent it clean over the ropes, scoring the first 6 of the match. The end of a most eventful innings came at 314, Hewat being bowled by Eden. McGirr was not out with 47 to his credit.

After the usual interval the Nelson men, who required 254 runs to avert a one-innings’ defeat, began their second innings. Wood and Atkinson facicg the bowling of Gore and Hewat. When the score was 3, Wood was well caught in tho long - field by R. Blaeklook off Gore ; 3—l- 0. Fowler joined Atkinson, but only 4 runs had been added when the latter was neatly caught in the slips by Hewat off Gore ; 72 —3. Stumps were then drawn for the day. Following are the scores : Nelson-First innings. Atkinson, 1111121, b Hewat ... ... 8 Wood, 34121, c Salmon, b Hewat ... 11 Fowler, 1111, b Gore ... ... ... 4 Broad, b Gore ... ... ... ... 0 Ford, b Hewat ... ... ••• 0

Cooke, bGore ... ... 0 Cross, 121, b Hewat ... 4 Greenfield, 42411131, b Hewat ... ... 17 Humphries, 2, b Gore, ... ... ... 2 Eden, 1312 not out ... 7 Bolton, 2, b Hewat ... „ ... ... 2 Byes 3, leg-byes2 ... 5 Total - 60 Bowling Analysis. Balls. Runs. Mdns. Wkts. Gore ... 90 25 4 4 Hewat ... 85 30 2 6 Wellington— First innings. Salmon, 124121222244112211111111211 1111, b Eden ... ... ... ... 49 Motley, c Ford, b Eden ... ... ... 0 Gore, 11, Ibw, b'Eden .... ... ... 2 Dryden, 31, cWood, b Cooke ... ... 4 Moorhause, 143311142541241424412441, b Bolton ... 63 R. Blaeklook, 131412111131, b Wood ... 20 Collins, 11431, b Eden ... .. ... 10 A. Blaeklook, 11341131311224414133232 411444, st Ford, b Cross ... ... 69 Morey, 113222, b Eden ... 11 McGirr, 144124111211344111111124, not out ..." 47 Hewat, 3261, b Eden ... ... 12 , Byes 32, leg-byes 2, no-balls 2 ... 36 Total ... ... ... ... 314 Balls. Runs. Mdns. Wkts.

Nelson—First innings. Atkinson, 31, c Hewat; b Gore ... 4 Wood, o Blaeklook,' b Gore 0 Fowler, not out' ... ... ... ... 3 Total for 2 wickets ... 7 The match will be resumed at 11 o’clock this morning.

Cooks... ... 72 '68 1 1 Eden .;. ... 163 57 4 6 Broad... ... 42 26 0 0 Wood... ... 144 84 1 1 Bolton 65 28 3 1 Cross... 18 23 0 1