CRICKET.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5832, 24 February 1906, Page 7

CRICKET.

MELBOURNE v. WELLINGTON. HOME TEAM OUT FOH 121. THE VISITORS RATTING. Tho cricket match Melbourne C.C. v. Wellington wa*> commenced at D‘<-' Basin Reserve yesterday afternoon. Inc attendance at the outset was moderate, hut* quite a largo crowd put in an appearance during the later .stages of the Kamo. Thou rli line weather prevailed, there was a strong northerly wind, which, mado matters unpleiusant for spectators around the oval, whilst on the hold of play there was much ado to keep the hails on the stumps’. A really fird-clas* wicket had heon prepared hy Twist, and under the conditions a hotter scoring performance than wan witnessed might reasonably have Iw en anticipated. As it was. nellington, winning the toss—a decided advantage—went in first, and weie all tlirtposod of for 121. AVhen stumps wore drawn, the visitors ha*, lost one wicket (Vaughan's) for <lO runs. Tho teams wore;—Melbourne—W . \\. Armstrong (captaini, A. A. Aitkou, If. Fry, G. ila/.litt, G. Ilenty, M Irwin, 0 Laver O. McLeod, D. Mailer, \ . Hansford, and F. Vaughan. (Jennings (stood out.) Wellington—L"phani (eaptaiu), Rarron, 0. Hickson, ('. I’, and J. T. Hlncklnck, Hutchings. I uckcr, Monaghan, Rrice, Redgrave, and Meylionrne, Ale.ssis A. Wirea and C . ,Stephens were the umpires. Tucker and Hickson opened Wellington's I:i d. innings, McLeod and Arm■ strong howling. McLeod, trundling against the wind from the south end, got a lot of “devil” into lib dolivcmm He had ti knocked olf his first over hut lifter (hat tho batsmen steadied down considerably. Arnisiiougs slow iin’iitcs nnpcnml to Ih* particularly puss* /.ling, hour maidens were sent down in suctwsion. ami, with but one run added, Tuclier, who had been ill at ease from the iit-ai t, wan out leg bcfoie to Armstrong. 7—l—s.

timron f.IW the breach. and opened confidently. t coring a brace off the slow bowler. Hickson began to settle down to liis wor!: ; but play was again no I v slow, till' first ten overs only yielding 15. Then Hickson notched a brace twieo in .sneeeosion, and, with a single, sent 20 up. and readied double figures himself. The fielding of the visitors, who were beautifully placed, was at thin' stage smart and clean. Half an hour's play saw 2-1 runs on the board, and then Laver held a hot ono at midon, dismissing Barron. 2*1 —2—l. Redgrave followed, only to ueo ilickcon badly beaten by one from Armstrong, which curled right round his legs and scattered lust stumps. 21— n—ls.

Hutching* partnered Redgrave. Dio latter opened a little recklessly, _ and the former started his account with a lucky two to leg. After play of a slow description. Redgrave hit the first boundary of the day off Armstrong, and then survived an appeal for leg before. The ocore crept to 10, and Redgrave began (o bat with hotter judgment, but with 15 to his credit was clean bowled bv .McLeod. If—l—l 3.

Urico joined Hutching*, and started merrily, banging McLeod to the ropes and Bonding np 50. the result of_ an hour’s play. 1L; lifted another into tho long-field, which Butler just failed to get under, and then play slackened again. Urico tipped a fast one from McLeod, and Mailer brought off a good catch in t.ho slips. 52—5—C.

Tho hopes of Wellington supporters were a good deal dampened by this poor total. With half the fide out for (12 matters looked none too bright. On J. P. Blacklock becoming partnered with Hutchings, however, the two made a very useful stand. Both adopted hard-hitting tactics, and played nttriio•five cricket, trenting .Armstrong’s tricky ones warily, and leaving McLeod alone when ho bowled off tho wicket to his (slips. The batsmen gave the best exhibition of the innings, to that stage, and. but for the skilful placing of the field, must liavo scored more freely. As it was, many a good stroke wont for nothing. Blacklock laid on the wood to tho tune of four 4's in succession, and, with his partner, brought about a change of bowling, Butler going on at Armstrong’s end at 80. Tho change made no difference, tho batsmen continuing to display stylish cricket and timing their strokes well.. The fielding at thin stage grow a tittle slack. At 91 Blacklock, with 22 to biff credit, gave a hot chance off Butler to Vaughan, at cover-point, which was declined. Hatchings (whose score was also 22) was let off in McLeod's next over. Ho scooped one up between tho wickets. The bowler and wicket-keeper both went to take it, and both paused, tho ball'foiling between them. McLeod had his revenge a couple of balls later, clean bowling Blacklock. The partnership hod added 40 runs, 92 0 — 22.

Weybourno and Hutchings were partnered after the tea adjournment, when Armstrong wont on again in place of .Butter, awl only one run was added when ho howled tho newcomer. 93 7—l.

Monaghan filled the gap, and shaped * little uneasily to Armstrong, who was "mixing” his bowling in a puzzling way. Ono run later Hutchings’s career, which had been a vigorous one, was ended, Armstrong getting him log Wore. 94 S—2l.

0. P. Blaoklock only stayed with Monaghan for a few minutes. The latter gavo a difficult clvanoo to mid-on btforo ho had scored, and then Blacklook loft, leg-before to the slow bowler. M-9—o. Upborn and Monaghan now gave a more lively display for t.ho last wicket. Both batted well, Monaghan's placing of tho ball being noticeably good. Tho partnership had added 30 runs (Monaghan 16 and Upborn 11) when Monaghan wan smartly caught by Butler in tho long-field. Tho innings thus closed for 12-1. With throo-quartom of an hoifr to play, Mailer and Vaughan opened Melbourne's first innings. Monaghan bowling against tho wind and Tucker from tho north end. Both batsmen commenoed cautiously. Tho board showed hut 5 rims when Monaghan scattered Vanghan’s stumps. s—l—l. Hansford joined Mailer, and tho two played out time. Mailer, a safe, consistent hat, did most of the scoring, whilst Hansford, batting in good style, did not attempt much run-getting. -Redgrave and Upham wont on instead of tho original bowlers, but tho batsmen wore both unbeaten, with tho total at 10, when stumps wore drawn. Scores: — WELLLN'GTON.—First Innings. T ickcr, Ibw, b Armstrong ... 5 Hickson, b Armstrong 15 Barron, c Laver, b McLeod ... 4 Redgrave, b McLeod ... ... 15 Hutchings. Ibw, b Armstrong ... 24 Brice, o Mailer, b McLeod ... 0 .T. F. Blacklock, b McLeod ... 22 Wcybourno, b Armstrong 1 Monaghan, o Butler, b McLeod ... 10 <’. P. Blacklook, Ibw, b Armstrong 0

Upli.im, not out ... ... ... 11 Extras ... ... ... ••• A Total ... ••• 1-1 Armstrong tool: five wickets for 4% rann, McLeod live for 01, ami llntler nil for 7. MELBOU HN E. —First I a nings. Mailer, not oat Vaughan, h Monaghan ... ... 1 Hansford, not out ... ... 3 Extra 1 Total for one wicket Monaghan's wicket exist 10 runs. I’lay will he resumed to-day at main. OTAGO v. SOUTHLAND. 711E53 ASSOriATIOS. DUNEDIN. February 23. The cricket match Southland v. Otago was concluded yester*lay, ami i evoked in a win for Otago by seven wickets.