CRICKET IN THE ’SIXTIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 11 June 1924, Page 9 (Supplement)

CRICKET IN THE ’SIXTIES.

EARLY MATCHES,

In common with other field sports, the date of the actual beginning of cricket in South Canterbury is more or less uncertain. In a wide and sparsely populated district such as South Canterbury in the ’sixties, any organised form of sport was practicaly impossible, and only on public holidays, -which in those days were not very frequently occurring, could sides be picked and matches played. At a sports gathering held in Timaru on January 14, 1863 a match was played by sides chosen by Mr F. Wilson and Mr Massey. According to an account of the match, Wilson’s side went in first and made 74 in two innings. The other side responded with 60 runs, and in their second, passed the other total with still nine wickets to fall, but owing to the ladies being impatient for the rest of the sports to commence the game was then abandoned. On March 25th of the same year a match was played between the Arowhenua and Timaru Clubs at Arowhenua. The home team compiled 50 runs in their first innings and won the game, the Timaru team being able to knock up only 32 in both innings. Tne original Timaru Cricket Club had evidently not been in existence very long when it was decided to disband tne club and form a new body, and on October 22 and 29, 1866 meetings were held when twenty members were enrolled. A match with Arowhenua was played by the newly formed club at Washdyke on December 12, and resulted in a win for the former club by three wickets. The local club compiled 50 runs in their first strike and 36 in their second, while Arowhenua compiled 44 in

each innings, the first including 18 extras. Simmonds captained the Timaru team and Massey the country eleven. Messrs Bristol and Coleman acted as umpires, and Messrs McKenzie and Seymour as scorers.

Commenting upon this match the “Herald” of December 19th states that the bowling of E. Dryson and of Forward was deserving of special mention. Messrs Cuff, Simmonds and Perry were the highest scorers, their free hitting being very much admired. The Timaru men were all disposed of for 50 runs, and their antagonists then handled the willow., Messrs Cuff 'and Perry talcing up the bowling, which was really first rate. Messrs G. Dyson and A. Cox were the highest scorers, the former, especially, defending his wicket with great judgment. The fielding of the Timaru representatives was anything but good, and their defeat was generally looked upon as due to their having allowed their opponents to run up so large a number of byes during their first innings. From that date onwards the game gradually began to develop, although it was many years later before organised competitions were held, and not until 1908 that the South Canterbury Gicket Association affiliated with the New Zealand Cricket Council.