NEW ZEALAND V. VICTORIA.

Thames Star, Volume xxx, Issue 9308, 21 February 1899, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND V. VICTORIA.

Vress Association-Electric Telegraph Copyright

MELBOURNE, .February 20. The remaining New Zealand wickets fell before lunch. . - ; Aehbolt played a dogged innings, and perhapß might have made a good deal more of some of the stuff sent down. He preferred, however, to take every precaution to keep his wicket up. , Boxshall's work was sound. The rapid fall of the first five Vie torian wickets, including Graham and Worrall, who was expected to be ex* pensive, raised the hopes of the New Zealanders greatly. 1 Stuckey's dashing play, and MeMister, assisted by Murray, put another complexion on the game. The three last named had the bowling at their mercy. Frankish, whose style was greatly admired, had hard luck at the < hands of the field. He should have had another wicket at least to his credit. With these exceptions, however, the New Zealanders fielding was first class. Sime, Ashbolt, Downes. Reese, and Oobcroit must specially be singled out for clean work, while the Maorilanders' bowling was vastly superior to the locals. The fact of twenty four being scored off his first two overs, led to Downes' speedy withdrawal. He was tried again late in the day, with better success. The locals scored rapidly, knocking !up the first century in an hour and ; five minutes. i The contest is likely to be a good i one, and it has been decided to play it out. i " Observer," writing in the Argus, 1 says it is remarkable that while showing very good form with the bat, nearly all the New Zealanders fell to , the simplest catches. From the style jof Prankish everyone hopes a good I left hand bowler has been discovered. iLike Noble, he seems to have the knack of curling the ball in the air, alternating with a slight break to the I right hand of the batsmen. i Worrall and McMichael faced Downes and Uptiam; The former lifted the Dunedinite's fourth ball over the fence, ten resulting off the o?er. Worrall hit out merrily at Downes. After lunch, Frankish relieved Downes. „,■,„« j The change checked Worrall's free hitting. McMichael played one of Frankisn. s third over on to the wicket. Graham succeeded, but only a half idozen were added, when Frankish in the next over knocked Worvail's bails off. Layer came iiext. Frankish's first ball was nearly fatal to him. The excellent bowling made run going slow. At sixty-nine, Reese relieved Upham. i Graham commenced hitting brilliantly, and the first century quickly appeared. IJpham succeeded Frankish. At 100, Graham lauded his second ball to Downes at point. Stuckey filled the vacancy. Another eight was added, when Layer touched one to Baker at slip. I Armstrong followed, only contributing six t when Downes snapped him up at point. McAlister succeeded him. Frankish took Upham's place. At a hundred and thirty-nine, Stuckey punished Reese severely, and made some fine cuts to the fence. After the tea adjournment, Stuckey, with thirty-six to his credit, had a life at the hands of Boxshall behind the wickets. TJpham took Reese's place, At 162, Stuckey, with forty to his credit, skied one, but Downes dropped it. whicn "was a bit of hard luc£ for Frankish, who was bowling splendidly. Stuckey had another life at Sims 1 hands off Frankish immediately after wards, and signalled his escape by bringing his half century up. At 192 Downes relieved Upham, Reese taking Frankish's place. McAlister brought the second century up, putting Reese to the fence. Both batsmen played the bowling confidently, McAlister pasting indiscriminately brought Frankish on 1 again. In Downes' over Stuckey, who played a tricky innings, tipped one to Boxshall. Murray was the new-comer. McAlister continued brilliant batting At 231 TJpham relieved Frankish. I Ihe bowling was now fairly collared i by both players and the scoring fast. | "Ashbolt replaced Upham at 251, i but McAlister still scored with great rapidity. Murray was also batting finely. The pair played out time. Later. | To-day's play was poorly attended. i The Victorians piled up runs at a 1 great rate, and the board showed 602 before the last man was got rid of. The following are the additional scores of the Victorians first innings:— MoAlister, c and b Downes .. 224 Murray, c Upham, b Downes .. 92 Wilson, b Downes .. .. 68 Honeybone, b Upham .. .. 0 Tarrant, not out .. .. 30 Extras 13

Total 602 I Bowling analysis.—Upham. 2 for 135, Reese 2 for 113, Downes 4 for 127, Frankish 2 for 127. Murray was dismissed by Upham, who made a brilliant catch in the slips off Downes.. Various changes of bowling were resorted to, but McAliater continued to paste everything with impartiality. With his score at 149 he gave his only chance, which Upham declined, With a deticit of 285 Ashbolt and Sims opened the second innings for New Zealand, and played out time, the former having 9 and the latter 6 to their credit.