CRICKET.

Waikato Times, Issue 12784, 3 February 1914, Page 4

CRICKET.

Australia v. South Auckland. TO-DAY'S MATCH. For the first time in. the history of the VVaikato, Hamilton has been favored with a visit from an overseas cricket combination. The Australian representatives, who arrived in Hamilton yesterday, commenced their New Zealand tour at Seddon Parle to-day with a match against the pick of South Auckland. This fixture will undoubtedly inaugurate a new era in local cricket, and will stimulate the game both from the public and the players' point of view, which of recent years has been sadlv needed. Unfortunately the weather conditions are unpropitious, and owing to the heavy showers which fell last night and during the day the outfield is dead. The following are the team's : AUSTRALIA. M. A. Noble (captain), W. W. Armstrong, W. McCail, C. McKenzie, A. A. Mailey, H. L. Collins, L. A. Cody, W. McGregor, E. L. Waddy, C. E. Dolling, and V. S. Ransford. SOUTH AUCKLAND. Sarah, Ross. Christiansen (K ing Country), Aldred and Kemp (Manukau), Williams (Waihi), Hill (Morrinsville), Tompkins, Connolly, Lentfer (Frankton), Neild, Shepherd (captain), Pomeroy (2), Hawke, Loveridge, Turbott, and Lafferty (Hamilton). Umpires : Messrs Dymock and Baneham. j Owing to the sbdden nature of the pitch it was finally decided to plav on matting.

SOUTH AUCKLAND AT THE WICKETS. EIGHT WICKETS FOK 104 RUNS. Noble was successful with the toss, and elected to send the locals in to bat and at 12 o'clock they opened up with J. Pomeroy, and Neild. The latter took the initial over from Collins from the Frankton end, and off the final ball notched a single. Mailev took up the attack from the mill end, but after two balls had been delivered the match was temporarily abandoned owing to a sharp shower. On resuming Neild drove Mailey to the boundary for four. Off his initial ball I omeroy pulled the same trundler to square leg for a single. In the next over lie repeated the dose b\ hitting ( ollins to the on, and immediately afterwards a no-ball accounted for two runs. Noble relieved Mailey at the bowling crease, and Pomeroy welcomed him by culling him for a single. Neild played the rest of the over out in steadv fashion, the only other score being four byes. In ( ollins next ball Pomeroy, with a correct stroke, drove him for a single, and in the next delivery Neild followed suit. Ihe same player pulled Noble's fifth delivery to leg for a single after displaying sound defence throughout the over. I" 'he next over Collins disturbed Neild s hails with a "trimmer" after jo minute.s' play—one wicket for 10 runs. Aldred was the incoming batsman, who saw Pomeroy snick a risky one through the slips. Off Noble's last ball I he Hamilton player added another single. Next bail Pomeroy It 11 a victim to Collins, Noble acci pting a neat catch at first slip— two wickets for 24 runs. Hill became associated with Aldred, and played a maiden from Collins. In the next six balls Aldred added a single 10 'he tally, and Hill was responsible for a boundary through the slips. After adding four to his total Aldred was dismissed by the fast bowler, Collins, through the agency of Noble in the slip-—three wickets for runs.

Williams joined Hill. Armstrong took up the trundling at the Frankton end, and threw down some tempting "lobs" to Hill, who. however, was not to he templed, and a maiden was the result. Off the last ball of the next over Williams drove Collins to the on boundary with a splendid drive. | n the meanwhile Armstrong was keeping Hill very quiet. the latter treating the slow breaks with great caution.

At Ihe luncheon adjournment South Auckland had lost three wickets for runs.

I'LAY RESUMED. Ileavy showers of rain caused considerable delay, but at 2.45 p.m. the not out batsmen—Mill and Williams—resumed, the latter taking strike to Collins, and notched four of the first ball. Armstrong took up the bowling at the other end, and almost accounted for Hill with his second delivery. Ilill, however, had his revenge, and drove Armstrong for a single next ball. Off the last toss ot the over Williams swung the tall Victorian to the ropes for four. Play at this stage was of the slow order, neither batsman taking any unnecessary risks, and maidens were the I order of play. I

Hill broke the monotony by a single to leg off Collins, and Williams followed his example with a single past the trundler.

Immediately afterwards Hill added a further brace to the tally by swinging Collins to leg.

At this stage Williams adopted aggressive tactics, and. collected a few

singles by lofty shots. Hill, with 8 to his credit, walked out to Armstrong, and McGregor removed the bails—four wickets for 54 runs.

Loveridge appeared at the wicket, but immediately lost Williams, who touched one into McGregor's hands*— five wickets for 54 runs. W. Pomeroy was next, and first ball was caught and bowled by Collins off a no-ball. Loveridge opened up his account by a single off Armstrong to cover point, and Pomeroy did the same by a quickly run single. -*

Pomeroy brought 60 up by dragging Armstrong to leg for a single, and next ball Loveridge swung the same trundler to fine leg for a brace. Runs at this stage were coming very slowly, Collins, who was mixing his deliveries with rare judgment, keeping the batsmen quiet. Lpveridge was responsible for . the rtext run, and through indifferent .fielding was awarded an overthrow. Pomeroy added another to the list, and off the first ball in' Collins' next over: Loveridge registered two by a correct drive,

In Armstrong's next over Pomeroy retired, having his bails removed by an off-break—six wickets for 70 runs. Shepherd was the incoming batsman, but walked out, turned round, and came straight back again, being splendidly caught by Mailey at short square leg off Armstrong—seven wickets for 70 runs. Hawke became -associated with Laveridge, and scored a single first ball. Noble took the ball from Collins, and was welcomed by Hawke clouting him to the square leg boundary for four and a sir.gle off the final delivery.

At this stage Armstrong's "slows" came in for scant treatment at the hands of Hawke, who. swung him to leg'for six twice in succession. Noble, however, kept the run-getters quiet from the other end with his accurate deliveries, and very few runs were scored against him.

Hawke, after adding a further four, had his wickets scattered by Noble after a merry innings—eight wickets for 03. Tompkins tilled the breach, anil started with a single first ball oif Noble. He did not appear to relish Armstrong, however, who had him tangled up on several occasions.

At this stage Loveridge livened up somewhat, and registered a boundary and two off Noble in quick succession with well directed shots. Tompkins at this stage became aggressive, and hit Armstrong to the ropes for a boundary, but the rest of the over was played out with great caution. Play was of the slow order, and remained so until the afternoon tea adjournment. 1 he following are the scores : SOU IH AUCKLAND.—First Innings. J. Pomeroy, c Noble, b Collins ... q L. Neild, b Collins g Aldred, c Noble, b Collins ... ... 7 Hill, -t ,\ I dinger, h Armstrong 8 \\ illiiMM*, e VM iregrfr-, b 1 Collins 16 Loveridge, not out 56 \\ . Pomeroy; b Armstrong ... ... Shepherd,- c Mailey, b Armstrong ... ,0 Hawke, b Noble ... Tompkins, not out i - Extras q Total for eight wickets 104