Cricket.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 193, 5 April 1894, Page 8

Cricket.

As I journeyed to the “ Do ” on Saturday with a few cricketing enthusiasts, the only subject discussed was, “ will the committee order the matches to be proceeded with.” Several maintained that it would not be fair to the batting teams should the games take place, whilst the remainder of our party considered that the new caretaker, with a view to preserving the turf, would manage to effect a postponement. All were unanimous in the belief that our journey would be in vain, but on entering the ground were agreeably surprised to find the different teams lined out, and the ground in by no means as bad a condition as we expected. No sooner had I taken my seat on the pavilion than Jack Arneill (a not out man in the Parnell — x ~nd match) foolishly tried to drag to square leg, a straight ball from Mills. The effort resulted in the usual way, and Jack retired to the pavilion, the scoring board showing 20 —2—3. Quentry filled the vacancy, and safely negotiated the last ball of the over. The next ball was a tempting one, sent down by Lawson to Clayton, who jumped out of his crease to hit it. In the twinkling of an eye King appealed.for a catch, and before the umpire had time to give a decision he removed the bails and appealed to the other umpire for stumped. Each umpire gave it “ out,” but, of couise, the first appeal takes precedence, 20—3 —12. Wilson came next and opened by getting well on to Lawson’s second, but a smart piece of fielding prevented a run Wilson placed the next to square leg for 2. The over closed without any additional score. From the feeble manner in which Quentry played the first three sent down to him by Mills, it was clear this batsman did not feel at home at the wicket, and the fourth necessitated the umpire’s rearranging both stumps and bails. 22—4—0. Tommy Neill appeared next, but good fielding prevented him from scoring off his first stroke. Wilson placed Lawson nicely to square leg, and Neill’s off stump had a narrow escape the following ball. The latter, however, scored a couple off the last ball of the over. Mills clean bowled Neill the following over. 26—5 —2. Bev. Bichards took the place of the retiring batsman, and after making a brace and a single allowed Mills to shatter his stumps with an ordinary straight ball. 30—6—3. Wilson had meanwhile been playing steady, but confident cricket, and it was not until he became partnered by Jack Lundon that the batting team made anything like a decent stand. The latter commenced by simply stopping several overs, until a loose one from Lawson was sent flying by this batsman to the boundary for 3. After several singles by each batsman, Lundon drove Mills beautifully to the boundary for another 3, bringing up 40 on the scoring board. Each bowler now sent down a maiden, but the following two overs increased the score by six, Lundon getting four singles, and Wilson making a pretty drive for 2 runs. Lawson was now taken off, and his place filled by Krones. The new bowler had his first ball driven to the boundary for 3 by Wilson, and had good luck in not having the remainder of the over treated in a similar manner. Wilson put Mills for a single, and Lundon got a nice stroke for 2, the board showing 50. A few minutes later Wilson had hard luck in playing one from Krone hard on to his pads, the ball.reboundingon to the wicket. 52—7 —16. Bob Neill was the next Auckland man, but before breaking his “duck” this player liftedone from Krone into Stone’s hands. 52 —B—o.8—0. The ninth, and, as things turned out, the last Auckland player, was Hatton, who with the aid of Lundon soon brought up 60 on the board. Runs now came slowly for half-a-dozen overs, when both men

livened up, and for several overs the bowlers had a rough time. Lawson again came on, and Mills was replaced. by Stone. With the score at 70, Lundon was |badly missed off Stone by Cantly, this being the first chance this batsman . had given. A boundary hit and several singles by each batsman brought the score up to 80, and things now began to look interesting. Lawson was again removed and Rowe put on. The latter’s second ball got Hatton lbw. 82—9—12. Holland, Auckland’s last man, was ob--jected to by the Parnell team, and did not bat. Lundon was not out with 28. Aucklandrequired 123 ruus to win. The victory of the i arnell Club, although perhaps a surprise to most, is nevertheless a popular lyin. The winning team has on several occasions been well up for the championship, but so far had not yet succeeded in winning it. In last week’s notes I pronounced in favour of Parnell’s chance, against Auckland, and will again pin nay faith on the same team against Gordon... I drew the attention of the Cricket-, Association to the advisability of having the Auckland —Parnell game played to a finish, but the suggestion was not adopted, and I urge the same idea in connection with the final heat for the senior championship. The nature of the turf on Saturday was certainly in favour of thez bowlers, and under the circumstances the performance, of the defeated team in compiling 82 runs is indeed a very fair one. I cannot but think that the Auckland team erred in sending Lundon in eighth man. This player’s average and previous performances stamp him as being one of the most likely run getters in Auckland, and, his 28, not out, places him on equal terms with Nicholson (Parnell) for top average. Wilson, 16, and Hatton, 12, also tried hard to avert defeat. The former was batting brilliantly and had fairly collared the bowling when he was disposed of in the manner previously mentioned. Ike Mills was by far the most successful trundler for the Parnell team. His average reads 5 wickets for 32 runs. Ike simply sent down ordinary straight bulls, which, strange to say, fairly nonplussed such batsmen as Jacobs, Arneil, Quentry, T. Neill and Richards. Krone secured 2 wickets for 5 runs. King, Parnell’s wicket keeper, was really brilliant on Saturday, and was not responsible for a single bye.. , " ? : T The fielding of the Parnell team is also worthy of special mention, being, with one exception, all that could be desired. The absence of Beale on Saturday was the cause of some slight unpleasantness between the Auckland and Parnell Clubs. On the fall of the ninth wicket Hollandcame out to bat in place of Beale, who took part in the game the previous Saturday. The Parnell captain objected to Holland batting. His action in doing soq appears perhaps rather selfish, considering Auckland allowed the Parnell team three substitutes in the field. I might mention that it is customary- to allow substitutes in the field, but I know of no instance in which a substitute has been allowed to bat. Considering the stage of the match, I think Parnell was justified in making every post a winning post, for f , had Holland batted and, the game endedin favour of Auckland, the Parnell captain would certainly not have earned the gratitude of his club mates. As I anticipated, the Wanderers had little difficulty in topping the 56 runs made by Parnell in their first innings. Of a total of 97 Smith, 33 not out, Walker 21, and Mills 12, were the best performers tor the winning team. The Parnell team in their second venture hadib lost 7 wickets for 65 when play ceased. Brown 22, Thorpe 11, and W. Speight i'o ! were the only Parnell players to reach double figures. The game ended in ; a win for Wanderers by 41 runs on the first

innings. Little interest was taken in the continuance of the Mutqal-Gordon 11. contest, more than half the players of each team being absent. Requiring 28 runs to win and five men to bat, the latter.;! team could only increase their previous ' J Saturday’s total by 6 runs. The secofid innings was not continued, and Mutual won by 22 runs. By Belmont’s inability to dispose of the North Shore team the former has lost all chance of annexing the first junior championship. The delay which took place in commencing this game on ‘ Saturday prevented the completion of a . second innings. On the first innings North Shore had a lead of 7 runs, and consequently won. ; 1 In the second junior division the most interesting match was that between AH Saints and the Roller Mills, as pejjher team had suffered a defeat. Tfie latters

first innings closed for 45 runs, and with two wickets down for 14 and one player absent the Saints continued their play on Saturday last. The innings closed for 59 runs, of which Airey contributed 21, Dacre 13, and Robertson 11. In their second innings Roller Mills were all out for 49, Lees contributing 28 by good cricket. All Saints requiring 35 runs to win again took the wickets, but want of time prevented the innings being completed. The latter were therefore successful on the first innings by 14 runs. For the winners Mackie, Crooks and Langsford all bowled well, while for Roller Mills Todds secured six wickets for 22 runs.

Belmont A defeated North Shore 11. by 8 runs on the first innings, and Parnell HL had a victory over Wanderers 11. in a similar manner by 58 runs.

The second junior championship will be practically decided on Saturday next by the result of the All Saints’-Belmont A contest? So far neither team has encountered defeat, and great interest is being taken in the coming match. I incljhe to the belief that the trundlers of the former team will prove more destructive than any the latter has yet met, and for this reason I fancy All Saints will have the honour of securing this season’s second junior championship Ji By thfe defeat of Belmont on Saturday and the success of Wanderers 1., the latter club has won the first junior championship. The Wanderers have been most enthusiastic throughout the whole season, and I congratulate the club upon its success.