CRICKET.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 235, 24 January 1895, Page 2

CRICKET.

The Fijian cricket team, who intend making an extended tour of New Zealand, playing matches at the various centres, arrived in Auckland from Suva by the s.s. Taviuni on Monday last, a hearty welcome being extended them on arrival by the Auckland Cricket Association. During the week members of the local association have been entertaining the visitors to the best of their ability, showing them the various places of 'interest in and around Auckland, and doing all within their power to make the sojourn of the team in our midst a pleasant one. The Fijian team have been putting in a of practice on the Domain in view of the forthcoming contest, and judging by the manner in which they shape I should say the match will prove a very interesting one, and with fine weather should be witnessed by a large number of spectators. It is rather unfortunate that the Hon. W. L. Allardyce was unable to accompany the visiting team, as he is one of their most dashing bats, a good field, and a fair change bowler. Another round of championships was concluded on Saturday afternoon last, fine weather and a good wicket favouring the players. The Par nell- G ordon contest proved the centre of attraction, as the other senior match had been practically won by Auckland on the previous Saturday; Going in with 36 to their credit for a loss of one wicket, the Parnellites settled down to overtake the 112 registered by their opponents, which they succceeded in doing just after the fall of the fourth wicket, the innings subsequently closing for 147. Gordon went in for their second innings, but after the fall of two wickets the call of time proclaimed the close of the game, Parnell gaining the verdict by 35 runs on the first innings. Ike Mills’ meritorious contribution of 69 to the 147 made by Parnell in their first innings is responsible for the result of the game, and he well deserved the applause accorded him on his return to the pavilion after his fine exhibition.? This is the highest individunl senior score for the past two seasons. Wright’s quota of 18 was also the result of good cricket. This player stands next to Mills in point of the season’s top score. Patterson laid on the timber in fine style for his contribution of 11, and if he continues to hit freely will be responsible for some tidy scores. Friend Hoile seems to be coming back to form again, and made things very merry for his contribution of 10. • If Captain Lawson had played a little more carefully he would have been responsible for more than a single. However, he made amends for his poor display with the willow by capturing five Gordon wickets for 33 runs. For the losing team Dr Pabst proved most prominent in the batting department with a well earned 44 to his credit, Norman Williams coming next best with 24. The latter also captured four wickets for 30 runs, Ball capturing 1 for 2. With a loss of four wickets for 22 runs, Auckland continued their innings, the conclusion of which brought the score to the very respectable total of 155. This proved a crushing defeat for United, who failed in two innings to reach within 58 J 3l1 ® seore registered by Auckland in their first essay. uc kland T. Neill proved best with the bat, compiling his 57 (not out) by most careful and painstaking cricket. The grand fielding of the Auckland team was all that could be wished for, not a single chance being missed. Jack Arneil secured seven wickets for 24 runs, a truly grand performance, C. Stone being next best with two for 15. Arneil should have been chosen to plav against Fiji. F * United’s second innings proved even a more dismal display than the’r first essay, the only man to make any stand being G. Hay<<ls). Their fielding was also very much off colour.

The first junior contest, Auckland v. Gordon, produced, as anticipated, an interesting finish, resulting in favour of Auckland by five wickets and two runs. The Gordonites in their second essayput togegher 115 for a loss of five wickets, leaving their opponents 76 to-get to win. This Auckland succeeded m doing for a loss of five wickets. Excellent cricket was displayed on both sides, Marsden (35, not out) and - Airey. (18) being most prominent with the willow for the victors, whilst T. Gould (54, not out) and Cowan (24, not out) were the principal run getters for Gordon. Wanderers met with their first reversal for the past two seasons at the hands of Parnell, who were returned victors by 17 runs. The teams were level pegging m their first innings, either side having 71 to their credit, and Parnell going to the wickets for a second, time were dismissed for a total of 44, and matters looked all over as though Whnderers were coming out on top. But a surprise awaited them in the destructive bowling of Angus and Edwards, the effective trundling of the twain disposing of the crack team for the mea.gre total of 27. The wickets fell like ninepins, Angus taking five for 13 runs. For Parnell, G. Dixon (16) was the principal contributor in the second innings, the excellent bowling of Pritchard and Waddingham accounting for this state of affairs. Looking over the performance of the Parnellites it is unaccountable that they should come out on top in contests with such teams as the "Wanderers and Belmonts, and yet suffer defeat at the hands of Pitt Street Mutual and United. This is undoubtedly an illustration of the uncertainty of cricket. Theßelmont —North Shore match,contested at the marine suburb, resulted in a win for the visiting team, who defeated the Shoreites by 7 wickets and 3 runs. In the first innings twenty runs separated the opposing teams, Belmont having placed 86 to their credit as against the 66 scored by their opponents. Going to the wickets for the second time North Shore run up 70, but their bowling seemed to take little effect on the Belmonts, who put together 53 for a loss of 3 wickets, Morrison (17, not out),Brierly (11, not out), and Seccombe (11) being most conspicuous in the batting department, the first and last named being also responsible for eight of the Shore wickets, taking 2 for 14 and 6 for 30 respectively. For the losers, Brown (21) and Cuff (14) were the principal scorers. In the Second Junior contest, Auckland 9). United, the first mentioned scored the easiest of victories over United by 161 runs. In their first innings Auckland made 73, and disposed of their opponents for 26, and in their second essay made 120 as against the 6 registered by United. Allen (53) played capital cricket for the winning team, with Hamilton (13) and Greville (10) next best. Greville and Paul did great execution amongst the United wickets. Belmont A. emulated the actions of their senior brethren of that ilk by defeating North Shore to the tune of 8 wickets and 3 runs, the scores being: Belmont, 48 and 20 for two wickets, total 68 ; North Shore, 36 and 29, total 65. Spurway and Gillespie were to the front with the leather, taking 5 wickets for 14 and 5 for 12 respectively. • The Parnell-Clarence match, which looked all over a good thing in the first innings for Clarence, who had placed 56 to their credit as against 28 compiled by Parnell, resulted in a win for the latter by 2 runs, they scoring 56 as against 26. Lynch (16) and Kilfoyle (14) batted best for the winning side, none of the Clarence players reaching double figures. It is not often we hear of an eleven being downed for a total of 6 runs, but such was the case with United 111. in their second innings against Auckland 111. last Saturday. The Britishers gained the decision over the Broken Hill cricketers by an innings and 8 runs. Bather a hollow drubbing, certainly. Stoddart’s team play Dandenong tomorrow (Friday), and Saturday. The fourth test match opens at Sydney on February Ist, when a great struggle for supremacy will be witnessed by those who have-the pleasure of being present; whilst we across the water will anxiously await the results, hoping that at the conclusion of the contest the cable fiend will be able to record a victory for our Australian Cousins over the Mother •Country.

The Wellington Cricket Association will send a representative team to play Hawkes Bay on the 16th and 18th of March. The credit of the defeat of the crack junior* team, Wanderers, is due to the bowling of Angus and Edwards —the former's performance with the leather being particularly good.