CRICKET

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 390, 13 January 1898, Page 14

CRICKET

[By

Stonewaller.

THE ENGLISH TEAM TN AUSTRALIA. The news that the Britishers had failed to save the innings defeat in the second test match did not create great surprise, for the cabled accounts of the state of the wicket prepared most people for an easy Austral an victory. Perhaps such a crushing defeat was not anticipated, for a licking by an innings and 55 runs is not at all a mild one, even allowing for the bad wicke'. The Englishmen were handicapped no doubt, but 520 was a big score to fight against, especially when backed up by the excellent bowling of the Victorian pair, Trumble and Noble. Trumble bowled unchanged during the last day, and though he did not get quite such a good average as Noble in the second innings his trundling was very fine, and bothered the batsme completely. McLaren, Ranjitsinghi, and Hayward were the only batsmen to do good work, though it must not be forgotten that Johnny Briggs carried his bat in catch innings. McLaren and the Indian Prince made their runs by very careful cricket, but Hayward after playing caiefully for a bit, went in for hitting, quite conscious that that was. the only way to score on such a wicket. The fielding of the Australians was an improvement on their display of the first innings, Jones’ work was quite one of the features of the match, and others mentioned particularly are Gregory and Iredale. So, far honors are even, and already the team for the next match is being di.-cussed in Australia. One thing is very certain, Noble will have to be included.

Some rapid scoring took place in a match between teams iepresenting the Auckland C.C. and H.M.S. Torch, when the warship was in port. The skipper of the sailors won the toss, and sent the local men to the wickets. In the course of two hours the Auckland total was carried to 326 for the loss of five wickets. The scores were — A. M. Beale 86, R. Neill 73, N. B. Lusk 70, J R. Lundon 42 (not out), W. H. Quinn 31, E. C. Beale 11. The innings was then declared closed. When the Torch men went in they were quickly sent to the right about. In the first innings they were dismissed for 63, and in the second their total was only 45. Victory, and a very easy one, thus remained with the Auckland men. The small score of the Torch men were mainly due to the excellent bowling of Allen, Grindrod, Harrison, and Hackett. The sailors are very anxious to “ take it out ” of the Aucklanders, and a return ma'ch will be played upon the return of the warship to Auckland. The local championship matches under the Auckland Cricket Association, which have been adjourned owing to the vacation will be resumed on the Domain and at North Shore on Saturday next, when the senior matches are —Gordon v. Auckland Eleven, United v. Auckland Fifteen,

and Parnell v. North Shore, and on the first day’s play, which was brought off on December 18th, it would appear that the first• mentioned teams in each instance have the respective matches at their mercy. . The victorious career of the Canterbury cricketers received a check at Wellington on Saturday, when the home team beat them by an innings and 20 runs. Canterbury won the toss, and made 187. When the Wellington men went in Rich» ardson and Holdship played so well that the score was taken to 188 for four wickets at the close’of the first day’s play. On Saturday, when the game was continued, Burton, Naughton, Ashbolt, and Holdsworth all made good scores, and eventually the total reached 404, which is a record for inter-provincial matches. The Canterbury batsmen could not do much with the bowling Jof Ashbolt in the second innings, and he took seven wickets for 52 runs. Garrard, Wilding, Cobcroft and the two Ridleys got into double figures, but the others did not do much, the total only 1 amounting to 197. The Wellington men batted very regularly, only one man failing to reach double figures. The fielding of both teams was highly creditable each day. „ Our Christchurch correspondent wires -The Canterbury cricket team returned home on Monday after having had a successful and enjoyable tour. The members of the team speak highly of the treatment they received right through their travels in the North Island, but they are disappointed over their display against Wellington. J