CRICKET

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 432, 3 November 1898, Page 7

CRICKET

LBy

Stonewaller.

THE CUP MATCHES.

The second round of championship matches in the three grades under the Auckland Cricket Association was commenced on Saturday afternoon. The rain had left the wickets soft, and a heavy rain settling over the ground made the light bad and interfered with the play. In the senior competitions United put on 194 for the loss of nine wickets, Auckland Eleven 146 for eight -wickets, and North Shore 98, all wickets down, against Gordon, Parnell, and Auckland Fifteen respectively. For United, H. Walton topped the score with 58, but if the chances given had been accepted he would not have approached this total, the innings being a decidedly lucky one. P. Marshall (51) showed decidedly better form, playing correct and vigorous cricket, giving but two actual chances. Lusk (29) batted freely for his runs, and Labatt (17) played sound cricket. The fielding of the Gordonites was right away below the usual standard, no less than eleven chances being missed during the afternoon. Had the fieldsmen shown anything like form the United score would hardly have reached more than half the total registered, and the bowling averages would have been very good. The task set Gordon is a decidedly stiff one. Auckland Eleven, in their match with Parnell, shaped somewhat better than against the Shore, the feature being the innings of 63 by R. Neill, he batting freely all round the wicket for his runs—in fact, quite his old form. Laws (26), the ex-Hawke’s Bay rep., played sound, good cricket for his runs, and is evidently going to prove a useful acquisition to the club. J. Arneil (14) played carefully for his runs, while D. Hill has put on 10, not out. A. G. Holland, who is back in town again, and assisted his club, only managed to score 5, and'is evidently not yet in form, but should do better later on. Resteaux and Mills, with four for 32 and three for 26 respectively, bowled steadily and well, while the fielding all round Was good. The Auckland Fifteen appear to have a very fair chance of pulling off their match against North Shore, having disposed of the players of the marine suburb for 98. They have so far lost two wickets for 2 runs, but the best material has yet to go in. Warren (35) compiled top score for the Shore, playing correct and pretty cricket for his runs, while G. Mills (20) compiled his quota carefully and without a mistake, his first faulty stroke, when he played over one from Allen, costing him his wicket. Ball (13) and J. Smith (10) were the only other pair who reached double figures, the remaining wickets only realising the total of 15 runs. Harrison, I believe an ex-junior, did splendid work with the ball, taking five wickets for 20' runs, whilst the fielding was excellent, not a single chance being missed by the fifteen, the ground work being also clean and smart.