CRICKET.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 879, 10 January 1907, Page 12

CRICKET.

The weather was splendid on Saturday for the resumption of the district cricket championships which have been interrupted for some weeks. The wickets were in good order, but nothing sensational was done.

Parnell met North Shore, and batting first put together 231, the highest scoring being done by Robinson 52, Garrard 38 (not out), R. Barry 36, and A. Stewart 36. North Shore have two’good wickets down for 57, and are not in a good position.

Very poor batting was shown in the City-Ponsonby match. City going in first could only get 63, Neil making 23 not out, and McCormick 18, while there were no less than six “ducks.” Ponsonby did very little better, the innings realising 91, Wilson 23, and Kemp 19, being the only two figure scorers.

Grafton put on 190 against Eden, Mason showing the best cricket with an attractive 77, Clayton making 28, and Horspool 22. Eden have made 38 without loss.

The accounts for the final cricket match of last summer, Kent (champion county) v. the Rest of England, show that it was so great a success as to leave a balance of £825 to be divided between the two beneficiary organisations, the 'Cricketers’ Fund Friendly Society and the London Playing Fields Society.

Jack Tyldesley’s benefit realised .£3,105 for the popular Lancastrian batsman, while that of Walter Lees, of Surrey, amounted to £2,120, independent of some £4OO or £5OO subscribed outside the county’s special list.

Mr R. D. Walker has accepted the presidentship of the Middlesex County Cricket Club, in succession to his late brother, “V.E.”

Hampshire County Cricket Club’s report and balance-sheet past season show a loss on the campaign of £146, while Worcestershire County Club’s accounts exhibit a loss of_£4iZi_an £ l—Somer-

Club made a loss of £926.

Captain Wynyard’s injury so very early in the tour was a piece of really hard luck. It appears he broke a sinew behind the knee and damaged the nerves. As it meant lying up for a month or two he decided to return to England at once. He will have the sympathy of all New. Zealanders with him in the untoward mishap.

The M.C.C. Eleven proved much too strong for Otago, winning by 232 runs. In the first innings the visitors made 224 going a little better in their second venture with 278. Otago put on. 176 in their first venture, but went to pieces in the second, May and Simpson-Hayward getting them out for 94. * * * *

“It is not generally known how very near the M.C.C. were to sending a team to Australia,” writes C. B. Fry in “Fry’s Magazine.” “So strong was the political influence brought to bear through the Earl of Jersey that the M.C.C. committee found it difficult to hold out. But one or two of them were obdurate in their belief that the club ought not to undertake the tour (1) at such short notice, and (2) when it was not certain the Australians had arranged their virulent difference. In point of fact, the M.C.C. could at a week’s notice have collected two or three teams good enough to represent England; though several amateurs would perhaps have been unable to accept the invitation. The real ground of refusal was purely a matter of policy.”

W. W. Armstrong’s name is linked with quite a number of records (writes “Not Out” in the “Referee”). His 303 not out against Somerset is the highest innings ever played for an Australian Eleven in England. The 168 not out is the highest for Victoria against New South Wales, and his 165 is likewise the highest for Victoria against South Australia.

His 438 for the Melbourne C.C. against the Melbourne University is the highest innings ever played in Australia—that is, not including Tasmania —where C. J. Eady’s 566 reigns, and is likely to be uneclipsecl for many years.

His 438 for the Melbourne C.C. against Southland is the highest innings ever played in New Zealand.

His 200 is the highest innings ever played for Victoria against Queensland,

and the second highest ever played for Victoria in any match, the one surpassing effort being P. A. McAlister’s 224 against New Zealand.

Viscount Hampden, late Governor of N.S. Wales, who died in November, played for Sussex in iB6O and 1867.

There are rumours in England, according to the “Sportsman,” that the Hon. F. S. Jackson may be able to figure more frequently in the ranks of the White Rose in readiness for a visit to Australia in 1907.

John T. Tyldesley received a cheque for £3105 as a result of his benefit match, Yorkshire v. Lancashire, at Manchester last season. This is one of the largest benefits on record, though it has been surpassed by that of G. H. Hirst, whose benefit realised £3703, the gate proceeds being £2924.

On Saturday at Christchurch the first matches of the second round of the first grade cricket competitions were commenced. Results:—St. Albans, first innings 141 (B. H. Woods 45), v. West Christchurch, first innings 106 for six wickets; East Christchurch, first innings 335 (O. S. West 53, H. A. Bishop in, E. T. Moloney 76), v; Linwood, first innings 71 for two wickets (A. Costello 42 not out); Sydenham first innings 163, v. Riccarton, first innings 98 for three wickets.

At Wellington the senior cricket matched were continued. Wellington playing against Phoenix made 225 in their second innings (Hickson, not out, 91). In Phoenixes second innings no wickets are down for i 109. Midland, in their first innings against Old Boys made 215 (Williams 75). | The Old Boys in their second innings' scored 117 for the loss of two wickets.' In the Gasworks v. Newtown match the former’s first innings closed for 213 (Waugh 34). In the second innings 15 runs have been scored for one wicket. Newtown made 173 in their second innings (Waters 50).