CRICKET.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 244, 19 November 1878, Page 2

CRICKET.

AKAROA V. LITTLE RIVER.

A match between the above clubs was played on Saturday last in a paddock belonging to Mr A. D. Allan, at Little River. The distance being considerable, nearlj T all the Akaroa team started on the previous afternoon, arriving at Olphert's in detachments of three and four at a time all the evening from, about seven till after ten. It will be remembered that on Friday a very stiff nor'-wester was blowing nearly all day. Towards eight o'clock in the evening this had given place to southerly wind, accompanied by slight rain, and which threatened ominously for the morrow. On Saturday morning,' however, the weather was fine, its only drawback being that a very stiff wind prevailed. A kind of marquee had been erected on the ground, but it was incontinently blown down. During the clay, however, the wind moderated, and on the whole the weather was very pleasant. The ground was in very fair order, considerable pains having been taken to secure a good wicket. The Akaroa men, however, found the ground much livelier than any they have been accustomed to play on, and this may partly account for the unusual number of extras scored.

Punctually at ten o'clock, both teams mustered on the ground. F. F. Barker was captain of the Akaroa team, while the Riverines were officered by J. Radfort. The latter, having won the toss, sent Akaroa to the wickets. Barry and Masefield were the first to assume the defensive, to the bowling of J. Reynolds and H. Radfort. A detailed account of this innings is quite unnecessary, as the score, which we append, tells its own tale. Whether the Alcaroans held their opponents too cheap, whether they were in bad form, or were exceptionally unlucky, or whether a combination of all these causes brought about the result/ certain it is that the nett result was very unfavorable. The eleven went out for 30, of which number no less than 18 were to be credited to extras, leaving only 12 scored off the bat. Little River then went to the wickets, the captain putting in H. Radfort and J. Reynolds. There was nothing in the batting to call for special notice, the top score in the innings being 7, and the byes, as before, takjng a leading position in the ecore. This was owing in a great measure to Barker's swift bowling and the lively nature of the ground. The River having put together 55, an adjournment was made to the hotel, where the visitors were most hospitably entertained by the local club, a capital repast being provided by Host Olphert. After refreshing the inner man, play was resumed, H. Bridge and Thomson taking charge of the wickets for Akaroa. Starting with 25 to pull up, it was evident they ; meant business, and the ball was knocked about unmercifully between them. When i Bridge retired to J. Reynolds' bowling, the score stood at 19. Barker, who succeeded him, was again unlucky, being clean bowled by H. Radfort before he had a chance of " breaking the egg." Thomson pulled the score up to 38 before he was called upon to resign by a ball delivered by H. Radfort, and Akana became sanguine of victory. ' The remainder of the innings was not remarkable, no other player achieving two figures after the two who first went in, the bowling of: H. Radfort proving very destructive. They managed to put together a total ot" 71. When Little River commenced their second innings, they had 47 to score to win. Everyone felt that it would be a close game however it went. Both sides were thoroughly in earnest. . When seven wickets had fallen for a total score of 28, it seemed more than doubtful that Little River could put together the required number. At this stage of the game J. Radfort and Gγ. Sefton were at the wickets and evidently meant sticking there. They did not go in for any brilliant play, never hkting but when it was. perfectly safe, but they tired the bowlers out, and erery now and then scored a run, the score slowly '

mounting up till at about li'alf-pasfc five a hit by J. Radfort finished the game. At its completion Little River had won by 5 runs, with three wickete to fall. Boot and saddle was then the word among the visitors. Before their leaving, however, Mr W. Coop proposed the health of tlie Akaroa team, which was drunk in clmm pagne, and responded to by Mr Barker, who also proposed the Little River Eleven and Mr Coop. A most enjoyable day was thus brought to a conclusion, and tho visitors turned their horses Lends home-

wards

We understand that a return match will be played very shortly, though no date has as yet been fixed. We append the scores, as follows :— Akaroa—First Innings. Wood, cJ. Radfort, bH. Radfort ... 2 Masefield, Ibw, bH. Radfort ... 1 Worsley, c Westropp, bJ. Reynolds... 0 Barker, cH. Radfort, l> J. Reynolds ... 0 H. B. Bridge, Ibw, bH. Radtort ... 0. \Velch'man,l bw.b J. Reynolds ... 0 C. W. Bridge, b J. Reynolds 0 Ramsay, b. H. Radfort... 3 Barry, bJ. Reynolds ... ... ... 1 Thomson, not out ... ... ... 0 Hughes, b J. Reynolds .. 5 Byes 13 Leg-bye :.. 1 Wides 4 Total ... 30 Skcond Innings. Wood, cA. Sefton, bH. Radfort ... 2 Masefield, run out ... ... ... 4 Worsley, not out ... 0 Barker, b 11. Radfort 0 H. B. Bridge, b J. Reynolds 13 Welshman, b W. Reynolds 2 C. W. Bridge, bH. Radfort ... ... 2 Ramsay, bW. Reynolds ... ... 1 Barry, st J. Radfo'rt. bH. Radfort ... 4 Thomson, b H. Radfort 17 Hughes, bH. Radfort ... 1 Byes 20 Leg-byee... 4 Wide 1 Total ... 71 Little River—First Innings. J. Radfort, c Barker, b Hughes ... 0 H. Radfort, b Hughes 0 K. Reynolds, b Hughes 4 J. Reynolds, b Barker ... 7 W. Reynolds, c and b Barker ... ... 0 A. Sefton, b Barker 4 G. Sefton, b Hughes 7 G. Westropp, run out ... ... ... 0 J. Tyson, b Hughes ... 0 F. Bracey, 1 b w, b Hughes 3 S. Reeves, not out 0 Byes 17 Leg-byes 3 Wides 4 Total ... 55 Second Innings. J. Radfort, not out 12 H. Radfort, b Hughes 5 H. Reynolds, b Barker ... 3 J. Reynolds, b Barker 8 A. Sefton, b Hughes 3 G-. Sefton, not out 6 Gγ. Westropp, b Hughes 0 F. Bracey, c Wood, b Barker 0 S. Reeves, b Hughes 5 ' Byes 6 Leg-bye ... 1 Wides ... ... ... 2 Total .;. 51