CRICKETERS ON TOUR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 11, 28 January 1918, Page 6

CRICKETERS ON TOUR

AUCKLAND-WELLINGTON MATCH FIRST DAY'S PLAY By Tolegraph—Press Association. Auckland, January 26. The interprovincial cricket match between Auckland and Wellington was commenced to-day in line but cloudy weather. The wicket was good and the outfield fast and hard. Tho outstanding feature of the game was the bowling of Brice and Crawford, the latter being in all the afternoon. Auckland, winning the toss, elected to bat, Midlane and Hemus taking tho strike. These batsmen, with Sneddon, scored only singles, the board reading 1—22, 2 58, 3 —60. With tho advent of Smith, matters tuned up, and after four singles he opened out the scoring with 4, 3, 4, 4, 1, 3 in succession. At 91 Hiddlestone was tried again, vice Brice, and a drive for a brace by Smith and 4 byes came c-ff his first over. The next over, however, with a century in sight, Crawford bowled Taylor with a ball that was fast and low off tho pitch, 97—64—5. Smith brought the century up by turning Hiddlcstono to leg for a brace and a single, the score being 100 for six wickets when the adjournment was made. After the adjournment Smith opened the proceedings by driving Crawford uppishly for 4, and playing him for a single l . Middleton log hit Hiddlestone for 4, hut two balls later was clean bowled—ll7—7—6. Lowry was next. Settling down nicely, Crawford clean bowled Lowry with a no-ball, and the ball went away for 4 byes. At 167 Brice bowled, vice Hiddlestone, and runs were knocked off the first over. Lowry was now tiring, facing Brice, and, having found difficulty with a fnst short that came high, was then bowled by a short one that kept down—lß4— B—2B.8 —28. Tho colt was given an enthusiastic reception for his valuable stand, which put on 67 runs for the eighth wicket. When Simpson wont to the wicket, Crawford drew his field in, and tho newcomer signified' his appreciation by hitting the first ball for six. Smith square-cut Brice for a brace, and drove him for another pair, whilo Simpson drovo a hot catch hack to Crawford that that bowlor dropped, a run resulting. Smith then hoisted the second century by i off-driving Crawford for four. Brice clean bowled Simpson —206—9—8. M'Math was the last man in. He cut Crawford's third ball to tho boundary.; Smith cut Brico for two, and played him to leg for a bruco. After M'Math had played a maiden to Crawford, Smith got a single by misshit off Brice, and with tho next ball M'Math was yorked, tho innings closing for 218 runs. Hiddlestone and Wilson opened for Wellington to the bowling of Simpson and Smith, and stumps wore drawn at no wickets for 27. Scores:— Auckland.—First Innings. Hemus fi Midlane 6 Sneddon, b. Crawford 14 Smith, not out 83 Horspool, c. and b. Crawford 2 Daer, b. Crawford 0 Middleton, b. Hiddlestone fi Taylor, b. Crawford 5 Lowry, b. Brice. 28 Simpson, b. Brico 8 M'Maili, b. Brico 4 Extras 35 'Total 218 Bowling Analysis.—Brice took four wickets for 39 runs ; Crawford.'five for 90; Hiddlestone, one for 45; Tuckor, none for 9. Wellington.—First Innings. Wilson, not ont 12 Hiddlestone, not out 14 Extras 1 Total 27 above individual score figures are as telegraphed, but they do not make the total score, beinc; 21 short of 218. THE PLAY REVIEWED (B.v Teleerauii—Sncotal Correspondent.) Auckland, January 27. The _ wicket provided for the representative match on Eden Park on Saturday afternoon was not of the best. It appeared not to have been watered sufijjpiently, and the ball kicked sometimes to an alarming extent. Tho Auckland team batted first, and when afternoon tea was taken were in a bad way,_ and the prospects of a decent fighting match seemed very remote, J. N. Crawford during this stage of the play had been practically unplayable. A cross wind swung the Englishman's bowling right across the wickets, and as he kept an excellent length the earlier Auckland batsmen were in trouble to his deliveries. The fact that his figures at one stage, were five wickets for 30 runs is proof positive. However, thanks to a fine innings by S. G. Smith, the Hampshire amateur cricketer, who has settled in Auckland of recent years, find some spirited batting by young Lowry, an ex-Christ's College boy who is in the Flying School, the Aucklanders wound up with the decent _ tally of 218. W. S. Brice, the Wellington skipper, made a huge mistake with Crawford. He bowled the soldier man to a standstill, keeping him going at one end for the full three hours and a half that the innings lasted. It is true that tho international is a glutton for work at the bowling crease, but a willing horse can be work, ed too hard, and Crawford was persisted with too long altogether for his own comfort and to the advantage of the side. S. G. Smith, Auckland's finest performer with the bat—ho also is captain of the side—is one of those fellows whom you like better the more you see of him. L. G. Hemus, F. A. Midlane, N. C. Sneddon, and E. Horspool had all been dismissed with but moderate scores, and the only way the innings could be saved from disaster was by Smith putting his back up against the wall. He played the rock to most of tho bowling sent him, opening out only to the straight drive. This seemed to be the only shot he was really sure of, although his defence was of a very high standard. I would like to see' Smith going again in the second innings before passing a positive opinion on him. My present idea is that he is a good man to have on the side, with but few attractive shots in his locker. Lowry was the only Auckland -bats-, man who really tried to overpower the bowling, some of his drives and square cuts being excellent. Sneddon made two fine forward cuts, both of them springing back off the boundary fence. Hemus was in a long while for his tally, but he scratched most of the time,' and Midlane played the most of Crawford's good bowling like the champion he is, but one extra good one found him "not at home, sir." The' fielding of the Wellington team was patchy, some brilliant pieces being intermingled with some awful ground work. Tucker brought down tho house on one occasion with one of his old-time efforts at cover point. Brico bowled the -fast ball very well, and came out of the deal with the best average. Wilson and Hiddlestone opened the Wellington innings, and at "stumps" had put together 27 runs without being separated. A great deal of interest is being taken in the game, and "indications are for fine weather and some excellent cricket on Monday. CITV MATCHES WELLINGTON V. TRENTHAM. A match between Wellington and Trentham was played at the Basin Heserve on Saturday afternoon. Wei-" lington went in first, and made 111.