THE CRICKET SEASON.

Evening Star, Issue 3012, 14 October 1872, Page 2

THE CRICKET SEASON.

If the wind had been a little lower on Paturday, the season might have been said to have opened under extremely favorable circumstances. On the Southern recreation ground the two clubs had matches ; the attendance of those who take an interest in cricket, and spectators, was large ; but there was no cricket worthy of the name. Of course no one expects anything brilliant at the co i.mcuccmeut of the season, hut the amount of muffing and loose play that was shown on both grounds was wholly unexpected. The. fielding, Macfarlan on the Dunedin ground excepted, in both matches was extremely loose ; the bowling only mediocre; while Keade, Allen, Mitchell, and Tnrton, for the D.C.C., and Thompson, for the Citizem, are the only ones ■who were in anything approaching decent batting form. The Dunedin Club’s match was between the Married and Single; and is chiefly noticeable for the reappearance of Tnrton, whom we hope to see pretty often in the field this season, and the (h°hui among our players of Whitehall, who hails from Wanganui, and whose play on Saturday warrants the belief that, with steady practice, he will be shortly found ranking among our best players. The Citizens’ match was between sides chosen by the Vice-President and Treasurer. There was a good turn out of players, among whom we noticed several old hands from other clubs, showing that the Citizens are determined this year to turn out a strong

team. Their ground, fresh from Headley’s hands, was in good condition, and in a fort* night or three weeks they ought to have a splendid wicket at their service. The game was a close one, and ended in a tie, but that result was brought about by circumstances as unexpected as they were amusing. The Vice-President’s side at one time had the match in their hands, some seven of their opponents’ wickets having fallen for 27 runs ; but, with that uncertainty which distinguishes cricket, GO were scored before the other three wickets were disposed of. Then iu their innings six wickets had fallen for SO runs, when the bowling was foolishly changed, and runs came as fast as the changes, which were very numerous. When 60 -was reached, a wicket was to fall, but the one that was required to win could not be got, although most amusing efforts were made to obtain it. We give the scores in both matches :

SINGLE. Kettle, run out 11 Macfarlane, 1 b w, b Wbitohell 1 Reade, c Clark, b Allen 23 Collinsou, b MacDonnell 0 Fulton, run out 6 Tait, run out 6 Thompson, b Whitclieir 0 Morrison, c Hendley, I) Whitchell 4 Cairns, c Fulton, b Allen 5 Brown, not out S 33egg, C MaclJormoll, \> Hendley - 1 Byes, kc. 21 Total - 86 MARRIED. MacDonnell, run out - 0 To.vsey A. F., run out - 0 Whitchell, c Macfarlau, b Fulton 15 Beal, run out Hendley, 1 b w, b Reade 2 0 Clark, b Fulton 0 Muir F., b Cairns - - - 6 Turtou, not out 14 Allen, b Thomson - n Moody, c Begg, b Tait - 0 Greenfield, run out 0 Byes, &c. 17 Total - . 65 treasurer’s side. Watson W., b Coxhead 13 Pledger, o and b Coxhead 6 Morrison W., b Glen 0 Sheppard, b Coxhead - 1 Cole, c Thompson, b Coxhead 0 Peake, run out 0 Coxhead A., b F. M. Coxhead 4 M'Millan, rim out 0 Mills, b Coxhead - 8 Harrison, b Glen - 4 Parry, c Murray, b Coxhead - 7 Kirk, b Coxhead ■ 2 Wathora, not out - 3 Sundries - 12 Total - 60 vice-president’s side. Ferguson, b Morrison • 3 Thompson, c Pledger, b Shepherd 15 Coxhead F. hi., b Morrison - 3 Geddes, G. W., b Shepherd - 0 Glen, b Morrison - a Aris, b Morrison - 3 Greenfield R. f c and b Watson 2 Watson J., b Mills 11 Dunning, run out - 3 Murray, not out - 6 M’Leod, b Pledger 2 Fagan (sub.), b Pledger 0 Stamper, run out - 2 Sundries - 7 Total • 60