CRICKET,

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 294, 19 December 1901, Page 1

CRICKET,

(Notes by “ Bil Dr.")

After all, t.lie Australians wrec not the only batsmen who could not score runs on Saturday last.

In the Wellington-Canterbury interprovincial fixture, at Wellington, the ball was on top all through, and Frankish and Uphani each did splendid work with the ball.

Locally, the four clubs on Saturday last in the Saturday competition, performed very poorly with the hat, none of the totals reaching 70. Last Saturday’s matches closed the second round, and the following table shows the position of the clubs

Thursday matches will he continued on the Domain this afternoon, when Whataupoko and City meet, and Haiti plays West End. On Saturday afternoon the, third round of the Saturday competition will commence on the Domain, County playing United, and City meeting the West End.

Messrs Macdonald, Gumming, and W. Gibson, the committee selected to appoint the team to play against the representatives of the English public schools on Boxing Day met yesterday afternoon, and selected the following team Smith, Burch, and Raymond (County) ; Porter, Gibson, Lvttleton, and Haworth (United) ; Macdonald, Cole, and Hay (City) ; and McConnell (West End). Complete preparations have been made tor the match. Play will commence at PI a.m., and lunch and afternoon tea -viii be supplied on the ground. Major Winter will umpire for the Colonials, and Mr J. Gumming will act as scorer. County will he without the valuable services of their captain, A. Crawford, on Saturday. He left for the South last night for the summer holidays.

Members of the old Waimata and Te Arai Clubs will le pleased to hear that C. Id. Craig is still n. the land of the living, and nas been residing since leaving Gisborne some three years ago at. Singapore, “ a lime the wot Ici-wide steamers wait." 11l a letter to a Gisborne friend the <>Wn;- dav. Chari-e replies a novel rxper e.: re he had a few weeks back. He was being Lr•'.led home by his rickshaw man after dining with a friend one evening, when they ran over a monster python fifteen feet long. After recovering from his natural fright, Charlie faced the bowling of the reptile with his stipk. He played steadily At first, but soon got in a .slashing Harrow drive that broke the monster’s hack. Charlie secured the skin, and is having it sent home to his brother in Liverpool as a memento of the adventure. This is no “ snake ” yarn ; people who knew the gentleman would believe him if he said he bad slain a dragon. A couple of local wicket-keepers have heei! wandering about during the week with their optics- highly discolored, the result of knocks received behind the sticks.

Probably never before in the history of Gisborne cricket have there been so many candidates for places as was the case for the team to play on Boxing Dav The committee had a difficult task before them, as there were about 40 names to select from. The selection is bound to he criticised, but it says a lot for the success of the district scheme that there are so many players in the field this season.

Matches played Won Lost Points County 6 5 1 10 United 6 4 2 8 City 6 2 4 4 West End 6 1 5 2