CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1060, 30 November 1903, Page 3

CRICKET.

UNITED V. WAEEffiNGA-AHIKA,

On Saturday Inst, the United Club sent a team out to play tho nowly formod WaercDga-ahika Club. The United players left town in one of Mr W. F. Sinclair’s four-horse drags at 1.80, and reached Waerenga-a-hika about 2.30, after a delightful spin through one of the richest . pastoral and agricultural districts in the colony. The country was blossoming like the rose after the recent refreshing rains, and evidences of the groat strides tho dairy industry is making in the distriot was to be seen in the numerous herds of lowing kine which wore passed en routs, in rich | pastures up to their very knees. Tho picturesque College ground was dotted with flannel-clad players when the town men arrived, and after a hearty welcome from tho Rev. Mr Jennings (Principal of the Waerenga-a-hika Native College), Mr Ellis (secretary), and Mr R. W. Barton (captain) of tho Waerenga-a-hika Cricket Club, a start was made with the match. H. E. Dodd, the United captain, won the toss, and sent the country players into the field. W. Gibson and Gardiner faced the bowling of Koro and Sefton. Runs carno steadily, principally from the bat of the former. With 18 up, Gardiner was beaten with a good one from McGruther, who had replaoed Sefton at the College end. T. Gibson failed to score, being beaten by the same bowler, but Crawford came in and run 3 oame more freely. Crawford had the ill-luck to play the first ball ho received from McGruther hard on to the instep of his left foot, which lamed him to such an extent that he had to get a man to run for him, and the injury also prevented him from bowling in anything like his best form. With 20 to his credit, W. Gibson was beaten by a shooter from McGruther. After this, the wickets fell rapidly before McGruther and Barton, and had it not been for tho forceful innings played by Crawford the total would not have reached the halfcentury. Crawford made some fine onstrokes, and was unbeaten at the finish with 35 opposite his name, the innings 1 closing for 74. With such batsmen as W. Andrews, , Barton, Sefton, Hogg, McGruther, and ’ Kere to reckon with, the United men felt

none 100 confident of the issue. However, one of those complete surprises which the cricket field now sod again furnishes was in store. J. R. Gardiner followed up his bowling feat of Thursday last, when it will be remembered he captured eight wickets for 12 runs for United against the Union on Victoria Domain, by another remarkable performance with the ball. He was almost unplyable on Saturday, mixing his pace and length with excellent judgment, and causing hi 3 deliveries to nip across from both the leg and off sides occasionally. In all he sent down 136 balls, and captured six wickets for five runs. Not content with a simple V hat trick,” in his third over ho dismissed Sefton, Barton, Scott, and the Rev. Jennings with successive deliveries. This gives Gardiner a bowling record for last week of 14 wickets for 17 runs -figures Wilfred Rhodes or Hugh Trumbie might justly bo proud of. Crawford took one wicket for eight runs, and W. Gibson captured a wicket with the one ball he bowb d. Tho innings closed for 16 runs, of which three were extras.

The United men agreed to allow the Waerenga-ahika players to have another innings, and they did much better on taking a second strike. Srfton, Andrews, and Barton batted well, and the inniDgs closed on the call of time for 67, tho country ruon thus saving the innings defeat by 10 runs. W. Gibson, T. Gibson, and Sharp divided the wickets. A feature of the match was the all-round play of lioro, a Native lad ot 13 summers. He bowhd a remarkably good fast ball, and most people thought his captain made a mistalre in taking him off after he had bowled throe good overs for five runs. He went in third wicket down for his side in tho first innings, and stood up to Gardiner and Crawford like a hardened old voteraD. With tho wiekcls falling like hail, this Lilliputian batsman was quite undismayed, and all tho wiles ef the United crack bowlers could not get him out. Besides this, he fielded excellently, and was warmly ap-pluudc-d eevoral times fur brilliantly Adding some very hard drives. His clean pickiug up and accurate returns to tho wicket won glowing comments from players aud spectators alike. With youngsters like this coming on, who can doubt that there is a b.'illian! future before the Waerenga a-hika Club. The United players were quito dolighted with the nice turf wicket provided for tho match. Tho Waerenga-u-hika ground is undoubtedly tho best in the district at present. Tho light would be greatly improved for the batsmen though by the erection of a canvas screen behind the bowler’s arm at tho Collogo end, whore the trees make it difficult to get a perfect sight of the ball, Messrs Charles Evans and Burgess gave entire satisfaction a 3 umpires. The old veteran, Mr Evans, had a knock between the innings, and showed that ho can still make an off-drive with all the graco and freedom which characterised his play 30 or 40 years ago, when he was the best wicket-keeper and ono of tho best batsmen in the district.

The town players were most hospitably entertained by Mr and Mrs Jennings at nfternoon-tea, and Mr Georgo Schmidt, of Repoogaere, very thoughtfully brought over a basketful of his dolioious and farfamed luscious lemons—an attention which was greatly appreciated by the players. “ When are you coming, out again ?” queried one of the Waorenga-a-hika Club officials. 11 \s often as yqu’U invite us,” replied the United men in chorus, who were grouped round the afternoon-tea table under tho flue trees in the College grounds. As the drag left, ringing cheers were given for Mr and Mrs Jennings and tho Waerengaa-hika Club. Town was reached about a-quarter to 8, after a very pleasant outing indeed, Tho following are the scores :

UNITED. W. Gibson, b McGruthor 20 Gardiner, b McGruther 3 T. Gibson, b McGruther 0 A. Crawford, not out 35 H. Sharp, b Jennings 6 Krotschmar, b Barton 0 J. Hay, lbw., b Barton 0 W. Hay, b Barton ' ... ... ... 0 LaDg, c and b Barton 0 Dodd, b Barton 1 Nolan, b McGruther 2 Extras 7 Total 74 Bowling analysis :—Koro : 3 ovors, 5 runs ; Sefton : 4 overs, 8 runs ; Barton : 10 overs, 15 runs, 5 wickets ; McGruther : 6 overs, 18 runs, 4 wickets ; Hogg : 3 ovors, 7 runs ; Jennings : 6 overs, 13 rune, 1 wicket.

WAERENGA-A-HlKA—lst innings. Kero, run out 1 W. Andrews, b Gardiner 4 Hogg, lbw., b Gardiner... 1 0 McGruther, c and b Crawford... ... 0 Koro, not out ... ... ... ... 3 Sefton, b Gardiner 2 Barton, lbw., b Gardiner 0 Scott, b Gardiner 0 Bov. Jennings, c Sharp, b Gardiner ... 0 Lougher, run out 2 J. Jonnings, c Crawford, bW. Gibson 1 Extras 3 Total 16

Bowling analysis.—Gardiner : 6 overs, 3 maidens, 5 runs, 6 wickets ; Crawford : 5 overs, 8 runs, 1 wicket; W. Gibson : 1 ball, 1 wickot. WAERENGA-A-HlKA—2nd innings. Koro, c sub., b W. Gibson 0 Kere, b W. Gibson 7 Andrews, b W. Gibson 13 McGruther, lbw., bW. Gibson ... 1 Sefton, b T. Gibson 18 Barton, o Gardiner, b T. Gibson ... 13 J. Jennings, b Sharp 1 Scott, b T. Gibson 8 Rev. Jennings, b Sharp 3 Lougher, b Sharp 0 Hogg, not out 0 Extras 3

Total 67 The bowing analysis were inaccurately kept.