CRICKET MATCH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 284, 2 December 1870, Page 2

CRICKET MATCH.

We were unable yesterday to give more than the first innings of the two elevens in the match that was being played, and we now re- publish the scores together with those made in the second innings, from which it will be seen that Wellington was victorious with two wickets to go dowu. Going to the wickets with a surplus of twelve runs to their credit, the Nelson men distinguished themselves in their second innings by the extreme carelessness of their play. Whether or not the small balance in their favor induced them to hold their opponents too cheaply, or what the reason was, it is impossible to say, but iv no match that we ever witnessed did we see such a stupid, suicidal system of play as that pursued by our men on this occasion. The fact that five men out of the eleven were run out speaks volumes in favor of the fielding of the Wellington club, but at the same time no amount of smart fielding could have produced such an effect, had ordinary care been used by the batsmen. As it was, when the last wicket fell on the Nelson side, the paltry score of 52 showed how they had thrown away there opportunities; still, however, there was a chance for them, as their opponents went to the wickets wanting 64 to win. But the demon of carelessness seemed to have taken possession of our men, and, if it had been their object to give the game to the other side, they could not have played more wildly than they did. The bowling grew feeble in ihe extreme from the upper wicket, simply because the bowler was too weary to deliver the ball with any degree of precision, and yet, though there were others on the ground who were quite capable of taking his place, no su*ps were taken to relieve him, while, at ihe same time, the fielding grew worse and worse; runs were made where they had no business to be, and overthrows were scored from the want of "backing-up."

It is not, therefore, to be wondered at in the least that Wellington snatched victory from the Nelson men who had it in their grasp, if they had only taken the trouble to retain their hold of it. The bowling of the Nelson side was, until, as we have said, one of the bowlers began to knock up, infinitely superior to that of the Wellington men, and their batting on the whole was quite equal to their opponents, but it was in the fielding that they were so lamentably deficient, and we hope for their own sakes, and for the credit of the Proviuce, that they will, before playing the return match, devote a little more time and attention to this very important part of the game of cricket. The interest taken in the match by the townspeople was shown by the fact that at one time there must have been at least 800 persons on the grouud. We heard loud complaints on all sides that no purveyor of creature comforts had been . possessed of a sufficiently enterprising spirit to erect a tent on the ground from which to supply the wants of the hungry* and thirsty crowd. He who had done so would have been a benefactor to his fellow-creatures, and would have had the further satisfaction of kuowing that while he was conferring benefits on others he was making a handsome profit for himself. At 8 o'clock the two elevens, together with a few friends, sat down to an excellent dinner at M'Gee's Hotel, when a most pleasant evening was passed and at about miduijzht the Wellington men, who were in high feather at their victory, embarked on board the Taranaki, which sailed at 4 o'clock this morning. Subjoined is the score : — Nelson. First Innings. Smith, c Bock b Ferris 11 Knapp, run out 4 Cross, c and b Fe*rris 6 Wix, b Ferris 4 Barnes, b Ferris 8 Sellon, b Ferris 14 Kilgour, b Ferris 1 Clark, b Ferris 5 Baigent, c Bock b Evans 3 Powell, c Goring b Ferris 0 Greenfield, not out 0 Byes 14 Leg Bye 1 Wide Balls 3 Total 74 Second Innings. Smith, run out 6 Knapp, b Evans 5 Cross, run out 5 Wix, b Evans 4 Barnes, run out 5 Sellon, run out 1 Kilgour, run out 8 Clark, c Ferris 0 Baigent, not out 2 Powell, b Evans 6 Greenfield, c Werry 2 Byes 6 Wide Balls 2 Total 52 74 Grand Total 126 Wellington. First Innings. Ferris, st Wix b Barnes 2 Bould, b Barnes 0 Salmon, b Cross 11 Evans, b Cross 6 Lomax, b Cross 6 Macdonald, b Cross 0 Werry, c Wix b Barnes 16 Gray, b Barnes I Goring, c Powell, b Barnes 2 Bock, c Cross 2 Leadam, not out 0 Byes 13 Wide Balls 1 Total 60 Second Innings. Ferris, c Smith 0 Bould, b Sellon 14 Salmon, b Cross 5 Evans, b Cross 1 Lomax, run out 12 Macdonald, run out 1 Werry, b Sellon 5 Gray, b Cross 12 Goring, not out 0 Bock, not out 1 Bye? 13 Wide Balls 5 Total 69 60 Grand Total 129