Cricket.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 127, 6 December 1902, Page 18

Cricket.

THERE was no stage Oi t^ MidlandWellzngton match ' last- Saturday where the spectators did not have to exercise a degree of earnestness to keep interested in the game — the cricket was very slow. A good gathering of spectators was present at the Reserve during the afternoon, the sixpence admission at the gates not having made any appreciable difference in the weekly muster. The two afternoons produced £27 for the benefit of the Cricket Association, and it is hoped next Saturday to raise enough to swell the coffers sufficiently to enable the Association to send its representative team to Christchuroh at Christinas time without leaving a debit balance to wipe off. * ♦ * The wicket provided for the continuation of the game was in tip-top order — hard and fast with no sien of heaviness from the rain that had fallen on Friday night. Re that wicket It has beem the custom for generations, I was going to say, in Wellington to provide a fresh wicket for each Saturday's play as near to the pitch used the previous week as possible. On, Saturday, the wicket was about five yards nearer the boundary than the one the Midlandeirs batted on the preivkras week and the Wellingtons, who had a set score to reach if possible, hod an advantge thereby. TJpham, the caotain of the. Midlandeir® appealed aeainst the shifting of the wicket, and he had the law on his side, but sooner than waste the time that would be necessary to mark out the creases on the wicket that was used the previous week, he let the matter rest after entering his 1 protest. * * * However to resume my tale of the match. The wicket was in good order, as I said before, and the 135 runs for nine wickets did not seem a big undertaking for a team of the batting strength the Wellingtons had shown earlier in the season. Mahony resumed, with. Richardson, and the play was very monotonous, runs coming only at intervals, and some of those intervals of wide dimensions. Though they came slowly, they came surely for all that, and the total began to get within coo-eeing distance of the Midlanders' score before Richardson left, after scoriae 24, trying to cut a bumpy one from TJpham which went safely to the hands of Quee. Hickson followed, and livened matters up considerably. Directly, though, he lost Mahony, who, during his long stay at the wickets, gathered together but 29 runs, and never appeared thoroughly at home. His timing of the ball was altogether too slow, and only in a couple of instances did he attempt his favourite stroke of picking the straight ball off his middle stump and dragging it to leg. A beautiful ball from Upham, that came back from the off, was the cause of Mahony's dismissal. When Stan Hickson left, after making 29, by nutting his leec in front of the wickets to a ball from Stephenson that got all over him the score stood at 116 for four wickets. The succeeding six wickets, thouerh, were only worth 15 runs between them. A. Gore, who was very weak from a recent bout of illness, touched a fast one from Upham, and Bartlett brought off his catch. Ashbolt was shaping fairly, when a similar ball to the one that sent Mahony to the pavilion proved his downfall. Weybourne got together a half-dozen nicely and then he jumped out to hit Stephenson towards the clock. Missing the ball, Williams gave him no chance of getting back. for. with a brilliant piece of work, he had the bails off almost before the stroke was concluded. Clayton took centre, looked all round, poised his bat in the air, made a stylish stroke, but. missing the ball, was clean bowled by TJt»ham. Hales made four to the accompaniment of applause from the crowd, and was disposed of by a clever catch at the wickets by Williams.

Taylor was the other batsmen, and he pottered about while four wickets fell, and got a "not out" to his credit without improving his aggregate of runs scored. « * * Upham, who skippers the Midland team bowled all the afternoon, keeping going for two hours and a-quarter. In the early part of the afternoon, he was a, bit erratic, going to leg a lot, and it apneared to me that if he had not been captaining the team he would have been taken, off for a while. However, the morj work he got the better he seemed to like it, and, as the day wore on, he got a beautiful length, and broke from both side® of the wicket. He bowled altogether 206 balls, off which 58 runs were scored, a.nd he secured seven wickets. Stephenson kept right on the* wicket the whole o-f the 78 halls he bowled on Saturday, ten of the thirteen overs being maidens. His average was Two wickets for six runsi, and, including tihe previous week's play three for 16. The first time he was taken odf , he had sent down six maiden overs in succession and even, now I cannot imagine why he was spelled at that stage Holdsworth had 24 runs scored off the 54 balls he sent down, Bartlett'si 48 ballsi producing 14 runs. Witih a lead of 20 runs, Hickson and Holdsworth opened the Midland second innings, Hales bowling. The third ball — a trimmer — proved too ecood for tihe former, and Moss replaced him. Holds/worth, quickly got to work, and irattled up 16, when Hales sent down a ball that, came like a. shot from a pun. It never rose an inch, and rattled into Holdsworth's timber-yard with, no uncerta'n sound. Williams shaped aggressively for 11 runs but, in trying to glide Hales to leg, he was caught by Taylor right behind the wioketkeeper. Moss troubled the bowlers a lot, but made next to no runs (3), and Bartlett (3) just managed to get going. Richardson accounted for both of them with similar balls — ones that came across from leg with the swing of his arm. Staples (5) and Smith (2) were not out when stumps were drawn, the Midland total being 47 for five wickets. Hales, three wickets few 19 runs and Richardson, two for six, were the destroying agents, and both bowled splendidly. » * * With five wickets m hand, and 67 runs to the good, the Midlanders should make a good fight. The continuation of the game next Saturday ought to be worth seeing, if not for brilliant cricket, at least for dogged persistency, for that is what the batting is likely to develop into on both sides. The Old BoysHPhcenix match did not last long, the ex-Collegians continuing their procession, of the previous week to and from the batting crease. The second innings totalled 38 — Tucker 10 (not out), Beechy 10, and extras 8. Nine batsmen (?) aggregated 10 runs between them, so comment thereon is unnecessary. Hickey and Brioe still further unproved their bowling averages, the former getting four wicliets for 8 runs, and the latter six for 22. • ♦ • I hear that, with the present series of matches, championship games will be discontinued till after the holidays. A practice match for the representatives will occupy the next two Saturdays — selected eleven against the next fifteen. I hear this incidentally and it may not be correct, as the Cricket Association have not spoken per medium of the press on the matter. Since writing the above, a confirmation appears m the daily papers. The match as suggested is a good one, and, as there is a probability of a second representative gome beiri"- played in Wellington, while the first team is in the South , both tcoins should muster in full force. A suggestion that Richardson should captain the second team is a good one, and I cordially endorse it. * * • The Paddinerton Club Sydney. intend entertaining Kelly, Trumper, and Noble at a social on their return from the successful tour of the Australian team in England. "Not Out," in the Sydney "Referee," says — "Old cricketers like old women, are privileged to change their minds, but Prank Iredale seems to be cuietly determined that he has made his last appearance in first-class cricket. Some Sydney battine: performances — G. P. Barbour 152, A. Foster 57, A. C. Bannermen 63, Gee 45, E. G. Noble 52, Winning 38, W. R. Iredale 61 (not out), Jansen 59, Diamond 94. Delaney 53, Stephen 48, Waddy 49, Deane 35, K. H. Quist 53 (not out). (Continued on page 19.)

The dates allotted for the Wellington match with, Lord Hawke's team have been published — 17th, 19th, and 20th January. The Wellington Association intend asking for an' alteration. Their request that a Saturday be given thorn lias been granted, but the last two days of the match are m the same week as Anniversary Day — a recognised holiday — and there would be no possibility of an extra half-holiday being granted in that week. Out of compliment to the English cricketers, efforts will be made to get the Mayor of Wellington to request the citizens to observe a half holiday each day of the match, but the Cricket Association woul 1 feel diffident on the matter if the dates remain as now suggested. The Wellington match could be played on the loth, 16th, and 17th January, and the Wairaropa, one on the 19th and 20th, without interfering with the itinerary of the tour, and it is hoped the Cnckeit Council will re-arrange matters to suit the convenience of the Wellington Association, especially when it will not cause any disarrangement of the fixtures. ♦ • • The Canterbury Cricket Association intend issuing half-crown tickets, which will entitle the holders to admission to Lancaster Park dunnq; the three days on which Lord Hawke's match is being played. This is a good move on their parti, and could be fallowed with advantage by the Wellington Ass'txaation. By the wav it is a hard nob to find out anythins about the domes of the Wellington Cricket Association in meeting Other branches of sport take full advantage of the newspapers to report the business done ait their regular meetings — wh.v not the Cricket Association? Fred. Midlane scored 3"> for Sydney 11., in a second trade match on Saturday w eek The Australian cricketers are exneoted to arrive back m Australia in less than a fortnight's time For those who may care to know, if the batsman plays the ball, and it ffets caught in the top of his pad, it becomes dead. Jack Weybourne rattled up 157 m the Midland 11. -Old Boys 11. match last Saturday for Midland® Last season he totalled 158 m the same game Canerburv tallies — Orchard 56, Callaway 62, Boxshall 31, F. S Prankish 22, Vincent 22, Hunsley 44, Corby 44, Strange 33, Prebble 33, 'and C. W. Garrard 35 (not out). It is stated that McGahey, who was a member of McLarens last team to visit Australia, will possibly help Lord Hawke's team in New Zealand. He is now on his wav out to Australia. Dunedin scorers A. E. Geddes 30, Bennett. 23 Croxford 22 Cramond 24, Latham 22 (not'out), Frith 26 (not. out). Mills 27, Siedeberg 26, Harraway 27 (not out), Turnbull 55, Goooh 32, and Wilkins 31. Mahony, the Wellington Club player, who came across- from Sydney this season did not do much with the bat during his. last two seasons in Sydney Three years back he was playing m junior cricket, and that season aggregated about 1400 runs, with an average of 95 por innings Harrj Trott is said bo be displaying grand batting form this season,, and a place will have to be found Tor him in the Victorian team. He now bats with greater freedom than in his old days, for then he was dubious about lifting the ball now however, he hits with great power and brilliancy. Morman Ebsworth, who has been making good scores in Sydney this season, has Left that oity for Scone, on business. He is expected to be able to take part in the Waverley Club's more important matches, and hopes to keep up his form by playing with the Robertson Electorate Club. George Giffeii is peculiarly placed in his post-office employment in Adelaide as regards cricket. If he wishes to play every Saturday afternoon, he has to forfeit his pay every other woek, for Le onlj has every other Saturday off. His recent performances are ail the more remarkable, considering his a^e, on that account. Dan Reese, the ex -Canterbury player, is reported to be leaving Melbourne for England His last essay with the bat produced 39 runs, put together in twenty-two minutes. A Canterbury paper says that Reeee is expected to return thither from Melbourne and may be available for their representative team this season, although the length, of his stay is uncertain . South Australia promises to unearth a "smiter" of the stamp of Massje and Percy McDonald, of clays gone bv, in the person of a Dr. Ma^arey. On a recent Saturday, he opened his shoulders and banged the ball clean out of the Adelaide ground a couple of t'mes while the soc fcatars round the ground smiled (and si^hed^ as they thought of wha,t the mighty Jessop threatened to do.

J. Darling was 32 years of age on the 19th .November. A singular incident occurred during the progress of the Gasworks-Newtown junior match, on the Basin Reserve on •Saturday. Frank Harris, bowling for the former team, in one of his deliveries grazed the leg stump, causing the baal to rise and fall, in its fall one end resting on the middle stump, and the other end against the side of the leg stump. The umpire, in keeping with the laws of the game, gave the batsman "not out." His luok, however, was not much use to him, for the next ball he was clean bowled. "Cricketers will be sorry to hear that A. E. Ridley's health has broken down, and that he will, in all probability, have to go on an extended holiday." lam voicing the sentiments of all Wellington cricketers, I know, when I express the hope that "Scoring Board's" remarks as above do not mean Ridley's retirement from cricket altogether for "Archie" was eiver popular in Wellington when has turn came to take strike, and the wish that he may be seen out many times m the future for his province is a general one. Coincidences often happen at cricket, but the latest one to which my attention has been drawn is unique, and, perhaps. ma;v never happen again in Wellington . hence a note is made of it here. In, the Midland and Phoenix innings, on Saturday week, Williams and Nivon the wicketVeepers of those teams, were baittins: at the seme time on Nos. "I and 2 wickets. That might happen often, of course but the coincidence is that they were both stumped at exactly the same time, the four wicketkeepers thus being in evidence all together. New England cricketer James McKay is showing sterling batting this season. Li fmir visits to the creases ho aggregated 030, without having been out The other day he smacked together 200 (not cvt 1 * in an, electric sort of way Yet, he has not pleased the New South W^lcs cricket selection committee for State honours , perhaps, they expect him to knock up about a thousand, and then h may be picked as an emergency. Thore arc few better batsmen m the State than McKay ; but, since he chooses to play with a country team, his tcJexit is not recognised in metropolitan cc I tres — Sydney "Bulletin,." There was a eood laugh en the Basin Reserve on Saturday, at the expense of Umpire McKenzie. Holdsworth was bowling to Stan Hickson, and the latter banged one straight back. The bowler had no chance' of stopping the ball, and it oaine straight to the umpire Hairry Davis who was fielding midwicket, travelled across fast to stop the ball, and in the end made a dive for it. It was a solendid effort, but in his flieht, he succeeded in picking the umpire's feet from under him, and landed him safely on the srrass. The ]au?h was a pood on© and the ori^s of "Well collared, Hairy," made one for the moment think he was ohasinp- the "Rugger" ball instead of its much less pretensious neighbour

'Eddie" Geach gives the palm among all the theatres he has seen to Dunedin "'Princess." He has -een Wellington Opera House, too ' Buffalo Bill (Colonel Cody) tlireateiife to bring his Wild West show to the colonies. Included in the show are half-a-dozen rough-riding Boers. « » * It is evident that motor-oars were used m the days of Louis XIII. In "Cyrano," now olayine at Sydney Palace, a coach, apparently weighing two tons, comes on unassisted by horses' * ♦ •♦ Frank Stanley, the well-known young New Zealander, who "swatted" law, and than drifted into Australian, journalism, is about to drift out of it. He is in Sydney, and likely to go on the stage. • • * "Johnnie" Sheridan is reported to have lost a "cool" thousand on the Caulfield Cup. Don't know whether "cool" applied to Johnnie afterwards. He has beem finding a great deal of it latch- ait Sydney Criterion however. » • * Agnes Jaaisooi, the contralto, who is remembered best in Wellington for her magnificent rendering of "Alas, Those Chimes," in "Maritana," is on her way to Melbourne on a professional visit. Her husband, who "is Swedish Consul at Edinburgh, accompanies her. ♦ * * New Continental idea Plays suitable for young ladies are now advertised on white posters. Red posters signify that grown-ups are catered for, while blue ones— will they signify that only English people on the outlook for Continental wickedness are invited to attend? ♦ * * Mr Ed. lioyd, England's premier tenor, "farewelled" in 1900. That is why ho has just decided to pack his trunk and do a colonial tour for his health's sake. He has not said yet if he is going to singe out here, but he is unlike many other farewellers if he cannot be persuaded. * » * "Ned Kelly or the Bushrangers " is to carry bloodshed on to the British stage soon Bernard Espinasse (of "Bulletin" fame) and! IlaiiTy Loader are the proprietors. A shar-.-shooting Yankee is to be a feature of the show, and Ned's iron waistcoat is to be an actual target. Funny thing they didn't give it a start in Australia, where the memory of the Kellys is still held in reverence. • * ♦ "The Grey Parrot," the little curtainraiser, played by Willou^hby and Geajch, created a flutter in at least one Christchurch bosom. A man called in to see the manager, and demanded to have the piece withdrawn. The manager laughed, and said he couldn't do it. The stranger said the piece was an incident in his life, and the playing of it was calculated to do him harm. Had seen the inspector of police about it. The manager said it had been played in London for years. No matter, the man was getting so unmercifully chaffed about it, that he was in. a state bordering oai frenzy. And, at his recruesfc, they didn't play it any more in Christchurch—after they left the town. • » ♦ Religious "problem" nlays hide some nastmess under the guise of Eastern robes. The world is threatened now with a rival to "Barratas," Sign of the Cross," and other signs of the times, in a dramatised version of "Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress " It will "be modernised, and the temptations that beset Christian's path will be dressed in Wirth'B costumes or have three stars on the label. If poor old John Bunyan, the bootlace maker, was able to see the moral of his great work twisted to satisfy the pruriency of present-day play-goers, he would wish that the serpent that tried to sting him to death before he wrote the "Progress," had succeeded in stopping him from giving playwrights a license to wreck the good that is in the old story.