CRICKET MATCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4845, 2 October 1876, Page 3

CRICKET MATCH.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY v. WELLINGTON.

The opening cricket match of the season was played on the Basin Reserve on Saturday. The weather was beautifully fine, but the stiff south-east breeze blowing across the ground caused fielding to be anything but a pleasant duty, and the frequent use of pookethaudkerchiefs absolutely necessary. The ground had been carefully mowed and rolled, but still the cricket was anything but first-class, and little improvement can be , effected in _ the ground without the expenditure of a considerable sum of money. The match was announced- to commence at 11 o’clock, and although’the members of the Assembly turned up pretty .punctually, some of the more aristocratic Wellingtonians indulged in their fashionable unpunotuality, play being consequently delayed until nearly twelve. The time thus lost was not, however, wholly wasted, for those present indulged in a little practice, and the ground received an additional roll.' A foot-race between Messrs. Seymour and Hamlin was also quite a feature in the interval, the latter gentleman kissing mother earth in his exertions to keep up with his less bulky rival. On the arrival of the dilatory Welhngtonians the ground was cleared for play, and the rival captains—Morris for the Assembly and Werry for Wellington-tossed for choice of innings, and Werry, having the luck, took his men into the field. There was not much of an attendance during the morning, the cold weather doubtless keeping many away who would otherwise have been there. Fitzroy and Douglas were the first to represent the Assembly at the wickets, and Knapp took the first over for Wellington, howling from the northern end against the wind. After two byes had been scored the wicket-keeper, Edmunds, got a nasty crack on the face which opened up his chin. There was a great search for sticking-plaster, but the dwellers w Te Afd don’t indulge, in such luxuries, none beino- obtainable, even at tbe A.C. Barracks , and ft was not until lunch time that the gaping wound could be closed up. Armitage took the second oyer from the southern end, and there is nothing particular to record about the bowline at either end, except that it was not straight, thus lacking an elementary principle of success. Neither Fitzroy nor Douglas could get hold of it, however, but made capital work in running byes, much to the delight of an hon. member from Auckland who was a spectator, and gave encouragement to the players at the same time relieving his excited feelings with an occasional “ Go it ye beggars,” in broad Scotch. In Armitage’s second over Fitzroy scored two off the bat, and after a maiden from Knapp, which put Douglas through his facings, a very close bye was run. Fitzroy immediately attempted to repeat the experiment by trying to run a leg-bye, but was unsuccessful, getting run out, and the general verdict being “ served him right.” Stevens succeeded Fitzroy, and made a nice cut for two off his first ball. In Knapp’s over, which followed, Douglas hit up a catch, but was let off. However, on trying to steal a run from the next ball, he was also run out, and returned to the tent with a duckegg. Stevens was then joined by Seymour, being, however, clean bowled m the following over by Armitage, and compelled to retire with a modest '2. Rees was the next to put in an appearance at the wickets, and the hopes of our legislators were raised to the highest pitch, for although suffering from indisposition, he appeared in capital form, considering he had been put by for a whole winter., Seymour only lasted for a couple of overs after Stevens, being neatly caught by Bell at cover point off Armitage. . Johnson then joined Rees, and from the style of both players it, looked as if a stand was about to be made, but after Rees had scored a single, a 2, and a 3, and Johnson a single, the latter was bowled by Knapp, and the two swells of the team had to part company. Morris came next, and in the following over Rees made a fine off drive, which, however, owing to the long rank grass, did hot get away, and only scored 2. Both batsmen played very carefully for the next few overs, and an appeal was made by Knapp to the umpire as to whether Rees was l.b.w. The batsman,, however got the benefit of the doubt, if there was any. Both players were getting quite at home, when a change was made in the bowling, Armitage taking two overs in succession and coming on at the northern end, Evans taking his place at the southern end. Morris who notwithstanding his good stand had only scored 1, was then clean bowled by Armitage, the score having run up to 41 for six wickets down. Jordan. succeeded Morris, also shaping well, and shortly afterwards Rees made a very pretty, cut for 2. Jordan made a very fine leg hit in Evans’next over, which being well fielded and thrown in only scored 1, but a 2 might have been got if Jordan had made good use of his legs. Armitage in his next over bowled Rees, the leg stump being taken clean out of the ground. He had scored 17, and on his way to the tent was loudly applauded by both spectators and players, having played a really good innings, only giving one chance. Haralm took llces place, and after a bye had been scored, he and his successor Sharp were disposed of for nothing apiece in the same over by Evans. De Lautour was the last man, and succeeded in keeping his wickets up for two overs, a bye bein" added to the score. He was then bowfed by Armitage, the Assembly team having scored just a half hundred. Jordan carried his bat out for the small score of 1, but played very steadily. Both teams adjourned for lunch at about half-past one. The following is the Wellington bowling analysis during the first innings ;

The Assembly turned out in the field immediately after luncheon, and there was » fair attendance of spectators, the weather having brightened up. Rees took the first over from the southern end, and Bryce and Kennedy took the willow for Wellington. The former immediately succumbed to Reerf strategic slows, returning to the tent looking rather woebegone notwithstanding that he was the happy possessor of a little breakfast luxury in the shape of a duck-egg. Evans succeeded Bryce, being foolishly run out for 0 ; and Lockhart, his successor, was clean bowled for nothing by Morris. The only two men In the Wellington team who in batting appeared to be worth their salt—Kennedy and Knapp—now got together, and by the excellent stand they made pulled the game out' of the fire. Morris after a few overs’got off the spot, and was succeeded by Johnson. The two batsmen kept together for 18 overs before they could be parted, running the score up to 48. Knapp

was then bowled by Rees with wbaPimght i be termed a regular circumventor, ■ having scored 15. Armitage came next, but was disposed of by Rees for a duck-egg. Werry succeeded Armitage, and after a splendid over from Johnson, in which Kennedy had to do his level best to keep his wicket up,'was stumped by Fitzroy off one of Rees' slows, adding another to the list of the Wellington poultry productions. Bell took Werry's place, and by Kennedy scoring one off Johnson got down to the southern end, where he was clean bowled for nothing. Edmunds then came on the scene, but quickly disappeared again, Rees* destructive power being altogether too much for him. Horwood, the next man, actually succeeded in scoring a 2 from Rees, but the - course of the next ball being rather circuitous he was compelled to retire. Speed. was tbe last man, and after being joined by him Kennedy bad to stand another very hot maiden froin Johnson. Speed defeated Rees* machinations in the next over, and Kennedy scored 2 from the following over by Johnson, The first ball of the next over demolished Speed entirely, and the Wellington innings was brought to a close for 55. Kennedy’s innings was the redeeming feature of Wellington’s cricket, he-playing very finely all through, and making two splendid hits for 4 and 3 off Morris, .--The following is the analysis of the Assembly s bowling in the first innings': —‘ • Ovrs. Mdns. Hus'. AVds. Bys. AVkta. Rees .. .. U 3 ■ 21 0 <6 7 Morris .. ..4 0 12 0 1 1 Johnson .. 10.- 0 8 16 1 ; The second innings of-the Assembly team calls for no comment, the whole thing being weak, and the whole team only scoring 29. The following is the Wellington bowling analysis:Ovrs. Mdns. Rns. 'VVda. Bys. Wkta. Armitage .. 12 6 10 9 3 & . Knapp .. .. ,12 2 .12 1, 3 , 5 Wellington only having 25 to get to win, their second innings was a sort of walkover. Rees bowled splendidly, but was not backed up by his field, or the match might have had a different result. The following is the bowling analysis of the Assembly team, > Ovrs. Mdns. Bns. Wds. Bys. Wlcts. Reai ..7 1 9 0 ,2 3 Johnson 7 4 12 0 3 0 general assembly. First Innings. Second Innings. Fitzroy, run out .. .. 2 b. Knapp .. 4 Douglas, run out .. •• ® * un . out ,. ** * Stevens, b. Armitage .. 2b. Armitage 3 Seymour, c. Bell. b. Armtg. 1 b. Knapp.. ; .. 0 Rees, b. Armitage /;■ .. 17 .. 4 Johnson, b. Knapp .. .. 1 c. Evans, b. Amtg. 3 Morris, b. Armitage . * 1 run. out .. .. 0 Jordan, not out .. •• 1!• b. Amtg. 1. Hamlin, b. Evans .. .. Ob. Knapp.. • r ‘ •• 2 Sharp, b. Evans .. .. 0 -b, Knapp.. . ... 1, Do Lautour, b. Armitage - ■ 0 not out .. 1 Extras.. .. ..25 _7 Totals .. .. ..60 .. .. ..29 WELLINGTON. . i First Innings. Second Innings. Bryce, b Rees .... 0 Kennedy, not out ... .. 21 notout .. .. 8 Evans, run out .. ..0 not out .. 6 Lockett, b. Morris .. .. 0 Knapp, b. Rees .. .. 15 o. Douglas, b. Rees 8 Armitage, b. Rees .. .. 0 b. Rees ... ~.. 0 AVerry, st Fitzroy; b. Rees - 0 Bell, b. Johnson .. ..0 b. Rees .. .. 0 Edwards, b. Rees .. .. 0 Horwood, b. Rees .. .. 2 Speed, b. Rees .. .. 0 . . Extras .. ..14 5 Totals .. ..55 26 From' the above it will ‘be - seen that Wellingtou won the match by one run and seven wickets to fall, although their play, _ especially in the batting, was a perfect exhibition. Considering that in all probability the English team will pay Wellington a visit, practice during the next few weeks should be the order of the day. 1

Ovra. M(Jns. Rns. Wds. Bys. Wkts. Knapp.. .. 11 8 4 2 6 1 Armitage .. 16 4 15 1 14 Evans .. C 8 4 0 8 2