CRICKET.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5540, 30 December 1878, Page 2

CRICKET.

WELLINGTON C.C. V. FEATHEBSTOS C.C. The Wellington Eleven left Grey town by special coach for Eeatherston on Friday evening, and put up at the Empire Hotel. The L ..f tlie morning was very "boisterous, and at one time it was thought that the match would not come off. By midday, however, rude Boreas reduced hia force, and a break was drawn up to the hotel for the visitors. The ground, as a cricket ground, had not been attended to. If a little work had been expended on it a very good wicket might have been obtained. The field in which the match was played was kindly lent by Mr. Wardeli, R.M. Shortly before play commenced the day was glorious, and a number of ladies, both on horseback and on foot, graced the match with their presence, and evidently took great interest in the proceedings. A little before one o'clock Gundy, the captain of the Featheratonians, tossed the Wellington skipper, and winning, decided to take the wickets first. Captain Werry soon got his team round him, and led them to the field. Collham. and Donald were the first to do battle for the Wairarapa Plains, facing the bowling of Armitage and Hickson. The former took the first over. Cobham snicked his second and tried a run, but the ball being well fielded by Thompson, the partnership was dissolved, and he had to make room for Inman. Donald's time had now come, as hia middle stump was sent flying by a beauty from Armitage. Philson joined Inman, when it was thought that they would make a stand. Both played some diflicr.lt balls from Hickson. Armitage sent him t. fewtrimmers, but was unfortunate. After scoring a couple of singles, Armitage had b ! .'s revenge, and scattered his stumps. Salmon joined Philson, but only had a short life, for Hickson was determined to "have him, which he did by a splendid ball, and the bats man retired for 2. Tocker was sent in next. Philson gave Armitage an easy chance" in the slips, and the crack bat of Featherston retired for 11. Fry came in next, bnt was almost immediately bowled by a wellpitched ball from Hickson. Gundy, the skipper, next faced Hickson, but was very unfortunate, for in playing his second ball his leg got where his baf should have been, and an appeal being made the umpire replied “ Out.” Johnston, the next man, commenced by cutting Armitage for a couple. Tocker, who had been a stone wall for somo time, had to succumb to one of Luxford joined Johnston; the former got Hickson away for a single, and then had his timber scattered. Smith, the last man, then made his appearance, and played remarkably well for the six which were credited to him. Luxford could not stand Armitage, and retired to a “ yorker.'* The innings closed for 35, including six extras. The fielding of the visiting team was very good. Too much praise cannot bo given to Leckie for his longstopping. He scarcely ever let a ball go by him, and if he could not stop the ball with hia hands ho was not afraid of putting his head in the way. Had the ground' been even of course he would have stopped all: tho balls with his hands, but it was impossible occasionally to say how it would, go, yet Leckie always managed to obstruct the progress of tho bail somehow or other, for which ha was frequently applauded. Tho bowling of Armitage was good, bettor than has been seen for some time. Hickson was tolerable, but nothing like ho was at Greytown, where he took nine wickets for five runs. Werry, behind the wickets, was exceedingly smart; in fact the: fielding all round was above the average. After a short adjournment for lunch, Leckia and Fordham faced the bowling of Smith and Gundy. Tho former played very carefully for his half-dozen, but at last had to retire to a good ball from Smith. Thompson filled the vacancy. Fordham after making a couple of pretty outs was caught by Donald. The bowling at this time was very good, dead on the wicket, and all well pitched. Hansford joined Thompson, and commenced by hitting Smith for 3 and cutting Gundy for a couple. Thompson was then caught by Luxford. Johnson joined Hansford, and commenced with careful play. Ball after ball was delivered dead on. the centre stump, and as surely were they kept on the ground by Johnson, who was playing in really splendid form. Runs were now coming very slowly, and tho game was getting monotonous. Hansford's time had now come, and he retired from a trimmer by Gundy. Knapp was sent in next, and stopped in a long time for hia single, when he was unfortunately run out. Johnson, however, all this time treated the Eeatherston people to a fins

bition of cricket. It is to be doubted if such an innings bad over been played there before. All bis hits wereoleauand well placed, and when ho retired he «was loudly cheered both by the field and spectators. Cowie went in with the full determination of slogging, and slog he did when he got a show, but unfortunately for him he slogged at one which he should have treated/-with a little more discretion, and the downfall of his wickets was the result. Armitage unlucky Annitage—left the tent no / doubt with the intention of a score, but again ho was doomed to a short life. He cut Salmon very hard, but the ball being well Seeded only one run was obtained. The next ho snicked for another, but in slogging at one of Salmon’s far missed it, and be retired, only adding two to the score. Worry filled the vacancy, and very soon made half a dozen by some good sound hitting. He was then given out Lb.w. Hickson hit his first to long leg for three, and after adding two singles shared the same fate as Werry. Bell, the lost man was not out. The innings closed for 89, the visitors beating their opponents by 5 i runs. After a short adjournment, Veatherston resumed the batting, and made things very lively for the visitors, and were not disposed of until they had made 112. Time was then called, and the Wellington C.C. scored another victory on a first innings. The team left by a special coach yesterday, which brought them M far as the Lower Hntt, the _ remainder of the journey being done by train. The trip thronghsut was a most enjoyable one. Annexed are the scores :

THORNDON C.O. V. STAR O,C. A cricket match was played on Saturday on the Baain Reserve between the Star Cricket Club and the Thomdon Cricket Club, resulting in a victory to the latter bjr 116 runs. Appended are the scores i THOBNBOJf C.C.

rEviTHEBSTON - , 1st Inninw- 2nd Innings. 10 CoUh*m, run out 0 not out 1 c andb Armitago.. Inmain, b Armitago 2 ht wkt, b Hickson - Phllson, c Armitago, b ii b Hickson .. 8 b Thompson locker,' b Armitago 1 c Lcckle, b Hickson 0 ' X b Knapp Gundy, c Worry, b Hlck0 b Hickson .. 15 Johnson, c Thompson, b 5 b Hickson .. 0 - / ~'uitord, e Knapp, b b Thompson 0 - dmltb. not out .. 6 b Thompson Byes.. 4 Leg-byes .. *■ Wldea Total 35 112

•WELLIKOXON C.O, Fordham, c Donald, b Candy Thompson, o Luitord, b Cumly .. Mansion!. b Candy Johnson, ht wkt, b Smith .. Knapp, run out - Cowie', b Smith Worry, Ibw. b Smith Hickson, Ibw, b Salmon Byeo— - .. .. * Total >

Kntchon, b Bishop BasseU. b Hsughton Salmon, c and b Blacklock .. . Bead, b Blacklock Daly, b Haughton Owtbbd, run oat .. .. •. ■Watson, b Blacklock •Howe, b Blacklock . 50 Moon tier, c Bishop, b Haughton .. a 13 Crowkber, not out Extras .. * a 50 Total 171 Star c.c. Haughton, runout Bishop, b Daly - Mason, c and b Salmon Hamilton, b Salmon a * , * .. Blacklock, run out Gray (not out) Cameron, st Kutchen .. .. •» Tait, c Osgood, b Salmon .. Howe, b Daly .. Holmes, b Salmon .. •. Extras Total