Cricket.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 39, 13 November 1894, Page 3

Cricket.

OPUNAKE v. NEW PLYMOUTH.

The first of tbe championship ’ B atches under the Taranaki Cricket Association, between New Plymouth and Opunake, was played on the local ground on Friday last. Tbe visiting team drove through on Thursday night, and were put up by Host Knowles. They expressed themselves yicased with the trip, and were delighted with the pitch, which was in excellent order, thanks to Major Tuke, who as usual turned out and did it himself, in the absence of the caretaker. The visitors had not their full (seam with them, as several of their best men were unable to get away. Opunake also bad not its strongest team in the field, as a couple of its strongest bats were unable to put in an appearance. The first innings of the local men closed for 81, Stonex (24), Wagstaff (19), and A. Good (16) being the double-figure scorers. Stonex is a

Lancashire player, and bis style : vras greatly admired. He knocked up " runs in free style, and, when he appeared to be thoroughly set, was taken smartly at the wickets by Mannix. Wagstaffv played good cricket for his 19, treating the onlookers to some

good hard hitting. A. Good played a dashing innings for his 16, and with > practice is a very promising player. Had Weston been put on earlier to bowl, the innings might have worn a different aspect, as he soon established a “ dry rotamongst the remainder of the team, taking seven wickets at a cost of B*4 each. The fielding of the visitors was good, especially Mannix at the wickets, who played part of the innings without a longstop, and did not allow a single bye to be registered against him. The visitors then took charge of the willow, but were unable to make any stand against the bowlihg of Wagstaff and Edmunds. The former did the “ hat trick ” with a wicket to spare, taking four-wickets in one over, with consecutive balls. The innings closed for 23, of which five were extras.' Opunaktf then went in for their second innings, and again made matters merry for the visitors. Stonex treated them to another dose of leather-hunting, during which he knocked up 48 by good, sound cricket, losing his wicket by a fine catch at long on. Edmunds made 13 by good cricket, and when well set was unfortutnately run, out. A. Good again came to the front with a wellhit 10. The second innings closed for 90, leaving the visitors 148 to get to win. Harden, however, was the only one to make any stand, knocking up 24 by very neat cricket, and had collared the bowling, -when Chapman relieved Wagstaff and effected the desired result by clean bowling him with a beautifully pitched ball. Barron was apparently settling down, and - had compiled seven, when the Chapman medicine abo proved too much for him. Weston had got-his eye in, and was shaping well, when his co.leagfles commenced a procession and him left alone in his glory—not out—with six to his credit. Appended are the full scores :

Opunake—lst Innings, Edmunds, b Bennett ... ... 0 H. Good, b Harden ... ... 4 Stonex, c Mannix, b Morey ... 24 A. Good, b Weston 16 Wagstaff, b Weston 19 Chapman, b Weston 2 Eogera, b W eston ... 1 Nuttall, st Mannix, b Weston ... 8 Stewart, b Weston 6 Burke, b Weston 0 Fowler,'not out ... ••• 0 Extras 1 Total 81 Second Innings. Edmunds, run out ... ... 13 H. Good, cßarron, b Harden ... 5 Stonex, c, b Eennell ... ... 48 A. Good, c, b Harden 10 Fowler, b Eennell... ... ... 0 Eogers, b Barron 4 Chapman, run out 0 Wagstaff, b Eennell 1 Stewart, not out ... 2 Nuttall, b Eennell • 0 Burke, b Eennell 0 Extras '. 7 Total ... 90 Grand total 171 Niw Plymouth—lst Innings. Harden, c Edmunds, b Wagstaff... 7 Lash, b Edmunds... 1 Smith, c Wagstaff, b Edmunds ... 4 Morey, l.b.w 1 Barron, b Wagstaff 1 Weston, c, b Edmunds 0 Eennell, b Wagstaff .... ... 0 Bennett, b Wagstaff 0 * Brown, not out 8 Mannix, b Edmunds ... 0 Early, b Wagstaff... ... ... 1 Extras ... 5 Total ... ... ... 28 • Second Innings. Harden, b Chapman 26 Lash, run out ... ... 1 Smith,"b Edmunds . 2 Morey, b Wagstaff ... ... 3 Barron, b Chapman 7 Mannix, c Wagstaff, b Edoaunds... 1 Westqp, not out ... 6 Eennell, b Edmunds 0 Bennett, run out ... 2 Brown, cH. Good, b Chapman ;.. 1 Early, c, b Edmunds ... ... 0 Extras ... - 4 v " Total ... ... 63 * ■ cvGrand Total ... ... 76

' ' After' the team bad had their tea, ' they started on, the return journey, thoroughly pleaded with their outing, ode and.all voting it a most-enjoyable ifiatchT—bar the result.

Another cup match was played at Hawera on Friday between the Hawera Club and Hawera Stars, resulting in a victory for the latter on the first innings. In their first attempt, the Stars made 86, Wakelin (43) and Haggett (16) being the double figure'

men. In iheir second innings they made 80, Haggett contributing 28, and L. Campbell 12. The Hawera Club, in their first innings, made 88, Geo. Bayly (81) and F. Moore (18). In the second innings they had lost six wickets for 60 when time was called, Smith 22, G. Bayly 17, and Westenra 12. McCarthy, for the Stars, took 8 wickets for 19 runs, which is a creditable record against so good a team.—Haw era Star.

Stratford beat the Unity Club (New Plymouth) on Friday, the scores being 80 and 50 respectively.