Australian Cricketers at Wanganui.

Patea Mail, 15 February 1881, Page 3

Australian Cricketers at Wanganui.

VICTORY FOR LOCAL TEAM. SECOND DAY. (From our Special Reporter.) The Australians resumed their second innings, and were all disposed of for 83 runs. Spofforth 14, and Murdoch 36, were the only two who made double figures. I was much disappointed in their batting powers, but they attribute their not being able to face the bowling, to the bad ground. Murdoch told the Wanganui captain that no eleven could make 100 runs on such ground. Their bowling and fielding quite surpass anything I have previously seen. The ball is returned and is in the wicketkeeper’s hand before you know it, and it would be a fatal step for any batsman to attempt to steal runs from them. In this innings I must make mention of Jacomb for the excellent style in which he kept the wickets, and who I consider could, with very little practice, take his place beside Blackham. One of the Australians said their team had not come across a better wicket-keeper in New Zealand. Slight was caught off Bayly by Jacomb at the wickets in a twinkling. Miller and Beresford must be credited with catching the two best men out—the latter more especially had a very tall catch to take from Spofforth at long field on, and greatly to the admiration of the crowd he held it well. Cross also made a good catch with one hand. Fred Bayly’s bowling came off well again to-day ; towards the end of the innings he found a good seconder in Me Gregor, who ought to ’nave been put on earlier. Had this been done I doubt if the Australians’ score would have been much over that of the first day. The weather was very fine, and even more favorable for cricket than yesterday, and there were quite 2000 people present. At 3 o’clock the Wanganuis went in for their second innings, in which they got the required number of runs to win, viz. 86, with 10 wickets to spare. In this innings I saw what I expected to have seen in our visiting brethren, viz., a display of really good batting. Barton, Millei, and Read certainly batted in an able and masterly manner. I did not think it was possible for amatuers to knock such bowling as Spofforth’s and Palmer’s about. Barton, with free and careful hitting, knocked up 44 runs in about an hour, the hits consisting of fours, threes, and twos, there being only three singles out of the lot. He hit them out of the field, and drove and cut them iust when he liked. He gave Murdoch three very hard chances; which I fully expected a cricketer of Murdoch’s ability would have at once collared. Failure to do so was attributable to the bad fielding ground. The fourth chance, which was an easy one, was accepted by Murdoch, and amidst great cheering Barton was cai-ried off the ground. When Barton retii’ed, the Australians shaped to win, which was quite evident by the way they pulled themselves together. Spofforth did spin them in to some tune, but Miller cut him clear through the fielders for 3, two or three times in succession, and then succumbed to a regular shooter. Read made his runs in the same good style, but sacrificed his innings. The popping crease was not close enough to keep him at home, and by cribbing a little more room Jarvis had him stumped before he even thought of getting back again. Fred Bayly 5, not out, made the winning hit. Riddiford made 2, not out also. The names of the plajmrs who did not bat in the secoud innings are Wilson, Robinson, Jacomb, Whitford, McGregor, Sanson, Saunders, Notman, and Coutts. Mr Cross, the Wanganui captain, is well pleased with the aid sent from the Patea County. After a most enjoyable holiday, I returned to my native soil.