CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8061, 16 March 1906, Page 2

CRICKET.

NEW ZEALAND v. MELBOURNE. I'EU MESS ASSOCIATION. CiiiiisTciinini, March 15. Jl. G. Siedeberg (Duucdin) will be unable to play in the New Zealand team, and W. Brooke-Smith has been selected to fill his plaee. CAItKINGTON ROAD v. INGLEWOOD. The senior grade match, Harrington ltoad v, Inglewood, was commenced in the hitter's ground on Thursday. The home team batted first, and occupied the wicktts the whole of the afternoon for the fair total of 181, of which Pcrham contributed a splendid 7i), marred only by two chances. The match will be continued next Thursday. Scores: Caiminoton Koad.—First Innings, Pcrham, b Gudgeon 79 Hcnuesey, e Spencer, b Matthews 13 Benbow, (run out) 15 F, Kobertson, e Gudgeon, b O'Bryne 0 Jordon, c Sutherland b Nichols 12 Broome, b Gudgeon 17 A. MeEwen, (not out) 1!» Voting, c Clegg, b Gudgeon ... 5, M. Kobertson, b Crombie ... 1 Avery, b Crombie 1 J. MeEwen, I) C'rombc 3 ■ Extras 1(! Total 181 Bowling analysis: Gudgeon, 3 for 76; Mathews, 1 for 13; O'Byrue, 1 for 21; Sutherland, Ofor 13 ; Nicholls, 1 for lo'; Crombie, 3 for!). I Tariirutatigi C.C. will play West find on Saturday, at West End ground, play to commence at 1 30 sharp. ANSWEKS TO COIUiESPONDENTS. [By " CovM-Poivr."] W.H. (Auckland) asks: "A batsman played a ball, and as it was likely to fall on to his wicket he struck it a second time, with the result that lie hit it into the hands of the wicketkeeper. On apjicnl lie was given out, caught. Was the batsman out?" Aus.: This is one of the instances for which the laws cannot be said to provide. It is to be presumed that the wicket-keeper was standing back, but it there was the remotest possible chance that any one of the field could have caught the ball before it was hit a second time, the batsman must clearly have been out for " obstructing the field." If there was a shadow of a chance that any one of the field could have caught the ball before it was hit a second time, the laws would not assist the umpire, except in so far that law 22 directs that the batsman is out if the ball be held before it touches the ground. As the North Island is proverbial for dissatisfaction with umpires' decisions, you had better eutreneh yourself behind Bule .13. As you evidently have left it to my decision, I should give the batsman out.