CRICKET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7999, 20 March 1906, Page 6

CRICKET.

AN EXPLANATION. DUNEDIN, March 19. Further inquiry shows that it was not the umpires who decided to draw stumps because the light was bad. Wilson, who captained the local team, says that iu all decent matches iu Australia no batsman is sent iu within five minutes of the time of drawing stumps. and he took it upon himself to iutroduee the same thing here. As a matter ot fact, the places of Aitkeu aud \ Irwin were taUe'i in the field by substitutes, aud it is doubtful if either of them cuuld bavo batted, in which case tlie Melbourne Crickot Club side was exhausted. Ailken was an the ground, and could doubtless have hobbled to the wicket and get some one to run for him. The crowd present did not understand the circumstances under which the game was concluded, and as the custom in Australia is quite unknown here, eome surprise was expressed at the supposed actiou of the umpires, whereas the umpires doclined to say anything.

The following team will represent the Star Bin their match with Carterton Juniorß, on Ihursday next, on the Park Oval:—Rautu, McLean, Evans, Dyke, Laurence, Beale, Hooper, Truscott, Steward, Lomas, Turvey, and Darroch. The Carlton A-Carterton match will be resumed at Carterton on Thursday,' and the Star-W.F.C.A. match at Masterton, on the same day. The Carlton 0 and Star U will play their Junior Cup fixture when 1 the Star B-Carterton matoh is concluded. A LADIES' MATCH. VICTORIA v. TASMANIA. Received March 19, 9.39 a.m. MELBOURNE, March 19. The first inter-state ladies' cricket match, Tasmania r. Victoria, attracted a large attendance. The game resulted in an flasy win for the hume team. After disposal of the visitors for 49 runs, the Vic torians made '73 for the loss of four wickets. The Victorians adopted overarm, and tbeir o{ ponents underarm bowling.

OTAUO v. MELBOURNE. A CLOSE GAME. DRAWN IN OTAGO'S FAVOUR. By Telegraph—Press Associatoin. DUNEDIN, March 19. Never were the uncertainties of oricket better illustrated than in the natch Melbourne Oricket Club v. Otago. On Saturday all ohanoe of a close finish seemed gone, but so well did the local men play up that it was hard lines that they did not actually win. As it was the match ended in a draw. Thanks to Siedeberg's 102, the local men took the total in the second innings to 253. Requiring 111 to win, and with an hour and fifteen minutes to time, the visitors lost eight wickets for 59. So good was the bowling that five of the batsmen were out for "duck eggs." Ttiere was much excitement towards the finish, but the light became so poor that the stumps were drawn five minutes before six o'clock, otherwise the local men might have won. | Scores:— OTAGO.

First innings ... 130 Second Innings. Baker, run out ... 3 Siedeberg, b Armstrong ... 102 Graham, run out ... 15 Austin, o Mailer, b MuLeod ... 28 Howden, stHenty, b Armstrong 14 Wil°ou, lbw, b Armstrong ... 0 Adams, b Wilkinson ... 1 ' Fisher, o sub., b Armstrong ... 31 Torrance, b Butler ... 1 Downes. not out ... 19 Williams, o sub., b Armstrong 10 Extras 29 Total ... 253 Bowling—MoLeod, 1 for 65; Armstrong, 5 for 66; Rainsford, 0 for 13; Butler, 1 for 30; Wilkinson, 1 for 36; Laver, 0 for 12. .MELBOURNE. Firat inning ... 273 'Second Innings. Mailer, b Fisher ... 0 Armstrong, b Downes ... . 0 Henty. o Wilson, b Downes ... 0 Wilkinson, b Downes ... 12 Rainsford b Austin ... 34 MnLeod, b Austin, ... 12 Laver, b Downes ... 0 Jennings, o Williams, b Austin 0 Butler, not out ... 0 Extra ••• 1 Total for eight wickets ... 59 Bowling—Downes, 4 for 30; Fisher, 1 for 14; Austin, 3 for 14,