CRICKET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8376, 9 March 1907, Page 6

CRICKET.

M.C.C. v. NEW ZEALAND. NEW ZEALAND ALL OUT FOR 165. M.C.C. FIVE FOR 80. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 8. On the jßasin Reserve the second test match between the M.C.C. and New Zealand was begun in fine weather, and during the afternoon there was about four thousand people present. Simpson-Hayward and Tufnell stood out of the yisiting team. The wicket was showing signs of the season's wear, and bumped badly at times. The New Zealand captain, Williams, won the toss, and went in. The scoring was slow, and for the first couple of hours only 91 runs were put on. Sale played the best innings on the New Zealand side, showing good defence with excellent punishing powers at any loose stuff that was sent down. Sale and Lawrence began batting at 11.35, Torrens and May bowling. The latter's second over was hit for 11, and as both men got strokes to the boundary, 20, was not long appearing. Lawrence then reached double figures with another hit off May, but at 27 he should have been run out, only the ball was returned to the wrong end. Douglas relieved May, and his first over was fatal to Lawrence, who was caught in the slips by Branston. 30 —l—l3.

Mahony, assisted by Sale, put on 20 runs. The latter stood at 16 for twenty minutes, and his partner did most of the hitting, making several fine str6kes to leg, which reached the boundary. At 39, Sale was missed in the slips by Branston, but the latter made amends by taking Mahony in the same place. 50 —2—17. Sale was obviously ill at ease to Douglas, and nearly played him on to the wickets one?. As soon as II addon came in there was a misunderstanding over a short run, which cost Sale his wicket, Fox running him out.

Hem us and Haddon took the score to 63, when Branston again effected a catch in the slips off the fast bowler, which retired Haddon. 63 —4—s. Tucker followed, and Torres, who had sent down 13 overs for 2S runs, gave way to Branston. Tucker had made one fine" cut to the boundary, when a bumpy ball from Douglas gave him a severe blow on the head, and he had to i*etire, having rinde 6. , Williams joined Hemus. The latt <r scored with some freedom. Doug--It\ who harl taksn three wickets for 12, gave way to May. At lunch

the score was 91 for 4 wickets — Hemus, not out, 22; Williams, not out, 6; extras, 3. After lunch the rate of scoring improved somewhat, but before long it relapsed again into tameness. The New' Zealanders batted 3 hours and 5 minutes, and the rate of scoring'was just a shade over 50 an hour. The Englishmen began their first essay at 4 o'clock, and opened badly, losing the first three wickets for 50, the£fourth at 75, and the fifth for 80, when stumps were drawn for the day. Owing to the threatening nature of the weather, the lightjjbecame very bad, and even as early as 4.30 the question of ceasing play for the day was discussed, but it was decided to go on. The following are the scores: — NEW ZEALAND.—First Innings. Lawrence, c Branston, b Douglas 13 Sale, run out ... 19 Mahony, c Branston, b Douglas... 17 Haddon, c Branston, b Douglas... 5 Hemus, b Douglas ... 38 Tucker, b Douglas ... 23 Williams, b Douglas ... 19 Fisher, lbw, b Branston ... 10 Downes, run out ... 0 Bennett, b Douglas ... 5 Upham, not out ... 2 Extras ... 14 Total ... 165 BOWLING ANALYSIS. overs mdns runs wkts Torrens .. 18 2 40 0 Douglas 24.4 9 49 7 May . 5 1 24 0 Branston 11 2 38 1 Douglas Dowled one no ball. M.C.C.—First Ir.nings. Johnson, b Upham 4 Fox, b Upham 13 Burns, lbw, b Upham ... ... 24 Harrison, c Downes, b Upham... / 17 Douglas, c Mahony, b Fisher ... 18 Page, not out 3 Branston, not out 1 Total for five wickets ... 80 Bowling analysis.—Upham, 4 for 50; Fisher, 1 for 1; Bennett, 0 for 11; Downes, 0 for 18. The match Carterton v. Eketahuna, which was to have been played at Masterton, to-day, . has fallen through, owing to Eketahuna being unable to obtain a team.