CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 699, 19 December 1902, Page 3

CRICKET.

Cricket, as it is played in Gisborne, is a very dead and alive (mostly doad) sport, and being so is a most serious reflection upon tho youth and early manhood of Gisborne, it being hard to conceive what tho young fellows get up to of a Thursday afternoon that the attraction of a good gamo of crickot on a decent pitch is rendered futile. Tho writer does not

know, nor does ho care to find out, when the subjects are such sluggards at turning out to the summer game, that is played with unflagging enthusiasm all over the English-speaking world. The fact remains that cricket—played under most pleasant auspices boro and not in a square surrounded by houses as in tho larger cities —lacks tho vim with which similar contests are entered into in other districts,and tho fact is downright regrettable. These remarks aro apropos • of the Whataupoko team failing to keep its fixturo at the Domain yesterday afternoon, thereby forfeiting the matoh and disappointing a uumbor of Kaiti-City playors who turned up to oppose them. This practically means that on tho West End team will only havo tho KaitiCity Club to moot, and though this is all very well for a few Thursdays, the monotory of the same teams meeting ovory Thursday, will fall long before the season is out to tho vexation of the few lovers of tho game. Yet the Association in its official dunderheadodness decides that all matches shall bo dcoided on the first innings, providing both teams do not bat out tho full two innings on the one aftornoon —two clubs only, and yet one innings matches. If tho members of tho Association fail to seo that this arrangement is a moderately idiotic one and act accordingly, there should be a referendum taken at once of tho teams in both Thursday and Saturday contests putting the question beforo them, in a win for tho former's team. Tho West Coder’s team batted first, an put together 80 runs, an alleged tail putting on 60 runs in good style. Of those Taylor (from the Coast) rnado 27 with sound cricket, and Shillaboor lashed out and notohed 28 by hard hitting and lucky “pulls.” Tho only other double-figuro scorer was Sigloy ,who showed form lacking in some of the more regular players, Lang and Peary bowled well for tho City man’s team. The latter then battod, and with the aid of a serviceablo 24 from Fisher (a new player) and 13 scored by Peary, succeeded in getting

within 4 runs of their opponent’s score, when the last man was bowled. Shillabeer and Plimmer bowled best for their side, with a little relief from Taylor, a fairly good medium pace hand, Shillabeer cost his side too many byes (22) to bo of tho service that he might be with a reliable wicket—keep and field, and would do hotter in tho long run to moderato his

paeo a little. Tho game was a most enjoyablo one, and theirs is tho loss who were absent, the wicket playing truo and tho weather being all that could bo desired.

Tho West End team is to meet County at tho Domain on Saturday, and as both arc straining to put their vory best into the field, a great contest should oventuate. It is to bo sincerely hoped that tho West Endors will muster strong and givo the country players that weleomo that is always so readily accorded them when tho boot is on tho othor foot.