THE CRICKETING SEASON.

Manawatu Times, Volume IV, Issue 83, 27 October 1880, Page 2

THE CRICKETING SEASON.

JAIVERSTOT V. EATiCOMBB. What may ba culled the first match proper of tbe crick oting ••won took place on Saturday, whan th» Halcombe mtn met ?*luier»t9i| 911 th# ground of th» lfctt«r to

try conclusions. The visitors arrived by the mid-day train, and were met at the station by the members of the Reception Committee, by whom they weve escorted to the ground, and play commenced shortly after twelve. Captain Hyde had charge of tbe Halcombe team, and Mr. Watson wis chosen to command the PaHierston''an», who took first innings, Pirani and Staite facing the bowling of Pnvkea and Hyde, ViaH acting as wick«t-ke«per for t'-.e visitors. At the oufset, the bowling of Parkes cheated quite a panic, as when one run had been scored to Staite, and before fie conclusion of tb» second over, Pirani was seen r*tu-n---ing dejectedly to the paviTon, a fate shaded by bis companion b«!"o-e he cou^l agn'n score, although Thomoion, who fi^ed t^e vacanev, ha<s made throe runs before that ev«nt happened- This looked ominous for the local team, the more parh'cularlv as t'.ie excellent bowling of tbe. visitors was supplemented by veer caoWal field : ngr, the exhibition of play m that respect made by Samson — who seemed almost üb'quitous — beinj; the theme of fenecal admirat : on. Wben State sueoumbed, his p!»ee was taken by Maion, and the fats of their predecessors made both batsman play with great care. Thompson managed to put 12 together, mostly m singles, when, for some reaion unaccountable to even lii-melf, be nicely guaged one of Hyde's balls into tie hands of the bowler, and the invitation being accepted, he had to make way for Charles. During his stay at tiia wickets, however, Thompson had given no less than three good change* m the shape of catches, and consequently he may be said to have bad at least two lives. Mason did not long Bii"viv» his partner, as a Yorker from C. Miller scattered his stumps, and Benson joined Charles. The former played ye 7 carefully unt ; l double figurei had been reached, when he began to take liberties w'th the ball, and leather-hunting was the consequent result. Were it not for the excellent fielding of Samson — a ho«t m himse'f — who was Iwe, thert, and everrwhere, Gtyarjes't ijjore would have been much largee, nevertheless he puf- 19 together m twQs and threes, when he was given out by h's own umpire for hav ; ng hit hi» wicket. There was considerable diversity of opinioi as to whether the decision was a just one or not, but the captain of the Palmerston teim did not question the ruing, and the. net'rement of Ohat'les made room for Watson. As the Captain bai the reputation of of being an excellent bat, but bas been s'ngtParly unfovvrnate m most of tbe matches ; n which has played m Manßwa(u ; it was hoppd the nolle goddess wo^d bestow a smile, but ev<deatl? he has yet to win her favor, for after puttuig 2 to the score he followed tbe example of Thompson, and q'lowed bimself to ba stupidly caught out. Lloyd took tbe deserted w'eket. but h»s tenure of office was not of long durat : on. as tbe second or third ba'l from Hyde floored bia bale before be had time to smash his duck's ejjg, a fate w'.i'ch his guocessor, Turner, experienced to the lelLer. The "ta'l" of the team, Marriner and Reeve, then got together, and for.mcd a ma"ked contrast to t'de " head," the former running up 8 by some very neat play, and the Jalter cai-i-ying out his bat for fire, but not until both men had contributed 1/ to the score, inclusive of extras. We oan? not conclude t'?is portion wit'iout pay'ng a deserved compliment to Tompkins, for h's verr excel'eni long-stopp'dg, a feat which was very d<Bicult to be pcfo'-ned on acoount of tlla vei'^- Jumpy anluva- of- tLi ground As it was determined to have lunch at (wo o'clock, and that hour bad net arrived, the Pal nersfcon men took the field, Mason and Thompson bowling, Lloyd at tbe \ricl;ois, and Pirani long-sLop. Lash and Cuff faced the bowlers, but one of Thompson's gwiflei'i brought him to grieT, and the void was filled by Waters. The two batsmon then played a mo«t sfcick-ng game, and aUhougb. Lash would occasionally 'jit out and score, lie was veoy carofu', ?nl the 16 which he put to his credit covered a d6al of tjme. IJnfoiiunately 1?« se:it one into tbe bands of the wicket-keepe", and he netired with a well-earned 16, bc'ng more than double tbe figure made by any other member ot the team. Although Waters staid longer at the wickets than any on .V---«id<», he confined I'is attention to block 1 1; ■■ Thompson's bowling, which evidently bo- I t'.ie>'ed h'm, and tiie total score vas only benefited 2 by his bat, when Maion neatly caught him out. S;iin«on filled the breach, and as be was looked upon vi a little terror of tower of strength, a long score was expected. However, "you never can teJl t'll tie numbers are up," and the stroag man had not strenjtn to crush his egg. Several balls had been previously sent to the field where Stnite was stationed, woich he hod declined to intercept., and Samson no doubt thought h's skyey could be safely put away m that direction ; but ho hod reckoned without hi* hoit, for Staite nobly redeemed any former l achc , end made the most brilTant catch of the day, hav'pg to ran a good distance, and g>*asp the ball m one baud, a feat which was loudjy applauded by all m tbe field. The Halcombe captain next handled^ the willow, a<id although he did not make a larg9 score, he gave every evidence of be'nj tb.e beit bat :;] his team, and tie local men drqw a 013 bof relief when Thompson found a weak place m his stumps wUen he had scored 3, hja vis j, vis, Yiall following him foi the' same number, p. Miller, Tompkins, and A'Court did not help their side, muc.!i ; thp two fq^iqer beina caught out for one each, while the latter did not score, and, about that time it was becoming pain. nil v evident to the visitors that they would liaye a very up-hill battla to fight before victory could crown vhoir labors. Parkes and j. Miller, the two last men, made 6 and 7 respectively, or double the highest score, excepting Las I?, but they were of no use,, as with ext-as'the innings closed for 42. As a p<'bof of the yery excellent fielding and bowling of the local team, wt may state tbat tliere was bi}t on,e lej-bye and two w.'de/i. Tbe long stopping ot Pirani was beyond all praise, and ve.y great is due to Capfcaia Watson for the very ad,tn ; rabie tact with which he placed his men, both Pirani and Lloyd proving equal to tlieir respective callings. It will be noticed from the score tliat Ma3on wa» singularly unfortunate m bis bowling, and this is the moi«. remarkable inasmuch as he is generally dead on ilje wicket. Taompsot, q.i the other hand, was a perfect demon, and his kit-handed twisters caused no small comternatjon to batimen, and proved regular siump-taker^. There ii no do.u'ut he i* the best all-round man m t-ba Club, and either with bat m hand or with ball as bowier, ho is a formidable opponent. Palmerston commenced its second innings with Beeve— the not-out man— and Turner at the wickets, but Turner was tite first to succumb to Parkes' bowling, after having put 4 (ogethe'v, Reeve beJn^ soon after ctugh,t 'out by Hyde. Benson and Charlea Vhen played v n icily (ogatber, when the fQrmer was caught out by C. Miller for--11, and Thompson took his place. Etide'ntly at this i\mo the Halcombe men became dispirited ; four widii were registei-eJ, Charles caused some racing over the field and knocked up 20 m fours and threes ii an incredibly short space of time, and when time was called, 52 bad been pat together with tbe lost of three wickets. Although it cannot be denied tbat tbe Falmerston team was the stronger of tbe two, we art bound to »ay that th« yisiton

were admii-able m the field — » portion of the science of cricket which many Clubs hold far too cheaply. Were it not for the excellence of the Halcombe men m that respect, we feel convinced the score of the Pahnerafcon innings would hare been rety much larger. Thero were very many hit?, for which, under ordinary f c'rcumsfcanc»J, three -would be made, but on account of the quick recoyeiry of the baH, were narrowed down to two. In Lash and Hyde th» visitors are possessed of good safe batsmen ; ParkM and Hyde are no mean bowlers ; Tompk : >?s, as we have said, if a capital longrstop ; and whi'e A'Oourt i» most accur.ito m his throw-in, Sampion is "aU there" m every part of the field. The match was a most enjoyable one, and we feel sure that the visitors will agree with us t'iat it was won on its merits and by the best team, and we only regret that our selfishness aqd candor will forbid us wishing that the tables may be turned wheo phe return match is played. Tho following are the scores obtained : — PALMERSTON. FIRST INNINGS. P^ri, b. Parkes, 0 0 S'vte, b. Parkes, 1 1 Thorn 570 i, c. &h. Hyde, 2,1,1,1,1,2,1,1,1,1 ... 12 M.r -on, b. C. Miller 9 Chvrtm, Ivt wirftefc, 1,2,2,3,1,2,3,2,2,1 19 Ben:oi,h.C. Miller, ], 2,1,1,1,1 7 W~t. on, b. H/de, c. Puxkej, 1,1 " 2 lilord, b. H-^-e, 0 0 Titv^ev, b. Miller, 0 0 J}o.~ire y not oar, 2,1,2 5 Mitrriier, b. Miller, c. Parke3, 1,1,1,2,1,1,1 ... 8 Bye? 2 Le'-byas 1 7^id§3 ... ..; „. ... ... 4 70 halcqm'bb. EIBST INNINGS. Lvfe, c. Lloyd, b. Maso i, 1,2,1,1,2,1,3,2,2 ... 16 O'fif, h. Tho Tip joti, 0 ... ..'. ..; 0 "Wai-e-a, c. Mn,-!on, b. Thompiou, 1,1 ... 2 Snniori, c. S.'iite, b. Tb.omp.son, 0 ... ... 0 Hyde. b. Taomp3on, 2,1 ... ..; ..; 3 Viall, b. Thompson, 2,1 ... ... ... 3 0 M'llev, c. Charles, b. Benson, 1 ..1 .'.: 1 To ip-ins, o Eeeve, b. Benson, 1 ..'. ... 1 A'Coari, b. Thompson, 0 ... ... ... 0 Pnrke :, b. TliompjOTi, 1,1,1,1,1,1 .„ ... 6 Miller, J., not out, 1,2,2,1,1 ; .„ 7 Lf-'-hyes ... ... ... ... 1 Widos 3 PALMERSTON. SECOND INNINQ9. R^eve, c. aM b. Hyde, 1,1,1,2,1 6 Turter, b. Pa -?c- , J, 1,1,1 4 Be'i ou, c. C. Miller, b. J. Miller 3,1,1,1,1,1,1,i;i IT ChavTe , uofc out, 2,1,4,4,1,2,2,2,2 ' 20 ThompOJ, not oufc, 2,2,1 ... ... ... 5 Bve-. ... ... ... ... 2 Widea ... .:. ... ... 4 1