Cricket.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 36, 9 March 1901, Page 20

Cricket.

CKJCKtiT was of a varied character on Saturday. On No. 1 wicket it was the slowest conceivable, while on No. 2 the play was of a dashing and brilliant order. «■ • ♦ Wellington continued on No. 1, but none of the batsmen stayed long enough to woaiy the field, the innings clo&ing for lbO— bB to the good. * * * The Midland innings was dull and uninteresting, in so far as the majority of the batsmen were concerned. It took an hour and twenty minutes to score the first .^8 inns, the total of 135 for nine wickets taking just three hours to get. The last wicket (Stevenson and Read), though favoured with a slice of luck, practically gave the Midlands a chance, for that club was only 30 runs on when Read (the last man) went in. Stevenson and he were, however, unbeaten at the end of the day, their team standing 73 on with the wicket still in hand. * » ♦ The Phoenix-Old Boys match was advanced anothoi stage, and at present it appears a gift to the older club, which hns 33(> runs to its> advantage, with six wickets still to fall. * » • The Old Bo"& innings closed for 130 — Blacklock and Douglas (25, not out) bcinf the additional scorers to the previous week. * • • Phoenix ran up the fine total of 237 for four wickets vi their second innings —Clarke (115), Midlanc (73), Waters (21), and Benbow (16, not out) getting the runs. * • • Another Saturday will be taken for these games, and the Wellington-Mid-land match should result in a good finish. The Midland has such an array of

good bowlers that the Wellington team — good bats as there are amongst them -may find it too hard a task to make oven the 70 runs now set them. As the Association, despite the two Saturday collections, is still urgently in need of funds, it is hoped those who attend to enjoy the sport will assist a struggling body. Wisdcn's almanack for 1901 h<u>icached us in Wellington at last, and, a propos of the controversy over the number of runs that was necessary for a team to have to follow on, I quote the rule a& it reads in the book — "The bide which bats first, and leads bv 150 runs in a three-days' match, or by 100 runs in a two-days' match, shall have the option of requiring the other side to follow their innings." [In a one-day's match 75 runs.] The number of runs, as far as we aic concerned here, is new, of course, and so also is the last clause of the rule. This means that, in case of a team being a certain number of runs behind, it must not necessarily follow on — the leading team has the option of deciding whether it shall do so or not. This is as it should be, and allows the leading foam to have the full advantage of its lead. One rule which players should notice is that an umpire cannot give a player out unless he is appealed to by the other side.

That was a brilliant catch at the wickets by Williams which caused Duncans retirement. The catch, by Weybourne that disposed of Williams was a fine one, and splendidly judged. Tucker and Robertson both shaped w ell and promised any number of runs, but their time soon came. The last four Old Boys batsmen made five runs between them — nearly equalling the five Phoenix batsmen on the first day. Jack Weybourne did not appear to relish beinc a batsman, and all the time he was in he wanted to get back to the pavilion. It is probable that G. Youll, who toured the colony with Mr. Coleman Davis's New South Wales team, will be engaged as a coach in Auckland. He arrived there the other day from Sydney.

Williams had three hits — producing 10 runs — but the fourth was splendidly held by Barney Weybourne, in the deep field, ofF Ashbolt. Quee appears to be right under a cloud. The first ball he got from Ashbolt was too •rood for him — a clinking yorker on the off stump. Waters started in a businesslike way, but, after scoring 21 in quick time, he was beautifully stumped by C. P. Blacklock in lunging forward to one from McGowan. Jacobs went out to another Ibw decision in this match. It is about up to him now to try the leg stump as his centre — he might be able then to keep his legs from in front. Hales bowled steadily, with no success, and Redmond kept them straighter than usual in his few overs. Stan Hickson had a try, but his were appreciated by the batsmen. Richardson bowled well for Wellington, accounting for three wickets in good style. The effects of an old strain caused him to take himself off sooner than was necessary. Joe Cole v> as particularly pleased to see the last of Clarke — the majority of his big off drives Joe had to chase — hardly getting back from one before he had to start after another. Douglas carried his overweek score of 21 to 35, but he could not get anyone to stay with him after Blacklock left. He has a peculiar style all his own, but there is a lot of defence in it. It was a terribly weak stroke that sent Holdship back to the dressingroom. In fact, it put one in mind of the old game we used to play as small boys called "butcher's bat." Holdsworth indulged in a lot of French cuts — pulling from the off to the on, but, although not stylish cricket, he did what his team really wanted, put runs to his credit on the score-sheet. Windley showed capable defence, and the way he bats proves he must have what cricketers term a wonderful eye. Though he only put on two runs, his stay was a serviceable one to his team. C. P. Blacklock showed plenty of promise in his contribution, of 31, which was got by sterling cricket. His leg glide, which I was particularly struck with a few years back on the College ground, is his masterpiece, although his all round batting is of a high order.

It is said Luckie should have been playing for Wellington this match, in place of Holdship. It seemed to me once on Saturday that Richardson would have liked to have Luckie there to relieve Ashbolt. Tucker (six for 56) and Clarke (six for 34) had the best bowling averages in the senior matches. The latter'sgame in the Auckland match seems to have brought him from under that cloud, for he has done some great performances since. Midlane, who was batting with Clarke — the stand, by the way, producing 170 runs, Midlane being the first to qo — was almost as busy as his club mate. Freddy always plays neat, natty cricket, and his success is appreciated. Jimmy Blacklock was a decidedly interested spectator on Saturday. A son in both the Phcenix and "Old Boys, and both doing well, is quite enough to gladden the heart of an old enthusiast ke him. It seems more than likely that the name of Blacklock will, ere long, occupy the place it used to in Wellington cricket. Claud Hickson played one of his steady innings— it took him considerably over the hour to put the 27 on the slate to his credit. Xt was tedious to watch him, but still the game was the correct one as far as his team was concerned. He got impatient, however, towards the end, and lifted one, which was held by Redmond. Jim Jones, the century scorer of the Midland second eleven, was busy on the Basin Reserve, during a portion of Saturday afternoon, shaking hands with players, the reason being that he was leaving Wellington that afternoon for the West Coast. Jim has tired of barrack life, and intends following mining in his old home. He has been a power of assistance to the wearers of the red and white in their junior matches, and my good wishes follow him to the alluvial fields of Seddonia. The leading batting averages in Otago senior cricket are • — Baker 32 • Liggins, 30.6; Siedelberg, 29.7- Broad, 26; Latham, 24.1; Johnston, 24; Pearless, 23.5 Mills, 21 ; Kilgour 20.7 , A. Downes, 20.2. The bowling averages in the same contests are: — Gunthorpe, 30 wickets, average 4.7; A. Downes, 51, 6.1; A. ,H. Fisher, 42, 6.1; Harkness, 40, 6.9; Webb, 43, 70; T. Downes, 13, 7.0; C. Corbett, 41, 7.2; R. L. Fisher, 31, 7.6.

They tell me it was interesting to watch the varying expressions on Syd. Diamond's and Ike Hyams' faces on Saturday. When the Midlanders were going out one after the other, and the score still to the bad they had a very woe-begone look about them, which, however, gradually left them as Read and Stevenson improved things for the last wicket. Read and Stevenson are a nice pair of batsmen for any skipper to have to send in so late as they were on Saturday — Read being the last man. Both are acknowledged good batsmen, and they conclusively proved it — for, when runs were urgently needed, they got them. ,A possible chance at the wickets was deoiced to Read, hkew lse a lofty one in the slips. Barring these two strokes, and a few lucky snicks, both batsmen played excellent cricket, and received a great ovation when time was called. Frank A&hbolt bowled as well on Saturday as he did during the pievious day's At one time the six wickets down were standing to his credit, and it was here Richardson made an error of judgment, for he should have rested Ashboii for a few overs He had been bowling close on two hours before he was taken oft the first time, and his respite ought to have come half-an-hour before it did. His bowling was well up, and the only batsman who took any liberties at all with him was Holdsworth. It was a beautiful ball that gave Quee his conge. Brilliant cricket is the only term that can apply to Clarkes batting on Saturday. He went for everything with a straight bat, and he hit hard and often. One of his hits straight over tho bowler's head, was an eye-opener, and, as one batsman said, if the hit had been made on No. 1 the ball would have been found up by the tram-sheds. There was not a blemish in his innings — his cutting being sweet, and he found the leg boundary every time he put one that way. A display like Clarkes is t worth going to the Basin Reserve every' day to bee, and I congratulate him on his success. "Rem Acu Tetigisti" writes me in the following strain re cricket decisons — "Dear 'Touchline.' — Compared to myself, you are in your novitiate w r ith the methods and ways of the committees of the Wellington Cricket Association, for here they ever arrogated to themselves the supreme right over everything pertaining to cricket. But all genuine, up-to-date cricketers are thoroughly in touch with you relative to umpires being the lords of the manor, and with them rests the sole right to decide whether the matches shall be postponed or not. Vide M.C.C. rule 43, which reads as follows, and now quoted for the committee's special deliberation and delectation — 'The umpires are the sole judges of fair or unfair play, of the fitness of the ground, the weather, and the light for play. All disputes shall be determined by them, and if they disagree the actual state of things shall continue.' " I am told the Cricket Association have a by-law that over-rides the laws of the game, and which is allowed by tho Marylebone rules, but as I am to have a discussion on the matter with the gentleman who wishes to correct me, I will not add anything just now to my correspondent's convincing arguments.