"Weekly Press and Referee."

Press, Volume LII, Issue 8992, 3 January 1895, Page 2

"Weekly Press and Referee."

By Dabk Blue. Had the weather on Saturday been made to order Christchurch cricketers could not have wished for a better day as the sun f hone brightly and it was not too hot. Contrary to expectations, however, the scoriog was beiow the average and it is hard to account for the fact as the wickets provided were quite up to the usual standard.

Remembering the generally consistent high scoring indulged, in by United batsmen when opposed by the Midiander», a large number of spectators assembled at Hagley Park ou Saturday to witness the continuation of the contest between the teams mentioned. The result, however, proved a great disappointment to those who like seeing a good display, as, batting three men shore in their first venture and two itt their second, the United w« re dis missed for the paltry totals of 63 and llfi. R. D. Harman prayed really well in each innings, and his success was thoroughly deserved, as but few players pay such assiduous attention to practice as he does. In the first innings he went in first and all but carried his bat out, while in the second, when he played more vigorously, scoring 42 out of 79. W. J. Cotterill batted well in the second venture, but none of the other* showed anything like Senior Cup form. It is hard to account for the downfall of the majority of the team, as the wicket was quite as good as the previous week, when the Midland totalled their 345. and the only thing to put it down to is bad batting. Robertson bowled as well as ever he has done, but a good batxman ought to be used to him by now, while Pearce was as steady as of yore. The fielding was hardly as good as usual, although White pub in a lot of clever work. How the mighty have fallen 1 Previous to last season J.he Lancaster Park team went through three seasons without a defeat, but now they appear unable to wiu a match, having been beaten in all their three Cap matches so far. The Warehousemen, their latest conquerors, lowered their colours on Saturday by ten wickets. The game may be aptly termed a one-player's match, as A. M. Labatt, the Warehousemen's captain, waub in first and carried his bat through the l ' inning* for the splendid score of 155 out of a rotal of 243, and he also secured the majority of the Lancastrians' wickets. He gave Wilding ah easy chance at point soon after Saturday's play started when he had made about 70, but otherwise his display was a firstclass one, and hit hitting all round was clean and well timed. Lightband lent his captain valuable aid and, although he gave a chance at tho wicket to C. Ridley, hi-* play was meritorious. When the Park commenced their second venture the big reputation men gave little trouble, but the tail end played up better and saved their side the disgrace of being beaten by an innings. Cant occupied the somewhat novel position for him of top scorer, while Willis and De Maus each made 18. Labatb, as already indicated, was the most successful trundler, and he was ably assisted by Hal ley and Johnston, the latter clean bowling Cuff fcr the second time in the match.

One of .the United men was heard to remark on Saturday that there was some excuse for his Club being beaten, Reeing they were opposed by *• the best bowler in New Zealand." The Midland "pro.," by the way, bowled Cotterill in his first innings by a ball which broke clean round hi legs. As the Midland have the services of Robertson, why cannot they allow Medlow, the Hapley Park professional, to play for the United? A few seasons ago the Canterbury Cricket Association decided that a bell be rung at the hour matches should be started on the senior grounds, but for the past two seasons the plan has not' been carried outPlayers are becoming a bit lax about turn, ing up to time, and it would be as well "if the bell was brought into use again. Labatt's innings of 155 for the W.C.C. against the L.P.C. was made up of one 5, three4's, twenty 3'»j fifteen 2's, and thirtythree singles. As the match was played rather clo*e to the new stand, only three were allowed to the boundary, but many of the hits were really worth more.

Macfarlane, who scored 21 not out for the Warehousemen on Saturday week, was absent from Christchurch on Saturday, having left for Duncdin during the week. I understand he will be absent about a month.

W, J. Cottorill -drove, the third ball he receivedjfrom Robertson in his second innings on Saturday over the bowler's head and clean out of the ground. It is some considerable time since this feat has been achieved from the centre of the ground. Labatt and Lightband added 105 to the score for the eighth wicket while together on Saturday. Lightband was originally chosen to play for the Warehousemen's Second, but as Whittle was absent he was sent iv to Tiat for the seniors.

•■ R. D, -Harman's 27 on Saturday con tamed as many as 17 singles, but in compiling bis 42 he hit but 7 units.

The Senior Cup match between the 1 Midland and Lancaster Park Clubs was play d out at Hagley Park on Tuesday of last week and two following evenings, when the Midlanders won easily by seven wickets. On, the first evening the Lancastrians added 49 to their previous total, and, considering Pearce bumped in such a dangerous manner, they made as many as expected. Wilding added 11 to his previous total, and was then bowled by a good ball-from Robertson. Cant also reached double figures, but the rest quickly fell. -■ '■. -~.:;.,-■>. ' : v The Midland were- left with 142 to win, and they commenced their task the following evening. lb was anticipated by many that the Park would pull the match out of the fire, but the Midlanders had a capital light to bat in,, and the wicket proved in better 'order. At the conclusion of the 1 , second eyenirig's: play only 30 were wanted to win and but three wickets were down. Next afternoon the balance of the runs were knocked off without further disaster. Pearce batted very well for his 45, but Lawrence was hardly at his best, missing several balls on the off which he usually scores, off; still his 42, not out, was a good innings. Wheatley's 22 at the start of the innings was a moat useful contribution, and Macdouald and Treweek also batted well. Cuff was the most dangerous of the bowlers tried and the fielding was good, although at times some fumbling was noticeable. Robertson, who has been engaged by the Association to bowl to the various clubs, will bowl to the Warehousemen on Mondays, Lancaster Park on Tuesdays, the United on. Wednesdays,! Addington on Thursdays,'and the Midland on Fridays. He will play for the Midland Club in their Cup contests.

The Midlanders had a regular field day on Saturday, their three first teams winning their matches easily. Per contra, the United First and Second Elevens met with their first defeats since the season before last. y

Thanks to his 155 not out on Saturday, Labatt heads the Canterbury batting averages of those who have played In.three innings or more in Senior Cup matches this season. The leading averages are as follow:—

A Writer in " Christ's College Register * for December, in mentioning what I wrote about. E. V. Palmer's 114 against Lancaster Park ou October 27ch, says it is not the first century he has scored in Senior Cup matches. According to my records Palmer's previous highest bcore in these matches was his 88 against Ashley County iv the last match of the season 1892-03. Perhaps the writer .can inform mc when Palmer scored another centnry. „o Senior Cap matches will.be played in Christchurch on Saturday next, but a match is being arranged between teams representing tho players of the Hujcley and Lancaster Park' grounds. Such a game should prove decidedly i«»tere*tti»g, A match will be piaved at Hagley Park

on New Year's Day between a representative team and eighteen players chosen from the Junior Cup ranks. This is a move in he right direction, and if the match lap layed annually it should do a lot of good for cricket and induce the iuniors to practise hard so as to get a place in the team.

It is said a team representing South Canterbury will visit the West Coast this season. } The test match, which was brought to such a sensational conclusion at Sydney on Thursday last, was one of the most remarkable games of cricket ever played. In the first place no contest had ever previously extended into the sixth day, although several had taken five days to play. The 586 made by the Australians in their first innings is the largest total on record for a, match between England and Australia, and the aggregate (1514) beats the previous best for all first-class matches by no less than 102 runs, Che former record being 1412 in the intercolonial match between New South Wales and Victoria, which was played on the same ground as last week's contest, in February, 1882, I pointed out at the time the South Australians defeated the Englishmen in November that they had accomplished an exceedingly rare feat in beating a side thar. had gone in first and scored upwards of 400 runs. The South Australians accomplished a splendid performance in that contest, but at the first blush it pales into insignificance as compared with the victory achieved by the Euglishmeu last week, when they had to face a total of only 14 short of 600. On maturer consideration, however, it must be remembered that at Adelaide the wicket was fast and true throughout, but on the final day of the Sydney match the wicket was heavy and all in favour of the bowlers. Still, under any circumstances the feat of tho Englishmen was an exceptional one, and it is highly probable that ie will be many years before such a finish is witnessed again. To have to face such a mammoth total as 586 would dismay many an eleven, but the Englishmen played up pluckily from the start and with totals of 325 and 437 placed their opponents in the position of having to make 177 runs to win in their final innings. With 113 scored for only two wickets at the end of the fifth day, it appeared any odds on the home team winning with plenty in hand. The rain, however, came to the assistance of the bowlers, and on Thursday last Peel and Briggs dismissed the remainder of the team for 53 runs and won the game for their sidebylOruns. That the Australians had very hard luck by rain coming on cannot be denied, but no matter how heavy the wicket was, one would think such a strong battine side would have been able to get the required number of runs. These unexpected collapses, however, frequently occur in matches even amongst the beat of players, and it is incidents such as these that make the game of cricket so fascinating to players and onlookers alike. By the cable account of the match it will be seen that the final day's play was witnessed by a very small attendance. How those who were in a position to go and did not do so must have regretted their action 1 The finish must have been of the most interesting and exciting characcer.

The test match which was concluded last week recalls vividly to mind the match between England and Australia at the Oval on August 28th and 29th, 1882. England wanted 84 to win, and 50 was posted with only Barlow and Hornby out. From this point, however, Spofforth and Boyle bowled up splendidly, and, amidst tremendous excitement, wickeb after wicket fell, and 7 ; runs were still wanting when the last man was bowled.

The cricket of the season of 1894-95 should long remain in tho memory of colonial cricketers by reason of the heavy scoring indulged in. Reference has already been made to the record-breaking in the test match in Sydney. In a match played in Melbourne between the University and North Melbourne Clubs, the extraordinary number of 1452 runs was scored for the loss of but twenty-eight wickets, the match being unfinished at the time the last mail to arrive left Melbourne. This gives the big average of 51.85 runs per wicket that fell. The University scored 421 and 488 for eight wicket* and North Melbourne 543. Two of the 'Varsity men being absent, their second innings closed for the 488.

Since the above "us in type, news has come to hand that North Melbourne scored 187 in their second innings, the aggregate for the match thns!bcing 1639.

Some high scoring was witnessed in the match between the Grey Club and a team representing Banks, Insurance and Law, which was brought to a conclusion at Groymouth on December loth, the club winning by 177 runs. The winners scored 158 and ofG, and opponents 177 and 146 In the club'a second venture P. H. Labatt, the ex-Lancaster Park player, went la first and carried his bat through the innings for 157, while Baff scored 84, Carson, the ex-Otago player, 29, and Walton 18. The principal scorers in the losers' second venture were H. Perkins 40, Williams 37, and Allison 21. During the match 819 runs were scored, but it must be mentioned that fourteen men played on each side. Lababb's is the highest Individual inning* hit on the West Coast of the South Island. The match was placed on a matting wicket. A Blenheim correspondent writes i-rOn Saturday, December 15'b; Cap matches were played. In the Wair&u v. Plcton game the latter won by 109 to 100. For the victors Pugh (28) and Andrews (28) were the chief scorers. For Wairau Sharp played through the innings for 59 not out. The other Cup match was Koromiko v. Renwick. The scoring was very low on both sides and Koromiko won by eight wickets. Scores:—Renwick, 17 and 25; Koromiko 39 and 4 for two wickets. Prebble's bowling figures in the latter contest were:—s4 balls. 4 maidens, 15 runs, 7 wickets.

Some heavy scoring was witnessed in the match between the Napier United Club and the East Coast Wanderers, at' Napier on December 18th. The United scored 220, G. Marshall making 83, C. H. Cuto 51, Ludbrook 32 and Lusk 25. The Wanderers replied with 267 for seven wickets: E. A. P. Sainsbury making 121, Fitz Hill 40, D. Canning 36 not out, and H. B. Williams 23.

A Sydney exchange has the following:— " The Surrey members of the English team have written home to Mr Alcock, secretary to the Surrey County Club, regarding J. J. Kelly, with a view to securing his services on.behalf of the county. For the sake of N.S.W. cricket, I hope nothing will be offered more tempting than can be equalled here."

East Melbourne made the large score of 524 for eight wickets against Melbourne on December sth, G. Vautin, the exTasmanian, contributing 195, and J. Howlett, who is, 1 think 1 am correct in saying, ah ex-Aucklander, 95. On the following Saturday East Melbourne ran up a total of 537 for the loss of seven wickets, P. M'Alister making 124, Vautin 76, A. E. Trott7s, F. Layer 69 not Out and P. Lewis 63 uot out. The Club thus scored .1061 runs during the week for the loss of bub fifteen wickets.

When compiling bowling averages for this journal I have always debited as runs no balls and wides to the bowlers. Some people have argued with mc that I was wrong in doing so. To these I commend for perusal the following from the London Sportsman :—" Mr H. Perkins, the' secretary of the Marylebone Cricket Club, has informed a correspondent that wides and no-balls should be added to the runs scored off a bowler's deliveries and calculated in the averages against the bowler." This should convince the sceptical ones. As Wisden's Almanack and the London Sportsman give the record for the total aggregate in a first-class match as 1411, it is as well to point out'that the correct number is. 1412. made in the match N.S.W. y. Victoria in 1882, the former scoring 775 to 315 and 322 by the Victorians* >. i

A. M. L»baH (W.) W. Petrce (M.) J. D. Lawrence (M.) F.lfacdonald (H.) H. Do Man* (L.P.) T.W.B«eie<af.) W. Harman (U.) J. Wheatley («i) W.J.CotterfilOJ) A. Bidley (L.P.) ■'■■ J < -"•■■ ■■■;! Kama and Club. \ ■f a s .fi.S 4 6 ' «-1 ,8 i * ! 6 i 0 i CD ' "3 © ■■&..' 53_ 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 (r 250 171 118 151 2Ud 63 57 113 144 124 33 Is, to •)•« o p __1 !„• 63 53 84 73 30* 35* Sir M 37 [5.1 as 155 63 56 83 ! 89 j 62 8S 56 71 s a « 62.5 42.75 39.33 37.75 31.53 31 23.5 23.25 U 20.66 * Si« rNoxx.—W. standi Midland. L.P. for 1 United.] mifi« i for »not ! Wai out, rehoi Pa i semi :k, a in. Iff. ad U. .tor , for The following shows the poi Senior teams for the first i ended with Saturday's matche litior rouni is of the i, which i:— I Ciub. Won. Lost. Midland .., United Warehousemen Lancaster Park 3 2 1 0 0 1 2 '3 •-■■ ,-"'!