CRICKET.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10547, 6 January 1900, Page 5

CRICKET.

CANTERBURY v OTAGO. The second day's play in this match waj.t still further—if that were necessary—to show what a funny, game cricket is. At the close of the first, day's play Canterbury oould fairly claim the advantage, having 32 up for one wicket, against the (Southerners' total of 127. And when 70 were close at hand before the second wicket fell, it looked a certainty that the local men would have a substantial, lead on the first innings. But what a collapse! Ihe wickets fell like ninepins after this, and even the century was not reached: Again, in Otago's second innings, seven ■wickets were down for 62, and yet the score was more than doubled before the last wicket fell. However, after these surprises, the game remains in a fairly even state, and there ia a good chance of a cliose finish nor io-uay. As to tho play, yesterday's batting—at any rate, until late in the day—was as lifeless and uninteresting as on the first day. Of the Canterbury men Sims and Ridley made a good start, but the Lancastrian never appeared at his best. Sims however, showed masterly - defence, and also ecfired off the loose ball- well. The less said about the subsequent batsmen the better. Admitting the wicket was crumbly and treacherous and the bowling good, these will not account for the bad-strokes and consequent procession of the batsmen. For the visitors Eckhoff came out with the sensational average of six for 27, and though he sent down a lot of loose stuff, he also bowled some really good balls. Downes was the Downes of old, and Sims was the only batsman who played him correctly or with confidence. He varied his length and pace with consummate skill, and bowled unchanged throughout the innings. The Otago second innings gave eveiy promise of being a greater failure even than Canterbury's innings, as seven wickets were aown for 62, and Baker, who gave an easy chance when he had made 4, had been the only one to shape with any confidence. However, Geddis and Downes came to the rescue, and gave a really good exhibition of batting. The left-hander showed splendid defence, watching the ball up to the bat every time he played back, and this was the secret of his success. With all this, he rarely failed to punish the loose ones, and there is no doubt that Otago owed their respectable total chiefly to his efforts. Downes was a trifle rash at times, but he showed better defence than usual, and he made some gr#nd punishing strokes. Of the Canterbury bowlers Malone performed really well. But after he had sent down thirteen dvrs for four wickets and 30 runs' he was taken off, although he had captured a wicket in his second to last over. Allowing .that the change was successful, it was .of doubtful expediency. Frankish also trundled well, and few of the batsmen appeared to relish him. The Canterbury fielding was only fair, suffering by* comparison with the visitors' work in the field, which was very good. ' ... ,< Play was re?umed at 11.30. Ridley. (3) and Sims (12) resuming to the bowling of Downes and Fisher. Both were partial to the lefthander, and the score was 68 when Sims was caught at fine slip. 68—2—3. Wig-" ley was all at sea to t_.e.hoH'iing,..and after seeing Ridley well caueht at the "wickets — 74—3—16—was clean fowled. 77—4—5. Cobcroft joined Barry, only to see the latter given out l.b.'W. to a long hop—a very doubtful decision.' '79—5—0. Frankisn was next", but lost Oobcroft at 89, who was right off his usual game through his accident of the previous day. Wilding,' who followed, soon hit one into long-on's hands.- -91—7—2, and Malone went in, only to see Frankish clean "bawled. 91—5—3, and he himself shared the same fate directly afterwards. 91r—9 —0. Fowke was Reese, but with 2 short of the; century the latter was stumped. -*■" •--'-- After lunch Baker and Johnston opened the Otago innings to the bowling of Frankish and Malone. The latter soon beat Johnston with a.beauty. 10 —I—4, and Austin, who followed, gave little assistance. 19—2—7. Fisher was next, but after slow play he was smartly caught at point. 28— 3—4. Siedeberg had some luck before being caught in the slips. 43—4—10, and Liggins joined Baker. The latter, however, was at

' onoe beaten by Malone. . 43-r5 —14. /Geddis, who followed, soon lost Liggins, and 45-—6 —2 appeared as Broad "went in. At '60 Wilding" relieved Malone, and cleverly caoght and bowled the Otago skipper., j 7-—lO. Downes joined Geddis, and the ! stand of the innings was made. Notwith- ' standing;changes in the bowling, the.,tens .riftranted'rapidiy, and it was not until 130 went up that Downes was given out l.b.w. to Frankish. 131— Wilhams gave but little trouble. 135—9—4, but Eckboff helped Geddis to swell the total to 152 before he was stumped, the innings closing at 4.40. At 5 o'clock D. Reese and Sims opened Canterbury's second innings, Downes and Eckhoff bowling. Reese forced the pace, and gave two or three chances, but were dropped. When he had made' 26, ■however, he landed one high to long on, where Broad brought off a fine catch. Ridley then assisted Sfims to play out time, the score being 44 for one wicket. Play will be resumed at 1.30 to-day, and as Canterbury require 138 to win, with nine wickets to fall, the finish should be interesting. The following are the scores: — OTAGO. , First Innings .. .. /■. ...'.' -.187 Second Innings. J* Baker, 13111111112, b Malone ..14 W. Johnston, 22, b Malone .. .. 4 G. Austin, 1141, c Fowke, b Frankish .. 7 A. H. Fisher, 31, cA. Ridley, b Malone 4 H. Siedeberg, 1414, c Sims, b Frankish 10 F. C. Liggins, 11, c T. W. Reese, b Malone .. •• •• 2 A. Geddis, 1114212444431144, not out .. 41 C. Broad, 3142, c and b Wilding •..." 10 A. Downes, 3312111213114424, lbw, b Frankish .. ... .". .. 34 F. Williams, 4, b Frankish .-. ....•• 4 H. Eckhoff. 144, «t Fowke, b Reese ..9 Byes, 142 .. .. .. ... 7 j Leg-byes. 1221 .. . . .: .6" j Total .. f . .. .. 152 Bowling Analysis—F. S. Frankish, 132 balls, 4 maidens, 50 runs, 4 wickets; T. Malone, 84 balls, 4 maidens, 37 runs, 4 wickets; F. Wilding, 24 balls, 6 maidens, 21 runs, 1 wicket-, D. Reese, 14 balls, 0 maidens, 12 runs, 1 -wicket; 'L. T. Cobcroft, 30 balls, 2 maidens, 19 runs, 0 wickets.

CANTERBURY. First Innings. D. Reese, 34424» c Eckhoff, b Fisher ..17 A. Sims, 3141313132141111, c Fisher, b Downe3 .. .. .. .. 31 A. E. Ridley, 2131111114, c Williams, h Eckhoff .. .. ... ..16 W. C. Wigley, 113, b Etekhoff .. ... 5 R. W. Barry, ibw, b Dowries.. .. 0 L. T. Cobcroft, 221, b'Eckhoff .." ' ... '5 P. S. Frankish, 3, b Eckhoff .. . . 3 F. "Wilding, 11, c Geddis, b Eckhoff .. 2 T. Malone, b Downes .. .. .. 0 J. N. Fowke, 43, not out .. ..7 T W. Heese, st Williams, b Eckhoff .. 0 Byes, 131 .. '.. ... ..5 Log-byes. 214 .. .. .. 7 Total .•. .. .. 98 Bowling Analysis—A. Downes, 132 balls, 13 maidens, 21 runs, 3 wickets; A. H. Fisher, 66 balls, 3 maidens, 33 runs, 1 wicket; H. Eckhoff, 63 balls, 1 maiden, 27 runs, 6 wickets. Second Innings. D. Reese, 3121141111141211, c Broad, b Fisher .. .. •• ..26 A. Sims, 313, not out .. .. ..7 A. E. Ridley, 311, not out .. .. 5 Byes, 42 6 Total ' for on.B wicket .. .. 44