CRICKET.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12129, 27 February 1905, Page 5

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIA v CANTERBURY. SECOND DAY'S PLAY. - Great as are the uncertainties of that gloriously uncertain, and fickle game, cricket, Saturday's play provided one of tho mo*t unlooked-for surprises ever seen on Lancaster Park. The game has been looked forward to more as an exhibition of the Australians' -kill than as a test between two teams. Such a contingency as Canterbury making even an interesting fight against their redoubtable opponents probably never entered anybody's mind. It was merely a question of how much the visitors would win by. Would cur men maka as many runs as Auckland and Wellington had done? Would they got tho Australian- out for fewer runs? These and similar questions were what the Christchurch cricketing public had been revolving in its mind for weeks' past. Canterbury cricket has been of so promising a character this sea-on. and our men have .*-o undeniably established their claim to belong to tlie premier cricketing province, that there would have be n po-ilive and even bitter disappointment if the local men had failed to make as good a showing against the visitors as tho other provinces. When tho Canterbury inning.** closed on t ride v for 11!>, after a very mediocre display of batting, disappointment was writ largo on the faces of ;ho>© who wish cricket well, and do all they can to fester tlio game here. Of courso the croakers—and their name is legion— had a complacent and smug "I told you so" look on their visages. Hut when the visitors lost five ot their men—not tho best it is true, but mostly batters of world-wide repntat-ion-*-in an hour and ten minutes for 82 runs, local regrets were turned largely to gladness, and people went away from the ground satisfied that our players had performed a great achievement. What mattered it if Canterbury liad got tlio toughest part of tbo hill to climb the next day? They had got Australia*"*; first five wickets, for 82 runs, and that was a feat that would soften tho pill next clay, when Trumper, Hill and Co. whacked Canterbury's bowling about to the tune of two or three or four hundred. Some of tho knowing ones put it down at fivo hundred, for Canterbury's bowling was a very limited quantity, they said. Had anyone presumed to even suggest that the other half of tho team—five of Australia's greatest batsmen—would be dismissed for an addition of 84 runs, ho would have been promptly credited with having taken leave of his But this is what actually happened. Trumper is obviously not in form at present, and sterling play by the local bowlers and fieldsmen, assisted by those little elements of chance or luck that are as the spice of the game, did the <rest, with the astounding, and it might bo said phenomenal, result, that the Australian Eleven were dismissed by a New Zealand provincial eleven, whoso first two trimmers bowled unchanged right through the innings, for 16. runs. That tha wicket was not responsible for this is clearly proved by the fact that tho local batsmen topped that score for the loss of only eight wickets on the same pitch. To say that the onlookers—and there must havo been 7000 present—wero jubilant, but faintly expresses it. They were boisterously exuberant. As" the Canterbury men dismissed first one and then another of tlieir formidable opponents, the enthusiasm rose to 1-«••_.' pitch. When Trumper, after giving a catch at tho wickets, and repeating the stroke next ball, was caught, a cheer such as is seldom heard at cricket matches in Christchurch, went up from the crowd. Tho fine batsman, whoso name is a household word wherever the game is played, had been sent back for 6. But it showed that tho greatest of batsmen are only human after all. It would be difficult to say which was uppermost in the spectators' minds— regret at being denied the long expected treat of seeing the great batsman perform, or delight at the local success. The climax to the enthusiasm was reached just after the luncheon adjournment, when a couplo of very smart bits of fielding saw the last two Australians run out. The weather on Saturday again remained fine. The sky was overcast in the morning, and though a little rain—; merely a few heat drops—fell, it kept fine, and towards the latter part of the afternoon the sun shone out, and a mild nor'-wester coming up the weather turned out hot enough, even for the Australians. Tlie wicket showed littlo signs of wear, and though it was far below tlw_ standard of Lancaster Park pitches of'years ago, it has so far treated both sides alike. The arrangements were again all that could be desired, ami so far the game has been played in the best possible spirit by both sides. Tho sum of £344* lis was taken at the .gates, making a total for the two days of £588 3s. With the prospect of another interesting afternoon's play today there will probably be a capital third-day attendance. Tlie match will probably leave the local Association with a substantial credit balance, and this should go a long way towards furthering the interest of, and improving, cricket here. v The visitors were entertained- at luncheon on Saturday, Mr, Rattray providing a capital repast., Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, the president of tbe Capterbury Cricket Association, presided, and in proposing the toast of "The Australian Eleven," coupled with tbe name of Mr Noble, their captain, said they wore all pleased to welcome their visitors," and ne trusted their stay in Christchurch would be a thoroughly enjoyable one. Christchurch cricketers had a sort- of brotherly regard for the players from the other side,, and whatever feelings they had in regard to the present match, they wished them every success* in their matches in England, and they all trusted that tfieir brother colonials would bring back the ''ashes" .taken away by Mr Warner's team. The toast was honoured with "For they are jolly good fellows" and three times throe. Mr Noble, -a responaing, said they had received lavish hospitality right through New Zealand, and everything possible had been done fo make- their visit enjoyable. They had very much admired the beautiful scenery,' and would look back on their Now Zealand trip with the greatest pleasure.. In dealing with Saturday's play, it may be said* that tho batting was rarely of an exhilirating character, but' the play was highly interesting right through. The Australian innings, as before mentioned, was finished off in quite a sensational manner. Armstrong carried his score from 30 to 49 by very sound, though not aggressive, play. Generally speaking he was content to simply play the good balls, but he rarely ever failed to deal ont punishment to the loose ones, and be niade some beautiful strokes. He batted for just over an hour and a half for his runs. Hill played by far the liveliest cricket of his side, and the way he got good length balls round to the on side was quite an pbject lesson. He got most of his mns in' this way, but he made equally good strokes all round. He made his 44 runs in 43 pretty fast rate of scoring. He gave a chance in the slips when he had made 10, but this was his only weak.stroke. Trumper's stay at the wickets' was so brief that .there was but little opportunity of seeing his style. The first single he scored was from a ball that he didn't know very much about. A clinking cut to the boundary he followed by playing a really good maiden over from Callaway, and that was ail that was'-eert of his prowess as a batsman. Duff was in just long enough to

show what a stylish and finished.batsman he. is. A, somewhat playful attempt by the batsmen to help themselves to another run after the ball had left the,ficldsman's hands on its return to the wicket then ended disastrously, for the ball, though passing through another pair of hands, beat Duff by yards, and he returned to the pavilion a wiser it not sadder man. The onlookers saw even less of Gehrs, for a rather ill-judged attempt at a single also cost him his wicket. Too much praise can hardly be given the Canterbury howling and fielding. .Callaway and Bennett bowled unchanged, and they were at their best right through. They kept well on the wicket with a splendid length and plenty of pace, and sent down surprisingly fewloose balls. Bennett sent down a number of most difficult balls, which took a lot of playing, and his average for tho innings, 5 for 84, is ono of which he may well be proud. The Canterbury fielding was highly creditable right through, very few mistakes being mad.?. The batting of the local men in the second innings saw considerable improvement on their first attempt, and though they failed to keep' up the splendid start they mado they finished bp tho day with the satisfactory record of 176 runs for eight wickets. Lawrence, who was top scorer with 49, played a lively and really attractive innings. He was very streaky at first, especially to •Armstrong's leg breaks, but afterwards settled down. He found tho boundary no less than four times, and was batting for an hour and twenty minutes. But Ollivier played the best innings on his side. It was very slow, but it was soundness itself, and his stubborn defence was so good that the crowd probably moro than forgave him for his slowness. His cricket jvas not pretty— his style at the wickets is against that —but none.of tho other batsmen showed anything liko tho solid defence he exhibited. A very small percentage of tho bowling passed his bat, and his keeping up his end so long was an important factor in his side's score. Ho was batting for two hours and fifty-five minutes. Orchard played a nice breezy innings. Ho was a good deal at sea at the start, and was favoured with moro than tho average share of luck, but afterwards he made some fine hits to tho on, one of them landing over tho boundnry. He mado his runs in thirtyfive minutes. Ridley played free and attractive cricket, and atoned for his want of success in the first innings by making 30. He made some fine drives, timing the ball to a nicety. Of the Australian bowlers Layer was by far the most successful, capturing five wickets for 63. No less than three of his victims were caught in the slips —mostly tho result of weak strokes. Noble got three wickets for 38, and bowled splendidly. Armstrong, Hopkins, Gehrs, and Howell all had a turn with the ball, but without success. The Australians' fielding was much admired. Thoir clean picking up, and still moro their smart and accurate returning to the wickets, was quite an education to our men, who have a lot to learn in tho art of throwing in. THE PLAY. The Canterbury mon took the field at two minutes past 12, and were at onco followed by Armstrong with 30, and Gregory 2, the not outs of the previous day. Callaway started the bowling from the railway end, Bennett being the other trundler. Barron stopped a hot one at forward cover, and then Gregory put Callaway prettily through the slips for 3, and a couple of byes sent TH) up. Somo sharply run singles took .._,-ry into double figures, and then Bennett beat him all tho way with a beauty. 95—6—10. Loud applause all round the ground greeted Trumper as he went out. He got a shaky singlo to leg first ball, the bowler appealing for lbw, and back cut Callaway's first ball sweetly to the ropes, sending 100 up for an hour and 25 minutes' play. Both bowlers were keeping a good length, and runs were coming but slowly. Callaway sent down a maiden to Trumper, and Bennett did likewise to Armstrong. The first ball of Callaway's next over the great batsman tipped, Boxshall failing to hold it. He repeated the stroke next ball,' and deafening applause went round the ground as Boxshall held the catch. 104—7—6. Hill filled the vacancy, and smart fielding by Ellis saved a score. After some slow play Armstrong opened out to Callaway, getting him to the on boundary, taking his own score to 40, and sending 110 on the board. Hill got Bennett twice to the boundary, bringing the visitors' score level with Canterbury's, and then gave a chance to Callaway in the slips. Runs wero now coming fast, four overs producing 32, and sending 140 up,*- Hill was scoring very cleverly on the on side, and was the chief aggressor. At 144 an extra good one from Bennett had Armstrong tied up, and he was clean bowled amid great applause. 144 —8—49. Duff was the in-goer, and Hill sent 150 up with a fino straight drive, the play having occupied exactly two Another 4 to tho left-hander and the luncheon adjournment, was then taken. Hill had scored his 36 in'less than half-an-hour. On resuming at five minutes past two. Callaway and Bennett still had charge of the bowling. Hill got the latter away for two pairs to the on, making his own score 40. In Bennett's next over Hill got him away nearly to the leg boundary,, and after the fieldsman had thrown in, the batsmen went for a fourth run, but the ball had come in faster s than they anticipated, and Bennett getting the ball had a shot at .the wicket, and hitting it Duff was easily run out. 166—9—5. Gehrs went in, but another sensation was caused immediately. Hill hit to forward cover, and they went for a sharp single. The ball had gone straight to Barron however, who picked up smartly, and a straight shot at the wicket found Gehrs yards away from his crease, and the. innings closed at 2.15, the onlookers hailing this achievement with long continued applause. Canterbury's second innings started at 2.30. Orchard and Sims being the first pair of batsmen. Noble started the bowling from the railway end, and Orchard hit Uie first ball just over mid off's head—a very narrow escape— a single resulting. Sims got the last ball of the over away to the on for 2. Layer bowled from the other end, and sent down a maiden. In his second over Orchard got a pair and a single, the latter stroke going through Duff's legs. In Noble's next over Orchard hit him nearly to the on boundary, 2 resulting, and then drove him beautifully to the ropes, sending IU up and making his own score 10. Sims made an uppish stroke which fell dangerously near third man. In Layer's next over Orchard put one sharply into the slips, where Armstrong hit it up in the air, and just failed to get to it on the second attempt. The left hander got Layer aweetlv to leg for 4. and the next ball hit to'the off boundary amid applause, 20 going up. In Noble's next over Sims, who had not been at- home to the opposing skipper's deliveries, was smartly taken in the slips by Armstrong. 23—1—4. Ollivier followed, and a confident appeal for stumping was answered in Orchard's favour. He showed his gratitude by lifting Layer clean over the rope* for 6. In the same over a unanimous appeal for a catch at the wickets was again answered in Orchard's favour. The left hander waa partial to Layer, sending him finely to the '"off boundary, and lilting one over the bowler's head. He had now scored 30 of the total of 35, and sent 40 up by hitting Noble to the forward leg boundary. At 46 Orchard lifted one to within a few yards of the on boundary,' where Gehrs made no mistake about the

catch. 46—2—36 appeared as Lawrcnr. . went out, and with Uie .core unaltered Armstrong bowled in place of Layer. Play became very slow, Lawrence "foeling" for the ball in a most unpromising manner. He then got a couple ot singles, and Canterbury*, deficit was wj.p-d off. Ho followed by sending Noble to the on for 2, sending GO up for 06 minutes' play. Hopkins bowled in place of Noble, and Lawrence sent his nrst ball through the slips ior 4. Lawrence gov into • doubles with a pretty drive all along the carpet. A period of slow piay was relieved by Lawrence, after many futile attempts, getting Armstrong to tho leg boundary. Ollivier, after being in for 55 minutes fpr 2 singles, opened out, and hit Hopkins to the off ropes. In tne same over the got him through the slips for another 4, and at 74 Uehrs bowled instead of Armstrong. Lawrence drove Hopkins finely lor 4, and sent him to leg tor 2, sending 80 up. nowell relieved Hopkins at 83, and the afternoon tea adjournment took place. On resuming tlowell and Uehrs still had tho bowling, and after throa successive maidens, singles to each sent SX) up. Lawrence tooK his own score to 30 with an off drive for _, and each batsman got Howell' the sups for 3 apiece. A single to Ollivier sent 100 up as thc result of an hour and 55 minutes' play. Laurence gained great applaii-c by hitting Uchi'- for unco tbur_, a U and a .ingle in one over, a very hue cut and two grand leg hits each going to ihe ropes. This resulted in Layer taking the ball from Uehrs. Lawrence brought him own score level with Armstrong's 49 with a single, but this was his last, for he touched a bumpy one of Layers into tho slips, where Armstrong brought off an easy catch. Lawrence was loudly applauded on returning to the pavilion, and 116—3—49 appeared as Callaway tilled tho vacant piace. The new comer sent 120 up witii a late cut to the ropes. Ollivier got into tho twenties by putting Howell cleverly to the log boundary. Callaway cut i.avei beautifully to the ropos for 1, but in the samo over cut one sharply into Armstrong's hands in the slips. 12_ —4—B: Ridiey partnered Ollivier, and drove Layer for _■ and got him to leg for 3. At, 134 Howell, who had sent down 11 overs for 8 maidens and 12 runs, Was replaced by Noble, and Ollivier nearly ran Ridley out/calling for a run and then sending, him back. Tbe Lancastrian back-cut Layer for 4, sending 140 up, and got into doubles by sending him to tho leg ropes. Another 4in tho slips made 13 off the over. Ridley lifted Noble finely to the on for 4, sending 150 up for 2J hours' play. Runs wero coming fast, and somo smartlyrun singles made the play very interesting. Ridley gained his 30 in 25 minutes, biit Lavor then clean bowled him with a good one. 104—5—30. Barron followed, and the Australian first innings score was equalled, but then Layer clean bowled Barron. 160 —6—o. Ellis was next, but in the samo over put one into tho slips, whero Trumper held the catch.. 166—7—0. Bennett filled the vacancy, but "after running a single for'Ollivier pijt ono into Layer's hands at third man, making the third successive man who had failed to score. 167—8—0 appeared as Box-shall went in. Ollivier .back-cut Layer, the ball going through thc field?-, man's legs to the boundary, and sending 170 up. Slow play followed, and thcu one of the batsmen should have been run out, but the ball was thrown to the wrong end, and both men got in. After slow play Boxshall' broke the ice by lifting Layer over the bowler's head for 2. Another maiden to Noble, and time was then called, the' score standing at 176 for eight wickets. The game will be resumed at 2 o'clock to-day. Scores:— CANTERBURY. First Innings. HC. Ridiey, 21, c Howell, b Noble ~ 3 A. .Sim*, 3, c Kelly, b "Noble .. ".. 8 K. M. Ollivier, 1111114141114,' c Gehrs, b Arautrong ..3] J D, :U.rretice, 841141, c Howell, **"b Npble ... .... 14 5. A/ Orchard, c Armstrong, b Noble .. 0 S. T. Callaway, 414142, o Layer, b Armstrong- .. .. ... ..16 H. Ellis 3-144, not out .. .. 14 A. H.. Barron, 431-1444113, o Kelly b Noble .. .. .. ;. 30 J. H. Bennett, 33, o Kelly, b Noble .. 6 C. A. Boxshall,. c Hopkins, b Duff .. 0 R. A. Read, 1, b Noble .. .. 1 Bye, 14, leg-byes 111, no-bslls 11 .. 10 Twtal .. .. .. lis Bowling AnaJy.'*—M. A. Noble, 19.1 overs, 7 maidena, 38 rune, 7 wickets. 2 no-b_!l_; W. Armstrong. 14 overa, 6 maidena, 70 rune, 2 wickets; W. P. Howell, 7 overa, 4 maidens,' 16 runs; F. Layer. 5 overs, 1 maiden, 34 rune; R. A. Duff, 3 overs, 11 runs, 1 wicket. AUSTRALIA. First Inning,". A. J. Hopkins, 114141, b Callaway .. 12 -I A. Noble, 24311413, b Bennett ..18 W. Armstrong, 1244112141111141111314314, b Bennett .. .. .49 F. Layer. 111114, b Bennett .. 9 J.J. Kelly. 44, c Ollivier, b Callaway .. 8 W. Howell, c Lawrence, b'Bennett -.. 0 S. E .Gregory. 11113111, b Bennett .'. 10 V. Trumper, 141. c Boxshall. b Callaway 6 C. Hill. 1144121311241144U213, not out.. 44 K. A. Duff, 23, run out .. .. .. 5 D. R. A. Gehra, run out .. ... 0 Byes, 12; legs byes, 2 ~ .. 5 Total .. 166 Bowling Analysis—S. T. Callaway. 23 overs. 5 maidens, 77 runs. 3 wickets; J. H. Ben-. nett, 22.5 overs, 4 maidens. 84 runs, 5 wickets. CANTERBURY. Second innings. S. A. Orchard, 1212.4464242. c Gehra, b Noblo ..36 A. Sims, 22. c Armstrong, b Noble 4 K. M. Ollivier, 114411131141211121421, not out .. .. ..38 J. D. Lawrence. 112414421421123244411, c Armstrong, b Layer .. .. ..43 S. T. Callaway, 44, c Armstrong, b Layer 8 H. C. Ridley. 2344441112121. b Layer .. 30 A. H. 'Barron, b Layer .. .. .. 0 H. Ellis, c Trumper, b Layer .. 0 J. H. Bennett, c Layer., b Noble .. 0 C.'Boxshall. 2, not out .. .. •• 2 Byes, 144 .. ... /•• .. 9 Total for eight wickets .. ..176