CANTERBURY v. SOUTH MELBOURNE.

Press, Volume XIIX, Issue 14553, 2 January 1913, Page 5

CANTERBURY v. SOUTH MELBOURNE.

AN EVEN GAME

Tho South Melbourne cricketers proved themselves a good batting side yesterday, for they have wiped off the major portion of the big score put up by Canterbuuy on the first day, and have still two wickets to fall. The weather was not nearly so summer-like as on tho first day, for after the wind had chopped round to several quarters, it "~ settled down to an easterly that was ,_ exceedingly keen to those watching tho £j pay. The attendanco yesterday was a I great improvement on that of the first I day, the takings being £72, as against I £-10. They would doubtless have been I much larger but for the strong counter j attraction of the Lyttelton Regatta. ) j Tho continuation of the Canterbury ] ' innings was marked by some more good a batting by Patr.ck, whose feat of being I the first to score a century against tho ■i visitors was warmly cheered, and it was I ' thoroughly deserved. The Sydenham I : man plays exceedingly bright and at- | tractive cricket when he is making % runs, and jt is doubtful if he has ever i shown better form. He was, perhaps, f not so sound as on the first uay, tor ( besides giving a couple of chances, ho § did too much "feeling" for Kyle's fast I balls outside the off stump. But his $ scoring strokes were a treat to watch, £ particularly his clever placing behind \ point. Boxshall made a very useful I stand for the last wicket, his partuer- \ ship with Patrick adding 31 'i The South Melbourne innings was a •j very solid aff.iir. So far no "tail" ha.s i revealed itseif. and from first to last I those men who batted yesterday reIs quired "digging out." Probably tho I most dangcrou* man on the side—Scott f j —was got rid of cheaply, and his del I parture was watched with mixed feelI j ings—pleasure at seeing so strong an I adversary dismissed, and regret that 8 I more of* such fine batting could not f . have been witnessed. The man who I was very largely- responsible for tho B visitors' good score was Kenny. When jj ho went in things were not too bright 3 ■ for the side, three good men being out I I for 6<5. But he rose to the occasion fj grandly. From the start he set out t;i k wear down the bowling, and ho sue- % ceeded with the most perfect defence. a playing the bowling—and it was very U good at that time —with the utmost I caution and correctness, and as he I played himself in, and the bowling 31 weakened somewhat, he showed hima <self possessed of many fine scoring strokes, the best being a beautiful square cut, executed in real wristy and nowerful style. He was also very clever at flicking leg balls round, and ho got in some very good drives, too. •He. batted for an hour and fifty minutes, and never gave a semblance of a chance. Giller's 42 was an invaiuablo contribution, for his partnership with Kenuv, which added no less than 111 runs, 'completely changed the aspect of the game, just as the Patrick-Oarlton stand had done on the previous day. His defence was almost as sound as Kenny's, and he made every kind of shot.in a manner that denoted a sound and dingerous batsman. He gave a very difficult chance just after he had reached doubles, but this was the only blemish, and he batted an hour and 50 minntes for his runs. Kyle effiectually dispelled the idea that the last three or four men were pronounced "tail enders," for ho not only played the sounaest of defence, but showed far more enter-

prise than most of his comrades, and liis hitting was so powerful and welltimed that ho kept the score mounting more merrily than had been done at any previous part of the innings. Gray, as tenth man, also showed that there was very little "tail" to the team, tor though, ho perhaps lacked tho stylo of most of the earlier batsmen his defence was confident, and he made a lot of good scoring strokes during his partnership with Kyle, which added 54 runs. Indeed this stand reduced Canterbury's chance of a win almost to a vanishing point, for unless tho batting collapses to-day a draw is tho inevitable result. Sykes played very solid and stylish cricket for hi.s 26, showing many fine scoring shots, whilst McCormack made his' runs in most finished style.

Tho outcricket of the local men was a very distinct improvement on that of tho visitors, at any rate as far as the fielding was concerned. They bowled really well, too. in the earlier part of tho innings, until the stonewall defence of Giller and Kenny wore them down. Bennett got the best figures with 3 for 61, but it would not flatter him as a bowler to say that he was at his best for ho was too erratic in his direction. Sandman, with 3 for 73 bowled really well, the first time ho. went on keeping a capital length with, a very small proportion of loose balls. Reese with 1 for* 57, and Carlton 1 for 48, both bowled steadily, but either of them might have bowled a few overs less and given Hiekmott a trial, for tho High School boy only had one over with 4 runs. The Canterbury men gave a first-class exhibition of fielding. Hiekmott. in tho country, repeatedly gaining applause by his fine work. Sandman could also bo singled out for his fine work, though nearly all the side performed splendidly. Tho weather was dull and somewhat threatening when the Melbourne men went on to the field at 11.30. . They wero soon followed by the two Canterbury not out:-.. Patrick (73), and Carlton (43). Giller, from the south erd, and Trott took up the bowling, tho latter, in his first over, beating Carlton and tho wicket keeper and going for two byes. Patrick banged Trott hard to the square-point fence with a beautiful stroke, and then reached 80 with an uppish pair near third man. With tho total at 356, Patrick opened out to Trott, but got under the ball too much, and it went high in the ear to mid-on, but Giller mulled an easy catch. In the following over Carrtpn hit ono into the hand of Hiekmott, who was fielding substitute at square-leg. 276-S-4p. Bennett joined Ins club mate and trTe latter ran to 90 with another nrettv cut to the fence, and Bennett hit Giller to iquarc-leg for 4, 290 foing up in the meantime. After some careful play, Patrick reached his century, and sent tho third century on the board by banging a full toss to the boundary, but the applause had hardly died away when Bennett stopped a straight ono with his pads. 302—0—10. Boxshall was last man, and skied one to short leg, but no one -was there. He then lifted Trott to deep. square-leg, but a difficult cntch was missed. He repeated the s * r ° k ?' this time a much easier catch,, out it was again droooed, Sykes being the offender. The left-hander in the following over cot Giller finely to the leg boundary. At 312 Kyle replaced Trott, -who had had execrable luck, all three catches being missed off him. Boxshall mowed the new bowler round to long-leu, and on-drove lum tor 6. Scott bowied in place of Giller, and 1 atrick twice cut him sweetly to the. fence, 330 going up. Boxshall reached 20 by steering one cleverly through the cordon of slinsmen. In Kvle's nest 1 atrick cave "a hard catch in the slips, nut repeating the stroke in the same bowler's next over the chance was accepted, and the innings closed alter five hours' play for 333.

The Canterbury men took the field at one o'clock, and were soon followed by the opening batsmen. McCormack and Svkes. Reese opened from the north wicket, his first ball going for three byes. Sandman had charge at the other end, and only singles—sharply run ones —eventuated until the'adjournment for lunch.

On resuming tho same bowlers had charge, and after a succession of singles Svkes sent Reese to tho square-leg fence and reached doubles with an uppish pair just out of slip's roach. Play was slow, the bowling being good, arid keeping the batsmen very quiet, but at last McCormaok off-drove Sandman prettily for 1, 30 up. Sykes got Reese to squaro-leg for 4, arid with 40 up Bennett replaced Sandman, and Sykes reached 20 with an off-drive, but in the samo over McCorniack was caught at third man by Patrick. 4-I—l—ls. With Scott's ' appearance Carlton relieved Reese. The newcomer got Bennett twice nast "oint to the fence with lovely strokes, the 50 going up in just under an hour's piny. At 64 Scott .'topped a biimnv one with his leg. and the ball rolled slowly on to his wicket. (i4_o_]3 Oilier followed, and Sykes had a narrow escaoe from an uppish .stroke in the slins.'but a little later he liut one im to Reese at mid-off, which <he Cantorburv skipper just reached •md held. 66-3—26. Kenny filled the gap, and flicked a couple to leg. and after some slow play Oilier lifted Carlton to the on fence, and gave a difficult chance at short leg in tho same over. With 84 on Sandman took the ball from Bennett, wlio went on at the north end. Kenny got him prettily to leg for 4. and cut Sandman for another 4. The 1.00 wont up for an hour and 50 minutes' play, but the batting continued to be very circumspect. At 113 Reese relieved Ronnett, and Kenny got seven off his first over. Hickmott relieved Sandman, and Kenny not to 40 with a square out for 4. At 128 tho tea adjournment was taken.

Carlton from the north end and Bennett took up the bowling on resuming, but the batsmen were soon well rooted again, though only singles came for a time. Kenny reached his 50 after batling for an hour and a quarter, and then cut Carlton finely for 4> Ono hundred and fifty went up for 2 hours 10 minutes' play. Reese had a turn from the south end, and at 167 Sandman relieved Carlton. Kenny relished the. change, 8 cominjj from the first over. The batsmen now appeared to have the bowling well collared, but at 177 Sandman bowled Kenny, 177—4 — 71. Trott was next, and Giller lifted Reese to the on for 4. Tho next ball nearly bowled him, but in the same over Trott out ono into Carlton's .hands at short lo». 182—5—0. Dens joined Ciller, and got a 4 to leg off Sandman, but Oilier was then well taken at the wicket. 188—6—42. Ky'o was the ingder, and drove a full toss to the off-fence, but then Deas lifted Sandman deep to the on. where Patrick brought off a well-judged catch. 199- -7—o. Kelly followed, and with a pair sent the second century up for 3i hours' batting. At 209 Bennett replaced Reese, and bowled Kellv with a £no ball. 211—8—7. Gray filled the gap, and Kyle sent 220 up with the first 6 of the mateh —a grand hit to squareleg. At 236 Sandman gave the ball to Carlton, and after, some slow play Reese had.a turn, Carlton giving I3ennett a spoil at the other end. Eight came off the first over, 250 going up for 3 hours 50 minutes' play. With tho total at 265 stumps were drawn for tho day. The game will be resumed at 11.30 this morning. Scores:— CANTERBURY. First Innings. E. It. Cavgill, 11123111, run out .. 11 W. Hayes, 21312-2112114212111112111, c Pentlant, b Giller .. ■ .. .. 36 A. Sims, 1112111111411, b Giller ..17 R. G. Hickmott, 412321212212, c Deas, b Kelly .. .. .. .. 25 H. A. Bishop, 2211124214112211143, b Trott .. .. .. ..36 D. Reese, 122, lbw, b Scott .. ..5 W. R. Patrick, 4421214111111111111124 1144212122212311241114/2112111-121114114 41, c Pentlant, b Kyle .. ..112 D. Sandman, 111, st Pentlant, b Giller 6 T. Carlton, 1111444*23243221122212, c sub, b Trott .. .. .. ..45 J. H. Bennett, 14212, lbw, b Giller .. 10 C. Boxshall, 11142431111, not out .. 20 Byeg, 211221 .. ... .. D-Leg-bye .. .. .. ... 1 Total .. .. .. ..333 Bowling Analysis.—J. Kyle, 19.1 overs, 3 maidens, 51 runs, 1 wicket; W. HcOormack, 6 overs, 1 maiden. 16 runs; J. Giller, 3S overs, 3 maidens, 87 runs, I wickets; A. Kenny, 9 overs, 45 runs; G. H. Trott, 11 overs, 45 runs, 2 wickerts; 11. Kelly, 17 overs, 5 maidens, SS runs, 1 wicket; W. Scott, 12 ovcr3, 3 maidens, -41 runs, 1 wicket. SOUTH MELBOURNE. First Innings. W. McCormack, c Patrick, h Bennett .. .. 4 ■ ■ ... 15 S. Sykes, 1141122114121211, c Recae, b Bennett .. .. • - .. 26 W. Scott, 1441111, b Carlton .. ... 13 J. Giller, U121411112211111121523124, o Boxshall, b Sandman .. ..42 A. Kenny, 21141141411113-2212411411211 112141131421, b Sandman .. ..71 C. H. Trott, c Carlton, b fiee&o .. 0 R. Deas, 141111, c Patrick, b Sandman 9 J Kyle, 141121121262211413111, not out 80 H. Kelly, 211111, b Bennett .. .. 7 A. Gray, 2123212314, not out ~ ..21 Byes, 3U1211213 .. .. .. 19 Leg-byes, 111 .. .. ..3 Total for eight wickets .. 265