PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14621, 24 March 1913, Page 5

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH.

CANTERBURY r. OTAGO.

More wretched weather than that experienced for tho last rep. match of the season on Saturday could hardly be imagined. The nor'-wester of the early morning had given way to ' a strong southerly wind by tho time play started! This, though cold and ■unpleasant, was not so bad while the sun shone brightly, but after lunch the sky became overcast, and the wind increasing to a gale, it was exceedingly cold and unpleasant both for players and spectators. Under the circumstances there was a capital attendance, the sum of £116 being taken at the gates.

The ( match coming so lato in the season, it was generally expected that the wicket would bo slow, a condition that would be all in favour of tho Southerners. They were denied this luck, however, for the nor'-westers of tho last tew days had dried up the pitch considerably, and it gavo the bowlers very little assistance. The outfield was only moderately fast, and it took a good stroko to reach tho fence.

Some changes were made in both teams at tho eleventh hour. Otago lost the services of Siedeberg, who was ■unable to make the trip North, whilst Bennett had received an injury to his side the day before, and was replaced by Orchard. Tho latter change weakI ened the Canterbury bowling considerably, but so far with no serious result. With the weather so -unsettled it was recognised that the winning of the toss would mean a great deal, and the spinning of the coin was watched with great interest. Luck favoured Downes, but his sido utterly failed to gain any advantage from their good fortune. Their innings of two hours duration was a very poor effort. Most of their batsmen not only failed to make scoref, but their batting was such that they never looked like making them. This ■was surprising, seeing that most of their best batsmen have been scoring well in their club games, and the side came np with a good batting reputation. Their failure was probably largely due to the fact-that they were on a wicket the pace of which was quite foreign to them. But even allowing for this, there was still a woeful lack of scoring ability, for a large number of punishable bails were met with defence instead of aggression. Tuckwell was an exception to this want of enterprise, and ho was the only ono of tho recogn'scd batsmen who at nil phtyed up to his reputation, Tho exAtistrallan showed himself "possessed -of fiomo fjood strokes, chief among them being a late cut, which he executed in workmanlike stylo, whilst his defenoe for the wort part was correct and confident, Of the others, Downes Is the ' ! only eno whose batting eallß fer comi ment, The veteran was always on the I Jaok out fat a hit, but didn't get much to suit him, He made a few nice elf ! drives, however, and it was unfertunate ' for the side that neither of the other 1 two batsmen wero able to keep their end up for him. Thai; tha put cricket of the Canterbury men was, good is shown by the smallness. of tha Otago score. The I fiqwiing was good, though the weakness | ©f $ka epne&ifcion ' hatting probably

mado it look better than it really was. Sandman's figures were well deserved, for he kept an excellent length, and at no time were tho batsmen happy when facing him. Carlton kept liis "end going splendidly. Indeed it is doubtful if ho ever kept a better length and direction, and this was all the moro praiseworthy when it is remembered that ho was up against a gale of wind. Reeso also bowled right up to his form, and frequently had the batsmen in difficulties. Paterson bowled well when he went on first against the wind, but after changing ends he completely lost his length, and should have been punished more than he was. With one or" two exceptions the Canterbury fielding was of the best, and the very few mistakes made were excusable on such a cold day. At ar.yrate, no chaucos—except one very hob one—were missed, and Lusk took a couple of really good ones in the slips. BoxshalL. at tho wickets, was brilliant, for not a bye was scored against him, and his stumping of Austin was a very fine piece of work. Although tho Canterbury- men put up a fairly good score tht>. batting on the whole was hardly up to their best standard. Hickmott for the most part plaveu masterly cricket. So sound was 'his detenco that it looked as though he would have to get himself out. If there was a weakness in his play it was in his off side scoring strokes* Tlueso ho did not timo too well at times. But his on strokes from long leg to long on wene a perfect masterpiece, and nothing finer could bevjvished than the wristy flick with which lie took leg balls—and oven straight ones at times—round to the on side, and his on driving was just as good, being invariably along the ground. Ho bat_ed an hour and twenty minutes and gave only the one chance already mentioned. If any fault could be found with Hayes's batting it was that it was on tho cautious side. But apart from this it was a fine innings, being madia up of irreproachable dtienco and good scoring strokes all round the wicket. Especially good was his late cutting which no executed in the best possible style. Ho batted for 2. hours, and a chanco of stumping was tho only blemish on a really sound innings. _ Reeso mado his 25 in his best style. No fault could bo found with any of*his strokes until the one that brought about his dismissal, and his leg play was particularly forceful. A number of beautiful strokes included in Lusk's 21, mostly drives and lato cuts. Even tho sbroko that got him out was a good one, for had it not been against such a galo of wind it would probably have been a G. A d):cado ago tho Downes-Fisher combination mado Otago one of tho best bowling sides in tho Dominion, and Saturday's attack was decidedly weak in comparison. True Downes is still battling for the southerners, but though ho 'still bowls steadily.and requires, watching ho lacks tho sting of former years, and the other bowlers were not very impressive. McLaughlin perhaps being tho host, though lie was erratic. Tho southerners' fielding did not compare favourably with Canterbury's, for although several men on tho side performed exceedingly w.ll, others wcro too casual and slow, and so reduced tho merit of tho whole. Tiioro was some surprise wlien at 5:25 tho umpires ruled tho light unfit for play, and tho Otago skipper was far from pleased. As a matter of fact—and it is rather amusing—the umpires' action was quite unconstitutional. In tho first place tho batsman had no right to appeal to tho umpires against tra light, and tho umpires were apparently innocent, of tho. fact that they had no jurisdiction until tho two captains having disagreed on tho point, to them. Downes also was apparently unawaro of this fact, or he would probably havo got a bit of good humoured chaff oh to the officials. Messrs Spencer and Wilson were tho umpires. Hopkins and Austin commenced Otago's innings, Reese opening to Hopkins from the south end. Paterson took the ball at tho other end, bowling against a strong wind. In Reese's second over Austin got him neatly to the square-leg boundary, but. with tho first 10 on the board tho Canterbury skipper had his revenge by bowling Hopkins. 10—1—3. Tuckwell followed, and rrot Reese twice past third man for 4, but at 19 Austin fell to an exceedingly fine piece of work by Boxshall. who took a swinging ball on tho leg side, and had the bails off in a twinkling. 19—2—7-. / McFarlane followed, and resorted to leg work to keep Reese out, two confident appeals for Ibw being answered in the batsman's favour. A uselessly wild return by Carlton gave Tuckwell a 4 instead of 2, and tho same batsman on-drove Reese finely for 4. At 29 Carlton replaced Paterson, who had sent down six overs for 11 runs. Tuckwell lifted a halfvolley straight back, but Reese had moved across to tho off, and was out of the way of what would have been a difficult chance. After being in for a quarter of an hour McFarlane opened with a pair to the off, and with the total at 30 Sandman took the ball' from Reese, whose two wickets had cost 22 runs. From tho fifth ball of the over McFarlane cut one to Hayes, and moved out for a run, but lie had only got a few yards when the ball was in, and the bails off. It was a doubtful single, though Tuckwell would probably have got in if he had been backing un and had answered the call. 37—3—2. Condliffe followed, and after some slow play Tuckwell cut Sandman for 4, and sent 40 up. The same batsman reached 30 with a single next ball. In Sandman's next over Condliffe, who had been palpably unhappy to tho St. Albans man, was clean bowled. 47 — 4— Ramsden foHowed, but after seeing Tuckwell send a hot chance back to Carlton he iwas smartly taken in the slips by Lusk off the first ball of Sandsman's next over. 47—5—0. Bryden was the ingoer, and singles sent 50 up for an hour and ten minutes' play. Bryden then lifted Sandman into the east stand for 6, the occupants scattering right and left. The wind had 'now increased to hurricane force, and the umpires were kept busy replacing tho bails. As 60 appeared Tuckwell, who had been the' only batsman to show batting of any quality, was smartly caught at the wicket. 60—6—37. Shepherd followed, and had a stirring over from Sandman. The second and fifth balls he got to the leg boundary, but the .last ball he chopped into tho slips, where Lusk brought off another smart catch -^68—7 —8. Huntly joined Bryden, and misfielding by Hickmott gave tho latter a 4 instead of a single. Then Huntly swung a short one round to the on boundary, and Carlton bowled a wide. A single sent 80 up. Paterson replaced Sandman, who had captured four for 34. The change camo off, Bryden being bowled with the second ball, 80—8—15 appearing as Downes wont in. The newcomer ( cut his first for 4, and then got two j twos and a singlo off Carlton's next over. Then tho Otago skipper got a flukey 4 through the slips, but Huhtly, after getting a pair, made a wild swipe at Carlton, and the latter j got his first wicket. 98—9—8. Mc- ' Laughlin was last man, and a single to each sent 100 up for just under two

hours' play. Downes got a 6, four of them being for overthrows, but then Carlton bowled McLaughlin, tho innings closing at 1 o'clock for 110. Thero was only time for one over before lunch. Ramsden bowled it, and Lusk, who went in with Hayes, got 4 for a nice late cut. On resuming, Downes bowled from ■ the south end, and in Ranisden's next, "Lusk cut him sweetly for four. Ho treated Downes to a like dose, and then on-drovo Ramsden finely for another quartet, reaching 20., With only a single on, Lusk Iffted Downes higii over the bowler's head, and tho wind holding it, McFarlane brought off a well-judged catch. 27—1—21. Hickmott filled the gap, and after getting a single, Hayes oik-nod his account with a three to fine leg. Then Hickinott got a four-—all run —for a pretty onstroke, and drove Ramsden along the ■sward for another quartet. The samo batsman survived an appeal for Ibw, and then sent 40 up with a pair to tho on. McFarlane relieved Ramsden, who had had 29 hit off h'm, and play slowed down somewhat until Hayes back-cut Downes prettily for four. The same batsman reached doubles with another pretty baclr cut, and the halfcentury went up for 35 minutes' play. Twos and singles took Hickmott into tho twenties, and Hayes late-cut Downes sweetly for a quartet. After slow play, Downes gave tho ball to McLaughlin,- a left-hander of medium pace, and Huntly relieved McFarlane. Play was slow until Hickmott relieved the monotony by hitting Huntly for two lours in one over, th)_ first one being all run. At 80 up Hickmott got McLaughlin prettily to square leg for 4. When Hickmott. had mado 3S ho returned one to McLaughlin, but tho catch was dropped. The same batsman with a pair reached 40 and sent 100 up for an hour and a quarter's play. Hickmott equalised the scores by hitting Huntly finely to leg for 4, and with a pretty pair to the ou he reached 50 after batting for just over an hour. Hayes square cut McLaughlin for 4, the ball going between Hopkins's legs. Ramsden replaced Huntly and Hayes reached 40 with a lovely off drive for 4. Hayes gave a chance of stumping, which was missed, and Hickinott 6ent 140 up with a pretty on stroke for 4 and repeated the dose the same over. Tho same batsman reached 70 with a fine square leg -hot that went to the fence in quick time, and a 3 to tho on sent 50 up for an hour and threequarters play. Some smart running between wickets kept the play interesting. At 157 Tuckwell replaced Downes and off tho fifth ball Hickmott put one into Huntley's hands at short leg 158-2-77. The tea adjournmen then took place. On resuming Bishop accompanied Hayes to the wicket, Tuckwell and McFarlane still bowling, and after getting a 3 and 2 gave a hard catch to third man. Then Bishop hesitated about going for a single, and should have been easily run out, but the 'keener failed to gather tho ball. The" batsman showed his gratitude by hitting Tuckwell to the leg boundary, but going for a sharp single the same over was run out. 172 —3 —13. Reese's appearance was hailed with applause, and Hayes reached 50 with an off-drive for 2. He followed this up with a couple of fours off McFarlane, Reese in the meantime having broken the ice with a single. McFarlane then clean bowled Hayes with a good one. 187—4—61. Patrick joined his skipper, and rain coming on the players adjourned. It proved only to be a light shower, and after a quarter of an hour play was resumed and Reese swung McFarlane to leg for a 4 and 2. Patrick sent 200 up with an off-drive, the timo occupied" being ' 2 houors 20 minutes. Patrick spooned one just over Downes's head, and then lifted McFarlane high to the off for 4 getting into doubles. At 215 McLaughlin relieved Tuckwell, and Reese got into the twenties with a beautiful off-drive to tho fence. At 227 Austin relieved McFarlane, and in his second over Reeso lifted one to mid off whore he was easily caught 230-5-25. Orchard, followed but was cl-an bowled third ball 230-6-0. Paterson was next, but after gettins, two singles and a pair made a mishit and was caught at tho wicket. 234-7-4: Carlton joined Patrick, but the playerthen adjourned owing to tho bad light. The following are the scores:— OTAGO. First Innings. C. C. Hopkins, 12, b Reese .. . 3 G. G. Austin, 211, stpd Boxshall, b Reeso .. .. ... • 7 B J. Tuckwell, 41441411414131111, c Boxshall, b Sandman .. .. .t 37 T. McFarlane, 2, run out .. '. _ J. W. Condliffe, 11, b Sandman.. " 2 J. Ramsden, c Lusk, b Sandman ".' 0 JS Bryden, 1116-111 b Paterson 15 J. Sheppcrd, 44, c Lusk, b Sandman .. 8 J. Huntly, 422, b Carlton • .. g A Downes, 412214146, not "out ." 25 D. B. McLaughlin, ■_~_■ Carlton '.'. 1 - Lea: bye 1 .. .. ■ -i. wide 1 .. .. ... ;; j Total .. .. .. .. 210 Bowling Analysis.—D. Reese, 8 overs 2 maidens, 22 runs. 2 wickets; J. L. Pateraon 10 overs, 4 maidens, 32 rune, 1 wicket- T. Carlton, 16.2 overs, 7 'maidens, 20 run's, 2 wickets, 1 wide; D. Sandman, 11 overs, 8 maidens,. 34 runs, 4 wickets. CANTERBURY. First Innings. . • H. B. Lusk, 411414141, c McFarlane, b Downos .. .. ~ ' 21 Hayes, 31431411111131111411141311112442,' b McFarlane .. .. .. gj.R. G. Hickmott, 144_11212U1441114112-3i42 12311414312, c Huntley, by Tuckwell 77 H. A. Bishop, 321142, run cut .'. ..13 D. Reese, 1114221211342, c Huntly. b Austin .. .. .. 25 W. R Patrick, 1422411, not out .. ..15 5. A. Orchard, b McLaughlin .. .. 0 J. L. Patterson, 112 c Condlifle, b McLaughlin .. .. .. . ~ 4 Carton. not out .. ... ... ~ 0 Extras ... .. .. • !*. IB Total for seven wickets .. .. 234 Bowling Analysis.—McLaughlin took two wickets for 26, Austin one for 4, Tuckwell one for 24, Downes one for 34, McFarlane one for 48, Ramsden none for 53, Huntly none for 27. Play will be resumed at 11 o'clock today.