CRICKET.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14916, 14 March 1914, Page 12

CRICKET.

CANTERBURY Y. .AUSTRALIA.

THE VISITORS IN A GOOD POSITION.

Yesterday's play in the match between Canterbury and Sims's Australian team served further to demonstrate —if more proof were needed —that there is a wide gulf between tho standard of Australian and New Zealand cricket. The players from tho other side, have, by their consistently heavy scoring, shown up the weakness of the New Zealand attack, whilst they have never had any difficulty in keeping down the opposition's totals to anything from medium to low. Indeed, their out cricket has never been seriously taxed, and there is more than a suspicion that in some of their matches they might have kept the opposition's totals down to still lower limits had their chances of victory been at any time in jeopardy. However, any disappointment felt at the relative weakness of New Zealand cricket as shown by these matches, would almost be forgotten in admiration for the visitors' fine play. Their batsmen have shown us superb batting—batting that will rank with the world's best, whilst their bowling and fielding havo been of the class that has made Australian cricketers famous the world over.

The play yesterday was rarely exciting, the only exception being when Sandman and Patrick were together, and putting on tho runs fast, and for the most part by beautiful strokes. Considering the wretched start the Canterbury batsmen made, tho total of -otf was a. very respectable one, and probably as much as thc side was wortn. Iv top scoring 'with /B, i'atrick gavo a cnaruiing display. His well-itnown iootworii macio ins usually sound defence look even sounder. At any rate, he never looked to bo in difficulty with the bowling, and rarely made a stroke that looked like getting him out. But tho charm of nis innings was in his scoring strokes. There was one naw — a disposition to lift balls over coverpoint s head, and several of theso fell just out of reach. Apart from this, his shots all round tho wichct wero as stylish, as they were powerful—as attractive as they wcro well-timed, and many of "them would compare favourably with Trumper's best, so crisp and forceful were they. Sandman suffered somewhat in comparison with his captain's attractive display. He showed a lot of solid defence, and exercised more restraint than usual in his hitting. A lot of his scoring shots on tha olf, though at times somewhat speculative, wcro full of power, and were really good to watch, so fast did they travel to the fence. But where he restrained himself in his hitting he cultivated a new stroke whose daring was too great for the average batsman. That was an attempt to step across to balls well outside the off stump, and hit them to square leg. Ranjitsinhji was a past master. at the stroke, and Trumper is no novico at it, but it is quite beyond tho average New Zealander's powers. It was one of these ill-advised shots that brought an attractive innings to a close. Carl£on made his 26 by thoroughly sound batting, and'many of his scoring shots were nicely executed. Monaghan's 21 were made mostly by leg-side play, and some of Irs hits to that part of the field were of the best. Beal batted in very promising style, and so confident and corect.was his defence .that he looked to be in for a good score, when an exceptionally clever catch sent him back. Armstrong bore the brunt of the bowling for the Australians. He was exceedingly steady right through, but though he' got in" many good balls, he did'not trouble the batsmen as Crawford did. It was the latter's pace that nonplussed the local men, and when to this was added good length and a pronounced off break, the South Australian crack anpeared to have the local batsmen "scratching." Fortunately for the side and the later batsmen he was taken off early, aud when he went on again evidently did not take it too seriously. The Australians gave a brilliant display of fielding. The picking up was good, but it was the accurate returns to the /wicket that called forth tbe admiration of the onlookers. More often than not the thrown-in would hit the wicket, and it made the. Canterbury batsmen very chary of taking liberties. Considering there was no pretence of a holiday in town the attendance was exceedingly satisfactory. With every promise of a full day's batting tQ_d a y—batting by some of the world's greatest batsmen—there will doubtless be a huge attendance. It may be many years before Christchurch people have the chance of seeing batsmen like Trumper, Crawford and Armstrong again, and it will not be surprising if there is a record attendance this afternoon, and if so the citizens of Christchurch will be helping their own property, for the whole of the takings at the match are to go towards the extinction of the debt on the ground. Mr Sims and tlie members of his team have been exceedingly generous in thus foregoing their share of the gate, and nothing would please them better than to see a record crowd on the ground to-day. Ono thing that will conduce to this is the fact that Mr Scotland in his biplane will circle twice round tho park and dip during the progress of the game. Yesterday s takings amounted to £51 5s 6d. Perfect weather prevailed yesterday, a warm sun being tempered by t|ie gentlest of breezes from the north-east. The ground conditions were equally good, the wicket being a first-class whilst the outfield was fast. , Codv and. Dolling stood out of the Australian team, and McGregor kept wickets for the visitors. Reese and Whitta were unable to play. The Canterbury skipper was said to be suffering from tonsilitis, and Whitta stood out owing to an injured hand. Patrick was appointed to lead the local men, and Caygill and Beal filled the gaps. Sir Cecil Moon and Mr R. Handford were the umpires. .Canterbury having got first use of the wicket, the Australians took the field shortly after 12 o'clock, and Woods and Caygill went out to open Canterbury's innings. Armstrong opened the bowling from the south end, with a maiden, and Crawford, after having both batsmen in trouble, bowled Woods (aith the fifth ball of his first over. I—l—o. Hickmott, who was overdue for a score, filled the gap, and Caygill square-cut Armstrong finely for 4, and got him to the on for a couple. In Crawford's third over he dropped a straight one. on to CayguTs too, ar.d got him l.b.w. B—2—B. Beal followed, and drove the South Australian for a pair. Hickmott wa» not timing them too well, and presently he lifted Crawford hard to Trumper at mid-off. 13—3—3. Patrick joined Beal, and the latter got Armstroug for a pair to the on. The Sydenham man got Crawford to squareleg for 3, and-an uppish pair to Beal sent 20 on the board. Noble replaced Crawford,* who had captured three wickets for 10. His first over was a terribly loose one. and included a couple of nvides, Beal also getting a lucky three through the slips off it. After some uneventful play, Patrick chopped Armstrong prettily past third man for S._ Beal off-drove a fulltoss from Noble to the boundary, and glanced him nicely to leg for a trio. At 33 Mailey replaced Armstrong, and Patrick lifted him over cover-point's head for a pair. In Noble's next over Beal placed one to short-leg intl

Waddy snapped up a remarkably smart catch. 40—4 —17. Tho luncheon adjournment "was then taken. On resuming, Sandman P ar^ nered his skipper, and sent Mafley's fourth ball—a full tc&s—past third man for 4. Patrick chopped .Noble prettily for a pair, and a single sent 50 up for 70 minutes' play. Patrick lifted Mailoy past cover-point for 4, and then swung him round to the on fence. A fine bit of fielding by Collins saved a four, but .Sandman reached doubles by chopping Mailey through the slips for 4, and M-ith 'a ccuole of pairs and 4 to leg reached 20," Mailey's over suffering to the tune of a dozen. Eighty went up for an upr>ish 4 past third man to Sandman, "and the batsmen were giving a breezy display, b'andman banged .Mailey to "the square-leg fence, the umpire liaving to skip to get out of the wax. Tho next ball also "went to the leg" fence. At 91 Armstrong replaced Mailev, and great amusement was caused by the batsmen" getting a single for a "tap just., in front of the wicket, batsman and bowler colliding on the pitch. Patrick got a lovely 4 off Noble nast cover, the stroke going to the fence like a flash. An ui»pish pair to Patrick saw 100 up for 92 minutes' play. The last 50 had come for just over 20 minutes' play, and each bateman was 35. At 106 Lavor took the ball from Noble, and Sandman cut him for a four, two two's, and a single from the first over. Sims gained applause by saving a boundary brilliantly, and Patrick lifted Layer to the on-boundary, reaching 40, and sending 120 up. Sandman got to 50 in 50 minutes, and lifted Armstrong over mid-off's head for 4. In Layer* s next over Sandman sent a hot chance to Armstrong's left hand in the slips, and the same batsman banged a full-toss from the big man to the square-leg boundary. Patrick reached $0 with a lovely straight drive, which beat Collin? in tho race for the fence. It had taken him 90 minutes. He then lifted one to square-le£ missing a six only by feet. Patrick gave Trumper a hot chance at mid-off, but it was dropped. Sandman then stepped across to an offball from Armstrong for a square-leg b't, and ohoni>ed it on to Lis wicket. 147—5—61. The partnership had put on 107 runs in tiS minutes. Bishop followed, and Patrick «iuare-cufc Layer and off-drove him for fours off successive balls. They were both lino strokes. The same batsman drove ono terrifically hard back to Layer, and tho latter just got his hands t up in time to save his face. The Canterbury 6kipper reached 70 by lifting Armstrong over the fence for 6. Layer gave way to Crawford at lfiS, and then steadied the run-getting. Patrick then lifted Armstrong to midoff, where Trumper made no mistake about the catch. 172—G—78. Patrick had batted for just under two hours. Carlton was the ingoer, and opened with oi four to long-leg, and sent the next to tho square-leg fence. Bishop lifted a full-toss over Trumper's head at raid-off, which went to the fence "'n fast time. A single gave Carlton doubles and sent 190 up. Then Bishop lifted Armstrong nearly to the off-fence, where "Waddy brought off a very fino catch. It was a stroke that deserved a better fate. 197—7—14. Monaghan was next, and his partner square-cut Crawford nicely for 3. This sent 200 up for 163 minutes' play, and then Monaghan opened his account with a 4 to leg. He treated Crawford to a like dose, and Carlton reached 20 with another business-like square-cut, and got the next ball past third man for 4. Crawford's over had cost 14., In Armstrong's next over Carlton went out for a hit and was bowled. 223—8—26. The players then adjourned for afternoon tea.

Bennett partnered Monaghan, and after the former had got three singles, Monaghan hit Crawford finely to leg for 4. A period of slow play gavo Monaghan four singles, which took him to 20, and sent 240 up. He then stopped a straight one with his pad, and was Ibw. 242—0--21. Boxshall was last man, and got a pair to log. Then Bennett 6ent Armstrong to tho leg fence with a fine shot. Boxshall spooned one up to mid-on, but 3lailey left it to Crawford and Crawford left it to Mailey, and It fell harmlessly to tho ground amid laughter. Boxshall reached doubles with a 4 to leg, which Sims failed to stop. The first ball of Crawford's next over Beat Bennett all the way, and the innings closed after 3 hours 25 minutes' play.

After tho usual interval, tho local men took the field, Waddy and Collins going in to open the visitors' innings. Bennett opened to the former from tho pavilion end, and his third ball beat square-point for 4. Carlton was the other bowler, and in his second over Waddy survived a confident appeal for Ibw. H© showed his gratitude by getting a 4 to fine-leg. Collins saved his wicket with his pad, but he had played tho ball first. .The same batsman sent 20 up with a powerful square cut, and Waddy got 4 with an uppish stroke just out of slip's reach. Both Bennett and Carlton wero bowling with plenty of vim and keeping the batsmen quiet. Collins reached doubles and sent 30 up with a pair to leg, Waddy reaching 20 a moment later with a3 to leg. At 35 Monaghan replaced Bennett, and in his first over beat Waddy badly, the ball just missing the wicket. Bennett went on at tho other end and Collins pulled him for a quartet. Waddy got another 4 for a fine on-drive off Monaghan, and lifted tho next over the square-leg fence —50 up in 88 minutes. At 53 Sandman replaced Bennett for an over, and stumps woje then drawn for the day. Play will be resumed at 12 o'clock today. Scores: — CANTERBURY. First Innings. F. Woods, b Crawford .. .. 0 E. R. Caygill, 1421, Ibw, b Crawford .. 8 ford 3 R. G. Hickmott, 12, c Trumper, b CrawC. E. Beal, 2223143, c Waddy,-b Noble 17 XV. R. Patrick, 83121124412111412122411----11444414G1111, c Trumper, b Armstrong .. .. 78 D. Sandman, 14111422442441122411111141----411, b Armstrong 61 H. A. Bishop, 11141141, c Waddy, b Armstrong .. 14 T. Carlton, 441111131144, b Armstrong— 2G H. W. Monaghan, 441111411111, Ibw, b Armstrong .. .. .. 21 J. H. Bennett, 1111411, b Crawford .. 10 C. Boxshall, 21124, not out .. ..10 Byes, 14 .. .. ..5 Leg-byes. 11l .. .. ..3 Wides, 11 .. .... '2. Total .. .. .. 258 Bowling analysis: W. W. Armstrong, .33 overs, 7 maidens, 90 runs, 5 wickets; J. >'. Crawford, 18.1 overs, 3 maidens, 51 nms, 4 wickets; M. A. Noble, 12 overs. 3 maidens, 34 runs, 1 wicket, 2 widw; A. A. Mailey, 6 overs, 37 runs; F. Layer, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 36 runs. AUSTRALIA. First Innings. E.""L7Waddv, 44114112314C111, not out ~ 35 H. L. Collins, 214121422, not out .. 19 Byes, i 2■• .. ..3 Total for no wickets .. ..57