SHIELD MATCH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1320, 26 December 1911, Page 6

SHIELD MATCH.

CANTERBURY MEN STUCK UP. : OTAGO'S BIG EFFORT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) : -. ■ ■ Christchurch, December 24. Canterbury has not been permitted to bold tho Plunket Shield—the emblem o£ cricket supremacy in New Zealand—long, anil, oil Saturday, they had to niako good to Otagu, tho southerners being tho first to get in a challenge. Lancaster Park, which has had .£3OOO spent on it in. improvements, is completely transformed, and tho visitors could hardly believe that it was the same old Lancaster Park. The oval, of regulation shape and size for a cricket ground, was in porfect order, but a surfeit of rain during tho past week had left tho out-field heavy, though the wicket rolled out plumb and easy.; Otago were without two of their best men—Siedeberg and Torranco—and, as tho continued wet weather had left them short of practice, they were only given a "look in" by competent judges>- But, as so often happens, in cricket, "form" der ductions were all upset, for a very fino partnership between Austin and Hopkins added 170 runs for tho second wicket, and, with a total of 212 for only two wickets, it looks as though the shield will be jogging along. • .. . Tho Canterbury team had been much criticised ■ for its lack of good bowlers, and tho complaint was thoroughly sub-stantiated,-for Hecse had.- to ring tho changes on his three stock.bowlers—himself, Bennett, and Sandman—ad iiifinitum. Any change from this regimo was met with an alarming increase in tho rate of scoring. It rained heavily again on Saturday night,. and, with a slow wicket, Canterbury has a big hurdle to get over if they are to retain the supremacy. The southerners' baiting camo as a general , surprise; even to their own men, and one wonders (if. tho Otago-batsmen wero short of practice) whut sort of a time Canterbury would have had if they had been in form. It must bo remembered that the wicket was , not a batsman's one. True, it was easy, but the bowlers got all tho assistance {hoy wanted, and, if the opposition had been dismissed for under a hundred, it would not lmvo baen surprising on such a pitch. Under the circumstances it was-a masterly performance to bat through- tho afternoon: for a loss of only two.wickets, and up more meritorious partnership has been, set up for a long time than that between Hopkins and. Austin, who batted for nearly three hours, aud put on'l7o runs for the second wicket. Hopkins' Masterly Display. Hopkins gave a masterly display of sound ami skilful batting. At the start he did not appear too happy, but ho .soon settled down to an,innings. that was full of merit, but inwhich safety was tho predominant note. Tho bowling was of uniformly good quality—too good indeed 10. lake liberties with. Hopkins, however, was really clever in playing Sandman. Ho waited for , the bound of tho ball, and watched it right up. to tho bat, or, if the length permitted, ho got. well out to the half volley, and drove all aiong the ground with powerful and well-timed stmkcs. ' His quick footwork enabled him to-do this with iiccuracy; and he never lifted :r ball until his .total was 74.. when he put one up. within reach of point. This w«s only si HJirtblanw of a chance,, liuwever, and was the only mistake which ho niiicle throughput: his long .innings. . His success met with hearty appreciation from the.onlookers,-and, when lie 'reached his century, the apphu-e that Creole*! him, and in which his opponents joined, would have done-credit'to a far bigger crowd. . Austin's Effort. In [joint of merit, Austin's innings was little, if anything, inferior to his.partner's: There was the snmc unerring, pre-cis-inn in gauging the length- and the (light of the bull, th« siimu corredm'Ss (if stroke, and the same nbsenco of rashness ■throughout. His scoring strokes lo the (in and to lej wero more prolific and ioreo r ul than his partner's, but he lacked the footwork. In get in the drive. It was however, au innings full of merit, an:l ho was ;is unlucky us tho opposition were fortunate in the chance shot thai pit: him out. Kenny's bailing was 'lot: impressive—it w.i l ? even ungainly, for.he invariably made.bis I<?P> a second lino of defence to !i difliiMl'l ball. Iteeso'soon dropped to this, and, bowling over, instead of round the wicket, got his m.v.r l.b.w. it'Fsirlaiii! nlso sluipcd in a manner Hint didaint- promise. n score,-for the first run was from a chance,-'■ and hie next

Btroko should have been caught at deep square leg. - The Canterbury bowling was a lot better, than tiicOtaßo scoro would lead ono to suppose, but thoro was not onougli of it. Heese/ Bfiinolt, and Sandman aJI irirndJtfl-exceedingly. ivejl, but.« change was , ■ resorted to,• ■■ -■ it provod so inimodiately expensive that Heese went back to his Viook"..bowlers in a hui'O - ' lie hiuisolf was tlic' bijst bo»;lcr on the side, for liis commaud ■ of length aud direction, with:his- variation of pace- and general "head-work," had the batsmon always on their best behaviour. Bennett was very steady—too much so, in fnot—for' there was . nothing loose enough to teliipt tlio batsmen, and, though ho.keptlhe riDLS dpwn, lie. never looked like getting his-opponents put.. , ■ -'Sandman kept.a. good .length, and did notfeiid d.own.a great many loose' balls, • but Ihe ..wicket gave him , really 100 mucli assistance.. ■ Jlo reliod e'uti.ix'ly on 'lu'a leg-break—possibly .for the. reason . that (he wind was too strong for liihi to turn from'llio'ojt'i , The leg-break was oominß in ii 'yard,' .and , there'always seomod a possibility.of his.getting a wicket. The Canterbury fielding was good, thouglr'therO'Wasa looseness.at times on (he part of, on« or two tlint reduced (ho dis])lay to; a littlolwlow. first-class. The woat.her : was fine,,.but!, a.'cold easterly wind' blew..■across the ground, and. there was an entire absence of sunshine. The teams.'.were'as follow:— Otagb:' A. Downes, C'ondliffe, Hftmsden, Bannerman, Eclchold, Eokhoff. HopTcins, White, Kenny, Austin, nnd Jf'Farlane. Canterbury: IJ.'.Ueese,' Sims, Patrick, Ollivier. Bennett. W. r - Carl ton, Lusk, Boxshall, Sandinaii, Norman," Caygill. ■ Messrs. Efcose (CanterLury) and Downes 'Otagb) were the .'captains, and Messrs. , R. Spencer and-A. D'. , Hart officiated as um« pir'es. ." " Otago—First Innings, J.. Kenny', 1.b.w., b. D. Reese It C. C. Hopkins, not 0ut'.»..l 122 G. G. Austin, ruu out ........' CI T, M'Farlane, not out <■ Byes !> Log byes 2 ..." Total for two. wick*ts. 212 Bowling Analysis. ' Bennett bowled 29; overs for' 17 runs;. '.Boose,' 33 overs for 69 runs and ono wicket s Sandman,• 25 overs for , 50 runs; Carlton, four overs for 23 runs; Ollivior, three overs for 10 runs; Patrick,, four overs for 11 runs; Sims, threo overs for 11 runs.: Play on Christinas Day was postponed on account of the weather. .. ■ ' THE HAWKE CUP. ' MATCH AT INVERCAEGILL, (By Telegraph—Press Assooiation.) . Invefcargill, December 25.. Southland played their first game, if* llio Hawko Cup competition at Rugby Park to-day, wlieu they met the South Canterbury eleven. Tho weather and Iho wicket were both-good, buta cross wind was in evidence. . " The visitors'won the toss, and went first to , the wickets, but, outside, of Donohue, did not-shape, too ' well, six .wickets being down for 73 at the 'luncheon adjournment. Donohne had 63 to his credit when Raymond clean bowled him. Douglas (21)' was-the only other man to 'make double figures, and tho innings close (after 2 hours and 5 minutes) for 111, runs. Southland have lost eight wickets for 115 runs, with 45 minutes still to play (Watkins 30).

INTER-STATE MATCH, VICTORIA'S SMALL. TOTAL. (Rcc. December 21, 5.5 p.m.) ' Melbourne December 24. • In" their 'match against New South Wales,'-the. Victorians were dismissed .n their-first innings, for 166. Armstrong mado 51;-Matthews 16, Hartkoff (not out)' 42, Kyle 17, and Carkeek 21. The first four wickets fell for one run. In. .bowling Cotter took four crickets for 38 runs, Macartney, threo for 68; and Kelloway, three for 41 ■ . Now South Wales have one wicket down for 11 runs. y HOUSE MATCHES. Tie annual match between teams representing The Dominion- and "Pott'* staffs was playod at Kolburno Park oa Saturday. Only one innings was played, and the result was a win for- Tim Dominion men , by 16 runs. "Post" batted first, and were unlucky enough to lose some of their best wickets for small scores, tho whole innings producing only 78 runs! Tho double-figure scores were Byers (10), Ryan (14), Cliorlton (14). and Hill (16). On The Dosiikion side, Plimmer was the largest and tho most rapid scorer, smacking up 38 by fast and free cricket. His effort was a lively and • very attractive • innings. Spence was caught when ;lie had scored two, but the umpire had called "no ball," and be went on to score 22. Chapmau (13) was tho onlyother batsman- to reach double figures. Bowling for the winners, ilaysmor took fivo wickets for 35 runs, Kirinear two Tor !), and Chapman three for. 7. The "Post" trnnulcrs' record wasas follows:— Hill, two for 33; Currie, one for li); Ryan i'our for 24; and Chorlton, one for 8.