CRICKET WELLINGTON v. OTAGO A GAME OF CHANCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 7, 9 January 1915, Page 10

CRICKET WELLINGTON v. OTAGO A GAME OF CHANCE.

(By "Marylebone.")

It is, on the whole, rather satisfactory that there was no prize or reward in connection with the Otago-Wellington representative match; otherwise^ tho police might have been instituting proceedings against 22 eminently respectable men for taking part in a game of chance. The chances and fortunes of cricket are well known, and were indeed marked in this match. Who would have anticipated a Wellington total of 498 when the first four wickets had fallen for 78? Or who would have anticipated an Otago score of 428 for seven wickets when the first innings 6core was 139 and three wickets had fallen in the second for 41 ? Wellington certainly did not look for the latter j score or they would never have consented j to 2 p.m. as the starting hour for the third "day. When writing of the match there is «o much to be said that one hardly knows where to begin. In the first place, it may be said that Wellington's batting was disappointing; this though the score was 498, for it must be remembered that one man made 222, and three men together accounted for 372. The remainder of 126 to divide amongst eight men is not much. Some of the men mostly relied upon failed. Baker certainly made 28, but Hiddleston, Gibbes, and Burton all went for under double figures. Of Midlane's innings much has already been said. It is a record for Wellington cricket, beating Tucker's 221 in a club game. Moreover, it was thoroughly deserved. Midlane was in his best form from the beginning, when he was staying the panio created by Crawford, till the end, when he was hitting all round the wicket at all tjowlors. He has no markedly favourite strokes, and therefore no weaknesses which aro easy of discovery. Once he starts to play he tackles everything, and scores off it all. Even when settled he is not reokless, but confident. All the long way from one to 219 on Friday and Saturday he gave not a single chance. His only chance was a doubtful one benj?« the wicket after he had scored 219. Midlane, even without this performance, has an enviable record. In representative cricket he has scored more centuries than any other Though not in the same street with Midlano, Bray played a sound and exceedingly useful innings for 82. It was he who helped to wear the bowling down, and made it possible for Robertson and Paterson to do well Brice- was .enterprising and careless. While he stayed in ho quite overshadowed Midlane in the rate of scoring, but if the Otago field had been alive he would not have stayed long. In bowling Wellington were moderately successful. Brice got the surprising average of four for 19 (mostly against the tail of the Otago team) in the first innings, and two for 13 at the beginning of tho second innings. Had he been available at the beginning of the third day's play he might have made some alteration in the scores, but he was detained until Crawford and Bruges had the bowling very much as they wished. Robinson also did well in the first innings, but lost much of his effectiveness afterwards. In. the field there was considerable activity when the fieldsmen were fresh, but when Crawford and Bruges were hitting round there was a woful slackness. Midlane may be mentioned as one player who kept alive all the time. Others offended frequently. Ground fielding was bad, catches were dropped, and returns to the wicket-keeper were far from being as smart as they should have been. Wicketkeeping also left much to be desired. It is interesting to note some curious happenings in the match. An Otagy player, Eckhold, was bowled with the first ball delivered for Wellington. Three wickets were taken with deliveries immediately following no-balls, two by Brice and one by Robinson. Altogether, _ Otago • have some causo to be pleased with their success in Wellington. They started well, and Crawford was working havoc among tho Wellington wickets. Then Wellington recovered, and ', the Otago fielding and bowling fell almost' to pieces. _ It is curious to see that Watson, who is not even a first change Otago bowler, had remarkable success. He broke up the Bray-Midlane partnership, which had resisted all other attempts at dissolution, and he also took the two tailend wickets. There was nothing bright about Otago's first turn with the bat, but that there is good material in the team was proved by the second innings stand. Crawford, of course, was expected to make a 6core, though it has been his misfortune to fail lately. Bruges and Eckhold were fitting partners for him. They all hit out freely, but yet took no risks. The facility with which all three found the weak places in the field and sent the ball flying to unguarded areas quite reminded one of the batting of the Australian eleven when its leading lights were taking vengeance on Wellington.