CRICKET.

Evening Star, Issue 11133, 8 January 1900, Page 4

CRICKET.

. OTAGO v. CANTERBURY. [From Our Own Reporter.] ~ CHRISTGHURCH, January 8. With one wicket down for 40 at the end of the second (Jay's play, speculation was brisk as to the ultimate result. Canterbury people were of opinion that their men would knock off the runs, but Otago supporters had great faith in their old combination of Downes and Fisher. The morning broke tine* and the wicket played well, w.ih the exception of a bare spot or two at one cud, which suited Downes to a nicety. The second wicket fell for 50, A. Ridley putting his leg in front to one from Downes. The outgoing batsman played steady cricket, but was never comfortable. • Barry came next, only to lose Sim, who was beautifully ci.ught at cover by Sicdeberg, low down. Sim was only an emergency man, but he proved himself the mainstay of Canterbury's batting. He played with great coolness, and anything short or on the leg side he punished severely. T. Reese .joined Barry, and, contrary to expectations, the stand of the innings was made. Reese, who had only made 16 runs in the last seven interprovincial matches, here broke his spell of bad luck. Both batsmen played good cricket,'and incitementran high when the board showed three for 110. Reese gave Williams a chance behind the wickets, off Fisher, which he failed to hold. 1 believe the spontaneous howl of appeals was enough to make any man drop it. To make matters worse, at this stage a- slight shower began to fall, and with It the spirits of Otago's supporters—of whom there were not a few ; but the Otago boys never lost heart, the bowling being very steady and the fielding'excellent. At dast a separation came, Reese driving one back to Downes, which was eagerly accented. Four for 116. Shortly after this' Barry was bowled in trying to pull Fisher to leg. The only other time the result seemed hi doubt was when Cobcroft and Frankish were associated. The. Jitter carried his bat for 16, and if he had had anyone to stop with him might have put a different complexion on the game. Cobcroft played one on from Downes, which was not to be wondered at, when there is grave doubts of his losing the sight of one eye from the smack he got on Thursday. Wilding started to hit, but after getting a brace was caught off the curly bowler in the long-field. ' Johnnie Fowk'e came in to stop the rot, but soon made a mistake. At one from " Alec "he sent an easy catch to point. Malone was last man but after helping Frankish to make a few played Downes on to his wicket, A hearty cheer from 1,500 people showed that Otago had again won a very strangely interesting match by 37 runs. Too much nraise cannot be gi ven to Downes. His bowline throughout the match was splendid, and he displayed fine batting in the second innings when, with Geddes, they practically pulfed the match out of the fire. Eckhoff bowled so well in his first innings that I believe he will do great things for Otago yet. - The fielding throughout was excellent, and if anyone should be singled out it should be' Austin, whose work at mid-off was a treat to witness. Scores: Otago. t''irsf. I'-nino's -[27 Second Innings '" ' 152 Canterbury. First. Innings gg Second Innings. 'l. Ecese. c Broau, b Fisher ... . 26 Sims, c Siedeberg, b Fisher ... 13 \. Uidley. Ibw,'b Downes 10 Barry, b Fisher '. '" 55 T. Reese, c and b Downes ". 16 Wjjding, e Austin, b Downes ... ..." ... 3 Wfffley, c and b Downes ... 1 Frankish, not out, ..'. .'' jg Cobcroft, b Downes '" '" g Fowke, c Fisher, b Downes ... ... 3 Malone, b Downes " "'. 1 Jjxtras '" i\ Total 144 Bowling Analysis.—Downes. 213 balls 12 maidens, 43 runs, 7 wickets; Fisher. 162 balls, H maidens, 61 runs, 3 wickets; Eckhoff, 42 balls, 2 maidens, 18 runs; Geddes, 12 balls 11 ruift. •■ ' Vobcroft's injury is more serious thanwas anticipated, and he will have to undergo an operation. The 'l.yttelton Times," discussing the match, says that the presence of Downes and Fisher does not sufficiently account for the discomfiture of the local team, nor can the bad wicket bear all the blame. As a matter of fact, Canterbury did better on Saturday, when the wicket "was at its worst, than on Friday, when probably at its best. So lorn: as the wicket is good and the bowling fairly easy they manage to make runs, but directly the turf begins to wear and a bowler like Downes finds a rough spot they are utterly a't sea. It ascribes the decline of Canterbury cricket to scant encouragement of young players, and, in view of the Victorians' visit, urges the Selection Committee to import fresh blood into the team. Men who showed shockingly bad form in the Wellington match were'played against Otago in preference to players'doing 5 well all through the season.

The following table shows the results of the matches since their inauguration in 1864 : 1864.—At Dunccliu: Otago won by 74 runs. 1865.—At. Christ-church: Canterbury won by four wickets. 1866.—At Dunedin: Otago won by two wickets. 1867.—At ■ Christchurch: Otago won by an innings and 37 runs. 1868.—At Dunedin: Otago won by nine wickets. 1869 (February).—At, Christchurch: Drawn, Canterbury having 17 runs to get and three wickets to fall. 1869 (December).—At Dunedin: Otago won by four wiakets. 1871 (January).—At Christchurch: Canterbury won by an innings and 29 runs. 1871 (December).—At Dunedin: Canterbury won by ten wickets. 1873.—At Christchurch: Canterbury won by an innings and 34 runs. 1 1 87 i;~ At ' Dlmeui ": Otago won by an inninss' and 28 runs. 1875.—At Christchurch: Canterbury won by an innings and 151 runs. 1876.—At Dunedin:- Canterbury won by 145 runs. 1877.—At Christchurch: Canterbury won by 151 runs. 1878.—At Dunedin: Canterbury won bv nine wickets. 1879.—At Dunedin: Canterbury won by an innings and 12 runs. 1830.—At Dunedin: Canterbury won by nine wickets. 1881.—At Christchurch: Canterbury won by an innings and 2. 7 .2 runs. 1882.—At Dunedin: Otago won by 17 runs. 1883.—At Christchurch: Canterbury won by 4 runs. 1884 (March).—At Dunedin: Otaro won bv 27 runs. . 1884 (December).—At Christchurch : Canterbury won by nine wickets. 1885 (February).—At Dunedin: Otago won by two wickets. 1885 (December).—At Dunedin: Canterbury won by 81 runs. 1887.—At Christchurch : Canterbury won by ten wickets. 1888.—At Dunedin : Otago won by 103 runs. 1889.—At Christchurch: Canterbury won by an innings and 126 runs. 1890.—At Dunedin: Otago won by ei"ht wickets. " ' ° . 1891.—At Christchurch: Otago won by one wicket. 1892.—At Dunedin: Otago won by five wickets. 1893. —At Christchurch : Canterbury won by two wickets. 1894.—At Dunedin: Otago won by ten wickets. 1895.—At Christchurch:. Otago won by four wickets. 1896 (February)-—At Dunedin: Otago won by six wickets. 1896 (November). —At Dunedin: Otaso won by nine wickets. 1897.—At Christchurch: Otago won by 146 runs. 1898 (February).—At Christchurch: Canterbury won bv four wickets. 1898 (December).—At Dunedin: Otago won by 261 runs. 1900.—At Christchurch: Otago won by 37 runs. Of the 39 matches played. 20 have been won by Ofago, 18 by Canterbury, and 1 contest has been drawn. RESULTS OF THE TOUR, Of the four matches played by the Otago team in the North, two were won and two lost, the results being as follow: December 16 and 18. v. Hawke's Bay.—Won by an innings and 54 runs. Otafro 222Hawke's Bay. 69 and 99. December 23 and 25, v. Auckland.—Lost by nine wickets. Otago, 132 and 149; Auckland; 261 and 21 for one wicket. December 30, January 1 and 2, v. Wellington.

—Lost by an innings and 256 runs. Wellington, 464; Otago, 54 and 154. January 4. 5, and 6, v. Canterbury.—Won by 37 runs. Otago, 127 and 152; Canterbury, 98 and 144. Taranaki v. Nelson, played at Nelson, resulted in favor of the home team by 12 runs, owing to the collapse of Taranaki,' who only made 44 in the second innings.