CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 15075, 6 January 1913, Page 2

CRICKET

SOUTH MELBOURNE v. OTAGO, First Day.—Saturday. The attendance at Carisbrook on Saturday is estimated at 1,300. The crowd fol

lowed the. play intelligently. Most of them have been at the game at some time or other, and all obvious deeds of merit, likewise the justifiable tactics of the captains, were quickly appreciated. The play was interesting and even. Possibly there was reason for a little disappointment as to the batting of the South Melbourne side. Trott alone laid on the wood heavily, and he became, cautions "’hen the. first change of bowling put him Bannerman’s assorted slows and Huntly b off-theory deliveries. The others did nothing to talk about. It. war, certainly agreeable to watch Sykes's accurate timing of leg strokes, and Dens showed some pretty driving on both sides. But the ten who supported the veteran Victorian skipper added nothing to our knowledge of modern cricket, nor to their individual reputations. The visitors frankly admit that they did not piny a good innings. Apart from Troll’s vigor and ids cleverness in placing the ball, the batting wan not superior to that seen in club cricket. It was the weakness of the Victorian batting rather than the strength of the Otago bowling that caused the visitors in retire for a total of 227. When Trott beat Siedeberg with the coin it was reckoned that the local men would be lucky if they got the Victorians out for 000 by the end of the day. The wicket was good enough for anything. Our reference to tne Otago bowling must .not, however, be construed into a suggestion that it was poor. As a fact, it was at its best. Our bowlers used their heads, and the scoring was mostly off the odd loose balls. Huntly and Bannerman did particularly well in checking the run-getting, and M’Farlane never bowled better. He made the South Melbourne men play him, and kept his length, and got as much pace as was necessary. Though he did not. get a wicket, his bowling was of value to bis side.

Irott led his men into the field without any undue, delay, and Otago had 40 minutes batting, which resulted in 55 being scored for the loss of one wicket. Hopkins shaped well at the bowling, and luckwell played it confidently, his batting being characterised by legitimate enterprise, force, and resource. Once he gave a shadow of a chance In first slip; that was the only spot on a display that set up Otago hopes and produced plenty °i applause from the, critics. Hopkins ought not to have lost his wicket. He made two bad strokes at the, very end of the last over—bad strokes in the circumstances, seeing that Trott laid a snare, bv placing four men in the slips, anxious to catch bun off the chop stroke—and he paid the penalty. Scott was not within reach of the first of these two halls and Otago supporters were thanking the gods that Hopkins survived, when To and behold ! he repeated (he stroke and the extra slip snapped him up off the very last delivery of the dav.

Resuming our detailed report as to the Victorians’ innings. Scott went in the over aiter the one that was fatal to Svkes Higgins, standing at mid-on, having to run in only a yard or two to take a skier oft a. false stroke. 61—2—0. GilW opened his account by cutting Himtlv for a single. The Otago men were now'fielding well, and the scoring slowed down, the only addition f m - ever so manv strokes

being Prott’s pulling of a . narrow one to the on boundary. Trott. brought up 70 bv a. sweet cut. Then Oilier put Ills leg in Trent to Huntly. After the innings one heard a. question raised as to this decision, nut most of the spectators thought that Huntly had temtped Gilkr to. his ruin and plainly beaten him. 75—3—2. Kenny the incomer, commenced by cutting Huntiv for a Gingle. When he. had made 5 Conrtiifle appealed for a catch, but. the umpire did not see jt. Hmuly stopped a. stinger irom Trott, vhr> on-drove tho bowler to the _ fence, and (hen, with his scoi© flt- 55, lifted one high to long-on, winch Barron made a valiant attempt to catch, the sun ir. his eves* It. was the only chanco Trott gave. '-Ho left alone a great deal of Huntlys “off theory/’ and of the st-raightor ones made a wise choice as to what to hit and where. The ceuiury was signalled after 69min play, as the result. of a pat to leg by Kenny. With the score, a.t 105 Bannorman relieved Ramsdcn at tho south end, and his first ball a- lofty slow straight, just .reached the ’wicket. 105—4—12. M’Farlane replaced Huntiv, a.nd stopped a lightning one from Kyle oi course a chance, but he did well to"stop it. In the next- over Bannennan bothered Irott -with two of his slows, mid then cleaned bowled him. 108—5—61. Trott

hatl b.-ittorl for sn hour and 20min, and hit 10 4?. M'Farlano was here howling wrll. Neither batsman could do mucli with him. Kylo pot on (o one (o log. and Higgins stopped it grandly. Bannerman also was puzzling them with pace, and the nlay became very quiet. Hopkins, at. "mid-on, jumpeu to catch Kyle off Bannerman, hut tne ball just out of reach. Bannermail mil m stretching to step Kvle's straight drive, and 2 restiUed. bring’ 130 up. Ramsden came on again at 134. ' Kvle brought 140 up with 3 for a back cut. smartly fielded, but returned so that 2 of ■ hem were for an overthrow. The hatsmen. by stealing run?, at pro inviting the fieldsmen to present them with more by and another resulted in M'Faranes next over. Kyle got that bowler beautifully away to the off for 3, thus reaching 20, hut next over he was unmistakably out Ibw to Ramsden. 147—6-20. Jleas joined McCormack. who was thc-ii 21 and opened with a couple off Ram-den, followed by an uppish stroke to third man ior a single, bringing 150 up after exactly two hours play. A drive .straight ever tne bowler yielded Dcas 2 more off Ramsden. and next ball went- over the slip's t!. Ile boundary. Tho score- was ’6l when Siedcberg took (he ball from MTm--lano and both men hit (he Otago captain, IncMicJi Jetting one from Dcas pass hi"! ■ o the fence. Deae hit very mcrn'lv. dii<i l ;bT on heth sides and placing nirelv (IP | bicdeberg heat him with a. straioht bail | (mat came in fust. 134-7—27, Ramsdeu | eery nearly had M'C'onnack. Condliffo np- : parently thought so. and he jet the ball go * < ? r *^ ur , byes. Then Ramsden sent- dawn the first no-ball of tho day. Siedeborg spread out his field for a catch, and cot it somewhere else, for the hill ian right up M'Cormack’s bat, and C.ndliffc look it, easily. 190—8—51. Kelly entered, and j no and Gray livened matters with 'stolen I runs, to stop which the field closed up. Rutherford was applauded for .-jcveriv stopping a hot one. Gray carried ilie fe.ore to 200, after two and a-half hours’ play. M'Farlane and Hunlly resumed bowling at- 211, and the run-getting was stayed. Gray had been in 35min when he was caught by MTarknc ai first slip. 221 —-9—12. Shortly afterwards the mily 5 of tho day came lo Kelly as the result of an overthrow. C'ondliffe, who had been twice, momentarily lamed, was here laid nut for two or three minutes. On resuming. Pentiand spooned one (n mid-off, and i Hopkins was there, the innings closing at II 5.7._ three minutes short of throe hours.

I.nckwoll and Hopkins began the. Otago •innings at 5.20, Tnckwcll put a way Kelly s first past filips for 5, and a no-bail and a single to Hopkins tamo in the over, iro't va.s applauded as he look the ball at the oilier end. Hopkins got his first square to the on for 3. the boundarv being saved by an inch, and Tuckwell twice cut bis slows to the fence in the same over. A 5 to Hopkins for a sweet cut off Kelly and another no-ball brought 20 up, anil then Tuckwell found the boundary behind slips. Both men were playing confidently, and the fielding was clever, Kenny, Trott, and Gray shining, so good strokes yielded but few runs. Tuckwell cut Kelly for 4 and drove hint for a single, and Hopkins scored a 2 and a 1 off the same bowler in the over. The score was 40 when Giller relieved Trott. The last ball of his first over Hopkins square cut to the fence. Kyle, the fast bowler of the eleven, took (he ball from Kelly. Rune were bard to get. Tuckweß waited for his ball, and back-cut it to the fence, Gray almost deadheating it, and a single to the same bateman brought 50 up in 35min. When the last over began Trott set four men in the slips in the hope of a wicket, and he trapped Hopkins with the final ball of the day, Scott, the outermost of the pack in the slips, just reaching it.

South Melbourne.— First Innings. G. H. 8. Trott b Bannonnan 6t S. Sykes c M’Farlanc b Huntly 24 W. Scott, c Higgins b Ramsden ... ... 0 J. P, Giller Ibw b Huntly 2 A. Kenny b Bannerman 12 .T- Kylo Ibw b Bamsden 20 W. M’Cotmack c Condiiffo b Siedeberg 52 B. Deas b Siedeberg 27 A. Gray c M’Farlane b Huntly 12 H. Kelly not out 25 A. Pentland c Hopkins b Huntly ... 0 Extras 12 Total 227 Bowling Analysis.—Ramsden, 132 balls. 2 maidens. 1 no-ball, 89 rune, 2 wickets Rutherford, 24 balls, 25 runs; Huntly. 70 balls, 2 maiden.s, 57 runs,' 4 wickets; 'BanHerman, 42 balls, 20 runs, 2 vrickets; M’Farlane. 72 balls, 2 maidens. 25 runs; Siedeberg, 56 balls, 1 maiden, 21 runs, 2 wickets. Otago.—First Innings. C. C. Hopkins o Scott b Kylo ... 17 J. B. Tuckwcll not out ... ’.. ... 34 Extras 2

One wicket for 53 AT OTHER CENTRES. Wellington.—Tllo only match in the senior grade on Saturday was that between East B and North, which was concluded after several jiostponoments. North secured a,three-point win by an innings and 151 mis. Christchurch.—The fifth round was commenced on Saturday on beautiful wickets. The leading team, St. Albans, cracked up badly against. East Christchurch; whilst West Christchurch put up the big total of 418. towards which I). Reese contributed 209. Sydenham arc in a. strong position against Linwood. Results -St. Albans, SO and 25 for two wickets, v. East Christchurch, 167; West Christchurch, 41S (D. Reese 209, W. J. Jennings 69) v. Riccarton. 27 for no wickets; Linwood, 144 (E. Perrin 66), v. Sydenham, 160 for five wickets (G. L. Patterson 87 not out).

WEDNESDAY MATCHES. Plie following is the second round of matches_ drawn by the Wednesday Cricket Association, commencing on Wednesday next : __ January 8.--Post and Telegraph B v. St. Hilda No. 1, Post, and Telegraph A. r. Penrose No. 2, Grocers v. Grange No. 5, Railway v. Carisbrook. January 15.—Rod and Telegraph A v. Post and Telegraph B No. 2, Grocers v. St. Hilda No. 1. Railway v. Penrose, No. 3, Grange v. Carisbrook. January 22,—Grocers v. Post and Telegraph A No. 3, Railway v. Post and. Telegraph B No. 2. Grange v. St. Hilda. No. 1, Penrose v. Carisbrook. January 29.—Railway v. Grocers No. 2,

Grange v. Post and Telegraph A No. 5, Penrose v. Post and Telegraph B No. 1, Carisbrook v. St. Hilda. February s.—Grange v. Railway No. 2. Penrose r. Grocers No. 5, St. Hilda- r. Post and Telegraph No. 1, Carisbrook v. Post and Telegraph B. February 12.—Grange v. Penrose No. 2. Railway v. St. Hilda No. 3, Grocers v. Rost and Telegraph No. 1, Carisbrook v. Rost and Telegraph A. February 19.—St, Hilda r. Penrose No. 2. Rost and Telegraph B v. Grange No. 1, Railway v. Post and Telegraph A. No. 3, Carisbrook v. Grocers.