CRICKET.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6780, 12 February 1884, Page 3

CRICKET.

Tasmania v. Canterbury. [BY TELEGKAPH.I Ohristchurch, Monday. There seems to be something conducive in the accessories of Lancaster Park to close finishes, for out of the four big matches played on ita turf three have had as close finishes as the most devoted followers of the game could desire. Toclay all sorts of odds were being offered by the unwary about Canterbury, though the older heads knew better than to follow the example, but there could hardly have been any, even of the older heads, who thought that when the last Canterbury, man went in nine runs would still be wanted, or even that the last man would ever be called on to go in. A stiff breeze was blowing when tha innings was resumed at 3.10 p.m., and there were nearly 1000 people on the ground. The Tas • maniaus, despite the heavy odds against them, did not loso heart, and they bowled and fielded at the start with a vigor that showed they did not iutend to give up without a tough fight. Longden and Milton played splendidly again, and though the bowlers could do nothing with them they (the batsmen) could do nothing with the bowling. Kendall, Burns, and Butler pegged away for nearly an hour, and really the game was so monotonous that people hoped some one would go out just for a change. At length Kendall changed ends and bowled with the wind, while Hall went on against it. This was the turning-point of the game. Hall, a youngster of 17, performed grandly. In his Becond over he sent in one low, almost a shooter, which proved too much for Longden, who retired, after an almost faultless innings. The 22 runa the two partners had put on to-day had occupied 55 minutes. Such a poor rate of scoring on a good wicket is almost unknown. Dudney went in, and was evidently determined to change the rate of scoring. He hit the left-handed to leg, and cut Hall fiuely to the fence, but at 97 Milton, like Longden, found Hall too much for him. He had only added Bto his score. Watson came next, and was bowled off his pads, and Ashby, whofollowed, wascaught in the slips. Dudney however made amends by driving Kendall to the southern end, and again by a hard off-drive, which, travelled at such a rate that it is impossible to say bow many might have been run for it. He made one fluky hit to cover, but otherwise gave no chance. Fowke joined him, and played very well. Dudney then gave Hall a turn, playing all the good ones and hitting hard everything pitched up, including two 4's. Forty runs were wanted, but no one felt any anxiety about the result till Hall, undaunted by the treatment he had got, sent in a lovely break-back, which completely beat Dudney. His 36 were made by fine forward play and clean, hard driving. Then followed one of those collapses at a critical stage with which our batsmen have made us so uncomfortably familiar. Cotterill hit a ball hard on to his foot, whence it rebounded into the wicket.' Wilding had hardly gone in ere he softly returned a full-pitcher to Hall, and Barnes was immediately clean bowled by a trimmer from Kendall, which just took the bails— B for 138. Pocock, the most unlucky bat in the team, began running sharp runs, in which he was well aided by Fowke, who alone seemed competent to play Hall with any success. Still only two were added to the score, when to the bitter disgust of those who had been giving long odds Pocock put his leg in front in his anxiety to make a leg hit, and back he came to the tent. The spectators were left face to face with the startling fact that the last man was going in with nine runs still to get. A period of anxious suspense followed while Chapman took up his position and faced Kendall. The remainder of the over ho blocked coolly enough, and then Hall found Fowke oppssed to him. A maiden was the result. INext over, by very smart running, Chapman managed to get a single. Both men followed the tactics of attempting sharp runs, and they bustled the fieldsmen to good purpose. Harris, whose agility had won him favorable comment, let one pass him for the first time. Butler did the same, and then there was much restless play. Hall, forgetting Fowke' s penchant for leghitting, pitched him one up, and he hit it well to the bounds for 4. There were still four more to get. Another stolen single reduced the number, and then Hall appealed for lbw a»ainst Fowke, but the appeal was decided against Hall. Kendall faced Chapman once more, and a very sharp single to leg was the result. Fowke tried a hit in the same way, and the ball bounding off his pad Chapman ran for the bye. Had Kendall taken the ball Fowke would probably have been run out, but he let it go by altogether, and they started for another run. Still the Tasmanians had a charce, for had Kirby returned the ball a*t once Chapman must have been run out, but at the critical moment he mulled it, and all was over. The match was won by Canterbury by one wicket. Fowke played a most plucky game, and both he and Chapman were carried in on the shoulders of their comrades, amidst lo'id cheers. Hall was received with a storm of applause for his fine bowling, and after the game was presented with a bat by the Canterbury Association, as were also Harris and Watson. The following is the full score of

Canterbury.— Second Innings. Longden, b Hall .. 51 Milton, b Hall 34 Dudney.b Hall 3G Watson, b Hall 2 A.shby, c Butler, b Kendall 3 i Fowke, not out . . ... ... 7 ! Cotterill, b Hall 5 Wilding, c .and b Hall 0 Barnes, b Kendall .. 0 Pocock, lb w, b Hall 2 Chapman, not out ... ... .. 1 Extras 8 Total for 9 wickets 149