CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13545, 19 March 1906, Page 3

CRICKET.

MELBOURNE v. OTAGO.

OTAGO LEATHER-HUNTING FOR FOUR HOURS.

The match was resumed shortly after noon on Saturday, The day was perfect—a better could not have been ordered for the occasion. In the afternoon the attendance was very Jarge, numbering close on 3000, The wicket was in splendid order.

The Molbotirnites were at (lie wickets all day until about 5 o'clock, their innings occupying four hours, in which time they compiled 273 runs as against Otago's 130. 'When stumps were drawn for the day Otago's second innings had yielded 36 runs for one wicket. The local representatives liad some splendid exercise in fielding while the visitors were at the wickets. They did the work well, though there were pome regrettable slips that saved wickets on the other side. When the Melbourne men took the field late in the day Yaughan iiclded for Aitkcn, who had got a eevere blow on the body, off Downes's bowling, while baiting.

At 12.7 Mailer and Aitkcn resumed their places at the wickets, the former taking strike to Downes, who had the ball at the west end. X maiden was credited to the Grange bowler, whom Mailer treated very cautiously, Fisher, at the pavilion end, also trundled a maiden to Aitkcn. Two legl>yes were run. The batsmen were putting eome weight, into their strokes, but the fielding of fho Otago representatives was sure. Downes sent down another maiden. Aitkcn reopened bis account by lifting a ball over Fisher's head. The bowler touched it, but coukl not hold it. Jlailer hit Fisher for a single, and was within an ace of being run out. Aitkcn opened his shoulders to Downes, hitting him into the long-field for 2. ami 20 was hoisted. A couple of singles were scored off Fisher. Aitken got a. nasty smack from Downes that caused him to double up '°' a few minutes. Stogies came slowly, and a. clean lift by Aitken off Downes sent 30 up. Aitken skied Downes into the long-field, the ball landing right into -Adams's hands, but, with the sun in his eyes, the fieldsman failed to hold it. Aitkon's score at this time was 20. Mailer was next Jet off. A bad return by Austin enabled him to reach Ins crease just in time. Aitken. with his score at 22, had another life. Williams missing a good chance to stump him. . Play took a slow turn, Fisher sending down a maiden and Downes two of the same class. Aitken got Fisher away for a single. Downes's bowling did rot tempt the batsmen to hit out to any extent. They played carefully, but let out at anything loose. Mailer cut Downes for a brace. In attempting a smart run off a stroke by Mailer, Aitken was run out, Siedeberg returning the hall very smartly

jto Fisher's end. 37-1-24. Hansford I joined Mailer. Fisher bowled a maiden. The third ball of Downes's over shattered Hansford's stumps. It came well up, and j the batsman played back to it but missed it. , 37—2—0. Armstrong was next, and was i u re etod with a round of applause as he ; wended his way to the wickets. He played out the remainder of Downes's over without a score. Fisher sent down his second successive maiden. Armstrong started his score by hitting Dowries for 1, Mailer followed suit, and a bye was run. bringing 40 into sight. Armstrong added two more singles—one off each bowler.—and Mailer lifted Downes over the bowler's head for 2 and then bit him for a single. Armstrong lilt Fisher gently and a singlo was smartly run. Another run was stolen off Downes. A single to Mailer off Fisher caused 50 to rise. Armstrong hit out at some of the other balls of the over, but good fielding saved the runs. A couple to each batsman off Downes was followed by a splendid hit by Armstrong, off Fisher, over the boundary, for which 5 was credited lo the bat.-man. Armstrong hit out at Downes, but only turned (lie ball to leg, 3 being run. 60 up. The same batsman hit Downes for 2 and then 1. At 66 Torrance took up the ball in Fisher's place, and his first ball Armstrong put away with a nice stroke to leg for 3. Mailer hit. the last ball of the over for 1, and 70 was telegraphed. Graham relieved Downes at the west end. The second ball Mailer stepped out to. but Williams lost an excellent chance to stump him. Mailer's srore was 23. The batsman showed his gratitude for the life by hitting the bowler for 2 and later on for 1. A preity cut by Mailer, off Torrance, added 2 more to his score. Graham's slow bowling was templing, and Armstrong struck out at one or two, hut missed them. At last he got Ihe bowler away for 1. Two leg byes were run. At half-past 1 llie luncheon adjournment, was taken.

On resuming at 2.20. the batsmen each bit Torrance for a single. With the score at 84 Downes resumed bowling, vice Graham. His second ball Mailer put to leg for a brace, and the next the batsman hi? to long-off, but Graham, by smart fielding, prevented a score. Mailer cut the next hall nicely for 1, and the last ball of the over Armstrong put away for a like number. Armstrong drove Torrance beautifully along the turf lo the off for 4. sending 90 up. Mailer cut Downes's first ball in the next over for 1. and Armstrong safely negotiated the rest of the over. Mailer, with another clean drive to the off, sent the ball to the boundary, and with a similar stroke for 3. off Downes. 100 was signalled, after an hour and a-half's play. Armstrong slogged out at Downes. hitting him nicely down the field for 3; and Mailer, with a similar stroke, got a single. Torrance bowled a maiden to Mailer. Armstrong hit Downes for 2 and then for 3, and Torrance was credited with another maiden. Erratic fielding on the part of Piedeberg gave Armstrong a life. The batsman hesitated about running, and then decided to go. Siedcberg's throw in was nowhere near the wickets, and Armstrong's wicket was safe. The batsmen hit steadily, and soon 110 was registered. A single to Mailer was followed by a wild overthrow by Downes, and 4 more were added to the batsman's score. Mailer had now reached his half-century. At 123. when Armstrong had scored' 42. he skied Fisher, who had just relieved Torrance,'to the long field. It was confidently expected that Austin, who was in waiting, would bring off a safe catch; but he failed, to the disgust of the crowd. Indifferent fielding led to 130 (Otago's score) making its appearance on the board. At this stage Armstrong reached his half-century, after an hour and a-quarter's play. Both batsmen were playing very guardedly, but any ball that was off the wicket they treated with littlo respect. Armstrong lashed out at Fisher, and hit him to mid-off, where Siedeberg. made a capital catch. 144—3—60. Armstrong had played splendid cricket, and was accorded an ovation on returning to the pavilion. M'Leod was next man. Mailer was battiug with caution and adding steadily to his score, principally oil Downes. and it was mainly owing to- his play that 150 runs was telegraphed. Mailer, with a clean drive, off Downes. added 3 to bis score, and 4 was put down for byes. Fisher bowled a maiden. At 160 Downes was taken off, and Graham took the leather in his place at the west end. Mailer got Graham away to leg for 4, but later in the same over the bowler had his revenge, a hall that broke in from leg getting into Mailer's stumps, 164—4— 69. Mailer, who had played meritorious cricket, notwithstanding two chances, had been two hours and 20 minutes at the wickets. Wilkinson succeeded, and, with M'Leod, added a few singles to tho score. Wilkinson also put in a nice late cut for 2. and then lost. his place, being caught behind the wickets. Henty was the incomer, and almost immediately lifted Graham into the long field, where Adams ran up. hut again failed lo bring off a catch. M'Leod, who was troubled with a weak leg, continued to pile up his score, mainly by singles, though he treated both bowlers with great caution. were run for byes, and, with the addition of several braces to Henty's credit, 190 was registered.' Three singles" were obtained, and then Henty lifted Fisher heavens-high in the direction of the old

tennis court for £. It took the small boys a couple of minutes to find the ball. A single to each batsman brought 200 into sight, amid cheers. Henty lifted Fisher to the boundary for a quartet, and let out strongly at his next, but failed to ,-et a proper hold of it. The last ball of the over lie cut prettily to the grand stand for 4. At 211 Graham retired in Downes's favour. The first ball M'Lcod put away for 2 and the next for 1. and the fourth ball ho skied (o the off, resulting in still arother 4 being placed to his credit. Henty scooped Fisher to the off for a couple. M'Lcod's turn had then come, Downes's first ball levelling bis stumps. 221—6—18. Irwin followed and plaved tho remainder of the over without making a score. Austin then went on with the ball at the pavilion end in place of Fisher. Henty got him away for 2. and put him safely past the slipsnien for 5. Two byes wero run. In Austin's next over, Irwin" batting, an unsuccessful appeal v,'.-;s made for Icheforo. Two to Henty off Downes cause°d 230 to rise on (he lelcgranii-board. Irwin started his account by turning Austin to leg for 2, and putting him away for another 2. Downes then gave Henty his quietus willi (he first hail of his over. 234—'?— W. Jennings partnered Irwin, and with the last hall of tho fame over Downes lowered his timbers. 234—8—0. Laver joined Irwin, who cut Austin for a singlo. The incomer had 1 put to his credit owing to a bad relurn. Irwin stepped out to Downes. and lifted him into the long-field for 2. putting the next ball to leg for a like number. Laver cut. Austin for 1, and after a letf bye had been run Irwin got Downes to leg for 3. A smart and accurate relurn by Torrance had no result, Laver getting' into his ground just in Ihe nick of time. Irwin got Downes away for a brace, and repeated tho performance in the next, over, following it up with a stroke to the off for 1, which caused his partner to move somewhat rapidly in order to get into his crease in time. 250 up. At 254 Graham took the ball from Downes, four singles being obtained—two by pach batsman. Torrance gave Austin a spell with (he ball at the; pavilion ell d. The public evidently appreciated Wilson'* decision, tlte chano-'o being greeted with a round of hearty ap. plause. - Trwin put the new bowler away for l Two off a stroke by Irwin, off Graham, caused 260 to lie hoisted. Irwin stepped out to Graham, and missed him, but. Williams missed his chance. The batoman (hen lost his wicket. Laver hit Torrance, to the off. and. SiooVbers! throwing in nicely. Williams had the bails off in a twinkling. 261-9-26. Butler was last man. and signalised his advent, by making two boundary hits off Graham. Laver got Torrance away for a single. At 273 Downes again took up the ball' at, (be west end, Graham retiring, and bowled a maiden to Laver. In the next over Torrance, with his second ball, found hig way into Butler's stumps, (he innings closing for 273, or 143 ahead of Otago's first innings.

The wickets fell in this order :-l for 37. 2 for 37. 3 for 144. 4 for 161. 5 for 170, 6 for 221. 7 for 234. 8 for 254, 9 for 251. 10 for 273.

At 5.10 Baker and Siedeberg began Oragos second innings. The former nut MLcods first ball to leg for a single, and a bye was run. Armstrong had the ball at the other end. Siedeberg hit him nicely to the off for 3 and 2 were run for leg byes. Each batsman cut M'Leod for a single. Armstrong bowled a maiden. Siedeberg cut M'Leod to the boundary for a quartet, and then for 1. Baker following up wilh another single. The Graneo bateman attempted to slog some of the soft one? in Armstrong's over, but could not, touch them. Siedeberg put M'Leod to leg. but in attempting a second run Baker wa«

thrown out, Armstrong, with a good effort from a long distance, shattering tho wicket at the bowler's end. 16-1-3. Graham succeeded. A fow singles brought 20 into sight. At tkt stage Graham gave a sharp chance to Ransford. at inid-off, but the ball was travelling low, and tho fieldsman could not get a proper hold of it. Sicdcberg twico hit Armstrong to tho boundary for 4, M'Leod trundled a maiden. Siedeherg got Armstrong down the fickl for a couple and nulled him to leg for 1. 30 up. The samo batsman stepped out, to one _of Armstrongs, and narrowlv cccancd being stumped. Wilkinson tool; the hall admirably, and Riedcberg saved himself by a- hair's brent!!)), A maiden to each howler was succeeded bv a Tim to Graham off M'Leod At 10 minutes to 6 when the light was beginning to fail rapidly, it was decided to draw stumps for tho day. Scores: —

Melbourne.—First Innin?s, D. Mailer. 4113112121111121131211211-11225 211221254,0 Graham Co A.Aitken. 411211211114211, run out .. .. 24 V. Ransford, b Downcs 0 W. Armstrone. HJi 115321.11114333111-11221. c Siedeberg. b Fisher GO C. -M'Leod. 111111211112-211, b Downes" .. 18 W. Wilkinson. 112. c Williams, b Fisher .. < ft. HcD'.y, 1422211314442232, b Downes .. 4n M. Irwin, 221122-1123121112, run out .. .. 20 P. T. Jennings, b Pownpi 9 O. La-ver, 11111, rot out .. ~ ~ .. 5 C. Butler, 44, b Torrance '. s Extras 19 Total ~o^j SOWMIfG AN'AT.VSIS.

Otago. First Innings 130 Second Innings. -T. Baker. 111, thrown out 3 H. 0. Riedeber?. ,11411114412 .. .. ' 0? 11. Graham, 1111111 7 Extras 3 One wicket (or 3G The match will lie resumed to-dav at noon.

A Cliristchiircli telegram cava- "The weather was fine for cricket oil Saturday. In the. First Grade competition West Uhristchurch beat. Limvood by 9 runs on the first innings. This vertiially assures West Chnstchurch the championship, though there arc two unfinished matches. Scores: Linwood, 146 and 152 (A. E. Ridley 49); West Christchurch, 155 (Dakin 71) and 79 for two wickets. Sydenham beat East Christchurch by 102 runs on the first innings. Scores: East Christchurch, 105 and 113 for five wickets; Sydenham, 207 for the first . innings. Riccarton beat St. Albans by 78 I runs."

Over*. Xfrliis. Rutic. Wilts. Downes .. .. HG <) in,;; 4 Teller .... 07 7 r,7 2 Torrance ,.13 4 21 { Graham .. ., 1?, 0 Ifi ] Austin .... 7 2 H 0