CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14447, 13 February 1909, Page 5

CRICKET.

CANTERBURY v. OTAGO. A REMARKABLE INNINGS. The annual intorprovincial cricket match Canterbury v. Otago commenced on the Carisbrook Ground yesterday in ideal weather. The ground itself, owing ro the praiseworthy ellorts of the caretaker, was in splendid order, but the pitch, as the result of too lavish attention early in the week, and the heavy rain of (he past few days, was inclined to be too soft, and suggested that it might, prove troublesome to the batsmen first to venture on it. This was the view taken by Mr Wilson, the Otago captain, after an .examination in the morning, and when later he won the toss he decided to put his men into the held and allow Canterbury to bat, believing that thereby he placed his bowlers at an advantage and the batsmen at a disadvantage. When, at 12 o'clock, Anthony and Patrick went in to -bat ; it was seen that there was a good deal in Mr Wilson's argument. Tho wicket was slow and dead for a start, but it played surprisingly' true. At the outset it was sscii that the Canterbury batsmen were going to play a careful game and take no risks with tho fowling, and foth Anthony and Patrick settled down steadily. The cricket was painfully slow, and the bowling, though consistently .good in length and direction, scarcely merited the respect paid it by Ihe batsmen. Tho lirst sensation of the innings was the dismissal of Sims, this solid batsman being given out, to what, appeared to the spectators as a rather doubtful decision of caught behind the wicket. Much interest was taken in tho first appearance of Humphreys, particularly as tho English professional had been showing such good form in Canterbury. Ho started very carefully, and was evidently determined to play himself in. lie scarcely stayed long enough, however, to show his true form, but he gave a glimpse in his placing and leg-glancing of what h 0 can do. Wordsworth, however, boat him all the way with a fast yorkor. which just seemed to get between the edge of his bat and the wicket. Otago may congratulate themselves on having got the English professional out so cheaply, and may take a double congratulation on the curly dismissal of D. Reese. The Canterbury captain never had a chance to show his undoubted ability a.s a batsman and run-getter, for a short-pitched ball from Wordsworth went up off his bat, tind was dropping half-way down the pitch when the Sydney professional ran in and took a catch low down on the turf. With the score at eight for 58, Canterbury's chances looked very bud indeed, the constant dismissal of their batsmen having taken on the nature of a procession. But it was early scon that Orchard and Bennett, who at this juncture came in to bal, wore not going lo play the careful game of their predecessors, for they wont at tho bowling from the outset, runs coming more rapidly at this than at any other stage of the game—indeed, the cricket, which had been disappointing and uninteresting, now livened up. Not that it was cricket by the book though, for neither Bennett nor Orchard played tiie orthodox game. Orchard commenced in his usual aggressive manner, and Bennett was jiot slow to emulate him. ami both batsmen put plenty of power behind their strikes. A decision not to Bennett's liking saw him walking back disconsolately to the pavilion, ho having been given out Ibw to left-handed fowling round tho wicket—always a more or less j unsatisfactory decision. The Bennett- ; Orchard partnership had put on 50 runs, i taking tho score from 58 to 108 before the former was dismissed. Tho last man was Bo.xshall, and as is generally known bv those- who follow Ota.go and Canterbury cricket closely, the unexpected invariably happens when tho Canterbury wicketkeeper is in. He has in times past de- | moustratcd what a useful tail batsmen he ■ really is, particularly when things aro j going bad for his side, a-s thev were ves- | tcrday. Boxshall was extremely lucky at I tho outset, giving an easy chance lo Wat- ! son in the long field when he had scoredl |a. single. This proved an ooqvonsiv* Wtl off, for with Orchard going very aggres- | sively and making every stroke a scoring stroke, Canterbury were completely 1 changing the complexion of the game, and ■ putting their side into a .reasonably Rood) position. Orchard showed the best form of all the Canterbury batsmen, mixing Ids defence and attack with good judgment. i His strokes were well timed, and his driv- ; mg was marked hy delightful power ami l ! .lecdoiu. The batsman may, however, j bo said to have been somewhat iuckv, ] giving a ,-.|iiiiioi} to Williams behind the j wickets Wore he had got into double figures, and again to Eckhold, when ho had scored 57.

| Having got eight of the strongest batting side which has represented CancerI bury for years out for the small total of 58, it was heart-breaking for the ■ men not to finish the performance bv dfs- | missing the whole side for under 100 tho j wretched lofty fielding being alone, rei sponsible for this. The drop catch itself was probably liable for over 100 runs. Outgo's bowling, which it was thought lacked variety, liad sufficient sting °to account for the whole of the Canterbury : side for a reasonably small total, lmt tho ; bowlers could not contend against bad fielding on tho part of many of the remainder of the team. Fisher, Wordsworth, am! TorriiKcs bowled particularly ; well, there being few loose balls sent up during the day's play, while they wero consistent in lenirth' and directum, albeit the professional at times sent up a lew shortpitched oneo.

The result of the first part of the innings-five wickets down for 50—brovitrht somewhat gloomy forebodings to the remainder of tho team. Wilson's dismissal came as a surprise, and totter things were hoped from Hopkins and Watson. j Hie- former, although dismissed foi 16, played beautifully, and probaiih showed the best cricket of the day. The bowling ' of Bennett and Humphreys proved at time's mora than disconcerting, and, the latter particularly, they will prove a power to ' to reckoned with to-day.

THK PLAY. Play commenced at 10 minutes past 12. with Fisher and Torrance towling, and Anthony and Patrick rcprossnting the visitors. Anthony scored first, cutting a toll from Torrance to the boundary, and Patrick made tho wore 3 by twice scoring 2 off | Torrance. Fisher had opened with two maidens, and once the 8 was reached these were followed by 2 more from him, with the same from Torrance, but the dreary succession of maidens was finally broken by Anthony. Both, batsmen realised that their game was io play slowly and carefully, and let the wicket improve, and they carried out their designs well. The display of cricket, though, was far from anything" approaching pyrotechnics, and I he'spectators at times indulged thoir wit at the expense of tho players. Fisher sent down a lot of full tosses, some of which seemed dangerous, but after an unsuccessful half hour Fisher retired in favour of Wordsworth. A fast one sent down by the latter was sent to the boundary by Anthony, making the score 23, and spectators began audibly to wonder whail would shift the two northern men. In the next over, however, and when the partnership had been rn existence about 40 minutes, Patrick was smartly caught by Williams, he having in that time made 5 runs. 23—1—5. Sims came next, and his characteristic play made the game a little livelier. Anthony got a 4 and a single almost at once, and Sims, within a minute or two, fluked 1 from Torrance, and sent anoiher to the boundary, bringing 30 up. Tho partnership looked safe, and promised much, but in the next over Anthony was clean bowled by Wordsworth, after vainly attempting to cut an off-ball. He had toon in for 50 minute;, and had made 20 runs. 33—2-20. Ellis, a player new to Otago, took his place. Ho played an unspcculative game, and despite Situs's determined and clever efforts for a score, the game drifted through three overs with nothing, though he kept Siedetorg .at third busy. This was followed by Sims scoring 1 off Torrance. Mils presently getting a neat one for 2 off the same howler. A maiden followed, and tlv» luncheon adjoiirniiip.nl arrived with the ■score at 12 (two wickets down), and Ellis and Sims uweparated. Sims had made 6, Ellis 2, and, during the innings, extras had totalled 9.

I'lay recommenced at a few minutes past 2 ; and Ellis scored a run on tho first over, Torrance bowling. The next bail was sent down hard to Sine, who apparently snicked it, and lie was caught out by Williams, having made a total of 6. 43—3—6. liewas replaced by Humphreys. Throe minutes later Ellis was neatly" caught by Watson, after obtaining a beautiful boundary, and retired with 8 to his credit. 48-1-8. Iteese went in and faced Wordsworth, and in the same over wits smartly caught 1»t the bowler. 49—5-0. Wood took Heesc's place, and the two continued together for some few minutes. Then Humphreys, having- made a couple of twos, was bowled by Wordsworth, and retired with 5 to his credit. 54-6—5. Orchard rcplaeod Humphreys, but the new partnership lasted less than two minutes, being ended by Wood being clean

■howled by Torrance after making 1. 54-7-1. Bruges was next man in, anil for a time played safely. Tlien lie scored a Z oli' Torrance, and, thus encouraged, essayed another. He was, however, cither too eager or else deceived by the slowness of the wicket, for he was clean bowled. He retired with the 2 referred to, his only score. 58—8—2. Bennett was next man* ami rather better cricket was seen, the score gradually creeping up hy ones and twos, with a 3 to Bennett and a 4 to Orchard oil Torrance. When the two hud been in 20 minutes ,lhn si-ore had reached 80. Then Bennett got a <l, and Orchard followed with another io the boundary. The Otago captain then relieved Torrance, and Fisher was sent out again. His lirst ball was a'slow and easy one to Bennett, who sent it far over the boundary fence, and gained the only 6 of the day. This, with a few odd ones, brought, the score up to 100— that is, the partnership had .scored 42, and appeared stronger and safer than ever. Both men continued to score an odd one occasionally, and the hopes of Canterbury began to grow rosier, when Bennett, then the more speculative side of the partnership, was caught lbw, and retired with 28 to his credit, ho and Orchard having put up 50 between them. 108-9-28. Boxshall was the next, and last man to go to the wicket. This partnership did not produce brilliant cricket at lirst, but the combination was very safe. Orchard for a time did what little scoring there was, Boxshall contenting himself with blocking. Thus 120 a-nd '.hen 124 was reached, Orchard at this stage gaining wellmerited applause for three successive beauties to the boundary, thereby increasing the score another dozen. Boxshall had a narrow escape. Ho skied an easy one from Fisher, but Watson, who was directly uiulsrneath, let the ball slip through his lingers. The score was then 121. After that play was quiet and unexciting, the 140 mark being readied by ones and twos. Two more singles were scored, and then Boxshall, hitting to the sepmre-ieg boundary, scoured two successive 4's, and ISO appeared utt the board. This was followed almost at once by another beauty to the boundary from Orchard's bat, and this, with a couple of singles and a 2, also by Orchard, made the score 160. Canterbury's hopes, given a gloomy hue by the rapid dismissal of their men early in the innings, begun to revive. "If thoy can only hold out," was the universal remark, and certainly they gave every promise- of it. Boxshall was playing ■steadily and safely, and Orchard brilliantly. The latter had a very narrow escape once. He skied a ball from Torrance, and it fell almost, into Eckhold's hands. The wind was tricky, however, and Bckhold seemed to overeuch himself, and it was dropped. The score, then at, 166, kept creeping upward, and at 4.15 had reached 170. M. Rutherford and 11. Watson were now put on in placs of Torranco and Wordsworth (who hadl been brought back for a while), Boxshall. hy clean, smart cutting, making 5 from Watson's first over, and the score thereby reaching 180. Orchard scored 10 off Watson's next over, and the score within the next five minutes reached 192. Orchard by now had scored 76. Fisher then took a turn with the ball, but Boxshall scored a 4 off him, and the Canterbury score reached' 200 amidst, prolonged clapping, Then Boxshall secured a boundary from Kutherford, and this,, with a couple of ones, made the score 206. Rutherford's next ball, however, took Boxshall's outside stump, and Canterbury's first innings was ended. Orchard's score was 78 not out.

Otago's innings commenced a few minutes before 5 o'clock, Wilson and Bel." hold going in, and Humphreys and Bennett bowling. In the third over Wilson was bowled by Humphreys and retired, having scored 2. ?.—l—2. "He was replaced by Hopkins, w.ho immediately sent a bail from Humphreys to the boundary. He continued to play prettily, with a clean, crisp stroke, and a neat les hit, and with l's, 2's and nothor 4, rapidly ran tne scoro up to 22, Bckhold contributing 2. Then, just, when he seemed to be gaining form, he was bowled out by a tricky one sent in hy Humphreys, and retired amid the applause of the many spectators who had been admiring his play. 22—2—16. H. Watson took his place, and, Bennett being taken off, Wilis succeeded him with the hall. Tho new partnership played a slow but very safe game, and at the score was 30 up. A couple of 2's by Eokhold were followed by a change in the bowlers, Orchard takinjr Humphrey's crease and Humphreys taking the end occupied hy Kllis, but apparently without, for a moment, disturbing tho equanimity of the two batsmen, <10 being reached a minute or two later. After about 10 minutes' play, howevor, Watson was bowled by Orchard, after scoring 13. 42 —3—13. His place was taken hv Rutherford, but tho combination lasted tardytwo minutes, ilekhold being smartly stumped by Boxshall after ho and Rutherford had each scored a run. 44—4—8. Wordsworth filled the vacancy, ros)» iii at five minutes to 6. Two singles from Rutherford, an extra, and a 3 from Wordsworth brought the score to 50. Then Bennett went on again to bowl, and ho Rutherford's stumps squarely just as 6 o'clock arrived, and plav closed. Rutherford's total was 3. 50-5-3.

Tho following are the scores: —

GANmun-KY.—First Innings. J. Anthony, 42122 M. Tj Wordsworth .. 120 W. Patrick. 221, c Williams, b Torrance 5 A. Sims, Ml, e Williams. 1> Torrance .. 6 H. Ellis. 2114, c Watson, b Torrance .. 8 E. Humphreys. 122. b Wordsworth .. .. 5 1). Reese, 0, c and b Wordsworth .. .. 0 B. B. Wood, 1, b Torrance 1 S. Orchard, llllllUlMSaiaiSllMHlll 1412122312H111, not out / 78 J. Bruges. 2, b Torrance 2 J. Bennett. 2111232UG1121. lbw, b Torrance 23 C. Boxshall, 112111411231144, b Rutherford 31 Extras 22 Total 20G Bowling Analysis.—A. H. Fisher, 15 overs, G maidens. 43 runs, no wickets; It. Torrance. 33 overs, 12 maidens, 71 runs, G wickets (average 11.8); S. Wordsworth, 23 overs, 8 maidens, 41 rims., 3 wiokets (average 13.6); JL Rutherford. 7 overs. 3 maidens, 14 runs. 1 wicket (average 14); H. Watson, 2 overs, 15 runs.

Otago.—First Innings. C. G. "Wilson, 11, b Humphreys .. .. 2 — Hopkins, 441214. b Humuhrevs .. .. 10 A. Eckho'd, 22211, st "Boxshall, b Humphreys 8 H. Watson, 211132111. b Orchard .. .. 13 M. Rutherford, 111, b Burnett 3 S. Wordsworth, 3, not out 3 Extras 5 Total tor'five wickets 50 Bowling Analysis.—E. Humuhrcys, 13 overs, 4 ma.ide.ns, 23 runs, 3 wickets; J. Bennett. 7 overs. 3 maidens, 0 runs, 1 wicket; 11. Ellis, 3 ovore. 8 runs; S. Orchard,M overs, 8 runs, 1 wicket.