CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18736, 14 December 1922, Page 5

CRICKET.

Br Sur. INTER F'HOVfNCIAL FIXTURES. Otago v. Southland.—December 25 and 26, at Invercargill. Otiigo v. Auckland.—January 5,6, and 8, at Carisbrook. Otago v. Canterbury.—January 26, 27, and -2, at Carisbrook, Otago v. Wellington.—February 17. 19, and 20, at Carisbrook. THE ENGLISH TEAM. January 12, IS, and 15, on Carisbrook Ground. CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS. At the conclusion of the second round the position of the four senior teams is as follows: . Played. Won. List. Points. Grange 2 9 0 o Albion 2 1 1 J Dunedin 2 11Carisbrook 2 0 2 0 The umpire who officiated in the Morn-ington-Albion Second Grade match writes complaining that the Mornington team did not accept his l.b.w. decision in one instance in a sportsmanlike manner, and goes on to explain the reason (which ts quite sound) for giving (he Albion batsman not out. My space is too limited to publish the letter in full, and I would advise the umpire, so long ns he is satisfied that any decision ho might give is a correct one, to pay little attention to those who are not in a position to judge ns to the correctness or otherwise of the verdict given. Albion held tenaciously to the lead obtained over Dunedin on the first day’s play and secured a three-point win. This was brought about by the club’s champion batsman, who gave the spectators a dashing display for 125. not out. Shepherd found it very difficult to get the practice required owing to living at the south end of the city, but this difficulty has.now been overcome by Carisbrook Chib inviting him to practise at Carisbrook. This is a gracious act on the part of the south-end team, and if Shepherd does delight us with some of his sparkling exhibitions in the coming big contests supporters of the game should remember the magnanimous attitude taken up by Carisbrook in assisting to get the champion fit. Included in his score wore three sixes, two of which were obtained from the last balls of the over prior to Albion closing. O’Brien stubbornly stood the onslaught of the Dunedin bowlers until he reached 39, when M’Kay bowled him. Dunedin put up quite a respectable score in its second venture, but the failure of the first innings’ was a severe handicap, and when dismissed for 176 in » second strike was IC2 runs to the bad at the termination of the clay’s play. Dunedin has not yet struck form, and is capable of much better things than it has so far shown us. Edwards, a hard-hitting batsman, Strang, and Catto displayed improved batting, and the usual bowlers—Casey, Torrance, M‘Kay, and Edwards—all had a turn at the crease. Cook (evidently an improving bowler) and Shepherd carried on the Albion attack, the former obtaining the fine average of five wickets for 26 runs. Eight Dunedin batsmen were bowled, surely testifying a weakness in defence, for on making inquiries I am assured that there was little to cavil at in regard to the wicket, which played consistently well throughout. Albion bowlers, too, were placed at a disadvantage in having a wet ball, as in the late afternoon rain began to fall. Shepherd compiled his seventh century on Saturday, while at different periods he has reached the nineties on four occasions,, once not out; while against Ransford’s Australian side he put up 82. No doubt many cricketers will recall his magnificent score of 140 odd compiled against Canterbury at Carisbrook a couple of years ago. Grange was unable to dismiss Carisbrook twice on Saturday to enable a three-point win to be scored. Carisbrook registered a very poor score in its first strike, but in the second put on a respectable total for seven wickets, thanks being due chiefly to Duncan’s 61, Brinsley’s 29, and Harraway’s 24. Duncan was very scratchy during the early period of his innings, but most vigorous later, when he showed fine hitting powers, sending M’Beath over the rails on three occasions. M’Beath bowled in fine style, but the Grange skipper, I think, erred in keeping him on too long, and at one period he undoubtedly tired, and it'was then that Duncan began to punish him. He bowled 26 consecutive overs, with only 10 minutes rest between the innings. The first seven overs of the second innings produced three singles only, and five maidens. This is where ho tired somewhat, and had a change been tried a separation might possibly have been brought about and a threepoint win recorded in favour of the north©nders. The fielding on both sides was very finehow could it bo otherwise on Carisbrook, —■ but Grunge gave the more polished off exhibition all round (notwithstanding three dropped catches), and brought about the downfall of several batsmen by good groundwork and several fine catches, notably that in which Keast caught Dickinson. The batsman, as usual, did not tarry long, and in an endeavour to lift M’Beath ho got too much under it, the result being a skier. Keast, who was fielding on the boundary, came in very rapidly and brought off a sensational catch, for which ho was very warmly applauded. Another outstanding member of the Grange siclo was G. Sansom (the boy of the team), who brought off four catches and otherwise fielded finely. Kight also mad 3 the batsmen think twice before returning on a run, for his returns were sharp and accurate. O. Chadwick (a veteran nofw in the wicket-keeping line) is showing form worthy of his best days, and, notwithstanding his poor showing on tour last season, it is not easy to point to any. thing better in this department in Otago at the present moment. He stumped Harraway and Brinsley and caught 11. C. Alloo. In the third grade match between Grange B and Albion, played on one of the School wickets on Saturday, CTinningham, (Grange) sent a ball across the ground and right into a passing cable car. Had it not been thrown out by a passenger the umpire would have been considering the value of the hit at the same time as those in charge of the ball were considering the cost of replacing it. Here is a rather good thing. Three bowlers, A, B, and C, all members of the same club, have, prior to the last match of the season, exactly the same figures: A has taken 28 wickets for a total of 60 runs, B 28 for 69, and 0 28 for 60. In the last match A secured throe wickets for 33 runs, B four for 36, and G one for 27. Who has the better average? Worked out, the result is interesting. MaoLaren’s team sailed from Sydney by the Moeraki, and will begin the first match in New Zealand against Auckland to-mor-row. Keen interest is centred in the contest, and the daily progress of the match will be watched for by a large following of the game in Dunedin. Otago players that will have to bo considered in the selection of a Now Zealand team are—J. Shepherd (batsman), A. Galland (batsman). A. W. Alloo (batsman and bowler), and D. M’Boath (bowler). Any one of the four compares favourably with players of other centres. Perfect weather and good wickets pteyailed for the conclusion of the fourth round of championship matches in Christchurch on Saturday, the inevitable result being good all-round cricket and some fine individual performances, notably W. R. Patrick 114 (not out). F. Smith (100), R, D. Worker (80), R. E. Gregory (51), and several other useful contributions. St. Albans (159 and 61 for two wickets) defeated Lin wood (97 and 213) on the first innings. West Christchurch (210 and 188 for eight wickets) defeated Riccarton (141). W. Hayes (for West Christchurch) bowled 26 overs, 16 maidens, 33 runs, five wickets, and four no-balls. Sydenham was in a winning position after the first day's play, and a fine 114 hy Patrick enabled them to declare early in the afternoon with five wickets for 204. East Christchurch, however, had lost only eight wickets for 161 (Gregory 51) when time was called, Sydenham getting a twopoint win. The positions of the teams in the competition are as follow:—Limvood, 7 points; West Christchurch, 7; Riccarton. 4; St. Albans, 4; Sydenham, 4; East Christchurch, 0. A correspondent forwards the following: In your notes you said no centuries had been scored in Dunedin this season and that they would be welcomed from senior or junior players. South Otago can give you throe to fill the gap in the meantime. Playing for Waiwora against Owaka, L. J. Edwards (Waiwera) scored 105 runs in the opening match of the season played at Owaka. He was presented with a bat by the South Otago Association given by Mr Draper (Waihola) for the first century scored. B. H. Harper (Owaka), playing against “Freezer Company’’ at Owaka on November 26 scored 118 not out, without giving a chance. In this match Owaka scored 218 for four wickets and “declared.” Freezer seprod 152 for five wickets. Game drawn. Three hundred and seventy runs being scored in less than three hours' play. Reeve (Owaka) £9, Harvev (Owaka) 16. Ross (Freezer Company) 74. Cameron (Freezer) 24, and Sutherland (Freezer Company) 23 not oqt, were the leading »coror&

On the same afternoon Dr Reid, playing for Milton A against Milton B at Milton, made 102 runs by bright and firstclass cricket. The three matches referred to were grade mailchos. Although the bowling has improved in South Otago, with the improved wickets nut down lately, mostly concrete with matting, the batting has shown decided improvement, and batsmen have less to fear from the vagaries of some of the erratic wickets previously played on.