CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18754, 6 January 1923, Page 7

CRICKET.

THE SECOND TEST. M.C.C. v. NEW ZEALAND. THE HOME TEAM BATTING. 313 L'JR SEVEN WICKETS. AN ATTRACTIVE DISPLAY. (Pxb United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 5. The second tost mutch con line need at Lancaster Park to-day in glorious weather. There was a largo attendance. MacLaren, Hill-Wood, and Tyldesley were omitted from the English team', which was captained by Hartley. New Zealand won the toss, and | stopped at the wickets all afternoon, giving an excellent exhibition of batting. Nearly all the batsmen made good, and with a last wicket and tbo outfield fairly rapid, the scoring was crisp and the fielding clean. The cricket was good to watch. Collins and Blunt made a fine stand for the first wicket, Collins being specially attractive, lie hit hard all round the wicket, without t ie ghost of a chance. Lambert gave a merry display while there, while Shepherd played a splendid innings. Ho gave one or two chances, but his batting was stylish, and his partnership with Dacre was invaluable. Dacro also hit hard and often. With such a good start the game should he very interesting, and is cure to attract a big crowd to-morrow with the Englishmen batting. , . .. Collins and Blunt opened to the bowling of Gibson and Freeman, the former sending the first ball of the match to the boundary. Three maidens followed, then Collins ran into doubles, and runs soon began to come < Illicitly, Collins showing plenty of freedom, though Blunt was a bit pokey at first, ’ihirlv-four minutes saw 50 on the hoard. Collins, hitting well, reached 30 with his sixth boundary. Blunt by now had got his eye in, and was assisting Collins well. Tile latter, after 57 minutes reached his half century, and the first hundred appeared for exactly an hour s plav. Seven runs later the excellent partnership was broken up by Freeman taking a smart catch off Blunt at third man, close in. 107—1 —33. With the score unaltered, Snodden was caught at short leg.' both wicket* falling to Brand. 107—2—0. Lambert and Collins went for the bowlmg vigorously, and 130 quickly appeared on the board, both batsmen choosing the right ball and hitting it hard When lie had made 21, which included five fours, Lambert gave « hot chance to Gibson at mtd-off. At the end of 93 minutes 150 appeared. Both oatsmen continued merrily despite various changes of howling, but eventually Freeman clean bowled Lambert. 172-3-33 Collins was batting splendidly, and had made 91 at the ten adjournment. , After resuming he reached the century amidst loud applause, then Brand came on and caught and bowled him first ball. Collins batted 153 minutes and hit 16 fours 1 9g_4_102 The second century appeared for 143 minutes. Garrard did not last long, being caught behind the wickets. 217—0 6. Then Shepherd and Dacre put up a fine partnership. Both men batted attractively after Dacro got his eye m. The Aucklandei soon began to hit the bowlmg about and the total mounted rapidly. At 293 Dacro was dropped by Brand on the boundary, and Dacre sent 300 up as a result ot 199 minutes’ plav. Three runs later Shepherd was out leg before. 503—6—66. The partnership added 86 in 45 minutes. At 312 Dacro was caught at short leg, and Berra u and M’Girr played out time. Scores NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Collins, o and b Brand Blunt, c Freeman, b Brand Pnedden, c Tit-ehmarsh, b Brand ” Lambert, b Freeman phephord, ibw, b Calthorpe Bu Garrard, c M’Lean, b Calthorpe Dacre, c Titchmarsh, b Calthorpe Brrnau, not out M’tlirr, not out 0 Extras Total (lor seven wicket?) 313 AN INTERESTING MATCH. HOME TEAM’S FINE DISPLAY. (From Ocb Own Gorhhspondekt.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 5. The cricket reporter of the Press says the New Zealanders demonstrated that they were capable of playing better cricket than they had shown in the first test at, Wellington. and their 313 for seven wickets may be considered a very good total, considering the quality of the out-crickot opposed to them. Without depreciating the Englishmen’s play, the opinion may be expressed that this was a better indication of their capabilities than the previous Test match. The total can hardly be considered a winning one, against such a batting side as the visitors, especially in view of the Now Zealand bowling, which is considered by good judges to be Very ordinary. However, a total of three to four hundred is a fairly good one to face. The conditions for the game were ideal. The weather could hardly have been better, a warm sun being tempered by a cool easterly breeze. Tbo wicket played well, notwithstanding the fact that an occasional delivery of Freeman’s kept low. | Though only a partial holiday in town, the sum of £226 wav taken at the gates. Collins enhanced his reputation as a batsman by his fine batting, and quite routed the opinion of the Wellington scribe who cavilled at his inclusion m the team. He was far and away the best batsman on the side, and played the bowling with the correctness and confidence of a high-class cricketer. He rarely made a poor stroke, and looked a run-getter all through. Perhaps the best feature of his batting was his scoring shots. These were masterly in every sense of the word. His square and late cutting, his off-driving, and his leg play were quite first-class. Shepherd, in scoring 66, went far towards sustaining the reputation he has got of being in the first flight of New Zealand batsmen. His defence was not nearly so confident as Collins’s, and there were times when the bowling seemed to beat him. He played fine cricket, however, and his scoring strokes were, with one or two uppish exception*. executed in most attractive style. Dacre, i i the early part of his innings, did not impress one with the idea that he would stay long, but ho improved as time went on. and with the exception of two or three lucky shots behind the wickets he made his runs bv capital, shots, the best of all being his late cut. The out-cricket of the visitors was of a very high order. The howling looked to be good all through, and the fielding was as near faultless ns it could be. The visitors included one professional Freeman—in the team. He is credited with being one of the best slow bowlers in England. He nuzzled the batsmen at times, but they played him for the most part confidently and correctly, and he got only one wicket. Calthorpe, Gibson, and Brand all bowled so well as to make the New Zealand batting look all the better. The ground fielding of the visitors was very fine. They not only stopped practically everything within reach, but rarely failed to pick u;i the ball cleanly. However, they showed that they were not immune from the frailty of dropping catches, for they missed more than one chance—not difficult ones. OTAGO v. AUCKLAND. VISITORS’ OPENING INNINGS. ALL OUT FOR 216. Local followers of cricket are to be treated to an unusual number of first-class fixtures this season, the first of these being the match with Auckland, which opened at Carisbrook at 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The Aucklanders have so far sustained a series of defeats on t.heil- tour, end were weakened by the absence of four of their number who are representing New Zealand in the second test match with MacLaren’s eleven and of three others who had to return home after the Canterbury inn toil. Shepherd was the only absentee from the Otago ranks. The warm showers that fell in the morning had passed off by noon, and conditions throughout the afternoon were very pleasant. The rain left the wicket easy Auckland won the toss and elected to bat. The outstanding feature of the innings was Cummings’s workmanlike display for 90, marred only by a simple chance at 32. While at the crease, which was during the greater part of the afternoon, the old Albion batsman compiled a large sliare of the total. The play could not be called interesting from % spectator’s point of view, and the only

little bit of sparkle was seen when Garrard and Player became associated and knocked up 39 for the last wicket partnership. The homo fielding was on the whole admirable. Chadwick gave a very line exhibition behind the stumps, as the fact that only three byes passed him sufficiently shows. The first seven batsmen fell to catches. M’Beath, who bowled unchanged throughout the whole three and a-half hours of the innings, had an extraordinarily heavy task, yet showed but little sign of tiring at the close. He sent clown 31 overs anti took six wickets at a cost of 112 runs. Most of the batsmen did not seem to relish A. Alloo at all. and at one time ho had sent clown seven overs for only nine runs scored against him. There was a fair gathering of spectators round the fence, but, of course, a much larger concourse is expected to-day. The visitors' innings was completed too close to 6 o’clock to allow of Otago making a beginning, and they will open their innings at 11 n.m. to-day. The umpires are Messrs C. H. Wilson and F. Williams, and, as usual, 31 r <>. A. Rowlands is acting as official scorer The Play. Cummings and Paterson wore the visitors’ opening batsmen, aim M'Beath took up the bowling from (he pavilion end. Paterson drove his first to the otl boundary, but the sixth ball of the over he lifted in the same cliioction into the safe, hands of A. Alloo. 4 -1- -4. Horspnol tilled the vacancy, and finished out the over. Dickinson took up 1 fhe bowling front the other end, and Cummings got his second to the, square leg boundary. Horspool opened his account with a square cut off M'Beath for a single, and Cummings brought 10 up with another in a similar direction off the next ball. A slight delay occurred while Keaat at mid-off had bis finger bound up. Dickinson sent down a maiden to Cummings. In the next over Ilorspool pulled M'Beath to the square leg boundary and off-drove him for n single. Cummings out the last ball for another single. He brought up 20 by getting Lickinson’s first ball nicely to leg for four, and added another leg boundary three balls later. in the next over Ilorspool drove M’Beath’s second ball hard and low to Duncan, who won applause for accepting a difficult chance. 22 —2 — 6. Anthony was the incomer, and the remainder of the over was uneventful, Cummings cut Dickinson neatly past slips for four. Anthony added a single off M'Beath, and Cummings turned him to leg for a couple, but smart, clean fielding was doing much to keep the score down. Anthony put a loose one from Dickinson to the leg boundary, this being the only score from the over. Cummings got a single off M’Beath. but several of Anthony’s off drives failed to get past A. Alloo. A. -iiloo took the ball from Dickinson, and his first over to Cummings was a maiden. Anthony lifted M'Beath dangerously to square leg for a single, and Cummings drove him for another. A ’eg bye was added off Alloo next over, and Anthony, driving him for a single, brought 40 up. Cummings got a four to leg and added a nice carpet drive for two. Anthony scored a single off M’Beath. and Cummings was badly beaten by one thrit went right over his wickets. The last ball of the over he drove strongly to the on boundary, and brought up 51 for 53 minutes’ play. Alloo’s next over was a maiden. M’Beath was no-balled, and bis next, hitting Cummings, went for two leg byes. Cummings lifted one squarely into Casey’s hands at mid-on, but, to the general surprise, the fieldsman failed to hold the ball. Cummings score was then 52. He added a single off the last ball of tbo over. Partly, thanks to clean fielding. Alloo sent down another maiden. A pretty cut of Anthony's off M'Beath went for one, and Cummings made a single off the next. A single to Anthony came off the last ball of the over. The same batsman mishit Alloo somewhat luckily for one, the only score off the over. At this stage Alloo had bowled five overs, including three maidens, for eight runs. The rate of scoring continued slow, and M’Beath sent down a maidon to Anthony. Cummings got one past Alloo for a single, fhe only score of the over. From M’Beath bo got a three to leg, and repeated the stroke off the las£ ball of .the over. Alloo’s next was another maiden. Cummings drove M’Beath for a single, and Anthony lifted him up just out of Galland’s reach. Ho drove him powerfully to the on boundary, and got him luckily to leg for two. Casey replaced Alloo, and Cummings and Anthony each cut him for singles. Anthony did no* seem happy yet with M'Beath’s deliveries, but got his last to square leg for two. Cummings brought 80 up by glancing a full toss from Casey sweetly to fine leg. He added another four to the square leg boundary. Anthony cut him for a single. Cummings passed his individual half century by Iffting M’Beath high over the bowler's head to the boundary, and followed with a couple through the slips. Anthony cut Casey for a single, the only score of the over. The first ball of M’Boath's next over he mishit high to leg into the hands of Duncan, who made no mistake. 94 —3 24, The third .wicket partnership had added 70 runs. Burton filled the vacancy, . and drove M’Beath square to the log boundary, adding a single off the next. M’Beath had now been bowling unchanged for an hour and 40 minutes. In Casey s next over the century was reached after 103 minutes’ play by Burton getting a two behind the wickets. Each batsman got a single off the remainder of (ho over. Cummings reached his 60 wtih a nice stroke past slips to the boundary off M’Beath, and scored another four to stjuare leg from the same over. Casey sent down a maiden to Burton, who survived a confident appeal at the last ball of the over. Knight saved a boundary off a fine carpet drive by Cummings past the bowler, and a single came off a similar stroke. lie cut Casey for a couple and a single, and then Burton square cut the same bowler to the boundary. 120 up. The batsmen had brightened up after passing the century, and play became a little less monotonous, Galland took the ball from M’Beath. and Cummings got a two off the over, which' was the last, before the afternoon tea adjournment. The score then stood at 123 for 116 minutes’ play, Cummings having contributed 72 and Burton 12 to the total.

Casey took up the attack again, and Burton got him to leg for a couple. Cummings opened his shoulders and lifted M’Beath for a single. He cut Casey for a single. In attempting to hold a hot return from Burton over his head Casey injured a finger, and a couple resulted. A single to Cummings off M'Beath brought 130 up. Attempting to drive Burton pulled M'Beath into his pads, and an appeal for Ibw was not allowed. The next ball went for two, the first byes of the match. In the next, over Cummings cut Casey for one, and then Burton touch him luckily to the boundary. A two and a one were scored off M’Beath, and then Burton skied him back into the bowler’s hands. 140 — 4 20. Whelan, the newcomer, turned his first ball to leg, and Galland hist failed to bold a difficult chance. Whelan cut Casev sweetlv to the boundary, but ho touclied another to Galland at second slip, who retrieved his earlier mistake.—l4s - 5 5. Brook-Smith followed. Cummings drove. M’Beath lo the off boundary, and carpet drove him for a close run two. 150 up. Casey’s next over to Brook-Smith was a maiden. A single to Cummings brought Brook-Smith facing M’Beath. and the batsman lifted hi» second to Casey, who brought off a well-judged low catch. 152—6—-0. Trving followed to the crease. Cummings got a single off a no-ball of Dickinson’s, who had replaced Casev. Cummings drove M’Beath for a couple and turned him to leg for a single, over which Irving was almost run out, Dickinson’s first ball in the next over Cummings touched up in the slips, and M’Beath brought off a good left-handed catch. 156 7 —go_ The retiring batsman had batted for 159 minutes and contributed 90 to the team's total of 156. and had given a. sound, patient display. Included in hi* score were twelve fours. Ho was accorded a hearty round of applause. Gillespie followed to the wickets, and the rest of the over was resullless. Irving opened his score with a two to leg off M'Beath. and followed this with a nice shot to the square leg boundary. 160 up. Both batsmen got singles off Dickinson, who was nohalled. Trving carpet drove M’Beath for a couple, ami turned him to leg for a single. Dickinson's next over produced only a single, to Irving. Trving brought 170 up by driving M’Beath for a single, and a lucky single to Gillespie followed. In the next over Dickinson clean howled Gillespie, whose wicket was the first, to full in this fashion. 171 — B—2.8—2. Garrard followed, and opened his account with a two to leg off Dickinson. Trying slammed M’Beath to the leg boundary, hut immediately plaved one on to his wicket, 177 g 15, Flayer was the last to come, and made a single off the remainder of the over. He sonaro cut Dickinson to the boundary am! then for two. A big drive of Garrard's off M’Beath just failed to reach the boundary, end a two was run. A single (o leg followed. Garrard drove a ftilf toss of Dickinson’s and 190 appeared on the board. Knight saved a biJ drive of Player’s to the off boundary off M’Beath, and a two resulted, followed by a single. Garrard lifted the same bowler into the open field for two. and then got a close run single. Two followed for a stroke of Player’s that stopped just dioro of the boundary. In the next over Garrard brought the second century tin by square cutting Alloo, who had returned, past M’Mullan for two. The same batsman scored the only six of the match by sweeping Alloo over the fence to the on. M’Beath’s next over produced a bye, a

single to each batsman, and a three to Garrard. 210 up. Doth batsmen were playing the brightest, most aggressive, cricket of the day. Garrard got a two and a single off Alloo. but the end was at hand, and Alloo clean bowled Player. The time was then 10 minutes to 6, and the score road 216 -10 —13. The last wicket partnership had added 39 runs, and the innings had occupied altogether three hours and 29 minutes. The following arc the details of the scores AUCKLAND. First Innings. G. Cummings, r M’Beath. b DicKitrson ... an C. Paterson, c Alloo. b M‘Be:i\, 4 E. Hnrspool, c Duncan, b M’.nca’.h 3 A. Anthony, c Duncan, b M’Beinh -I U. E. Burton, c and h M’Beath 20 B. Whelan, c Galliiml, h Casey n W. c Casey, b M’Beath ... ... A A, Trving. b M’Beath *• 13 11. Gillespie, b Dickinson ~ W. Garrard, not out .. A. T’lnver, b A. Alloo 13 Extras - ■ n Total 3K. Bowling Analysis.—M'Beath. 248 balls. 2 maidens, 112 runs. 6 wickets; Dickinson, 06 balls. 2 maiden?. 36 run?. 2 wickets; Alloo, 6" balls, t maidens, 20 runs, I wicket; Casey, 88 balls, 2 maidens, 37 runs, I wicket; Gallnnd, 8 balls, 2 rims. AUCKLAND v. MANAWATU. (Per United Press Association.) PALMERSTON N.. January 5. A cricket match commenced at Palmerston North this morning between a touring team of Auckland colts and Manawatu. The latter batted first, and at the luncheon adjournment had lost three wickets for 94. ENGLISH TEAM’S VISIT. The visit of the English cricket team to Dunedin is being looked forward to with considerable interest. The M.C.C. team will arrive in Dunedin on Thursday next, and will commence their match against Otago on Friday afternoon. Play will bo continued on Saturday and Monday also. The M.C.O. team is composed mostly of young cricketers who are expected, in the, near future, to make their names in test matches. The visitors are a very strong, all-round combination. promising some good batsmen whose displays should be well worth seeing - , while the team also possesses some first-class bowlers. Their fielding, too is excellent. In Chapman the public will see one of the finest fields that has been seen on the cricket fields cf the dominion. .Seats may be reserved on the stand for Saturdav s play. The box plan will open at the Bristol on Tuesday.