CANTERBURY v. OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 1780, 2 January 1886, Page 21

CANTERBURY v. OTAGO.

The Interprovincial cricket match was commenced on the Carisbrook grouud on Saturday, under very favourable conditions as regards weather. It was a bright sunshiny day with a cool breeze blowing, and the late rain had brought the wicket into first-class order. The gathering of spectators was not numerous, probably owing to the fact that most people preferred to go farther afield bo t>pend the most popular general holiday of the year. Still some few hundred mustered on the ground in the course of the afternoon, Canterbury started decided favourites this year> being known to have a particularly strong batting team, among them our ex-Otago player Crawshaw. The respective captains this year are Millton (Canterbury) and ' Austin (Otago), Messrs G. Clarke and H. Rose act as umpires. Canterbury won the toss, and shortly after 12 o'clock Millton and Wilding went out to face the bowling of Austin and Frith. Matters did not promise well for the visitors at the commencement, as after both men had played a few overs cautiously, Austin sent clown a ball with a strong break from the off, which bowled Wilding before he had placed more than three to his credit. 5—5 — I—3.1 — 3. W. J. Cotterill filled the breach, and after standing ou the defensive for a bit, began to hit pretty freely, raising the score to a dozen. Then came some slow play as both bowlers were well on the wicket, but Millton, by occasional singles, and Cotterill by cleau wjell-judged hitting gradually added to the score, the latter giving one difficult chance to Austin off his own bowling which was missed. The total' was brought up to 33 by a fine drive to the rails by Cotterill, the third four that figured in his innings, but; the very next ball finished his career, as he was ciiught by Colliuson at loug-on after a pretty innings which added 15 to the Canterbury total. Two for 33. Crawshaw, who then joined Millton, made no sign for two or three overs, but he then started business with a few singles off both bowlers, and sent 40 up by a fine leg hit for 4. He soon after repeated this performance off Austin's bowling. Neither batsmen seemed inclined to take many liberties with Frith for some time, until Crawshaw made a well-meant drive to the on, but an excellent bit of fielding by Collinson prevented damage. With the score at 50, an adjournment was made for lunch. On resuming play, Austin gave way to Dixon at the pavilion end — a change that had been expected for some time, as, although both the wickets so far were credited to Austin, he did not seem likely to come off again. Dixon started with a maiden to Millton, and very little was done with either bowler for half-a-dozen overs. Crawshaw then stepped out to Frith, but missing his drive snicked him for a couple. He followed this up by oue or two drives off the same, which, however, only added two to the score, and he also managed to get Dixon in the slips for four. Then his time came, as he played forward to an awkward one from Dixon, and was clean bowled after a useful and carefully-played innings of 22. Three wickets for 57. An obstinate stand was looked for from the partnership of two such bats as Fowke and Millton, but they had barely faced each other when Millton was dismissed by Frith leg- before, having made one of his jisual patient defences, and scored only 14 after an innings of over an hour and a-hnlf. Dunlop joined Fowke, and the latter immediately gave Frith in the slips about the only chance he offered during a long, steadily-played innings, which was not held. The score was raised to 60 by byes off Dixon's fast bowling, and after 10 minutes of very slow play Dunlop retired without opening his account. He attempted to get Frith away to leg and skied him into Hope's hands. Things now looked decidedly brighter for Otago as three wickets had fallen sin^e lunch time for only 10 runs, and supposing the Canterbury team to have anything like a " tail " the innings might have been expected to finish for about a century; but with the next man Rayner a season of trouble set in for Otago. The new-comer, a stranger here, soon showed himself a remarkably free hitter, and commenced treating Dixon very roughly. He drove him finely to the off for four and cut him twice for a couple in the .same over, sending 70 up. He was almost as much at his ease with Frith, driving him once to the rails for four, and getting one or two singles. Fowke continued adding slowly uud steadily fco his score, and when 80 was reached by Raynor placiug Dixou neatly to mid on, Austin resumed the ball at his former end. This by no means stopped the scoring however. Raynor sent Frith to squareleg for four, aud slipped him for two, changing the total to 90, and then both batsmen drove j Dixon nicely along the carpet for singles. At this time, Drabble at the wickets, was injured by a ball from Frith, which struck him on the eye, and unfortunately obliged him to leave the field. Bpck took his place at the wickets, and Barnes (Canterbury) kindly volunteered to field for Olago. With the score at 92, Rayner's promising innings came to a very unsatisfactory termination. He put a slow one from Frith to square-leg and attempted the run. Fowke (whose call it undoubtedly was) refused to leave his ground, and although the ball was muddled by the field, Rayner was unable to get back in time. He had punished the bowling a good deal during his short stay, and retired with 22 to his credit. Then came B. J. Cotterill, and commenced what will probably be the innings of the match. After a few overs, he gave his only real chance to Beck at the .wickets, but unluckily for Otago he was lot off. The pair put together what was wanted to complete the century mainly off Austin's bowling, antl the latter then took himself off for the second time, find gave the ball to Hope to try the effect of his left-handers. Neither batsman succeeded in inflicting any punishment upon him, and in fact of the nine overs he sent down six were maidens, but no wickeb fell to him. l ? owke, who was now well set, continued to add slowly to his score, and Cotterill, who played remarkably good cricket throughout, drove Frith very prettily every now and then, and. got a few to square-leg, but still the scoring was slow about this time. Another Change being evidently wanted, Austin put Dixon on again at the pavilion end. He bowled a good deal to leg, l but he was fortunate in repeatedly escaping punishment. The score still mounted, and at 140 Harris was given the ball at Friths end. This proved a very expensive experiment. The new comer in his first over was cut by both batsmen for a single, and slipped by Cotterill for three, while in his second and last he was knocked about terribly, the over yielding nine runs, inclusive of a wide. Fowke scored his only big hit (a three) off this over of Harris. This naturally brought Frith back again ; and as Gotterill was treating Dixon very lightly, Carson was put on at the pavilion end — a step that might well have been taken

before. • Cotterill here sent. Frith beautifully infco.the stand to square-leg, bringing the total to 169, and then tht) long partnership between him and Fowke was dissolved, the latter cutting the first ball of Carson's second over' into Wyinkb' hands at cover-point. The retiring batsman had done a lot of work for his 26, and kept up his wickets at a most fortunate juncture for Canterbury. Cotterill ou being joined by Loughnan continued hitting with great freedom, driving Frith splendidly twice in one over. He skied one. of Carson's to the on, but Collinson was unable to get to it. Loughnan managed to put five together, and waa then clean bowled by Frith, and yielded place to Barnes, with the, score standing at 183 for eight wickets. , Barnes , cdmmencod operations by giving a chance at the wickets which was not taken, arid after a few unproliflc overs he got Carson neatly to leg for four. Cotte'rill, evidently anxious at this stage of the game to make hay while the sun 1 was shining, followed this tip by a fine drive off Fritb, fdr four, and an equally useful square-leg hit off the same bowler. Then Biirnes' wioket fell to Carson, and Lqngden filled his place with the score at 196. With the idea of saving the 200 if possible, Austin went on at Friths end, but Cotterill drove his first ball very nicely for a single. Longden then ran out to him, and narrowly escaped being caught in the" slips. Cotterill got a fine cut off Carson's next over, but a smart piece' of fielding by Wyinkfc prevented more than a single resulting. But the 200 was bound to come. Cotterill got one in the blips, and, then a liice drive by Longden off Austin changed the state of the telegraph board j amidst a lot of applause from the spectator's. Cotterill now showed that he had thoroughly mastered the bowliug, but the field were well upon the alert, and when 'only 4 more had been added to the total, Carson brought the innings* to a close at 20 minutes past 5 by bowling the last man, leaving Cotterill to carry his bat, after compiling 75 by sound and pretty play. The Canterbury men took the field at 20 minutes to 6, Wilding and Dunlbp opening the bowling to Harris and Beck. Af te* a couple of maidens, the left-hander Commenced business by cutting Wilding for a single^ and in Dun* lop's next over he opened his shoulders and drove him to the rails for four. Beck followed suit by getting Wilding away to leg twice, and then the play became veryifast, Harris begin* ning to hit in his very best style. He drove Dunlop to the pavilion for four, and sent his next ball to square leg for the same, and Beck kept matters alive by a pretty drive for two along the carpet off Wilding. This sent 20 up in a twinkling, and. the spirits of Otago began to revive. Another four to Harris off Dunlop drew a burst of applause, but this was his last performance, as he was immediately afterwards taken by Barnes in the' slips oft" almost the last ball of day. • His 19 had been -put together in wonderfully quick time, as is apparent from the fact that it included no fewer than four fours, all obtained in an over or two. Grieve joined Beck, and time was called at the finish of the over without au addition to the score, which stands at 25 for one wicket. The following are scores : — Canterbuby. First Innings. W V Millton. 21121111211, low, b Frith ... U P Wilding, 111, b Austin ... ... ... 3 W J Cotterill, 11211111114, c Collinson, b Austin 15 W Crawshaw. 111114141214. b Dixon... ... 22 J Fcmke, 22211111111111211131, c Wyinks, b Oarson ... ... ... ... ... 26 DDunlop, c Hope, b Frith ... ... 0 G Rayner, 42113t:J1, runout ... ... 22 B J Cotterill, 121131241314241141313113342411441 111, not out ... ... ... ... 75 H H Loughnan, 1121, b Frith ... ... 6 E P Barnes, 14, b Carson ... ... ... 5 A Longden, 211, b Carson ... ... ... 4 B.ves ... ... ... ... 11 Leg-bye ... ... ... ... 1 Wide ... ... ... ... 1 Total ... ... ... ... 204 BOWLING ANALYSIS. Balls. Buns. Mdns. Wkts; Wides. Frith ... 296 86 42 3 0 Austin ... 152 48 14 2 0 Dixon ... 88 20 13 1 0 Hope ... 36 12 • 6 0 0 Harris ... 9 13 0 0 1 Carson ... 41 12 6 3 0 Otago. First Innings. L M Harris, 1414414, c Barnes, b Dunlop IB C Beck, 212, not out ... ... 5 A Grieve, not out ... ... ... ft Extras ... ... ' „. 1 Totalfor one wicket... ... 26 Second Day. The weather was fine, although cloudy, during the earlier part of Monday, but there was an even smaller gathering of spectators to witness the continuance of the interprovincial match than on Saturday. Play was resumed at about half-past 11, Beck and Grieve continuing the Otago innings to the bowling of Wilding and Dunlop. The Hon. B C. J. Stevens and Mr J. P. Spring acted as umpires. The previous day's play left the score at 25 for one wicket, and singles came to both batSmen, raising the figure to 32, when Grieve missed a " yorker" from Wilding, and retired with only three to his account. Collinson was Otago's next man, and with his advent a better state of things commenced. He was destined to make nearly half the Otago score off his own bat, and he began after a little careful play by ' driving Wilding to the rails for • four, sending 40 up. Beck continued to put them away occasionally for singles, and Collinson brought his' score to 10 by a nice late cut for four off Wilding, and cut him again next over, sending 50 up on the telegraph board. At this stage Rayner took the ball from Wilding. He has a rather peculiar overhand delivery, and more than medium pace, and neither bat&nien handled him very easily at first. He sent clown three maidens, and in his fourth over Bock was taken by Longden in the slips. Three wickets for 53. Dixon then joined Collinson, who was playing good cricket, and cutting very prettily. He t raised the score to 60 by a fine cut off. Rayuer. to the rails. Very little scoring was doing pfll Duulop. The fielding was remarkably good, and the Otago men were driven, to attempt some smart running. Both scored sbeadily until 73 was reached, and here Rayner's bowling, which is apt to get up a good deal, disposed of Dixon, who was taken at the wickets with 10 to his. credit. ..The' Otago captain came out just in time to see Collinson give a fair open chance ,to- Longden at long-on, which was not taken. In the next over Collinson made amends for this lapse by driving Rayner nearly to the rails for three. Austin kept quiet for several overs, but at last opened his account by putting Rayner to square-leg for a single, and soon after , drove the same bowler for three. But this was about all he managed, as with the facore at 88 he gave a chance pretty high up to Crawshaw at square-leg, and ,£he bail was well held. Drabble, in spite of the' injury he received on the first day, took his place at the wickets, and he and' Collinson devoted ,them« selves to some cautious play. The bowling.

althougfi nothing alarming, was not sufficiently tempting to take liberties with, and Dunlop especially was difficult to manage. Still singles came slowly, and the score was raised to 95 by the luncheon adjournment. The last over was liaken by Wilding, but Rayner resumed the ball after lunch. Play then became a bit quicker, as Collinson began to hit to leg pretty freely, and the century very soon appeared on the telegraph board. The hopes of the Otago sympathisers brightened considerably at this stage, and every run was the signal for applause from the onlookers. The latter waxed enthusiastic when Collinson, catching a tempting one from Dunlop, lifted him fairly over the rails to mid-on, the first five hit of the day. This sent the score to 113, and brought Wilding j on at the pavilion end. Drabble meanwhile was j keeping up a steady defence, and scoring very little. At 120 another chauge was tried, Barnes taking the ball at the far end with the idea of tempting Collinson, and Millton fielding a deep long -on to him. The change resulted after a few overs, in a difficult chance to Crawshaw at square-leg, which this time he failed to hold, and 125 appeared on the board, indicating that Otago had already saved the possibility of a follow on. Immediately after this Drabble, who had kept his -wickets up for a long time to very useful purpose, was caught by Barnes in the slips — 128 — 6—9.6 — 9. Misfortunes followed fast now, as Carson had scarcely got to the wickets when, in attempting to send Wilding to leg, he missed his hit, and put the ball into Fowke's hands, before any addition had been made to the score. Wyinks, who filled the breach, placed his -first ball from Dunlop dangerously near cover point. Two resulted from this, and then he drove the same bowler neatly for four, sending 130 up. At this juncture Collinson was unluckily taken at the wickets, after an excellently-played innings of 59, got by occasional free-hitting combined with a patient defence. 134r— 8— 59. Hope, instead of managing to prolong a partnership with Wyinks, injudiciously ran the other out before any addition hivd been made to the score, and when Frith, the last man, had put two on, Hope returned a ball into Wilding's hands, thus bringing the innings to a close for 136, or 68 behind the visitors. The Otago collapse after the retirement of Drabble was complete, the last four wickets falling for a total of eigh*. runs. Otago took the field again shortly before 4 o'clock, Frith and Austin opening the bowling to Millton and W. J. Cotterill. Rain began to fall at this time, and the light, which had been dull all day, became* decidedly bad. Tho first few overs produced only four or five runs, and then a series of heavy showers caused play to be suspended for about half an hour. On resuming the sun came out brightly, but the ground was left very slippery, making fielding rather difficult. Cotterill drew Frith for a couple, and then, putting him to mid-on, attempted the run, and narrowly missed running Millton out. A bit of awkward throwing-in by Collinson alone saved the wicket. A square-leg hit by Cotterill sent 10 up, by which time Millton had only contributed a single, and had let off a good deal of leg bowling unpunished. Here Cotterill, one of Canterbury's best bats, was dismissed, clean bowled by a far-pitched ball from Austin, at which he let out. Frith began to 6end down some puzzlers •to Wilding, who managed ' to put one or two» of them neatly away to leg, and made a very pretty drive for a couple off Austin. There were one or two bad bits of fielding on the part of Ofcago just now, which added several runs to the total. .When 20 was telegraphed 1 , Wilding got Frith beautifully to leg for 4, but after making one more by a neat cut, he lost his wicket in a most extraordinary manner. Millton cut a ball square with the wicket, and Wilding, who had the call, called, to him to run, and made the run himself,but Millton, after making a half-start, went back to his ground and remained there, and the return of the ball found both men at one wicket. Wilding made no attempt to get back, it being obviously too late. Two wickets for 24. Crawahaw on coming to the front made very light of Austin, cutting and driving him very nicely several times. This sent Dixon on to bowl at the pavilion end, and Millton got 3 in the slips off his first over, raising his score to 10, four of which were made by a pretty cut to the rails. Runs continued to come off Dixon, his first two overs yielding 7. The slippery state of the ground, too, caused him to be no-balled repeatedly. A leg-hit for three to Millton finished the experiment, and Carson, who had done so well -in the first innings, was put on at the pavilion end. Crawshaw cut him repeatedly in the 'first over, but smart fielding by Beck and Dixon prevented mischief. Millton next sent 50 up by getting Frith well to leg for four, and Hope was tried at Friths end. Millton, who was hitting in rather unaccustomed style, got him away also to the off for three in the first over, and for a couple" in the second. • A splendid bit of fielding by Austin stopped a viciously-meant leg-hit of Crawshaw's off Carson's bowling, but Millton adjusted matters by lifting the same bowler right over the rails to leg for five. The Otago bowling was suffering severely, and when 70 was telegraphed with only two wicket* down. Frith was given a turn at Carson's end. He Ijept the scoring down for ,'spme time,' and very nearly got Crawshaw's wicket in his third over. Botji men.however, presently began to hit pretty freely again, and runs came off both bowlers until 89 had been reached, when Crawshaw touched a bumpy ball from Frith, and was smartly taken at the slips by Hope. His, 18 had been put together in his best style. Dunlop followed, and Austin went on to bowl at the far end. A few only were added to the score when time was called. The Canterbury score for their second innings' ' now stands at 95 for three wickets, their first innings' having yielded 204. The following are Monday's detailed scores:— Otago. First Innings. Jj Harris, 1414414, c Barnes, b Dunlop ... 19 C Beck, 21311111111, c Longden, b Rayner ... 14 A Grieve. 111, b Wilding ... ... ... 3 B T Collinson, 11442114121121311131212111511411 H r cFpwke. b Barnes ... ... ... 59 W6 Dixon, 111142, cFowke.b Rayner ... 10 T Austin, 113, c Crawshaw, b Dunlop ... 5 A Drabble, 1122111, c Barneß, b Wilding ... 9 W Cafson, c Fowke, b WildiDg ... ... 0 W Wyinta, 24, run out ... . ... ... 6 J Hope, c and b Wilding ... ... ... 0 C Frith, 2, not out ... ... ... 2 Byes ... ... ... ... 6 Leg-byes ... ... ' ••• ... 3 .. Total ... ... ... ... 136 BOWLING ANALYSIS (CANTERBURY). Balls. Buns. Mdns. Wkts. Dunlop • - 216 48 29 2 Wilding ... 164 37 21 4 Barnes ... '18 6, 9 1 Rayner ... 1312 26 , 16 2 Cantkhbuhy. Second Innings. WV Millton, 111432234312.51211212112, not out ... J6 W J Cdtterill, 11112122, b Austin ... ... 11 P Witdlbg,'2s4l, rim out ... ... ... 9 WCrawsnaw, 1121113111222, c Hope, b Frith ... 18 DDnnlop, ll.notout *.. ... ... 2 Hxtras ... ... ... ... 9 " Total for three wickets ... ... 95 ' ' Gontinueftoit page 2&,