CRICKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1880, 2 December 1887, Page 27

CRICKET.

NOTES BY SLIP. I The interest taken in local cricket so far this season is not very great. This is probably owing in a great measure to the wretched wintry weather we have been having, and the dead state of the grounds. So far the Phoenix Club have the best records, and there is every likelihood of there being top sawyers for the season. The new men from the Permanent Artillery have been of considerable assistance to them. The match Phoenix v. Grange was concluded on Saturday last, and ended in a victory for the former by seven wickets. On the previous Saturday each 3ide had completed an innings, with the Phoenix slightly to the fore. As will be seen, the visitors fared badly at the hands of „ Frith and Hope, only putting on 34 rnns.' Parker, when well set, had the misfortune to put his leg where his bat should have been, Frith securing the wicket. None of the Grange reached double figures, though Dawes played well enough to do so. The Phcenix requiring 21 runs to win, sent in Harris and O. Beck to the bowling of P. Turnbull and Downes. A cry of delight broke from the field when Harris retired, caught, for nothing. R. G. Malcolm followed, and again, as in the first innings, had the misfortune to be caught out. A mistake was certainly made by the umpire in the first innings, as from his position in the , field he could not possibly have seen what he , judged. In the second innings his judgment was palpably at fault. In important matches it is most desirable to appoint old heads .to act as umpires, as young players are liable in their excitement to fall victims to "bluff," however good their intentions may be. Another fault was apparent in Saturday's match— namely, that of some players continually appealing, a practice annoying to the batsmen and onlookers. Haskell retired for 1, 1 bw, and it was left to W. Morrison to make the winning hit, he and C. Beck carrying thftir bats out for 9 each. Harris (37) and Parker (28) were top scorers for their respective clubs. Oarisbrook v. Wanderers. — This match was continued on Saturday afternoon on the Carisbrook ground, and resulted in a win for the home team by 10 wickets. The scores were small. At the conclusion of the above match, a oneinnings game was commenced. Forrester was unavoidably absent from the Carisbrook ranks, and Orbell took his place. Knox, who wished to give his men some practice in the field, sent the Carisbrook in to bat. The innings closed for 9-1, all made off the bat, not a single extra being obtained— Bell carrying his bat through the innings for 60. He batted with great care on the soft and treacherous wicket, but punished anything loose in his free and graceful style. At call of time, the Wanderers had lost seven wickets for 33 runs— Butiin, who took five wickets for 14 rnns, being well on the spot. M'Crorie was the only batsman to reach double figures (12), which included a fine square-leg hit off Butiin out of the ground for 6. The fielding of the Wanderers was especially good. Phcenix v. Albion. — This match was finished on Saturday, and ended in a win for the latter, though the home team did better in their second innings. Albion: First innings, 102; second, 85. Phcenix: First, 45; second, 89. Thus the former won by 53 runs. Colvin, the hero of the visitors' first innings, succumbed to M'Donald, well taken in short slip by Montgomery, for 2. North Dunedin v. Warehousemen. — This match was resumed on the Oval on Saturday. The Warehousemen, with five wickets down for 39, continued their innings, but none of them could make any stand against the bowling of J. M'Farlane and Baker. The innings closed for 45, J. M'Farlane capturing four of their wickets for 2 runs. Croxford and G. ■Grieve were the first at the wickets for North Dunedin, but neither of them troubled the scorers very much. Baker and J M'Farlane got together, and carried the score on until it was a tie, when M'Farlane was well caught by Steveneon at point. Grenfell was the incomer, but only saw Baker make the extra run, the North Dunedin thus winning by seven wickets. M'Farlane played capitally for 14, as did Baker for 17 (not out). The brothers Carver and Laurenson did the bowling for the Warehousemen, Kitt being absent. Wanderers Second v. Carisbrook Second.— This match was continued from the previous Saturday. The two not-outs, J. Cooke and Mason, playing in fine form, put on another 52 runs before a separation was effected, Cooke being bowled by Fitzgerald after playing a grand innings for 49. Mason was taken some time after by Sonntag off Morris, after a well-earned 34. The innings closed for a total of 134. This left Carisbrook 63 to make to save a one innings defeat, which they failed to do, only managing to total 57, and thereby losing the match by an innings and 6 runs. Sonntag (19), Morris (11), and 'Wackeldine (11, Dot out) were the only double figure scorers. Holmes and Wells bowled well ;for the Wanderers, as did Sonntag, Fitzgerald, and M'Lean for Carisbrook. The wicket provided by Hendley was all that could be desired, but as might well have been expected, the ground in the outfield was rather soft for anything like smart fielding. The match High School v. Phconix Second resulted in an easy victory for the former by 107 runs. The School went in first aud put together 121 ; Campbeil (28), H. Fulton (26), J?aehe(lß), A. Gillies (11), O. Fulton (10, not •out; obtaining double figures. The Phconix tthen went in and were disposed of for 14. M'Nab being tap scorer with 5. The Phoenix 'followed on, and at the call of time had made 61 J lor five^wickets, of which J. Neave contributed 42 by free hitting. Fache four wickets for 8, and Campbell four for 19, bowled well for the School. The match North Dunedin Second v. Union First, played on the North ground on Saturday, resulted in a victory for the Northerners by 38 runs on the first innings, the scores being: North Dunedin, 63 and 25 for seven wickets; Union, 25. The principal contributors were: For North Dunedin, Lowry (18), Davis (14), and Wilson (14); for the Union, Fottr ell (16). Davis and Anderson bowled well for the victors (the former getting six wickets for 7 runs), as did M'Farlane and Watts for the Union. A cricket match was played on the North ground between the second elevens of the Grange and Warehousemen Clubs, and resulted in an easy win for the former by 52 runs on the first innings. For the victors Alf Turnbull played a hard hit innings for 39, Haig a neat innings of 17; Lucas and Walker were the only other double figures, scoring 12 and 11 respectively. Sullivan was the only one of the Warehousemen to score double figures, making 26 (not out) in good style. Alf Turnbull bowled well for the Grange, as did Parsons for the Warehousemen. The match between the High School Second and Port Chalmers Second, played on Saturday, resulted in favour of the latter by 17 runs. Port Chalmers, 31 and 67; and High School, 27 and 54. Davidson for the Pott (with 23), and Smith for the School (with 32) played very well. The match Leith v. Rosemont resulted in a win for the Leith by six wickets and eight runs. For the Leith, Mills (0 and 15, not out), Allan {$ and 0) ; Rosemont, J. Burtj (0 and 11) and

J M'Lean (5 and 3). Mills, 13 wickets for 16 runs; Douglas, four wickets for 0 runs. Rosemont, Walker and Kinvig. An afternoon match was played on the 23rd on the Caledonian ground between the Warehouse- 1 men and an Eleven of the Phcenix, which ended in a draw in favour of the latter. Harris j won the toss for the Phcenix and decided to bat. None of the team failed to score. Before the last man was" disposed of 165 Tuns appeared on the board ; of which Harris claimed 80, made by good play, giving but one chance before he was secured by A. Carver off his brother's bowling. Many expressed a hope that he would reach the century. Harris is in excellent form, and will no doubt make himself further felt ere the close of the season. Haakell (13), Frith (17), and Morrison (14) played nicely for their scores. The Warehousemen knocked up 58 for five wickets. Williams (15), W. Carver (10), and Shepard (10) reached double figures. Williams,, when well Bet, was thrown out by West. For the Warehousemen, W. Carver bowled best, securing five wickets at a cost of 50 runs, Arthur Carver coming next with three for 40. The weather was very cold for cricket. A Christchurch telegram states that the Addington Fifteen made 83 against Lancaster Park. Atkinson (with 19) was the only doublefigure scorer. The Park, who got 146 in their first innings, had six wickets down in the second for 15, when W. Frith hit the bowling all over the field, and when stumps were drawn he had made 37 (not out), the score being 63 for six wickets. The United, with one man absent, scored 79 against the Midland's 100. The M.C.C. obtained 137 in their second innings. Barnes was bowled by Sfcudholme for 52. The United have lost one man for 21 in their second innings. The Lancaster Park No. 2 team beat the United No. 2. in an innings, with 95 runs to spare. The Midland No. 2 have not yet finished the match with Lanoaster Park No. 3. Cooper, the Melbourne player lately engaged by the Lancaster Park, was discharged by the Park committee last week, and W. Frith has been engaged by the same club as ground bowler. Concluding an article on the county championship, the Field says : — " It is quite possible that before long a season may come when it may not be so easy to decide the queation. That the 1 public interest in it will diminish is most unlikely. The number of those who devote their spare time to watching cricket is yearly, we be- | lieve, increasing, and this large body expect to see the championship decided. The players, too, are naturally desirous of securing the honour for their county ; and though crioket does not want, and can scarcely be said to benefit by, the extra excitement the contest gives, no amount of prohibitive legislation can prevent it yearly being fought out. The only course, then, is for some constituted body to fix on a method for deciding the question — a not very difiicult matter. Nor can there be a body more fitted for the purpose than the recently formed council, appointed by a meeting of county representatives. To them we would leave the task of deciding the relative values of a victory and a draw, and also the selection of the counties which should rank as first class. Hitherto this has been left to the public, and has, as a natural consequence, produced not a little argument and newspaper correspondence. Some well-known supporters of cricket have come forward and stated their opinion that any contest of the kind is an evil. This it may be, and there is no doubt that the struggle between Surrey and Nottinghamshire this year caused, on one occasion, the introduction of practices which no one would care to see common in the cricket field, and produced some ill-feeling between the two counties ; still, it is an evil which cannot be got rid of, and unless checked by legislation will increase until it really injuries the game. At present this contest for a barren honour gives a vast amount of pleasure to the public, and brings money into the pockets of the professional cricketers— a deserving class of men, whose income is drawn indirectly from those who pay to watch the game. Cricket elevens do not want to carry off challeuge cups, or even medals, like Association football players. Still, they cannot help being att least as much interested as the general public in the result of their season's matches. An authoritative rule that all would accept for deciding the order of merit among the counties is now really wanted, and, if it were framed by the council and accepted by the counties, the public would undoubtedly approve, and much wrangling be avoided." The English Cricketers in Australia! (Reutbr's Telegrams.) Melbourne, November 23. Messrs Shaw and Lilly white's Eleven defeated a team of 22 players representing Maryborough by an innings and 21 runs. Sydney, November 25. The match between Vernon's team of cricketers and Eleven of Sydney was commenced here to-day. The Englishmen, who went in first, have lost one wicket for 74 runs. 4 The match was continued, and when stumps were* drawn for the day the Englishmen had made 263 for the loss of four wickets. The scores were : — Stoddard, 55 ; Head, 8 ; Bates, 28 ; Hawk, 48 ; Abel (not out), 87 ; Fell (not out), 21 ; extras, 6. The weather was fine and the attendance excellent. November 26. The cricket match Vernon's Eleven v. Eleven of Sydney was resumed to-day. The Englishmen, who had put together 263 runs for the loss of four wickets, continued their innings of the previous day, and succeeded in adding 23 to their score for the loss of an additional wicket, when play was stopped owing to the rain. The score now stands at 286 for five wickets, towards which Stoddart contributed 55 ; Read, 8 ; Bates, 28 ; Hawke, 48 ; Abel, 88 ; Newton (not out), 8 ; Peel (not out), 45 ; extras, 6. Brisbane, November 25. Messrs Shaw and Lillywhite's team commenced a cricket matoh against 22 of Gympie to-day. The home team went in, and were all disposed of for a score of 45. The visitors lost six wickets for 152 runs when time was called. November 27. The match Shaw and Lillywhite's team v. Twenty-two of Gympie was concluded'yesterday. The visitors, with six wickets down for 152 runs, continued their first innings, which closed for 269, towards which Docker contributed 58 ; Smith, 49 ; and Pilling (not out), 31. The home team in their second innings only put together 79, and the visitors thus won by an innings with 144 runs to spare.

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