CRICKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1926, 15 January 1891, Page 28

CRICKET.

1 NOTES BY SLIP.

The Albion First Eleven played the Grange First Eleven on the North ground on Saturday, the match resulting in a draw in favour of the Albion Club. The Grange going in first, pat together 107 runs— Parker (27), Baker (26), Skitch (19), and M'Cormack (14, not out) all reaching double figures by good play. Baker made a hit for 5, the ball travelling almost from one end of the ground to the other. The Albion started badly, the first two wickets falling for six runs. Gpllar and M'Kinley then played cautiously, and 38 appeared, when Parker clean bowled the last named, who had only scored nine in about an hour. Croxford then joined Gollar, and both scored freely until Gollar was bowled with his score at 23. Croxford retired caught after making 27 by good cricket. J. M'Farlane and J. Gibson played out time, the score being 80 for five wickets when stumps were drawn. J. M'Farlane bowled best for the Albion, capturing five wickets for 33 runs in 27 overs with 10 maidens. Downes bowled best for the Grange, getting three wickets at a moderate cost. The fielding of both teams was fairly good, Ross dismissing Downes with a very good catch.

The Warehousemen and Wanderers First Elevens met on the Oval on Saturday, the match resulting in an easy win for the former. The Wanderers having won the toss, decided to take advantage of the splendid wicket prepared — a large score being anticipated. This, however, was not realised, for — with the exception of Gregory, who contributed 14— none of the batsmen could do anything with the bowling of M'Crorie and Stephenson, the innings totalling but 45 runs. M'Ororie bowled exceptionally well, his six wickets costing but 14 runs. The Warehousemen topped their opponents' soore for the loss of two ■wickets— the innings eventually closing for 118. M'Crorie, Best, Claffey, Stephenson, West, and Williams reached double figures. Carver was the most successful bowler tor the Wanderers, securing five wickets for 14 runs.

A match between the Edendale and Carisbrook C teams was played on Saturday and resulted in Catisbrook winning by 63 runs on the first innings. For Carisbrook, who scored 107, E. Austin made 40 by bard hitting, and Lawton (21) and Home (15) were the only others to get into doable figures. Both M'Glashan and Pledger bowled fairly well. The Edendale could make no headway againßt the bowling of Lawton, Pledger (10) being the only one to get into double figures, and the innings closing for 44. Lawton bowled with deadly effect, in the first innings securing seven wickets for 13 runs, and in the second, when the Edendale lost five wickets for 53, four for 15. , A one-day match between the Carisbrook A and B teams was played on Saturday afternoon at Carisbrook. The B team, scored 120, H. D. Stronach (34) and Boydell (16) being the chief contributors. The A team ran up 100 for five wickets, (Johnson 43, not out, Butlin 15, Cantrell, 12 not out, Carver 10). A match which has excited a considerable amount of interest in the north end was played on Saturday between the second elevens of the Albion and Grange, and resulted, after a very good game, in a win for the Grange by 20 runs. The Grange, going first to the wickets, made 89, of which Williams made 22 by good, steady cricket. Weitzel (17) and Muir (13) both hit out \yell for their runs. The Albion's innings started very badly, the first four wickets falling for very few runs; but Hutchineon and Munro getting together, a stand was made until the latter was bowle* for a steadily got 13. Hatchinßon met a like fate shortly afterwards for 34, made by excellent cricket. The innings closed for 69 runs. Ritchie and Ireland for the Albion, and Wells (seven for 18) and Downes for the Grange, were most successful with the ball. The fielding of both teams was very poor, and a little more attention to practice would no doubt help to improve matters. " The match Port Chalmers v. Anderson's Bay resulted in a tie, both sides scoring 69. For the former, Waters (35) and J. H. Crawford (12) obtained their runs by good cricket ; while W. G. North (18 not out) also played well for the latter. In the bowling, Waters (five for 20) and Smith (two for 12) were most successful for the Port, and H. North and Ross for Anderson's Bay. The Ashburton Club have been on tour in South Canterbury, and have suffered defeat in each place where they havo played— again6t Geraldine, Waimate, and Timaru. The Waimate team bad the assistance of Harman, of Ghristohuroh, who carried his bat through the innings of 158 for a soore of 82, At Ohristchuroh the Senior Cup matches were resumed on Saturday. The largest amount of interest attached to the encounter between the Lancaster Park and Midland Elevens. The former went first to the wickets, and were not disposed of until the telegraph feoard showed 217 (G Marshall 78, Wilding 26, A. Ridley 20, Tait not out, 19, A. Labatt 16, De Maus 16, Walliß 13), The Midland lost five wickets for 43. The Lancaster Park Fifteen ran up 287 for tha loss of 13 wickets against the United. Bryars contributed 53, Lightband 51, H. Cotterill 22,Digby 22, H. Marshall 21, and extras totted up to the unusual number of 51. The Addington, like the two Park teams, went in for big scoring, and put together 261 against Ashley County, Walmsley (64), Ogier (59), Slater (29), and Mallock (22) being the largest individual scorers. The County lost two wickets for 9 runs. The recent match between Victoria and New South Wales — the 45th between the colonies — was unusually full of incident, and on the third day, when the wicket was against the batsmen, especially at one end where the bowlers discovered a bad spot, there was every excuse for the excitement of the crowd. Donah oo, it may be mentioned, supplies the first instance of a player, while still at school, being chosen for an intercolonial match. Not the least remarkable performance of the match was the splendid bowling, in the first inninga of Nbw South Wales, of Phillips, whose record is a noteworthy one— 2sl bails, 20 rune, 28 maidens, 7 wickets. It is a long time since a better bowling feat has boon seen in inter* colonial cricket, and when Phillips returned to the pavilion at tho close of the innings he was loudly oheered, and 'spent the rest of the day in acknowledging the most cordial of congratulations, membera of tho M.C.O. beincr especially ploased with his success. Phillips bewled with rare judgment, keeping them to the off for the cracks, and bowling at the wicket when he had batsmen who were inclined to piny freely. As will be seen from tha scores published elsewhere, Bannerman carried his bat right through the firßfc innings of his side for 45— one of the most remarkable of many remarkable innings be has played. As an exhibition of patience it was all that could be desired, but as an exhibition of batting on a good wicket the Argus saya it was too patient. Caution was carried to its extreme limit, fox there were

many balls allowed to go by from which a batsman of his experience should have safely scored. Cricket can never be made an absolutely fafe [game, and to attempt to make it so would destroy it hopelessly in public estimation. The inadvisability of attempting it was shown in the case of Gregory, who took some of the risks and got top score as his reward. Among those who witnessed the latter'a success was his father, Ned Gregory.

Bannerman was at the wiokets about five and a- half hours, and though it may be said that be played the best game for his side when wicketa were going down, yet he was least active when only one wioket had gone and the opportunities of the New South Wales batamen were all before them. He may have conoluded that with a number of free batsmen in the team his duty waa to keep one end and steady the batting, or it may have been that, jealous of Barrett's reputation, he determined in this innings to show that he and he alone had a right to the title of •• the Australian stonewaller." Having made up his mind to play steadily, the jeers of the crowd instead of shaking only strengthened that resolve. At lunoh time the batsman said, " We'll see whoße patience lasts longest," and long after the crowd had got tired of jeering he was still "stonewalling."

As a matter of f aot, a sensational hour's batting, in which, with (Moses and Bannerman at the wickets, but one run «?as scored, was not the least interesting phase of tbe day's play, as the struggle between ball and bat was watched with tbe keenest interest, the question being which would tire firßt, bowler or batsman. There was some complaint from the Sydney men as to the jeering to which they were Bubjeot, but for this senior oricketers are not even indireotly responsible. It is a joint produot of football and junior cricket. The best proof that it was no matter of intercolonial feeling was shown in the cheers which greeted Gregory's spirited batting. Had Victorians played as Moßes and Bannerman played they would, as the Argus says, have been equally a mark for this rough-and-ready satire, and at least it is better than the funereal silence which prevailed a couple of seasons since, when the matches were well-nigh deserted.

It appears that the ladies 1 cricket match played in Sydney on Boxing Day was between an eleven, chosen as the "Probables" to represent tbe colony against the Victorians, and an eleven representing the Sydney Ladies' Cricket Club; and among the players I observe the names of members of well-known cricketing families in New South Wales. The Sydney Mail has the following about the game :— " Miss L. Gregory captained the intercolonial players, and Miss M. Harper the Sydney. The intercolonial won the toss, and going in, kept possession of the wickets until nearly 6 o'clock, scoring 321. Miss Deane, who batted very nicely, made no fewer than 195. There were li fours in her score, and her play was much too good for the bowling. Miss L. Gregory also scored 54 before she was run out. When the stumps were drawn the Sydneys had one wioket down for 36. The bowling, which ranged from a fairly-pitched over-arm to a 'grubber' well off the wicket, displayed at times slightly erratio tendencies ; but the most difficult task consisted in returning a ball from the boundary, a feat which usually required the services of two of the fair fielders. The players showed a good all-round acquaintance With the game, and no doubt with practice may acquire at it as much skill as ladies obtain at lawn tennis, but the time is still far distant when men need fear their supremacy at the game. Tbe matoh was conoluded on Saturday, the former scoring an easy win. The Sydneys increased their score to 121, Miss E. Harper making 43. At the call of time the intercolonials had made 239 for bix wickets in the second innings, Miss Deane again reached treble figures, Booring 104, and Misß G. Gregory made 92. The intercolonial thus won on the first innings by 200 runs." It is said that J. Ferris was to leave for England on Januray 12. There is some talk (sayß " Felix ") of another Australian eleven going to England in 1892 with Mr Victor Cohen as manager. George Giffen has expressed himself as favourably disposed, and a great effort will be made to send the very best team. After an exceedingly interesting game, the South of Tasmania defeated the North by three wickets. The scoring was large, the winners getting 284 and 202 for seven wickets, and the 108er5236 and 249. The highest individual score in the match was 61. There were no less than half a dozen individual fifties, three forties, and two thirties. Burn, who was in England with the last Australian Eleven,!made 54 and 50.

Of George GiSen's contribution of 237 towards the total of 472 -compiled by South Australia in the first innings against Viotoria, the Age says:— "To attempt an embellishment of Giffen'a performance with the bat would be like gilding refined gold. He was actually batting for eight hours and 20 minutes, during which time his false strokes could be counted on the fingers of one hand without the thumb, and the only distinct chance that he gave was on the first day, when Houston missed him in the long field, his score then being 65. His timing on the leg side was almost perfect, and his driving power seems to have increased. Even the most enthusiastic supporters of Victoria were compelled to burst forth in admiring applause of the superb batting which so completely mastered tha bowling acrainst which tho champions of New South Wales had recently made suoh a poor stand. It is a singular fact that Blackhatn, after discarding the gloves and taking a position in the field, should have been the means of closing t.hi« remarkable innings, as be was that of W. L Murdoch when tho lattnr scored 321 against Victoria in Sydney." Giffen went in first wicket down and was ninth 'man out, having seen 407 runs added to the score.

The eecond highest Boore on the South Australian side was made by Lyons, who was as usual one of tbe pioneer batsmen and was the first to go, after havinrr scored 53 by batting which was a treat to witness. Tbo splendid form and marvellous punishing power which he had frequently exhibited during his recent visit to England were well ma'ntained, the manner in which the ball aped to and over the boundary in resnonse to his sturdy strokeß being astonishing. Twice he hit Trumblo clean out of the playing ground without tbe least apparent effort, and when be effected, as he frequently did, hard drives along tbe ground tbe ball rattled to tbe boundary at lightning fipr-od. Lyins was clonnly run by Blinm.an, who poorer! »n even half century, and by Nopl. who made 49 Without ever approaching recklessness, Blinman utilised every opportunity to scoro. and made his runs faultlessly. He was especially strong oa the on side, and rarely nipped a cbanco of dexterously pulling the short pitched ones round with precision and safety Noel was at tha wiokets with Giffen wbila 129 runs were registered. His 49 were made by correct cricket, without a blemish— many of his off strokes, a choppy cut in particular, bearing a strong resemblance to the characteristic Btyla of Arthur Shrewsbury. The Victorians tried eight bowlera— all but Houston, Blaokham, and Donahoo— and Phillips was the most successful,