CRICKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1966, 29 October 1891, Page 31

CRICKET.

JSOTES BY SLIP.

The offer made by the Grange Club for the services of the professional for the evening a week for which he was not already engaged was not accepted by the Cricketers' Association, a better offer being made by the Warehousemen. A case has just come under my notice which shows that an opinion is prevalent that the lbw rule was altered a little time ago by the Marylebone Club, so that if the ball does not pitch in a direct, line between the wickets the batsman could be given out. Such is not the case, however, and the rule still reads that the ball must pitch in a straight line from the bowler's to the striker's wicket. I believe I am correct in saying that ,nn alteration of the rale was proposed to the M.C.C. by the County Cricket Council, but was rejeoted by the parent body. The question, of procuring a suitable ground at the north end is being taken up by the association, who have deputed a sub-committee to bring up a report on the matter. Recognising the good a ground at the other end would do to the game, the cricketers of the , south end have, I understand, guaranteed to take up £100 worth of shares— a prominent, member of the Carisbrook ground being responsible for half that amount. If the northerners do not take advantage of this opportunity they can scarcely look for much sympathy in future. The secretary of the C.C.C. informs me that bis club has a tour in hand to Chris tchurch at Christmas and New Year. It is proposed to leave Dunedin on Christmas Eve and return on the 2nd January— playing, if possible, Oamaru, Timaru, and two or three Christchurch clubs. Such a programme has been twice previously brought to a successful issue by the C.C.C, and I hope the revival that has taken place in the game during the past and present seasons will ensure the accomplishment of the trip. J. O. Lawton, the Obago Cricketers' Association's professional, has returned from Christchurch, where he has been coaching the Christ College boys for the past fortnight. I had the pleasure the other evening of inspecting a lot of cricket material he has imported from the wellknown firm of Ramsbotham in Manchester. I can confidently say it will be the fault of the players. not of the material if good oriokeb is not shown here chis season. To young cricketers who wish to ■ excel in the game I would recommend a careful study of the Badminton Library book on " Cricket," which contains a splendid chapter on the art of batting illustrated by several woodcuts, taken from the life, of euch masters of the bat as W. G. Grace, Shrewsbury, and Gunn. The Warehousemen's Cricket Club have resolved with commendable energy to obtain the services of the professional for one evening in the week. Besides helping the association, they will find themselves amply repaid by the renewed life ii will infuse into the players. Lawton's time is now distributed as follows :— Monday and Thursday evenings—Carisbrook, at Carisbrook; Tuesday— High School, at Carisbrook; Wednesday— Albion, at north end; Friday— Warehousemen, at the Oval ; Saturday afternoon and holidays, at Carisbrook. The committee of the Carisbrook Club intend this year to adorn the walls of their pavilion with photos of pricket teams, &c. They have, I believe, obtained, the loan amongst other pictures, of photographs of the English Eleven which played, here in February 1864; Lillywhite's Eleven, which played here in March 1877 J' and, the Otago Eighteen which opposed the latter. James M'Farlane, who left Dtmedin last year, but returned some time ago, has decided to throw in his lot again with his old club, the Albion. His., inclusion in* the Eleven will strengthen it greatly ; but independent of this, he will be of great service to the club, as he is one of the few cricketers who really take an interest in the young members and try to improve their play. A meeting attended by about 20 persons was held in the" Council Chambers, Roslyn, on Thursday evening, to consider the advisability of forming a cricket club in the Kaikorai district. Ifc was unanimously resolved that a club should be formed, and that it should be called the Kaikorai Cricket Club. The following office-bearers were elected :— President, Mr A. Wedderspoon ; vice - presidents — Messrs R. Chisholm, L. Kemnitz, J. Lillico, and D. Heffernan; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr A. Macdonald; committee— Messrs D. Torrance, W. Wilkinson, A. Armit, A. Laurenson, A. Miller, and W. Ha>l. As the club has secured the use of the Kaikorai Football Club's new ground at Bishopspourt, a successful season may be looked for. The first practice will be held to-day, when all members and intending members are invited to attend. The Oamaru Olub opened their season last weekwith a matohPresident'sßidev. Vioe-presi-dent's, eight aside playing. The former team 51!?*5 1 !?* *o««fw«*e*B down for 96 (Franoia not out i 48, Meek 18) when the innings was olosed, and the Vice-president's scored 43 (W Ferena 11, Fitzgerald 11, Sumpter 10). W. M'Donald wm the moßt Bucoessful bowler. At Ohriatchuroh on Saturday the seoond round or Senior Gap matohes was commenced. There was no crioket during the day of a wmaational cfaawoter. The United, playing the Midland, scored 52 only in their first innings, R. B. Mathiaa being responsible for 24 of the number. Pearse (four for 19) and Garrard (three for 20) were the suooessfDl bowlers. The Midland replied with 63 (Mao- ?<? < ?n? na r ld 11\ Ga . rrard 10), the bowling of Blyth (sue for 28) being the prinoipal factor in their downfall. In the second innings the United scored 14 runs for no wickets. The Lanoaater Park Eleven, playing against the Ashley County Thirteen. B cored 115 (A. Ridley not in? o'*l^0 '* 1^ 16 ' WaUis 13 ' A - E»*»tt 10), and the Aahley team lost three wiokets for SI iHelmore not out 16) in playing up to At Wellington last Saturday (writes our oorreßpondent) the Benior championship match between the Wellington and Midland Clubs was continued. The first inningsof the former olosed for 90 runß, leaving them in a deficiency of 31 runa. The Midland in their second mumgsonly made 52, Tucket U6)andWynJPuJt ,)• .c. c the P rmoi P»l contributors. The Wellington were thus left with 83 runs to get to win, and the requited number was obtained with the lo«3 of six wickets. Gore played a faultier game for 35 (not out) and Ora wahaw (33) also played well. In the Becond innings of the Midland, Boddington captured seven wickets for 20 runa. The junior | championship match between the Midland ; Seoond and Rival Second wsb won by the former by 24 runs. The Rivals Boored 60 Young and Murray (an ex-Otago High Sohooi boy) being the chief contributors • and the Midland replied with 84 (Pram 37, Thawlev 19). The Rival Third defeated a Karori eleven for the third class championship by 9 runs. The most notable feature of the first round of matches in Melbourne between the senior cricket clubs for the premiership penrjant has been the score made by North Melbourne in its opening matob against Williamstown. At the end of the first day's play North Mel-

bourne bad lost five wiokets for 220 runs, H. Stuokey and G. Bean being not out with 87 and 16 respectively. These two batsmen remained at the wioketß till 831 was reaobed, when Stuokey waa diamisßed with 135 to his credit. His performance waa a most meritorious one, and he gave no chance till he had scored 114. Bean made 132. The total score was 418. It is noteworthy that the swiftest, if not the best, amateur bowler in England was born in Australia. S. M. J. Woods is now much more entitled to the title of the " Demon Bowler " than F. R. Spofforth. His pace is faster, and his execution more deadly. He is not to be relied upon as a bat, but he has made some good scores, and hits freely. There must be considerable enthusiasm about crioket in Western Australia, where the Government have donated a grant of £500 towards improving the Cricket Oval at Perth. A fifth of the sum would be very acceptable in Dunedin. The Second Elevens of the Grange and Albion Clubs met on Saturday. The Albion, going first to the wickets, made 41, Gibson (17) playing good cricket. The Grange responded with 56, Thomson, with 24, hitting out merrily. The Albion in their second attempt made 42, Gilksand Robson, with 8 each, being the highest contributors. The Grange made the 28 required to win for the loss of two wickets (Thomson 13 not out), thus winning easily by eight wiokets. Esquilant (four for 4 and five for 17) and Carver (six for 20 and three for 18) bowled best for the winners; while for the losers Hope bowled very well, securing nine wickets at a very small cost. The fielding of the Grange was very fair, but that of the losers was exceedingly loose. Net practice was again held at Carisbrook on Saturday afternoon. There was a large attendance of members, fully 30 being present. If possible, a match will be played on Labour Day, due notice of which will be given. The Kaikorai Club held a practice match on the ground ab Bishopscourt, sides being chosen by Messrs Torrance and Laurenson. The game resulted in a win for the latter 's side by 15 runs. A. Findlay (26), R. Miller (10), H. Wilkinson (17), and 01. Donoghne (12) were the highest scorers for their respective sides, while A. Wedderspoon was in great form with the ball, securing six wiokets for 30 runs. The Otago Daily Times Club played a practice match on the north ground on Saturday between Bides chosen by the practice-captain and secretary. The match resulted in a win for the former side. Scores : — Practice-captain 43 (M. Dundon 12), and 10 (for four wiokets); Secretary 21 (M'Connochie 11) and 25 (Ballantyne 7). Abernethy, Barr, and Doddß wpre the most successful with the ball. The first of the inter-club matches was played on Saturday, when the Albion and Grange met for what was to be a two days' match, whioh was, however, unexpectedly finished in one day. The Albion, batting first, made a poor stand, as Frith and Downes, aided by good fielding, dismissed them for the small total of 10 rnns. The Grange did better, getting 79 rnns. Baker (26) was the top scorer, but did not play as freely as he usually does. Crawfnrd (10), Crawshaw (9), Currie (8), and Restieaux (9, not out) all batted nicely. In their second innings the Albion showed an improvement on their first attempt, scoring 28 runs. Stewart (11, including a fine hit for 4) was the only one to reach double figures. The Grange thus won by an innings and 41 runs. Both teams fielded well, and the bowling also was good, as a glance at the analysis will show. The wicket-keeping of Croxford and Currie was first-class", the latter being the best. Scores:—- 1

First Innings. . Seoond Innings. Ckoxford, o Parker, b Downes ... ... i atGurrfe.bDowne« 0 M'Fariane, b Downe* .... 0 b Frith... 2 ?«?!!•"' b , Down , e « ••• 2 bDownee '„. 4 M'Kenzle, o Crawshaw, i> bFri . tb w«/" ••• l »bw,b Frith ... 4 Boh, b Frith... ... 4 c and b Downes ... 0 Munro, b Downes ... 0 b Frith 4 Bitohie, b Downes ... 0 b Frith '" 0 Mt'Glashan.b Frith ... 0 not out ' 0 Stewart, b Frith ... 0 b Frith '" v Manley, not oat ... 0 b Downei '" 0 Burntide ... ... 0 b Downes ... 1 Extras ... ... a Bxtrai , 2 Total,,. „. io Total ,2 8 Flrifc Innings. Frith B ?J 8 ' Md 5n5 nB ' B7«B 7« W f 8 ' Downes ... ... 35 3 7 5 _ ... Second Innings. Frith 55 5 12 6 Downea ... ... 56 5 1" 5 GBANQB.-Firsfc Innings. Baker, b Stewart ... ... 28 Johnston, 0 Boss, b M'Glaahan "'.' 0 A Downos, o Stewart, b Manley . 6 Orawshaw, b M'GHashan . 0 Parker, bßitohio ... ... "' \ Dawes, b Stewart ... ... "' 1 Currie, b Stewart ... ... " 8 Bestieaox, notout... „ o T Dowies, b Bitohie .„ '" \ Oraw'urd.bßurnside ... '" 10 Frith bßurnside... "' n Fxtras ... '" g Total ... ... ,„ 79 BOWIDf^ ANAITTSIS. MParlane ... "Jj 1 ' *T' M'Q!at.hau ... 50 2 17 2 Manley ... 25 l i« 1 Bitohie ... 40 3 18 2 Stewarfc ... 55 5 12 3 Burnside... ... 20 0 7 2