NOTES BY SLIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2080, 4 January 1894, Page 32

NOTES BY SLIP.

The Otago interprovincial team have been the participants in another memorable struggle, in which the glorious uncertainty of cricket has been strikingly exemplified, and which has resulted in a way that has upset all the notions previously conceived in Dunedin respecting the chances. The Auckland cricketers have thoroughly deserved the first victory of their tour, though two or three of the team cannot claim to have had much share iv carrying off the laurels of tho match. It would be difficult to Sad a match in which the interest has been so thoroughly sustained from start to finish. Auckland had the good fortune to win the toss, but made so little use of it at the start that an insignificant score was looked for from them. Fowke's efforts were so well backed up by the tail, however, lhafr a fair total was reached. The Otago innings then opened so auspiciously that there would have been little surprise expressed had it realised 200 runs. Batsmen from whom a good deal was expected were, however, got rid of cheaply, and it seemed at one time possible that the Auckland score would not be reached. Lawton had played finely, and towards the close of the innings Bell, Johnston, and MacNeil shaped so well that after all a substantial lead was obtained. Before play closed on the first day half of the deficiency had been wiped off by Auckland, and the visitors had distinctly the advantage on Monday when they resumed their innings on an easy wicket, V/hile the bowlers had a slippery ball to handle. The arrears were cleared off and the batsmen were two runs to the good when Jacobs was got rid of. There was no plaser in the Auckland team whose style more favourably impressed me than did this player. He hails from Melbourne, and his batting is very graceful as well as free. I shall not be surprised if he scores well on the faster wickets which will be provided iv Christchurch and Wellington. Upon Jacobs's dismi; sal, the most valuable stand of the match was inaugurated between Mills and Fowke. The former had been missed befoi o he had added to his Saturday's score, and the let-off was a most expensive oue for Otago. MacNeil frequently rung the changes in his bowling, but for over two hours the attack was defied. Runs camo very slowly and several loose balls were unpunished, but the bowling was not to be despised and it was met by steady batting. Fowke had a life at the wickets, but there was no other fault to find with his display, which was eventually brought to a close by fine fielding, Mills calling his partner for a ruu which he would not have attempted had ho remembered that Fisher is ambidextrous. The sensational feature of the match followed. Mills aud Fowke had carried the score from 45 to 127, but with the exception of Holle, who assisted Mills to put on 17, of which he claimed a somewhat streaky 9, there was none of the other batsmen who could do anything with the bowling. While the score was steadily mounting prior to this I heard a spectator inquire where was the weakness in the Auckland batting of which we had been advised beforehand. It was now plainly shown. Downes and Lawton had.'resumed bowling, and the former proved particularly deadly. In the over after Fowke's retirement the Grange trundler secured two wickets, and the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth wickets were secured by him in successive balls. Such a feat as that which be performed is, I need hardly point out, rarely achieved in any matcb, and the success of the bowler was cordially recognised on all hands. Downes had, I understand, three new hats to nothing laid by members of the Otago team against his doiog the hat trick, and some amusement was I caused by Charley Fiiih going round with the hat among the spectators, even putting one of Downes's victims — who responded gracefully, admitting that the ball which disposed of him was a "snorter" — UDder contribution, with the result that between £3 and £4- wa9 collected. It was unfortunate) that Mills found no one to stay with him ; for the collapse of the tail almost certainly robbed him of the century. It is impossible to praise his innings too highly. He made runs slowly, but his play was thoroughly sound, nearly every ball being met with the full face of the bat, and he gave only one chance, when his score was 13. The total of 114- which Otago were ltft to get should have been well within the power of the team to make. The start which Lawton and Boddington made was promising, 28 runs being scored before t,he latter was caught shortly before 6 o'clock. The light was then ba^, and I am inclined to think MaoNeil ought then to have sent Hopo or Croxford in, instead of risking and losiog his own wicket. The pitch was, however, easy on Tuesday morning when play was resumed, and victory still seemed assured for Otago. Johnston's early downfall was not pleasant, however, but when the score was raised to 53 before Lawton was out, 61 remaining to get, the prospect seemed hopeful enough. Fisher saw 15 added, but Parker's dismissal first ball made Otago supporters gloomy, and when Bell was out at 79, those who had expected the defeat of the visitors began to contemplate the overthrow of the local team. Downes's merry hitting created a flutter, and caused the Auckland captain to consult Fowke and other trusty advisers, but with the departure of the Grange bowler at 90 the game was practically up. ' Baker's retirement 2 runs later settled the match, for though Hope and Croxford added 8 runs they could not save the game, and Auckland had literally pulled the match out of the fire. While the vibitors mutt be accordtd great credit for the splendid uphill fight they made, it is difficult to account for the feeble display of Otago— a splendid' batting team, in my opinion, as interprovincial teams go — on an easy wicket. It is not often that one sees a player wearing spectacles in an interprovincial match. R. Neil!, the Auckland slow bowler, who has taken to glasses this season, wears them while he is playing. Kallander, the burly Auckland bowler, was rather dissatit-fied at the decision which sent him to the pavilion for leg before on Saturday. He says that he considers the ball, which was breaking in, would not have struck the wicket. That is a question, however, of which the umpire must be admitted to be the best judge. Baker is emphatic in his assertion that the umpire made a mistake in giving him out as caught at the wicket in the second innings of Otago. The ball, before reaching Fowke, struck him, he says, on the pads. One appeal for a catch fn the match which was made unsuccessfully was by Bell, who claimed to have caught Holle' at point in the first innings, and the fieldsman assures me that there is not the slightest shadow of a doubt that Holle should have been out. The ball was very smartly caught in Bell's left hand on the tucf. A team from the Opoho Club journeyed to Oamaru, and played the Oamaru Club on Boxing Day. The weather was fine, and a first-class wicket had been prepared. The match ended in a win for Opoho by an innings and four rues. The visitors put together 147, E. R. Boddington claiming 44, H. Bcddington 31, Qoocb 18, M'Kenzie 13, Strong 12, and

Crawford 11. Hewat, who captured six wickets for 43, was the most successful bowler. Oamaru made 57 (Borton 30, M. Holmes 10) and 86 (Hewat 32, M. Holmes not out 20, G. M 'Donald 17). In their first innings Wells secured eight wickets for 32, and in the second three fell to White at a cost of 12 runs.

At a meetiag of the Australian Cricket Council last week Mr V. Cohen, manager of the team just returned from the English tour, read his report, in which he said that dissensions among the players were to be deplored ; but as they partook of a private and personal character it was not desirable in the true interests of cricket that they be further publicly discussed. The council, however, carried a motion that they were under an obligation to go further into the matter, but would do so in camera. Mr Cohen and members of the team have been asked to hand over all books in connection with the tour to a representative of the council, and Mr Cohen has also been asked to supply members of the team with a financial statement of the trip. The question as to the time to elapse before another team visits England has been allowed to stand over till next year. At a special meeting of the Canterbury Cricket Association on Boxing night, at which delegates from Otago and Auckland were present, it was resolved, with their entire concurrence — " That the Canterbury Association be requested to accept all financial responsibility and to undertake sole control of the approaching match New Zealand v. New South Wales at Christchurcb, and .that Mr A. M. Ollivier be asked to select the New Zealand Eleven." This resolution was carried upon the understanding that the Canterbury Association defray all travelling and hotel expenses of selected players outside Canterbury, and that the Hawke's Bay and Wellington Associations be advised of the result of the meeting, and their co-operation with the scheme solicited. The iuterprovincial match which has just been played was the fifth between Auckland and Otago teams, but in only two of the previous four matches was the Ofcßgo team a representative one. In 1873, on the Oval, Auckland defeated Otago by four wickets; in 1882 a strong combination from Auckland came to Dunedin, but it was a very weak team, representing not the Otago Cricket Association, but the Dunedin and Suburban Cricket Association, they played here, and the visitors claimed a hollow victory by an innings and 45 runs ; in 1884 *n Auckland team came as far south as Christchurcb. and there defeated an Otago eleven, but not a representative one, by fire wickets, and last season the Otago team visited Auckland, and secured the victory with eight wickets to spare. The ninth annual match between the Wellington and Christshurch Midland Clubs was commenced on New Year's Day. Christchurcb. Midland scored 211 in the first innings and Wellington Midland 140. The rain yesterday favoured the batsmen, and Wellington put together 220 in the second innings for five wickets when the innings was closed. This left Christchurch with 150 to score in an hour's time. They lost two wickets for 37. > The return match between Opoho and Oamaru was played on Tuesday at Carisbrook, and decided on the first innings in favour of Opoho, the rain putting an end to the play. Opoho going in first put together 208 for seven wicketß, and declared the innings closed. The highest scorers were : H. Boddington 42, Crawford 34, Gooch 26, E. R. Boddington 20, M'Kenzie (not out) 24, Strong (not out) 31. The Oamaru team were disposed of for 51, and following on were making a good stand when the rain came on, and stumps were drawn.

The Queenstown Club defeated Glenorchy, at the Head of the Lake, on Boxing Day, by an innings and 44 runs, scoring 84 (Gardiner 24, Thomson 13, Moir 10) to 8 and 32.

A match on Christmas Day between Cromwell and Blaoks, on the former's ground, was won by the home team by 40 runs. Cromwell scored 38 (Burnside carrying his bat through for 13) and 76 (M'Laughlin 21, Turton 21, Warburton 19), while Blacks made 23 and 51. In the first innings of Blacks Burnside captured seven wickets at a cost of 8 runs only.

Playing for the North Melbourne Trades on the 14th December, at North Melbourne, against the South Melbourne Trades, J. Carlton executed a most sensational bowling performance, securing six wickets in six successive balls. The third ball afterwards he also obtained a wicket, thus making seven wickets in nine balls. The first wicket was caught by the bowler, the next four batsmen were bowled, whilst the sixth was caught at short-leg. Of this bowling feat we were already apprised by cable.

It was rather a novel experience for a South Australian team to dismiss their opponents — as they did in the first innings of New, South Wales in the recent mateh — without George Giffen having a share in the wickets. Giffen is not usually troubled with modesty, but on this occasion he only bowled two overs. In the second innings, however, he had his share of the bowling. The most successful trundler, however, was the fast bowler Jones, of whom go much was hoped last season. His success was due solely ttf his pace. He bowled a couple of wides and several very short-pitched balls, but on the whole his length was not bad. In this respect he has certainly improved this year. The New South Wales attack in the second inniogs of South Australia was weakened by the absence or Pierce, probably the best bowler on the side, who was unable to take the field in consequence of having slightly strained one of his ankles. The absence also of Donnan, who had split one cf his hands, was a heavy handicap, as it practically reduced the available bowling talent to Callaway, Newell, and Garrett.

The Adelaide Observer gives the following list^of individual innings of 200 and over, made in first-class matches in Australia, and remarks that New South Wales takes the record, although Giffen has made twice as many of these mammoth scores as anyone else : — ISS2— W. L. Murdoch, N.S.W. v Victoria ... 321 18S8-H. Moses, N.S.W. v. Victoria '297 ISS4— W. L. Murdoch, Australian Eleven v. Combined Australia *286 1891— G. Giffen, South Australia v. Victoria 271 1886-P. S. M'Donnell, N.S.W. v. Victoria ... 239 IS9I— G. Giffen, South Australia v. Victoria 237 ISS8 — A. Shrewsbury, English Team v. Australian Eleven 206 1893-G. GiffeD, South Australia v. N.N.W.... 205 18S7— G. Giffen, South Australia v. English Team 203 "■ Not out. Turner, the Australian bowler, interviewed at Ceylon on his way out, said, respecting the English tour :— •' Our bowlers failed us whenever they were wanted, and the fielding was very bad. At times the team fielded up to Australian traditions as far as brilliancy wes concerned, but at other times it was simply bad, which is saying a lot. The catches mis3ed were innumerable, and so much so that we lost many a match. Stoddart in the second England match at the Oval was missed five times, and two of the misses were ridiculous ones — the result being that he made 83 runs. In the match at Manchester against the North of England three catches were missed off three successive balls that I delivered ; and yet at times the fieldipg could not have been improved '

upon, but oftener it would have disgraced a second-class county. The bowling, too, did not seem to be backed up as in former years, and the batting was very in and out." The great bowler added that the gates were nothing, all through the in-and-out play of the team. In the test match at Manchester, where they would have expested to have seen the ground packed, the attendance was not equal to what they would see at a county match. He was unable to cay whom he thought the best bat in England, as Stoddarb, Gunn, Shrewsbury, and Grace were so much on a par ; but he had a leaning in favour of Stoddart. Peel he thought the best bowler in England, though Briggs was not far his inferior. The best ground he played on in England was Old Trafford. Finally, asked if there would be another team to England in the pear future, he said that it was suggested to bring out a team in 1896, but after what he was going to tell the Cricket Council he did not think there would be another before 1897. He knew of no team going out to Australia, but thought it likely one would go out under the auspices of the M C.C. nert year. George Giffen's second innings for South Australia against New South Wales lasted sit hours and a-quarter, and he showed that he had quite regained his form. Ha gave a hard chance to Moore at the wickets when at 104, but towards the latter part of the innings he tired palpably, and when Bannerman went on with underhand leg-breaks, hit out, and was caught by a substitute, his contribution being 205. Newell, who secured seven of the 10 wickets, sent down no less than 450 balls. He bowled with excellent judgment, and had all the batsmen except G. Giffen uneasy, and even the champion shaped indifferently against him", at times treating him with great respect. A mixed team of the Albion C.C. visited Lawrence, and played the local club on New Year's Day. Owing to want of practice the home team were very much out of form, consequently the Albion secured an easy victory. Blair, the Lawrence captain, winning the toss, sent the visitors in to bat, and they were not disposed of until they had reached the respectable total of 130. The batting was very even, each man contributing to the score, Harrison (35), Joel (29), Munro (15), Manley (14), and Duncan (12) reaching double figures. The home team made 27 in their first innings (Wall and Blair 5 each). Following on they were all disposed of for 23, Blair again being to the fore with 7. Ellis (five wickets) and M'Keich (four) bowled well for the local club, and Manley, Matthews, Duncan, and Joel secured good averages for the Albions. A word of praiee must be given to the Lawrence club for the splendid way they treated their visitors.