CRICKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2081, 11 January 1894, Page 32

CRICKET.

NOTES BY SLIP.

The records of club matches in Dunedin furnish, I Ihiuk, no instance of more even rungetting than was seen last Saturday in the Cup match between the Carisbrook A and Opoho Elevens, for every member ot the former's team, with extras also, obtained double figures and, with 31 runs as the highest score, a total of 210 was reached. The innings lasted about three hours, and the rate of scoring was pretty level all through. The best cricket on the Carisbrook side was shown by Harper, who, going in first, played the bowling with freedom in the graceful style which he used to exhibit a few years ago when he was the best batsman in Dunedin. He has not had much practice, but he would appear to have, regained his old form, and he was well set when he was run out as the result of a smart piece cf fielding. Fisher had hardly got fairly going, though he was shaping well, when Croxford snapped him up nicely. Heap, who made on Saturday his first appearance in cricket in the colony, is an English player and played for his county, Lancashire, I believe, some eight years ago. Illhealth has brought him to the colony and he is short of practice, but he clumped the first ball he received to leg for four and showed good form while he was at the wickets. He was out eventually to a nicely-judged catch. \ MacNeil might have been caught early in the innings, but, after getting his life, hit about him vigorously and made several pretty and effective strokes. Rattray played a neat innings, and Clayton also showed good form. Hope's display was so sound that I am inclined to thick his abilities as a batsman are underrated. His wicket was not captured, and it should be remembered also that he was not out in either inLirgs vp the recent interprovincial match. Liggins, who, promoted from the colts' ranks, was playing his first match with the senior team, shaped poorly at his first few balls, but thereafter made some good hi£s ; Stronach played well also and gave M'Kenzie at point a warm time, driving one ball straight and hard into that fieldsman's hands, where it did not remain ; M'Lennan was the most shaky of the lot at the wicket?, but he did the bulk of the scoring while in ; and Austin, getting some bowling which was to his liking, hit about him effectively and assisted Hope to increase the score by 26 runs. On another wicket on the Carisbrook ground, Downes had a day out, his bowling being much too good for the opposing side, as his average of eight wickets for 10 runs will show. This was a performance, too, on a wicket which did not assist him very materially, though it was not to be compared with the easy pitch on which the Opoho bowlers had their averages increased. The Carisbrook B team made a poor show, but on the other hand they got rid of their opponents cheaply, and but for patchy finding would have dismissed them for much less. Downes, who have seemingly went in to have a hit, played a merry innings^bufc, excepting that Best lifted a ball out of the ground, the display of the others calls for no special remark. Caffyn, the cricketer of the early Australian days, and the once famous Surrey player, is at the present a hairdresser at Hertford. Apropos of the recent match between Auckland and Otago, a Canterbury writer remarks that "on southern wickets Downes is evidently unapproachable at times with the ball." Says the Waimea Plains Review :— " Some enthubiastic cricketers are organising a country team to visit Dunedin, with the object of playing a series of matches with some town teams. No team has, we believe, as yet been formally picked, but amongst our local men Messrs A and C. Bell, of Mandeville, and Hutchinson, E. Hamer, and W. Chrittie are mentioned amongst the probables. The other members of the proposed team will be picked from the Tapanui and Kelso men. The projected visit is expected to come off during the month." The Australian Cricket Council declined to extend their patronage to the Indian team expected next summer, as it has already been promised to the team which Lord Sheffield is expected to bring out. Mr T. D. Harman, hon. secretary of the Canterbury Cricket Association, has advised Mr Smyth, secretary of the local Association, that the following fixtures for the New South Wales team have been definitely arranged :—: — January 18, 19, and 20 at Auckland ; January 25, 26, and 27 at Wellington ; January 30 and 31, and February 1 at Christchurch ; February 3, 5, and 6 (if necessary) at Dunedin ; and February 8, 9, and 10 at Christchurch against 8 combined New Zealand eleven. A match between a mixed team from the Dunedin and Oamaru Clubs was played at Oamaru on New Year's Day, and resulted in a win for the Dunedin by eight wickets. In their first innings Oamaru made 74 (M'Donald 19, H. King 15), while Dunedin (playing nine men) made 52 (Stubbs 18, Best 12). In the second innings Oamaru could only reach 29 (Sumpter not out 13) and Dunedin scored 55 for two wickets (Best not out 31, Kinvig 16). Aitken secured four wickets in the first innings of- Oamaru for 10 runs, and six for 12 in the second. The visitors were most hospitably entertained .by the local club. Two records for the colony were established by L. A. Cuff and J. P. Lawrence in the match between Canterbury and Auckland last Friday, the score of 306 which they put up before they were separated being both the highest score for the fi'.st wicket and the longest pirtnership recorded in the colony. lam inclined to think, also, that, as a score for the first wicket, it belts anything that has been recorded in Australia — there is little doubb abcufc that — but there wis a partnership (for the third wicket) of 310 between Gunn and Shrewsbury in the match at Melbourne in 1887 between the Sou kers and Non-Smokers. The performance of Cuff and Lawrence, of course, is far from being a cricketing record for a first- wicket score, but the Canterbuiy pair went very near to the record for a firsfc-class match in England, that being 346 runs made by H. T. Hewett and L. C. H. Palairet for Somersetshire against Yorkshire in the season before last. The record for the first wicket in any match, I may mention, is 472 runs Bcored by two members of the Devonshire Park Club at Eastbourfle in August 1892. Two old Danedin players and one-time representatives of Otago took prominent parts in the match at Christcfcurch last week between the Midland Clubs of Wellington and Canterbury. For the Wellington team Arnold Williams made 7 and 62 (not out), his score in the second innings being compiled very quickly by what a Christchurch scribe terms a brilliant exhibition of crisp, clean hitting; while J. M'Forlane, formerly of the Albion Club, made 41 and 12 (not out) for the Canterbury club. His first innings, which was of great service to his sid", coming after the collapse of the early wicketp, was terminated by smart play on the ps.it of the other ex-Dunedinite. Rr girding their psrfjrmance I quote "Scoring Board" in the Canterbury Times :—": — " William", who kept the wicket for the Wellington Midlands, is a very fine exponent of the art. I have never seen anything better than his stumping of M 'Farlane in the first innings, It was a piece of work worthy of

a Blackham." M'Farlane also bore the brunt of the bowling for his side, coming out in the first innings of the Wellington team with an average of six wickets for 34 runs, while Robert^ j son, who wrought havoc last week with the Auckland representatives, and who is also, it may be remarked, an old Dunedin player, only captured two wickets for 47. The small scoring of the Wellington Midlanders in the first innings is attributed by the scribe already quoted to "the good bowling of APFarlane, who kept one end going splendidly. He used great judgment in varying his pace and completely beat most of his men in this way." In the second innings all the Canterbury bowlers suffered, the visiting batsmen getting in on an easy wicket when the ball was slippery. It might reasonably have been expected that the selection, which the Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago Associations approved, of Mr A. M. Ollivier to pick the New Zealand team which is to meet the New South Wales visiting team next month would have given general satisfaction. Not so, however, as the following biliously jealous article, which appeared in the editorial matter in the New Zealand Times (Wellington), will show :—": — " We should like to say that we disagree with the proposal that Mr A. M. Ollivier, of Christchurch, should select the New Zealand team to play against the New South Welshmen next month. It appears to us that the whole matter has been ' cut and dried,' as the saying is, by the southerners. They want to play the match in the South Island, pick the team, ia fact 'run the whole show.' There is a prevailing impression that if the selection is left entirely to Mr Ollivier the team would consist of probably five or six Canterbury merj, four or five Otago players, Auckland and Wellington to supply the remainder. There was a time when Canterbury could, without question, claim the pride of place in New Zealand cricket (we allude to the days of such redoubtable players as Neilson, Corfe, Secretan, E. Fowler, Watson, and others), and it would have bean impossible to select a New Zealand team without Canterbury contributing more than half of it. All that is past now, fortunately, too, for the success of the grand old game ; and Wellington and Auckland and the other provinces can now claim equality with' the men of the Cathedral City. Wellington has therefore every right to be considered in the selection of the eleven, but up to the present the local association has been almost ignored in the matter. Under the circumstances it would not surprise us to find the association declining to have anything to do with the proposed match. . . . The team should have been chosen in the same way that it was proposed to select the New Zealand football team. A committee of three could have been appointed to choose the eleven after consultation with the selection committees of the various associations. If this course had been taken it would have given general sati: - faction, and by its adoption a much better eleven than will probably be selected would have been put into the field to do honour for New Zealand against the Australians." I need hardly point out that the assertion made by the New Zealand Times that the "southerners" want to "pick the team" is absolutely without foundation. Mr Ollivier is a gentleman who is quite beyond the reach of influence from any of the associations, and this fact is recognised by the Auckland cricketers, whose concurrence in the scheme seems to be entirely overlooked by the Wellington paper. The proposal that the match should be played in the South Island is quite reasonable. It was necessary that Wellington or Christchurch should be chosen for the intercolonial contest, and it may be argued that the more central situation of Wellington entitled it to the distinction of haviDg the match played there. On the other hand, the additional 14 or 15 hours' journey to Chmtchurch from Wellington would not prevent any Auckland player from playing who might be chosen, and the superiority of the ground at Christchurch must be held to be of considerable weight in the- question. The match ought, however, to be played at Christchurch as of right, for all the negotiations have been made by the Canterbury Association, and it would be a little too much that the Wellington Association, after taking no part in arranging the match, should now claim that it ought to be played in their city. The Canterbury Association have " run the show " to far and it would be ungracious to take the matter out of their hands at this stage. I may point out that they undertake all the financial responsibility, too that " running the show " may not be a profitable enterprise for them, though I hope it will. Regarding the personnel of the New Zealand eleven, the Wellington Cricket Association have decided to communicate with the Canterbury Association asking that Mr Ollivier should confer with their selection committee in choosing Wellington representatives for the team. A match between a mixed junior team of the Opoho Club and the Albion Third, played at Opoho, resulted in a win for the former by 63 runs on the first innings. The scores were : Opoho, 161 runs ; Albion, 98 runs. For the winners Gough (56, retired), Webb (35), Lear (25), and Henderson (12) batted well ; as did Donald (23), Russell (16), M'Donald (14, not out), Poison (11), and P. Gray (10) for the losers. The match Carlton v. South Dunedin Waverley was played on the Exhibition ground, when the Carlton won by two wickets. A. Eyre and H. Siedeberg bowled well for the Winners, as did Mullins and EvaDS for the losers. A correspondent of the New Zealand Times tties his hand at picking a team to represent the colony against New South Wales. Personally he .does "not think it very difficult to select tbe js T ew Zealand team." This is his selection : — Auckland : Mills, Neil. Wellington : Cross, Frith, Holdship, Niven. ChristcliU'ch : Cuff; A. Harman, Labatt, Dunedin : Downes, Lawton. What price Lawrence after last week's play ? And Niven a3 wicketkeeper ? What of Fowke ? The Lyttelton Times refers to the batting of Cuff and Lawrence in the interprorincial match at Lancaster Park on Friday last as being a masterly display, and continues thus : •« Doubtless, many timea huge scores are made at c icket, but it can safely be said, and the visitors are of tbe same opinion, that it is very seldom indeed, that a couple of bat3men show such a variety of effective all-round strokes, such an abandonment cf bad hits, men patience and defence, happily blended with vigour and power, as did Canterbury's first hopes." Cuff's 176 is the record individual score in the colony for an interprovincial match, supplanting by one run the late George Watson's 175, scored against Otago in 1881. The Canterbury captain gave a chance at tbe wicket when he had made 37, and put up a few balls rather dangerously, but it was nevertheless a fine display of free hitting. >jn—^ At the inquiry before the Australasian Cricket Council, Mr Cohen, the manager of the late Australian Eleven, went to the extent of admitting that it was very positively stated by those in authority at Lord's that it would not be advisable for certain members of the team to fgain vibit England as representatives of Australia. This was the outcome of a disgraceful brawl and "slanging match" across the luncheon table at Lord's between two Australians, which continued until the captain of the M.C.C. team and Mr Perkins, secretary of the Marylebone Club, interfered and asked now

much longer it was to continue. Leading Middlesex amateurs were absent without explanation from the following match between that county and the Australians. Beyond this members of the team declined to add anything to the statements already made, and appeared to be more concerned regarding fiuaucial matters. Each member of the team denied that he was the person whom Coningham alleged he found dead drunk one morning on the stairs. All that the council could do was to pass a resolution regretting that no decision could be arrived at, as the gentleman who made the statements reflecting on the conduct of the team declined to render assistance or furnish any evidence. The suggestion that the members of the team should be exonerated from the charge of misconduct -was significantly dismissed. The Clifton played Hanover street on the Wharf ground, when the former won by four wickets and 13 runs. The Northern suffered defeat at the hands of the Midlands by three wickets and 3 runs. Armstrong (19) and Adams (10) batted well for the winners, and Willis (16) did likewise for the losers. The fielding of the winning team was excellent. 1 he Southern beat Fitzroy by an innings and 7 runs. The Southern scored 33 and Fitzroy 13 in each innings. H. H. Massie, the well-known Sydney crack batsman, is at present on a visit to Dunedin.

SENIOR CUP MATCHES. Carisbrook A v. Orono. This match was commenced at Carisbrook on Saturday. The day was perfoct for cricket, and a good wicket was prepared. Carisbrook won the toss, and elected to bat. Every one of the batsmen seemed at home with the bowling,* and got into double figures. MacNeil played steadily for 31 ; while Harper showed some of his old form, but atter making 26 he had the misfortune to be run out. Hope showed great patience, making 25 (not out), the innings closing for 210. At call of time the Opoho had three wickets down for . 56 runs. Scores : — Carisbrook.— First Innings. Fisher, c Croxford, b Doig 17 Harper, run out 26 Rattray, c and b White 10 Heap,* c Crawford, b White 10 MacNeil, lbw, b E. R. Boddington ... 31 ( layton, b 11. Boddington 1G Hope, notout 25 Liggins, b E. R Boddington 15 Stronach, b E R. Boddington 14 M'Lennan, b Doig 12 Austin, b 11. Boddington 18 Extras 16 Total 210

Opoho.—First Innings. E. R. Boddington, lbw, b Hope ... 13 Crawford, c Fisher, b Hope 7 White, hit wicket, b Hope 0 H. Boddington, not out 11 M'Kenzie, not out 25 Total for three wickets ... 56 Carisbrook B. v. Grange. This match was commenced on Saturday at Carisbrook. The wicket was not a good one, which accounts for the smallness of the scores on both sides. Carisbrook won the toss, and sent the Grange to the field. A poor stand was made against Downes, who took eight wickets for 10 runs. The Carisbrook innings closed for 49 runs, Orbell not out with 7. The Grange totted up 91 before they were out, Downes being- in form with 25 to his credit. Baker scored 13. In the second innings of Carisbrook D. Cooper and Orbell are not out with 4 and 8 respectively, the game standing at 17 without the lose of a wicket. Scores : — Cabisbook B.—First Innings. Lawton, c Parker, b Downes 3 D. Cooke, c aDd b Downe3 ..". ... 5 • Harraway, b Downes 2 Rose, c Downes, b Baker 1 M'Gill, b Downes 5 Cato.b Baker 2 Cheeseman, b Downes 3 Orbell, not out 7 A. W. Cooke, b Downes 0 Fenwick, c Ciawfurd, b Downes ... 3 Somerville, c Dawes, b Parker ... 3 M'lvor, st Haydon, b Parker 2 Kingston, b Downes >.. 5 Extras 8 Total 49 BOWLING ANALYSIS. Balls. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. Downes 85 11 10 8 Baker 52 2 18 2 Parker 30 0 < 13 2 Grange.—First Innings. Parker, c D. Cooke, b M'Gill 9 Baker, c Orbell, b M'Gill 13 ' Downes, bD. Cooke ... 25 Johnston, b M'Gill 5 Best, b Lawton 8 Crawfurd, cFenwick, bLawton ... 8 Haydon, b D. Cooke 7 Turnbull, lbw, b D. Cooke 5 Dawes, not out 4 Fish, b Lawton 0 Extras 7 Total 91

Carisbrook B.—Second innings. D. Cooke, not out 4 Orbell, not out 8 Extras... 5 No wickets for 17 Albion v. Dunedin. The match Albion v. Dunedin was played on the North ground. The Albions going in first scored 116, Harrison contributing 42 by yery free batting. The Dunedin, at the call of time, had lost five wickets for 126, of which Einvig made 72 and M'Kinlay 26. JUNIOR CUP MATCHES. - The match between Anderson's Bay and the Albion Second was commenced at the bay on Saturday. The Albion scored 64 (Gibson 19, L. Bray 14, Spence 11) and 55 (Gibson 18, Duncan 12), while the Bay ia their first innings made 33. The match Dunsdin Second v. Brewers was played on the North ground on Saturday, and resulted in an easy win for the former by an innings and 53 runs. The Brewers were disposed <<f for 10 and 19, while the Dunedin made 82 (Stobbs 30, Burt 12, Smith 12). For the Dunedin Fraer, with 12 wickets for eight runs, and M'lntosh, eight for 18, bowled splendidly, as did Aitken, six for 16, for the Brewers. The Port Chalmers and Carisbrook D met on the former's ground on Saturday, and an exciting game resulted in a win for the

visitors. The Port in their first innings scored 29, and Carisbrook replied with 28. In their second venture the Port did no better, scoring only 27. With 29 to win, Carisbrook went in for their second innings, and managed to win with one wicket to spare. The bowling on both sides was very good, Austin and Neale being the Carisbrook trundlers, and Smith and Dobie doing duty for the Port. Thomson (16) and Gualter (15) were the principal scorers for Carisbrook, and Neil (11) for the Port. The Grange Second met the Ravenabourne First on the North ground on Saturday, and the former have much the best of tbe game. The chief features were tbe fine free battiDg of » Restieauz (42) for the Grange, and the excel- ' lent fielding of Larnaoh at point for Ravensbourne.

UUWIiIPHt ANALYSIS. Balls. Mdna. Runs. Wells 125 2 79 Doig 05 1 25 White 35 0 17 [lendry 5 0 5 E. R. Boddington ... 95 2 51 [I. Boddington ... 23 0 13 Strong 20 2 4 Wkts. 0 2 2 0 3 2 0

jawton kl'Gill... ilarraway 3. Uooke iiU IMVL.IWU ANAL IJal s. ... 102 ... 55 .. 20 ... 30 Mdns. Runs.Wkts. 8 33 3 0 :w 3 1 12 0 3 6 3