CANTERBURY v. OTAGO. First Day—Saturday.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 57

CANTERBURY v. OTAGO. First Day — Saturday.

The annual cricket match between Canterbury and Otago was commenced on the Carisbrook Ground on Saturday afternoon in v the presence of about 800 people. Sir J. G. Warc£ Minister of Railways, watched, the match during the latter part of the afternoon. The ground was in capital order, both the wicket and the out-field being in fine trim. The teams were as follow : — Otago.— G. C. Austin, H. G-. Siedeberg, H. Graham, P. Williams (captain), J. Baker, C. E. Howden, H. G. Pearless, A. H. Fisher, G-. ' Cummings, A. Downes. and F. Shaoklock. . Canterruhy.— A. Sims (captain), X, M. i Ollivier, J. D. Lawrence, S. Orchard, S. T. Callaway, G. F. Weston, R. W. Barry, T. W. .Recce, J. Bennett, C. A. Boxshall, and R. L. Fisher. v •1 -.The umpires .were Messrs E. Briggs aifd J. R. M'Connochie, and Messrs W. Cross and G-. E. Robertson had Gharge of the snoring books. The spin of the coin was in favour of Sims, who elected to send his -men to the wickets. Play went on for three hours, wh^n rain unfortunately fell heavily, necessitating an aeljournment, and after waiting a quarter of an hour and the downpour continuing it wa3 resolved to draw stumps for the day. Canterbury has 6o far made 145 runs for nine wickets. Sims was top score i with 37 compiled in faultless style and without giving a single chance. Some of the others got into double figures, but the captain was the only one to make anything of a show against the Otago bowling. Downes bowled splendidly all the afternoon. He was kept on the gate end continuously from start to finish, while Fisher, Siedeberg, and Shacklock shared the trundling at the pavilion end. The Otago fielding was up to the mark. Very few chances were ' massed. At- five minutes past 2 Sims and Oilivier went out; for the visitors, the former trking strike from Fisher, who howled it the pavilion end. /The second ball Sims hit strongly to, .the/ off for 3. Downes bowled "from the other end, and his third ball Sims pulled nicely/ to leg for 1. Sims placed Eish'er jfcO-Jeg. fo'r-1 and cut Downes for 1, -though Ollivier had to, run his hardest to get in' in, time.', Ollivier opened' his' score. with,;'a "single* off Dowries, whom Siiris then put tp<leg f or- al quartet. Ten up. Ollivier 'skien^pSisher to-"leg," but there was no one r'near it, and"! resulted^ " Sims cut Fisher' j-forj -for 1 ; and Ollivier did" the same, the runs being very smartly taken v Ollivier late-cut Fisher- for 2, and with several singles to -each v bat6mariV2o was j 'raised 'after 25 . minutes' _play. Ollivier cut JDownes , to -the* boundary for 4, and Sims put* him in the same quarter for 1, after which the caDtain got FislW away for 3, Ollivier hitting him for 1, and causing 30 to ,-come into sight. Downes shattered Ollivier's wicket with the last bail ••> i « ne ' xt over - 30—1—13.' Lawrence joined Sims, who hit" Fisher to the off let for 2. The new batsman opened his score with an off drive for 4, off Downes. Som« singles were scored, and Sims drove Dowres tor 3, sending 40 up, after 50 minutes' play. Sims, continuing -}iis vigorous Dlay. hit *»ncr t6 the boundary for 4 and then for 1. At 47 Shacklook bowled in Fisher's stead. mis first ball Lawrence cut for 3, and in his next over Sims pulled him across the wicket to the off for 4, repeating the stroke off th:same bowler before the close of tl.e over" A- couple of singles were run, and 60 went up. The batsmen were playing both bowlers carefully. At' 64 Lawrence returned a very swift one to Downes, who dropped th lr e t t ? Ot ,, PP ° tato - Sims hit bhacktock for 1, and Lawrence got him away- to the off boundary for 4 Sims drove Downes to the off for 3, and 70 was •^?? I S? hh t d> ,, Austm relieved Shacklock with the ball at the pavilion end, and sent down a, maiden -to Lawrence. When Sims* was batting nicely he, had the misfortune, • when striking at Dowries, to hit his wicket! Ib—2—A-i Orchard, a left-hander, was next. After scoring a single he returned i one toj Austin, who .failed to take -it. With the addition of a few singles 80 was signalled.. Orchard' skyed Downes to the off for 2, >and put him to leg for 1. With (he score at 89, Lawrence lost his partner, Austin getting '-a beauty into his stumps. 89—3—11. Callaway followed, and opened his account with a single off Downes and a single off Austin, after which he lifted Downes beautifully to the on for 2. Lawrence was playing very steadily for singhs. Callaway got Austin away to the pavilion for 4. and the century was hoisted -sUer two hours' play. Lawrence tried to pull Downes over the wicket, but missed, and his stumps went down. 101 — 4—17.4 — 17. Weston partnered Callaway, but almost immediately afterwards saw him hit Downes fairly into the hands of Graham at long-off. 102 — 5—12.5 — 12. Barry went in, and for a time play was slow, 3 runs being made off five overs- Weston cut Austin, and Downes made a nice catch. 106 — 6—26 — 2 was the state of the game when Bennett joined Barry. -The newcoraer put Austin to leg twice in succession for 4t4 t and was then beaten by a beauty from Austin. 114 — 7—B.7 — 8. Recce snicked Austin for 3, and hit Downes hard to the off for the same figure — 120 up. The same batsman spain smoked Austin for 3. bur his time hsd come-. He tipped Downes into Williams's hands behind the wickets. 123—8—9. Boxshall followed, and both batsman punished Downes severely. 10 runs resulting from one over. Barry nut Austin to square-leg for 2. Boxshall hit Downes to leg for 2 and to the off for 1, and Barry drove him to the off for 3. Fisher went on in place of Austin, and his first ball jbrought Barry's career to_ an end. the batsman scooping him np into Sierlebc-rg's hands at cover. 445 — 3— 16. Fisher w?s the last "man. He withstood the remainder of his brother's over, and rain coming on very heavily an adjournment was made until Monday movsims;