CRICKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 63

CRICKET.

WOTES BT LONG SLIP. A. E. Relf, who played for Auckland against Canterbury last year in the Plunket Shield match, did a creditable performance for Sussex against Gloucestershire. Ho scored 138 and 63, and took six wickets for 71 and two for 4-2. Comparing Victor Trumper and M. A. Noble as cricketers, L. 0. S. Poidevin has some interesting remarks to make in the coiuse of a newspaper article: — "The greatest draw amongst Australians of recent years has undoubtadly been Victor Trumper. In his style there was a big element of originality, masked, however, by an elegance and graceful freedom quit© uncommon amongst Australian - made players. His batting was wonderful. It charmed everyone ; no wonder at carried away the crowd. Tens came to see Noble bat. whilst thousands tumbled over each other in their eagerness to get a glimpse of the peerless Trumper; but I know which of the two I would rather hay© on my side." Playing at Portsmouth. Hampshire inflicted & defeat by nine wickets on Sussex, who only made 208 (R. JR. Relf 54) on a perfect wicket. Hampshire replied with 303, of which Llewellyn contributed 141 in 8i hours, during which time he only made -one bad stroke, at 109, when he might hay© been caught. Relf was the only batsman to make a *tand for Sussex in the second innings, and he hit up 56 of .the 150 scored. Hampshire made tihe neoessary 52 runs with the loss of one ivioket. Badcock bowled remarkably well for Hampshire, and took eight for 4-4 in the second innings. Somerset has only a poor team this -season, and it was not surprising to see Yorkshire defeat them by eight wickets. Hirst (for Yorkshire) took six for 53. Kent maintained their reputation of keeping near the top of the ohampionship list in the match against Leicestershire, whom they defeated by 109 runs. For Kent Hum. phreys onade 111 not out, and K. L. Hutohing3 kept up his recent form with the bat by making 71 and 44. J. T. Tyldesley, who had his thumb injured in a "previous game, was unable to assist Lancashire against Nottinghamshire, who were beaten by three <viokets. Lancashire had been doing poorly this season, but in this match they replied to Notts' 177 with 352, of which R. Whitehaad, jmaking his first appearance, contributed 131 not out by meritorious play. When Wthitehead was put on to bowl he was noVballed four times in an over for doubtful delivery, and was taken off. This young player should long jemembar his first essay in first-class cricket. In their second innings Notts made 373, but their opponents' longlead in {lie first allowed them to be beaten by three wickets. For Lancashire A. C M'Laren. made 46 and 43. For the losers A. O. Jones was responsible for 34 and) 59. •ETardstaff for 35 and 1, and 6. Gunn for 46 , and 71. ' Hayward and Hobbs gave Surrey a splendid start agaiiist Warwickshire, sending up - 100 between them for the third time in sxiccession. • Hobbs batted the faster, and made 63, while his partner stayed in until he had made 69. In the second innings Hayward was not eaugbt until he had hit 124. Warwickshire batted slowly. For them C. S. Baker 101 not out was top scorer, but the three days expired' before their second innings ended, and the game was drawn. > A. W. Spring, who played "c hard-hit innings for Surrey against Oxford University making 135, became a -member of the ground staff at the Oval in 1902. He drives with great power, and is credited with being able to place th© ball well to leg. Besides this, be is a useful change with the ball. What a reversal of form! In tie first innings of ihe M.C.C. and Ground against Cambridge University, King, Llewellyn, and V. F. S. Crawford only made two runs between t<hem, but in the second innings they scored two short of 200. His Honour Judge Willis, while watching a match on the Oval, remarked : ' I should like to teach the cricketers of England .how to catch. It is shocking. When lam at a match, if c man muddles a. fair chance and doss not hold the ball. I don't say that I do not look at ihas cricket aftexwaroS, but I cannot pay so much attention to it. George Parr usad to declare, 'Die rather than lose a ball,' and I think he was right. Cricket suggests that his Honor ought to make a bowler, as he so frequently takes bail. „ . i As in other sport, accicLents sometimes happen in cricket. An exchange states- that Sergeant Dearlove, of the P. Division «£ Police, stationed at Beckeriham '(England), died as the result of a blow on the bead from a cricket ball received whilst batting oa the -previous day in *■ .match between Page and Beckenham .police. While playin"- in a game in Wales a man named I<ark was struck by a cricket ball on the leg, i which was broken by the impact. One of the most important matches in England this year was the meeting >f the Gentlemen and Pkyers at Lord c. »« members of the last M.C.C. team took part, five of -them being professionals. Batting first the amateurs compiled 217, of which. C B. Fry, in his best form, ran tip 70. The Jam "of Nawanagar had 20. and the Rev. F. H. Giliingham, who has been making a lot of run 3 this season, was not out at the finish 44. Tihe wickets were accounted for by Fielder (7 for 91) and A. E. Relf (3 for 41). J. H. Hobbs (81) and J. Hardstaff (77) were the two top performers for the Players, who stayed on until the total reached 330. In their «econd try the Gentlemen failed to get beyond 176— Relf 4 for 69, T. Wass 2 for 17. Only 54 runs were wanted, and the Players lost threewickets in obtaining them. Hirst could not play on account of an injured knee. Kent put up a record score against Derbyshire in making 615. J. Seymour contributed 171 to this mammoth -total, Herdinge 127, K. I*. ECutcKin-^s 102, and O. JHL B. Mareham 91. Excepting for a stand by Cadman (71) and Lawton (59) dn the first innings. Derbyshire did nothing, end were beaten by &n innings and 234 runs. Before entermpr upon their classic engagement Oxford had capital batting practice against an eleven organised' by H. D. G. Leveson-Grower. - They ran, tip 539, with three centuries — Hon. C. N. Bruc© 105, TBl. Teesdal© 149, and G. IST. Foster 101. The Surrey captain himself led the way to 466 in reply with a fin© 112, and W. G. Druee assisted with 63. Kent had all ths woret of the struggle with Yorkshire, but th© rain mad© the • game a draw. For $b© northerners the new

f batsman Rothery piled up 161 in- 230 i jninut-frs. and with fair support from tha others the total reached 401. Before New Istead (six for 100) and Hirst (two for 30) Kent did not get beyond 242, and when Yorkshire had lost three for 90 the flood came. A similar result attended t-he meeting of Sussex and Lancashire. The only feature j of special note was an of 12C by. I C. B. Fry in the second innings of 242. ! High scoring marked the match between; Leicestershire and Hampshire for S. Cbe's benefit. The play was confined to bhe first, and second days on account of rain. The Hampshire men scored double figures, *in» , eluding' P. Mead's 110, arid ihe total was i 341. V. F. S. Crawford, a 'brother to the j player who was out in Australia last season, hit 170 out of 274 in 160 minutes, and the TVlidlanders got a lead of 45. , Down to the year 1748 cricket was illegaE in England, and any p&rson permitting it tobe played on his land was liable to be fined j £20 and to suffer three years' imprison1 ment. In spite of these penalties, the first j county match was played between Kent and Sussex at Sevenoaks in 1735. ENGLISH CRICKET NOTES. LONDON, August 18. Playing , for Lancashire against Leicester^ TyklesJey scored 243. August 19. Ttere has been some phenomenal ing in county cricket. L> eigbt days '29 centuries " were registered, including 10 mads dm-ing the present week. Surrey compiled 532 nine for eighj ivickets (towards Trhich Marshall, th© -exQueenslander, contributed 167), and 'beat* Kent by an innings and 318 runs. | Essex registered 573 for nine wickets against Northampton (M'Gahey 230). j Middlesex put on. 534 for eight wick-eta against Notts (Tarrant 144 not out). ! Lancashire's total against Leicester waa ' 506. August 21, Playing for Surrey against Essex, Marshall,- ex-Queenslander. captured fivtf wickets at a cost of 28 runs.