OTAGO v. AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2860, 6 January 1909, Page 61

OTAGO v. AUCKLAND.

A DRAWN GAME. AUCKLAND, December 29. When play was resumed in the OtagoAucklaud match this morning the weather was dull to o%eicast, with a strong easterly wind blowing down the ground. The rain that fell had no effect on the pitch, which however, was showing signs of wea/rinjr, and grave doubts were expressed as to its standing. MacCormick and Robinson continued Auckland's first innings, the former taking strike to Fisher. Tho first ball went to the boundary. A single to MacCormick and another to Robinson and "a wide to Robinson brought the total to 7. Steady rain caused a. cessation of play for a little over a. quarter of an hour. On restarting Wordsworth took up the bowling with the wind behind him. Robinson gLancecO his third bail to leg for a couple, and played the remainder of the over. A single to MacCormick off Fisher brought 10 up, Robinson adding one to his total off the same bowler. Wordsworth sent down a maiden over to Robinson, as did Fisher to MaoCormick, After a nicely-played single to Robinson MacCormiok had his first ta&te of Wordsworth, who was no-balled three times in five balls. Good fielding by Austin and Wilson prevented a couple of late cute by MacCormick going to the boundary. A 2 to Robineon off Fisher brought 20 up, when rain, again etopped play. Weak fielding by Hopkins lc~t a chance of running Robinson out off a shorf run. A single to MacCormick and a J<v? bye brought 28 up, Robinson taking the total to 32 with af boundary off Fisher's last ball. Another ehanca to separate the pauneiship wa^ lost by Siedebcrg failing to pick up. Fi.-her was responsible for another maiden. A 3 to Robinson off Fisher nearly resulted in the batsman being run out. whilo misfielding by Wordsworth gave MacCormick a single. Torrance then replaced Wordsworth, v,hc c c one wicket had cost 12 runs, and off his eeeon-d ball MacCormick reached! double flames twth a single. Play was very monotonous, neither batsman taking iisk=, and after a eingle to ea-;h Fisher dean bowled MatCormick. 43 — 2—13.2 — 13. Itelf filled the and Robin-son welcomed him with a, couple and .retired the bowling again with a single, which, however, was disastrous, for Fisher, with his fir^t ball, dislodged his middle stump. Hemus filled the vacancy, and opsnsdl his account with a 6ingle off his fii-st ball from Fisher. At 43 Wordsworth replaced! Torrance, whose four overs had. only cost five nma. Relf got a start with a "single

off the fast bowler's first ball, and off the last ball of the over Fisher caught Hemiw at point Avith a marvellous one-hand catch. Four wiokets were -down for 4 9. Hadden came next. Wordsworth's average was now 2 wickets for 12. Fisher, who was bowling splendidly, sent down a maiden, and 50 was hoisted by a wide b-y Wordsworth. Then Hadden pulled the fast bowler for 3, and immediately afterwards hit Fisher over the boundary. and then Belf added 4 with a leg glance to the boundary off Wordsworth. With the total at 70 Torrance replacec Fisher at the eastern end, and his third ball Hadden sent to the leg boundary, and 75 appeared. Howden relieved Wordsworth at the western end. At the luncheon adjournment the score stood at four wiekete for 76. Fisher took up the bowling again when play -was resumed, and 80 appeared soon afterwards. Eight runs came from three balls, and Rslf bi ought 90 up by a big hit to the boundary. With the third ball off his next over Fisher got one past Hadden, and five wickets were down for 93, Fisher's three* wickets being secured for 24- runs. Sals filled the vacancy. The first century was hoisted after an hour and 53 minutes' play. Relf's next score was a boundary off Fisher, which brought 32 against his name. Off Wordsworth's next over 11 runs were scored. Fisher was keeping down the runs, neither batsman taking any liberties with him. but Wordsworth was replaced by Rutherford, another fast bowler. Off his fifth ball Relf #aye. a.. hot chance, which ivas not accepted, and a single resulted. At 2.40 p.m. fiv« wickets were down for 123. With the score at 146 Rutherford clean bowled Sale. Cummings signalised his advent; to the jr&ase by driving his fii-st ball from Rutherford to the boundary. ' Relf then pulled forrance to the boundary. A spell of. quiet play followed. .Cummings scored a boundary off Torrance, but a couple of- overs later the latter cleaned bowled him. L 72 —7 —12. Brooke-Smith sent .his first ball to the leg joundary, and shortly after Torrance clean bowled Relf. 180—8—64. Mason came in", but did not stay long, Howden taking him at point off Fisher. L9o— 9 — 5. A. M. Howden was last man in, but was soon disposed of by Fisher. 196—10—2. The innings closed at 4.30 p.m. Wilson and Howden opened for Ofcago . in the second innings, the latter being 1 I bowled by his brother in his second over. 4 ] 1 Hopkins came in and started to knock the bowling about, his first ball going to ; the boundary. _.He made his total of 18 runs quickly. He was caught and bowled Jb^ Relf. 39-^2—18. . Siedeberg, who followed him in, did not stay long Relf bowling him in his second ' over. 43-3-2. | Austin thrn joined Wilson, and the score was carried to 59 before the Otago captain ! was clean bowled by the Auckland captain 1 (Hadden). 59-4—28. . i Williams came 'in, and with Austin played ' out time, the .score being- 70 for four wickets. , December 30. I The Auckland-Otago cricket match was concluded to-day, ending in a draw, Auckland not having completed their sedond innings when stumps were drawn. - At five minutes past 11 Relf, "who was bowling from the pavilion end, sent down the first ball to who, with Wil- ( liams, .had played put time last evening. Austin had 8- to his credit and Williama 3 when they faced the bowling. Relf's first over was a maidan. A few singles were bagged, and, then in his third over, six minutes after starting, Relf beab Austin with a beautiful ball. 87—5—13. Ayles was tha next man. The Melbourne professional was watched with interest, as it was n6t known what his capabilities were. When his score was 5 Relf got him leg before. Ayles had been 48 minutes at the wickets. 104 — 6—5.6 — 5. } Fisher came on to fill the vacancy. Howden had replaced Hadden* at the town end. Fisher knocked a single off Howden, but the next time he faced him he succumbed. 105 — 7—l.7 — 1. The eighth wicket went down foulminutes later, when Wordsworth skied one of How den's to Mason at long off. Wordsworth had scored 6, a boundary and a 2. 110—8—6 There was a temporary cessation in the shoiver of wickets, which had been falling. Williams was batting carefully, and had only scored 20 during the morning for an hour and a-quarter's play. Rutherford, who had replaced Wordsworth, had a life coon after hi 3 appearance. He drove one" hard back to Howden, which the bowler reached but did not hold. William* skied two to the outfield, and was let off- in each instance. H<ynus -missed him once and Brooke-Smith failed*- to hold a difficult! catch when running at full speed along the boundary line. Rutherford was cutting .nicely, and the partnership was proving -a very useful one, when Rutherford stepped out to Howden and failed to get back in time to save his bails. The local wicketkeeper failed to get him at the first attempt, but pulled his stump out. 140 — 9 —14. The last 6tand was made by Torrance and Williams. Williams began stonewalling, and the field closed right in on them, but the batsmen managed to get in a few =>hort run". Fifteen minute-" before the uliournment the board sho ed 147 up. ! Williams had scored 32 and Torrance 5. At four minutes to 1 Williams hit Hoivden up to loff. and Brooke-Smith caught him« ( losa to the chalk line. Otago were all out for 3 $9. Brooke-Smith and Hemus faced t-he bowling, with AuckJa-nd -requiring 302 to win. Wordsworth open-ed the bowling for the challengers, ai>d the first one he «ent down. was «pooned up near the wickets by Homiis. Williams could not get to the ball in time to bring off -what might have been a catch. Brooke-Smith got a single off the over, and thon the adjournment was taken. Rain was threatening when the game was resumed after luncheon. Fisher bowled from! the town end to Hemus, ivho knock-eel a. coxiple off his first o%or. Brooke-Smith then faced the fast bowler aga.in, and with tli9 fouith ball of the over was bowled. 16—1—1. MacCormick partnered Serau', but had a very short life. Before he had scored he tried to hook Wordsworth, and was caught by Austin at forward square leg. 16-2—o. " TX/sli joined Hemus. Hemus lefted one to Fisher, but it \m a, hot chance, and the Otago player was not "alive" enough to get it. Relf chansred the complexion of thjnge somewhat. He sent Wordsworth over the boundary, and then knocked him

away for 3. Things were looking more hopeful,, but a change was at hand. Relf. of whom big things were expected, tried to hook Wordsworth, and Austin got underit right on the grass. After a short consultation the umpires decided that Relf must go. 23—3—8. The Auckland captain. Hacjden, went in. to accompany Hemus. At a quarter to 3 Auckland had three wickets down for 31 lutis. They had lost the three _wickets for 50 minutes' play, including Relf, upon whom great reliance ..was placed. Auckland now wanted 271 runs to win, and had three and a-quarter hours *n which to get them. On the other hand, Auckland had to hold up their wickets for over three■hours, and had seven men to use. Hadden stood up to Wordsworth's fast bowling in characteristically bulldog style, and handled him well. Hemus knocked a couple of " boundaries and several other good strokes off the first bowler, who was bowling very well. At a-quarter to 4 there wero four wickets down for 58. Hemus, who had batted very patiently, was sent back tothe pavilion by a straight one from Torranee. 58 — 4—19. ■ Auckland were- playing for a draw. Play was painfully slow, and a light rain was falling. Sale next went to the wickets. Hadden wan, stonewalling magnificently, and now; and then scoring a single or a brace. At the afternoon tea adjournment the 6core was four wickets for 63 runs, Hadden having 16 up and Sale 2. The excitement grew more intense than ever when Hadden and Sale faced the bowling again. The wicket was breaking up, and the bowlers were aiming for the "spots"' on the pitch. Wordsworth, Fisher, Torrance, Howden, and Rutherford were all put- on without effect, the batsmen appearing to" have-eom- > plote mastery of. the situation. Hadden particularly was. playing with gTeat con- - fidence. . Neither batsman was taking any risks, aotid both- were giving a great exhibition of solid stonewalling. Extras werecontributing handsomely to the score, which, With this a-gent, mounted up fairly rapidly. Within the next quarter of ant horn- the century was put on the board, Hadden bringing the RiuKtred up with a v single off Rutherford. Williams appealed against Sale," but it was obvious that the ball which removed the bail had come off Williams's own pads. However, "Sale had not long to last, for he was very smartly caught by Williams at the wickets off a ball from Torrance. He was at the' wicket and hour and 40 minutes for his 18 runs. 120—5—18. Cummings filled the gap. With 20 minutes to go Otago's array of bowlings was still battering the defence of the Auckland pair. Hadden, who was approaching; 40, opened his shoulders for several big hits. Wordsworth was put on again to> try to shift Hadden, but the Auckland! skipper esnt him to the boundary thrice ' in the one over. They were three beautiful strokes, and the crowd cheered loudly. Hadden had brought his total to within 1 of the half century, while the bowlers weroredoubling their efforts. Hadden passed; the half century with two goods 4's off Wordsworth. Cummings was batting finely, and the rate of scoring \i as ' brought up to 40 an hoar. With only a few minutes ix> go, Fisher relieved Wordsworth at thepavilion end, but the attack failed to shift*" either of the stonewallers, and 6. o'clock foutitd Hadden and Cummings still "in coniintuid, a.nd stumps were drawn with fiver wickets down for 160. The match thu3 resulted in a draw, jvhich means that Auckland retains theshield. The following are the ecores:— Otago. First Innings 335 Second Innings. Howden, bA. M. Howden ........ 1 Hopkins, c and b Relf IS Siedeberg. b Relf <J Wilgon, b Hadden " 28 Austin, b Relf .. ..' 15 Ayles, lbw, b R«lf i> Fisher, b Howden jj Wordsworth, c Mason t b Howden . . . . ft Kutherford,' st Robinson, b Howden .. \t, Williams, c Brooke-Smith, b Howden .. 35 Torrance, not out /. U Kxtras 2* Total ; 15» Bowling Analysis.^Relf,- 4 wickets for 39 runs; Howden, 5 for 61; Mason, none for 19, Haddon, 1 for 23. Auckland.— First Innings. Jones, b Wordsworth O ' -MacCormick, b Fisher .. .. ' 13 Robinson, b Fisher \\ jj» Hemus, c Fieher, b. Wordsworth . 2r Relf, b Torrance 6* ' Hadden, 1> Fisher ..'%*. . .. .'. .. j& • &a.le, b Rutherford „ „ .. „ "m," m , '/ %% ■ Cummiugs, b Torrance 13 Brooke-Smith. not,out „ „ J6f ; ATason, c Howden, b Fisher I# .... H Howden. b» Fishej .. .. .a Extras ." .. - 2 Total .. .. 196 " Bowling Analysis. — Wordsworth. 2 wickets ? for 52 runs; Fiaher, 5 for 50; Tomrace, 2 ) for 43; Rutherford 1 for 19; Austin, none • for 10; Howden, none for 1. Second Innings. Brooke-Smith, b Wordsworth 1 llacCoriaick, c Austin, b Wordsworth .. 0 K«lf, c Austin, b Wordsworth R ■ Hemus, b Torrance .19 Hadden, not out 57. < Sale, c Williams, b Torranre \ \s Cummirrgs, not out 44 . Extr as '' 13 Total for five wickets- 160 - Bowling Analysis.— Wordsworth, 3 wicketa for 50 runs; Fisher, none for 30; Torrance 2 for 27; Austin, none for none; Howden' none for 6; Ayles, none for 1; Rutherford' none for 2.