CRICKET.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 276, 26 December 1914, Page 11

CRICKET.

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH. OTAGO BATTING- BREAKS DOWN. The first Plunket Shield match of the season was started yesterday at Lancaster Park between the Otagb and Canterbury elevens, in beautiful weather. In the early part of the afternoon a cool wind blew from the southwest, but later it veered to the south and dropped to a zephyr. Over 2000 people watched the play. Although they had a batsman's wicket, the Otago team made a very poor showing in its first innings. Only two men reached double figures. These were J. N. Crawford, the famous exSurrey and South Australian player, and Bruges, a former Christ's College player. .Crawford got 22 and Bruges 44 not out, so that these two made 66 of the 102, runs scored off the bat. The bowling was not accountable for the collapse, but simply sheer lack of aggression. Quite a lot of loose stuff was sent down without any attempt being made to punch it. When Canterbury went in, Crawford found the wicket too easy to help his bowling. As it dried, however, he got more pace off it. ( THE PLAY. Winning the toss, Otago batted first on a good wicket, slow and easy. Watson and Shepherd opened, to the attack of Bennett and Eeese. With the score at 16, Shepherd, who had made 8, went out to hit a ball from Eeese, and was caught by Beal at extra-cover. Alloo joined Watson, and the pair batted steadily. At 23, Sandman relieved Bennett, Vho had had 13 runs hit off him. Watson missed Sandman's second ball, a full-to'sser, which struck him on the pads, and an appeal for lbw was allowed. 23—2—9.

Siedeberg, the new-comer, was uncomfortable to the remainder of that over from Sandman. There was more disaster a moment later, for a good-length ball from Eeese, swinging in from the off, bowled Alloo. 23—3—2. Bruges went in. Otago was doing very badly, for the.first ball of Sandman's next over was patted by Siedeberg back to the bowler, and four were down for 23. Hearty applause greeted the appearance of J. N. Crawford... The third ball he received from Sandman badly beat him, but just missed the stumps. Crawford made a singleoff Sandman, and than played a maiden over from Eeese. Bruges bagged a two and a one, both on the on-side, off Sandman's next oyer. The batsmen were settling down well, but runs were coming slowly. At 30, Bennett took the ball from Eeese, whose two wickets had cost nine runs. A fine shot by Bruges, off Sandman, went past cover, along the carpet, to the boundary. In the next over Crawford on-drove Sandman to the fence, and 40 was telegraphed. Both batsmen had got into double figures. They certainly were 'not taking any chances. At 47 Carlton relieved Sandman, whose two wickets had now cost 20 runs. A ball from Bennett, coming back a lot, beat Crawford and just went over the bails —a near escape for the ex-Surrey crack. Off Carlton's second over Crawford on-drove two fours and also got a two, to square-leg—-iO.off the over. A.smart bit of fielding by Woods- turned what promised to be a four by Bridges off Bennett into a two. In Carlton's next over Crawford did not get properly on to a ball from Carlton, which he tried to drive hard, and he miss-hit it to Bishop, at extracover, who made no error with the catch. 63—5—22. Bell, a left-handed colt, started by placing a ball from Carlton nicely to square-leg for a couple. Bruges and Bell were batting steadily and well. A fine shot by Bruges, off Carlton, went past cover fast to the fence. D. Eeese, at Wd-off, made a big effort to get a hard, low chance from Bruges, off Carlton,, throwing himself full-length at it, but he just failed. At 76 Eeese relieved Bennett, who had 20 runs hit off him. Then another wicket fell. Bruges called Bell, who had been shaping very well, for a run from an off-drive by the former, off Carlton. But Eeese fielded the ball smartly and whipped it in, and Boxshall had the bails off before Bell could get to the crease. 78—6—5.

Galland', the next man in, got three off a rather lueky late-cut off Sandman, who had now relieved" Carlton. Carlton's wicket had cost 21 runs. The next ball had Bruges in trouble, but he •added a four and a single to his score before the oyer ended, and brought it into the thirties. A crisp off-drive by Bruges, off Reese, sent the ball flashing to the boundary. Two or three balls later the same batsman survived an appeal for Ibw by Reese. At 94 Hickmott relieved Sandman, whose figures had become 2 for 30. The 100 came up a few minutes later, but immediately afterwards G. Galland was out Ibw to Reese, through changing his mind in making the ' stroke. 101—7—8. The afternoon tea adjournment was taken I then.

After tea Ramsden- joined Bruges, but before long he was out, bowled off his pads by a leg-break, which kept low, from Hickmott, who thus took one i wicket for three runs. 105—8—2. Chadwick, a left-hander, played on to his stumps a ball from Reese, pitched well inside the off-stump, and nine wickets were down for 107. Then Eckhoff played on to his wicket ball from Hickmott, and the whole side was out, leaving Bruges to carry his bat with a well-played 44 to his.credit. Hickmott had taken two wickets for seven, runs. CANTERBURY'S BATTING. Woods and Bishop opened Canterbury's innings to the bowling of Crawford and Eckhoff. Crawford had seven men on the off. A beautiful cut by Woods, off Crawford, flashed to the fence. Bishop opened with a sweet forward cut for four off Eckhoff. Ten came up in two overs. Woods picked one from Crawford to the square-leg boundary nicely, but the next ball, a long hop a foot outside the leg stumps, bowled Woods, who tried to leg-glance it off his foot. 18—1—10. I Hickmott joined Bishop, and an overthrow gave him two instead of a single off Eckhoff. Crawford was not getting much spin off the pitch, and was not bowling extremely fast. Bishop played one on to his pad, whence it shot off just past the stumps. A nice late-cut by Hickmott, off Eckhoff, went to the boundary. Then Bishop got one from Eckhoff past cover in beautiful style. With 35 up, Ramsden took the ball from Crawford, at the northern end, Hickmott shaped badly at some loose stuff on the leg-side from Ramsden, but got the last ball of the over away to fine-leg for three. Crawford went on at the southern end, with the breeze behind him, and Bishop punched one-past cover for four. Bishop was playing nice cricket and Hickmott was steady, but was get-

ting in front of his wicket. Fifty was telegraphed for half-an-hour's play. Hiekmott got two nice fours on the legside off one over from Eamsden, but nearly chopped the last ball of the over on to his stumps. At 60, Siedeberg relieved Crawford, who had had 19 runs hit off him for one wicket. Hiekmott brought himself into the thirties with a couple of fours to the on-boundary off Siedeberg. Bishop, who had quietened down a Ibit, reached 30 a few minutes later. He hit one from Siedeberg high towards the off-boundary, but two of the fieldsmen left the ball for one another, and so the chance went astray. A little later, Siedeberg got Bishop with a slow yorker. 85—2—34. Siedeberg's wicket had cost 21 runs.

Patrick joined Hiekmott, and Crawford relieved Eamsden at the northern end. Hiekmott edged a loose ball from Siedeberg up in the slips, a mishit, but the ball fell out of reach of the two men in the slips. Patrick had made a single when Hiekmott played back to drag a long-hop from Crawford, and missed it, the ball bowling him off his pads. 89—3—38. Crawford's two wickets had cost 23 runs.

F. Butler, the ex-Victorian colt, who is the only ''new" man in the Canterbury team, had a round of applause to help him on his way as he went out to join Patrick. Siedeberg put every fieldsman on the off for Patrick —and Patrick pulled one right across for four, all run out, Siedeberg himself having to chase the ball. Butler was very uncomfortable to Crawford. He straightdrove the fourth ball of the over for four, but the fifth bowled him. 99 —4—4. Crawford's analysis had become three for 23. He was getting more pace off the pitch.

Carlton joined Patrick, who brought up the -100 with a ,nice shot past cover. Eckhoff replaced Siedeberg, whose wicket had cost 28 runs now. A fine bit of fielding by Crawford,'at cover, cut short a crisp shot by Pa/trick. The next „ball Patrick banged to the fence at squareleg, and the one after that was punched past cover for four. This brought Canterbury's score past Otago's. When stumps were drawn, at 6 p.m., Patrick and Carlton were still in, and the total was 111.

THE DAY'S PLAY.

CANTEEBUEY HAS A GOOD LEAD

When the time for resuming play this morning arrived, the" groundman started to roll the wicket, instead of having attended to it earlier. There was a delay between the innings yesterday afternoon for the same reason. Carlton, whose score was two, resumed to the bowling of Crawford. The fifth ball swung from the- off to the lefthander and clean bowled him. Ill —5— 2,

D. Eeese joined Patrick, who faced Eckhoff's bowling. got a single, and. Eeese smacked the next ball to the square-leg boundary. Eeese got a two and a three off the rest of thie over. Then he was clean-bowled by the first ball of Crawford's next pyer, a yorker that swung a bit—a fine ball. 121—6—9. Crawford's figures had become five for 29. He had got the three in the team for four runs.

Beal got a couple of, singles, and Patrick one off the rest of that over from Crawford. Seal placed one,from. Eckhoff nicely to the;on for three, and; Patrick brought himself to 20 with a single. More singles brought the score past 130.

A nice cut by Patrick, off Eckhoff, went to the fence. A single to Patrick, and then Beal brought himself into double figures with a four to leg off Eckhoff. Then Patrick missed an offbreak from Crawford, which struck his pads, and he was given lbw. 140—7 —27. Crawford had taken six for 35. ■

Sandman joined Real, and tlie latter nearly ran himself out by calling for a short run. Sandman rightly did not respond, and Beal was well out of his crease when the ball was returned to Crawford. But the bowler missed the stumps. Sandman hit a no-ball from Crawford to square-leg for three, and Beal banged him to the square-leg boundary. Sandman, swiping at f a ball from Eckhoff, . missed it, and the ball almost found the wickets before going to the boundary for four. Beal off-drove another no-ball from Crawford, and ran four for it. The next ball he drove to the on for four. A nice stroke to square-leg, by Beal, off the last ball of that over from Crawford produced a brace. Crawford was getting a lot of turn on the ball, but Beal was playing him confidently. At 163 Siedeberg relieved Eckhoff, who had had 56 runs hit off him. A single to each man came off the over. Presently Sandman got into double figures with a good cut off Siedeberg. Making a swipe at a ball from Crawford, Sandman was again almost bowled by it. The next but one he placed to the fine-leg boundary nicely. A single to Sandman, and then Beal brought the last ball of that over from Crawford round to fine-leg sweetly for four. Crawford's average had come down to six for 62, and Ramsden took his place. Beal on-drove the change-bowler's first delivery for four and the second for three, bringing his score into the forties. On-driving a ball from Siedeberg, Beal lifted it, but it fell out of reach of long-on. Sandman ran a single for an off-drive off Ramsden, and an overthrow brought another run, which raised the total to. 200. Then Sandman, lashing at a ball from Ramsden, edged it on to his stumps. 200 —8—22. Just after Bennett joined him, Beal reached 50 with a hefty drive for four, off Siedeberg. A single to Beal, and Bennett faced Siedeberg, and was bowledv first ball. 206—9—0.

Boxshall, the last man in, almost chopped his first ball, from Siedeberg, on to his wicket. Then Crawford went on again with a new ball. Beal got other four, to the on-boundary, off him. A single to Beal brought Boxshall faeing Crawford, and he played the rest of the over. Ramsden relieved Siedeberg at the southern end, and got Boxshall lbw. The innings closed at 218, so that Canterbury was 110 runs ahead on the first innings, Beal haol scored his 58 not out by bright, sound cricket. He hit nine fours. OTAGO. First Innings. H. C. Watson lbw b Sandman . . .. 9 J. Shepherd c Beal b Reese . . . . S A. W. Alloo b Reese 2 H. G. Siedeberg c and b Sandman . . 0 • J. S. Bruges not out . . . . . . 44 J. N. Crawford c Bishop b Carlton . . 22 R. Bell run out 5 A. Gallant! lbw b Reese 8 J. Ramsden b Hickmott 2 C. S. Chadwifk b Reese 1 A. I). E'-k'ioff b Hickmott . . . . 1 Extras (byes 5, leg-bye 1) .. 6 Total 108 Bowling. Overs. Mdns. Rune-. Wkts. Bennett .. . . -13 5 22, ■ —• Reese .... 17 7 22 4 Sandman .... 9 1 30 2 Carlton .. .. 6 1 21 1 Hickmot-t ..... &..#. 31 --» l 2

Second Innings. H>. C. Watson b Reese . . .. 7 J. Shepherd c Reese b Bennett 19 A. W. Alloo c Reese b Bennett 3 H. G. Siedeberg not out .. .. 6 J. S. Bruges b Bennett . . .. 0 J. N. Crawford b Carlton .. 10 CANTERBURY. . First Innings. P. Woods b Crawford 10 H. A. Bishop b Siedeberg .. .. 34 R ; G. Hickmott b Crawford . . .. 38 W. R. Patrick lbw b Crawford .. 27 F. Butler b Crawford 4 T. Carlton b Crawford .. ... 2 D. Reese b Crawford 9 C. Beal not out 58 D. McK. Sandman b Ramsden .. 22 J. H. Bennett b Sideberg .. .. 0 C. Boxshall lbw b Ramsden .. . . 3 Extras (byes 8, leg-byes ; 2, no ball 1) 11 Total 218 Bowling. Overs. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. Crawford .... 19 3 67 6 Eckhoff .... 8 —' 56 Ramsden .. .. 10.3 2 29 2 Siedeberg .. 14 1 55 2 Crawford bowled one no ball. CHEISTCHURCH v. OTAGO. Press Association. DUNEDIN, December 25. The ericket match Otago League v. Christehurch City and Suburban Association was commenced on the Caledonian ground in fine weather this afternoon on an easy but rather dead wicket. DUNEDIN, December 26. At the luncheon adjournment the score stood at six wickets for 100. Scores:— CHRISTCHURCH. First Innings. W. Grammar c Hodge b Symons .. 7 ' Sames, b Butler 0 Peters c and b Butler . . .... 19 Hardy lbw b A. Torrance .. .. 0 H. Grammar lbw b Torrance .. .. .9 Kettle lbw. b Torrance . ~,• ;>. .. 4 McQuillan not out . . .... ... 15 Warren b Torrance ..-..« .. 2 Steyenson b Torrance .... .. o'. Griffin b Butler .... .. .. 5 Crossan, run but .. .. .. .. 1 Extras .... ~' .. ~ 7

Total .. ........ 68 Bpwling: .Butler 3 wickets for 19 runs, Symonds 0/23, Torrance 5/19. Second Innings.H. Gramtner not out . . . i ... 44 G. Samms . . . . ...... 28 W. Grammer .. ' ■•'. 12 ' OTAGO. First Innings. Symonds b Crossan . t 3 Torrance run out .. .. .. .. 0 Butler run-out 8 H. Hodge. b Crossan ".'. .. ;. 2 Paris lbwb Crossan .. .. .. .. 3 A. Hodge c Hardy b Sames ~ .. 11 F. Holleyman b Crossan '.'.'' .. .. 0 ' Jones b Crossan . . . . .... 0 Ross c Grammar b.Sames .. .. 15 Richmond c Peters b W. Grammar 5 Kernott not out ...... i. 19 Extras ;..... ..... 5 "' '■ * . . ■"•■ Total .. .:" x . . .. '..71 Bowling: Crossan, 5 wickets for 23 runs, Sames W. Grammar 1/8. CANTERBURY v. OTAGO JUNIORS. v Press Association. DUNEDIN, December 25. The junior cricket match Otago v. Canterbury was commenced on the North ground this afternoon in fine weather. < The .pitch prepared for the match ;was badly damaged, apparently youngsters, but another was secured and played satisfactorily. Scores up to 5 p.m.:— ■ ■■' CANTERBURY. First Innings. Milliken lbw b Holderness • •'/•• H

Lawrence run out .. .. .". .. 35 Haughey c Haig b Hutcheson .. .. 11 Guiney b Holderness .. .. .. 8 Sinclair c and b Burnside .". '.'.' 41 " Edgai 1 c and b Hutcheson .. .. 0 Russell b Burnside 26 Strange, b Burnside .. .. .. 9 Perrin st Milburn b Burnside .. 7 Thomson b Cameron .... .. 0 Wilson ■ not out .. .. ..' .. 0 • Extras .. 10 Total .... .... . • 158 Bowling:: Burnside 4 wickets for 39;. runs, Holderness 2/38, Hutcheson 2/45, Cameron 1/10. QTAGO. First' Innings. J. Haig c Wilson b Russell ..' .... 2 F. Haig not out .. .. .. .. 10 Marks not out . * .. 8 Extras .. . . .. .. *.. 5 Total for one wicket .. .. 25 Otago concluded their first innings for 125 (White 38). Edgar took five wickets for 34, Russell 2/15. At the luncheon adjournment Canterbury had lost seven wickets for 137 runs (Sinclair 2, Milliken 3, Haughey 34, Russell 41, Guiney 32, Strange 6, Perrin 4, and Lawrence 4 not out). WELLINGTON v. AUCKLAND. Press Association. AUCKLAND, December 25. The Wellington-Auckland cricket match was commenced this afternoon. When stumps were drawn for the day Wellington, had scored 258 for seven wickets. Within half an hour of resuming, Wellington lost three of their remaining wickets. Harvie clean- bowled Southall in the second over of and two overs later he had Wilson caught in the slips. Bray and Brice started play freely and at 287 the first bowling change was made, Taylor replacing Howden. The first ball was fatal to Bray, who hit high to the leg boundary, where MaSon made a good catch. Scores: —

WELLINGTON. First Innings. Midlane b Howden . . .. . . . . 22 Baker b Howden 118 Hiddleston c Rountree b Sneddon . . 2 Burton c and b Howden 78 Robinson b Howden 7 Dickson b Howden . . 7 Burns b Harvie .. ..' .. .. 0 Bray c Mason b Taylor .. .. .. 28 SouthaW b Harvie .. 2 Wilson c Heinus b Harvie .. .. 2 Brice not out 4 Extras .. . • 16 Total . . 288 Bowling:—Harvie 3 wickets tor 83, Howden 5/54, Sneddon 1/60, Taylor 1/16. MARLBOROUGH v. WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, December 25. The representative match, Wellington v. Marlborough, was commenced' to-day. Marlborough were disposed of for 102 (Allcott 35). Rogers took eight wiekets for 13 runs. At 5 o'clock Wellington had lost two wiekets for 46. DRUIDS AT PLAY. WELLINGTON, December 26. In the Wellington v. Christehurch Druids' match, Wellington, in their first innings, made 75 runs. Rix and Spicer did deadly work with the ball. The Christehurch score at luncheon was five for 131. POLICE POROE AND THE SUN. A CLOSE MATCH. , The advent of a large party of policemen and. detectives to Sydenhatn about 10 sljbi. yesterday, caused the good people I of that suburb to wonder what was afoot.

and many of them conjured up visions of two-up raids and even more ter-ible things. A number of sensation-seeking youths followed the force of law and order to Sydenham Park, and there found that the only excitement was a cricket match between the Christchureh Police Force and the combined staffs of The Sun. This was the second match played between these teams, and The Sun men were anxious to wipe out the defeat inflicted on them on Good Friday, when their wickets fell with disastrous frequency before the long hops of the Force. The police, however, won the match, but their majority was reduced to 11. The Sun went in first, and made 148. Hickey batted most of the morning for 77, defying the efforts of bowlers and fieldsmen to get him out; but where policemen could not arrest the progress of his score, Christmas luncheon did it, and he failed to notch a run after the adjournment. The double-figure scorers were:— Gale 15 not out, Holland 14, Hendry 13, and Maris 10. Ward got three wickets for 8, and Butters three for 28. The police made 159, their top-scorer being a substitute, Hickinbottom, who got 41. other double-figure men were:— Butters 38, Harry (a modest youth filling a gap in the ranks, who bid for fame under his Christian name) 26, Carney 19, and Began 10. E. Cummins took five wickets for 49, and Hickey three for 29. Excitement ran very high as the Police score crept up to The Sun's, with only three wickets to go. As one of the Hibernian members of the Force might say, the winning hit was a bye, and it was received with wild cheers.

In their second venture The Sun had compiled 67 for.five wickets when time was called. McKenzie made 22, Hahna 16, and B. Cummins 13 not out. Dunnett took three wickets for 11. \