INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET MATCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2746, 17 January 1877, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET MATCH.

♦ CANTERBURY V. OTAGO. Few matches at crioket in this part of the Oolony have been regarded with so muoh interest aa the one commenced on the Hagley Park ground to-day. The circumatancea under which ifc is played are of an exceptional oharaoter, hence tbe feelings of the partisans on either Bide are much stronger than usual. In the firßt place, Canterbury and Otago are on an equal footing with regard to the number of matches won by each. Up to fche present time thirteen matches havo been played, and of theso one was drawn, while in the remaining twelve, six viotories were recorded to Otago, and a like number to ourselves. Otago ran away from us for a long lime after the Interprovincial Match was first established, but d uring the last six yoara a great change h&s taken place, Canterbury winning no less than five out of the haif dozen matches played. The two provinces being now on equal terms, the present match is regarded to a certain extent; aa the deciding heat, and this alone is sufficient to excite considerable interest. Tbe rivalry, however, haa b»en considerably increased by tho fact of the Otago team only playing the matoh this year, in deference fco the strongly expressed wish of fche Canterbury men. In the early parfc of the season the Otago cricketera preferred a requeat that, in view of a visit from tho AllEngland Eleven, tho Interprovincial match should be allowed to stand over, bufc Canterbury very justly objected, fche principal ground taken being, that whon fche laafc English Eleven visited New Zealand, a team was senfc from here for the Interprovincial match in Dunedin, without the slightest demur. Seeing the justice of the objectiona to a postponement of the match, Otago consented fco send a team, but there is a feeling among the southern partisans that they were dragged into the match by us, because we had a good team, and they are accordingly all the more anxious fco win. How unjust fcheir ideas are with respect to the reason why Canterbury was anxious nofc to commence fche objectionable practice of postponing a match ifc is needless here to say. Our men aoted with perfect reason and bona fides in fche wholo affair, and any unprejudiced person must see it. There is yefc another matter which bas added to the interest taken in the preaent contest, and fchat ia our difficulty experienced in getting a suitable team together, and apathy which has been shown in practice. These points, though not destroying fche faith of Canterbury in its champions, haa certainly made fche result more doubtful, and consequently has engendered nofc a little anxiety in tho minds of Canterbury people. Under theae circumstances fcho progress of the game will be carefully watched, and fche home team, recognising the importance of the occasion, will no doubt use their utmost exertionß fco maintain the prestige of tbe Provinoe in cricketing matters. The rain which commenced on Sunday laßt, fortunately cleared off yeßterday evening, and ooupled with a bright Bun thia morning, enabled the superfluous water on the cricket ground to dry up. At 11 o'clook the ground was in very fair playing order, much better than expected ; bufc as the time for commencing play approached heavy olouds began to collect, and the sky again assumed a very threatening appearance. The ground arrangement was on a very elaborate scale, and lefb nothing to be desired. The line of demarcation between the players and the publio was clearly defined by flags, a large marquee was ereoted and provided with seats, there were sundry tenta for the ecorere, and members of the Press, also a refreshment booth and luncheon tenfc, where a tolerable amount of business was transacted. The old pavilion was placed afc the disposal of fche Otago men, and the other was used by the home team. A new feature in oonneotion wifch the proceedings was the printing of fche scores at short intervals by some employes of the Press, who had their type and machine in the side room of the old pavilion. This waß no doubt a good thing for fche publio, who oould at any time by the expenditure of a amall aum ascertain exactly how the game atood, and what each man had scored. Besides thia thero waß alao the ÜBual telegraph board on the ground, which was very oaref ully attended to. Mr H. Cotterill officiated as soorer for Canterbury, and Mr Cohen for Otago, the umpires being respectively Meßara Harley and Campbell. Ollivier who captained the home team, won the toss, and selected to go in. Paramor, the Otago captain, placed his men as follows : — Robo, cover point; Cargill, point; Meares, mid-on; Bouch, square leg j Morrison, bowler and slip ; Reade, oover slip ; Nioholls, long leg and mid-off ; Paramor, third man ; MUlingfcon, bowler and Blip ; Rhodes, longBtop ; Clarke, mid-off, and long leg. Ollivier and Alpe were first to appear at the wickets, and by this time the sun waa again ahining brightly. At 12.16, Morrison from the top end opened the ball by delivering to Ollivier, who senfc his first hall square leg for one. Alpe stopped hia first ball neatly, but played his second on to his wicket and retired for nil. The game Btanding at I—o—o. Corfe appeared at the vacant wiokefc, and played fche last ball of the over forward, bub did nofc score. Millington took the ball afc fche bottom end. Corfe hit his firßt bull to square-leg, and two resulted. Ollivier received tho remainder of the over. Corfe drove Morrison's seoond ball smartly fco the off, adding three to his score. A leg-bye for one waß followed by | Ollivier hitting Millington to mid-off, where he waß missed by Clarke, but the ball boing returned Bmartly, Ollivier, who foolishly stopped in his run, to ace if Clarke held the ball, had to retire, 2—3—7. H. W. Moore appeared at tho wiokets. Corfo mado one by forward play, and in fche nexfc over, Moore added a single, by a cut to point, an example directly afterwards followed by Corfe. Corfe made a hard hit to mid-off, but the field being very smart, nothing resulted, and Morrison recorded the first maiden over. Mooro hit Millington hard to the off for a twoer. Corfe by a neat out added a single, and at 12.38 ten appeared on the board. Millington bowled another maiden. Moore made a pretty out for two, and drove fche nexfc ball fco fche on for a like number. The field being smart and the ball travelling slowly on tbe grass, runs came slower than the batting, whioh was really good at both ends, deserved. Oorfe, by a hard drive to the off, improved hia total by three, and 20 went up. Moore hit Millington well to mid-off, but Meares fielding Bmartly only a single resulted, and off the aecond ball of Morrison's next over Moore made a neat forward drive for three. Thia waß followed by Millington bowling another maiden. Paramor now took the ball at Morrison's ond. Corfe hit his firat to mid- on, and through a pieoe of bad fielding, scored one. Moore by a forward drive off the next ball ran three, but one being called ahort, only two was added to the ecore. By a foolieh attempt at a run in Millington'a next over, Oorfe nearly loat the

number of his mesa. The over was anubuor maiden to Millington 's credit. A out for one by Corfe robbed Paramor of a maiden j and by a drive to the on for a eiogle, he did the same for Millington. A single each to Oorfe and Mooro waa recorded in Paramor's nexfc over. Moore hit Millington through the fence at square-leg, and soored the firat 4 of fche day. Corfe played Paramor neatly forward for a aingle.'and Moore hit him hard to the on for a brace. A good hit in fche same direction by Oorfe and 3 resulted. One o'clock and 40 up. Moore added a Bingle and off the nexfc over drove Paramor forward for a couple. One for a leg.bye, and a hit to the on by Moore for 3, wore obtained off Millington, and Reade took the ball from Paramor. Moore obtained 1 forward off Reade's laat ball, and thua spoilt tbe over. Moore made two cuts to point, but Cargill'a smart fielding saved a score. Moore added a single off the last ball of tho over, and then aent Reade forward for 3, bringing the half century on to the board. Moore, now well set, drove Millington hard to tho on for 3, cut Reade neatly for a single, hit Millington's first to square-leg for a brace, then by a splendid forward drivo off tho same bowler put 3 more to his total, and hit Reade's first to leg for a single. Corfe playod the remainder of tho over, making two pretty outs, but smart fielding prevented any addition to tho soore. Moore hit Millington well fco the on for a brace. Corfe pufc Reade forward for 1, after which the firsfc wide of tho day wasg ; ven by the latter. Morrison now relieved Millington, and commenced with a maiden. Moore skied Reade to square leg, and Bouch made a good try for a catch, but ifc was out of his reaob, and 4 waa the result, bringing 70 on to tho board. Timo, 1 30. Morrison changed from round to over the wickefc. Corfo made a single off the first and Moore ditto off fcho last ball of tho over. Moore senfc Reado fco square leg for a brace, and Morrison bowled a maiden. Mooro drove Reade forward for 2, and made a single off Morrison, Corfo following up with 2, one being the result of a bad throw in. Moore, playing beautifully, made a brace off Reado, then hit him through fche fence to square-leg for 4, and followed ifc up with a 2 in tho Bame direction. Corfe put tho first ot* Morrison's next over to mid-on for a single, and Moore drove the same bowler beautifully fco loDg-on for 3. A pause was now made for lunoheon, fche sooro being 92. O'rfe's contribution being 22, and Moore's, 63 Time — 1.45 p.m. Play waa resumed afc 18 minutes to 3 o'clock. Millington having changed ends, commenced bowling to Moore, who senfc the third ball to fche on for a single. Morrison bowled from the ofcher end, Moore hit him neatly to leg for a brace, and scored three from the next ball by a drive to fcho off, making seven runs in five minutee from resuming play. Moore cut Millington beautifully for a pair, and amid loud applause brought ICD on to the board, time 2 49. Moore with a fine forward drivo off Millington added three more to his total, and again secured tho bowling. He cut Morrison's firat for 1, and Oorfe played the remainder of the over down. A aingle each fco Moore and Corfe waa obtained off Millington's nexfc over. Corfe cut Morrison for 1, and the time had now almost arrived for dissolving the partnership, whioh had been Bodisaßtroua in ita reaulta to Otago. Mooro played the nexfc ball neatly, but in making a vicious hit afc the succeeding one, lost his off stump. 106 — 3 — 76. Moore's innings waa a - very fine exhibition of free hitting, combined with good defence, and he woll deserved the hearty applause awarded to him as he retired. Leach filled the vacant wicket. Corfe slipped Millington for a single, and made one off Morrison's first ball. Millington bowled a maiden. Leach hit Morrison to leg for a brace, and Millington added another maiden to his credit • the field as lively as crickets. Leach played Morrison's firsfc oarefully, but the second displaced hia bails, one of fche finest batsmen of fche team fchus retiring for fcwo, the game standing 110 — 4 — 2. J. Fowler was the next to handle the willow. Time— Ten minutea psßfc three o'clock. Morrison's over waa a maiden. Millington aho placed one to hia oredifc, and Morriaon did fche aamo. Corfe hit Millington to square leg for; two, and waa clean bowled with the noxt ball. Hia inninga, which ocoupied in all about two hours, waß thua closed for 28 rune, obtained by some of the steadiest and beat play ever seen on the ground. The game now stood 112 — 5 — 28; time, 3.15. Ashby joined Fowler, and played fche laßfc ball of fche over, a hot one, oarefully. Morriaan bowled a maiden. Millington followed suifc, and Morrison added another to his credit. Aahby akied Millington's first forward, giving Clarke at forward square log, a ohance whioh was neatly taken. Ashby thus retired for nil, 112—6—0. Seoretan took Ashby's place at the wickets, and played a maiden from Morrison in beautiful stylo. Millington bowled another maiden. Secretan cut Morrison neatly for 1. The following is fche complete score up to 3 30 p.m. :— Alpe, b Morrison 0 Ollivier, 12, run out 3 Corfe, 31113111113112111112, b Morrison 28 Mooro, 12221321421231133123124121124251232311, b Morrison 76 Leach, 2, b Morrison 2 J. Fowler, not out 0 Ashby, c Clarke b Millington 0 Socretan, 1, not out 1 Leg-byes, 11 2 Wide, 1 1 Total, up to 3.30 p.m 113 M.0.0.C. V. UNITED BANKERS. The return match M.C.C.O. v. United Bankers, which waa arranged to be continued on Saturday next (provided the Interprovin-c.-al matoh i« finished on Friday), haa been postponed sine die, and tho following match substituted — M.C.C.O Second Eleven v. an Elovon of tho U.C.C.C. The following will comprise the M.C.C.O team, viz. : — Messrs Barringer, Bell, Gray, Hielop, M'lntyre, Palairet, Reeder, H. S. Smith, M. S. Smith, Tajlor, and Turner ; emergency, M'Cardell and Hill. Play to commence at 2.30 p.m. punctually. LYTTELTON V. SUNNYSIDE. The following is the Lyttelton Eleven seleoted fco play in the match Sunnyside v. Lyttelton on Thursday nexfc, leaving the Porfc by fcho 11 a.m. train : — Meears R. Cole, Eyea, I Hirst, Hawkins, Gordon, O'Grady, Makeig, Rogers, F. Ward, and T. Smith.