CRICKET NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5501, 28 February 1896, Page 4

CRICKET NOTES.

[BT SCORING BOARD IN " CANTERBURT TIMES."] Most of the interest in Christchurch cricket on Satiu'day centred in the Senior Cup match at Lancaster Park between the Midland and Lancaster Park first elevens. Should the Midlanders win the game, their right to the possession of the trophy for another year would be indisputably established ; but if, on the other hand, the Lancastrians downed them, a further tussle between the two would be necessary, in order to find the Senior Champions of the season 1895-6. Another attraction at Lancaster Park was the practical final in the Junior Cup competition — the match between the home team's second eleven and the United Club's junior eleven. Then, too, the excellent string and brass band from H.M.S. Orlando added considerably to the enjoyment of the afternoon, and as the weather was perfect and the wickets and out-fields in first-rate order, an afternoon was provided that fulfilled all the requirements necessary for quiet and unalloyed pleasure. The play in the senior match has so far gone in favour of the Park eleven. Winning the toss and taking advantage of one of French's very best wickets they kept the Midlanders on the move all the afternoon. The scoring though was not as high aa might have been expected. The bowlers found the wicket all too good for them, and De Maus was practically the only man able to get any work on. The fielding was, as a rule, good and sharp, but several serious mistakes were made, which cost a number of runs eventually. Ido not expect to notice much increase in the score for the last two wickets, and, given as good a wicket and as fast an outfield as obtained on Saturday, I fully expect to see the Midlanders score heavily against the undoubtedly weak bowling of their opponents. Cuff was again to the fore with the bat for his side, and his 81 was another of his crisp and workmanlike displays. He scored fourteen boundary hits, which fact shows plainly that he infused a great amount of vigour into his play. Fowke once more demonstrated that he has recovered some of his old batting form of. years ago, and I am glad to congratulate him upon a good innings, even if it was marred by a chance at the start. Hasell played well too, some of his cuts and off-drives being perfect. Orchard hit out lustily, and will with practice and attention make a name for himself as a vigorous and attractive batsman. C. Ridley did not score a great many, but his steady and correct play at the start was invaluable to his side, and helped the later batsmen a good deal. De Maus bowled best, and did not have any assistance from luck; D. Reese secured a couple of wickets, but somehow seems to have lost a lot of his spin and twist; Pearce was much below his usual form. The other senior mateh — United against Sydenham — does not afford much room for comment. The game, before it was started, was considered a moral certainty for the United team, the result could not affect the championship in the least, and the wicket at one end was very fiery and bumpy. Collins's pace and vagaries in the matter of rise were too much for the earlier Sydenham batsmen, and after he tired and left the bowling crease, Kitto and D. Wood, by keeping a good length, captured the remaining wickets somewhat easily. Malloch was top scorer with ?1, obtained by free hitting, and he 'stood, up well to Collins's expresses. Later on Walmsley iand the Hon E. C. J. Stevens showed good batting, but outside the trio mentioned the play of the team may be again classed as below good junior form". Upon going into the field the suburbans showed execrable form. v The bowling was not at all bad, but the v fielding was — well simply disgraceful, and United have got within measurable distance of their opponents with only two wickets down. Sims's play was narrowly watched, and most of the onlookers hoped for a good score from his bat. He is in the way of a fair total, but it must be admitted that he was let off three times in the field. None of the chances were easy ones, but a smart fielding team would have seen that at least one of them was secured. Collins and Clark scored freely, but both had to thank the field for a second lease of life. The match between the Lancaster Park and United Senior teams was at last finished on Monday evening. The United had made so bad a start in their second innings that a victory seemed out of the question, and Sunday's rain put the matter beyond any doubt. The Junior Cup match between the Lancaster Park and United has so far gone all in favour of the Park men. Bates and Smith dismissed the United for 66, and Bates and F. H. Labatt are responsible for most of the 109 runs scored by the Park for the loss of eight wickets. Bates took six wickets for 30 runs and scored 34 not out. Labatt has scored 39 not out. The Midland-High School match was not very interesting or , exciting. The Midlanders- played with only eight men, but won easily in a single innings, the loss of Sims, Manson and others from the School having reduced the team to the level of the President's Cup competition. Worrall's score for Carlton against University was 417 not out, not 415 not out, as cabled. The total number of runs scored in the late United and Lancaster Park Senior Cup match was 1124. This represents a loss of thirty-eight wickets, or an average of 29.5 per wicket. Robertson's great success against Otago when bowling for Southland emphasises my remarks upon his departure from here, that Canterbury would very soon and often regret allowing him to leave this province for the sake of a small sacrifice of enthusiasm and pulling together. In view of the proposed tour to Aiistralia by a New Zealand eleven next season, I would like to suggest that a bag for voluntary subscriptions should be held at the gates of all our grounds for the rest of the season. Perhaps contributions would be small, but every little helps, and I have sufficient faith in the enthusiasm of lovers of the game to believe that every Saturday a regular sum would be handed over to the Association to help to defray the expenses of New Zealand's first cricket invasion of Australian territory. This idea might be carried o\it in all of the different centres. lam sure most of our players, at least, would be glad to drop a coin, however humble, into the bag, and I know of many onlookers who would be only too pleased to contribute weekly towards ensuring the financial smoothness of the proposed toiu\