BENNETT THE AVENGER

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11026, 14 March 1914, Page 7

BENNETT THE AVENGER

A SURPRISE AT THE PARK.

THE CHAMPIONS FAIL. visitors fifteen behind. TRUMPER TAKES THE COURT AT 34. The return match Australia v. Canterbury was continued at Lancaster Park to-day in line weather. There was a largo attendance, which grew as the day progressed. On tho first day Canterbury had made 238, and Australia had lost 110 wickets for 07, so that there was every prospect of a good afternoon's cVickct. The result of the play was a pleasant surprise for Canterbury. Everybody was glad that the local team lnid made 258, although there was a suspicion that the Australian bowlers wore not doing their best; but nobody expected that 'Australia would fail to conic to light with a big score. Collins and Waddy started really well, and when three wickets were dowir for 1(37 there was every promiso of a score. But Dennett was bowling at his best, and the critics credited hjm with having found a spot. When Noble, Lavcr and fell cueaply, and Tnimper throw away his wicket legbefore, it was apparent that the game was becoming close, and there was a great shout when the last wicket fell for 243.

The opinion was current that the Australians would try to retrieve the position by getting Canterbury out cheaply and going in again. This, at least, would have shown the team on its best behaviour, and the spectators settled down for some good bowling. However, Ihero was no early rot, and tho game resolved itself into a draw in Canterbury's favour. THE PLAY.

Waddy ,(34) and C-ollins (19) were tho not out men. Bennett and Monaghan wore the howlers. Runs canie steadily until Watkly one from Monaghan on to his wicket. 70—1—41. Collins got three off Bennett, hut nearly played him on, and Mailey, who had taken Waddy's placo, got a single. Collins at 32 looked very like leg before to 'Bennett, but got the verdict. Ho was not at home to Moniighan, and lifted him near Woods, at mid-off. Then ho lost .'Mnilejy-who lifted one back to Monaghan, a hard catch. 82—2—3. Mackenzie, who was making his first appearance in Christchureh, cut Bennett nicely, while Collins pulled a loose ono for lour, and late cut another for four f»ul a third for two. reaching 45. Mackenzie drove Monaghan hard to long cover, and Bishop, fielding magnificently, sent it in fast to tho bowler, who whipped the bails off, an instant late. Collins found the leg boundary off tho same bowler, and a_ single brought the century in eighty-nine minutes. slow scoring for Australians. Sandman relieved Bennett, w hose overs had cost 40, hut Collins placed him to leg for two, and to tlio on for four, reaching 50. Tho Canterbury fielding was firstclass, Bishop and Woods throwing" tho wickets down with smart returns. At 109 Carlton was tried at the pavilion end, Monaghan's figures being two for 41. Collins -welcomed the change, and lifted him to leg for four. Ho also kept Woods racing along the off boundary for Sandman. Mackenzio broke six singles by cutting Carlton for four, and the score'mounted to 139, when Beale was tried just before luncheon, a maiden resulting. After luncheon Bennett howled a maiden, but Collins liit Monaghan for three fours and a two, all on the on, bringing 150 up, and his own 80. Bad fielding by Woods gave Mackenzie four off Bennett, but ho blocked onedangeronsly near the bowler." Monaghan was persevered with, but Mackenzie drove him to the. off boundary, following it with a four in the slips off Bennett. In tho same over fie touched ono' into Boxshall's hands. 167—3—30. Laver, the big manager, got a good reception. _ To mark'his advent, polling again lifted Monaghan' to leg, reaching-90, but nearly played the nextbull on. Layer made a , single, and -was then bowled by Bennett m reaching for a ball that came .in. 177—4—1. Noble was sixth man, and applause rippled round tho ground as he came in. Ho got 3 to square' leg off Bennett and a single off Carlton, who took tho ball from Monaghan. Collins, who had hung at 94, attompted to pull Carlton and skied tho ball back to the bowler. 181—5—94. Collins was at the wickets 2 hours 25 minutes.

Crawford made a single and was clean bowled by Bennett. Trumper came in to another round of applause, but started very slowly. Noble did most of the scoring, going freely until lie . chopped Bennet on. 187—7—17. They were playing for keeps iiow. Armstrong partnered Trumper,' and just snicked Carlton clear .off his legs tor four in fine slip, bringing 200 up. Trumper pullfid Bennet for three and chopped Carlton to square-leg for four, coming across the wicket to do it. He did the same to Bennett, and then i>faced a. lovely four through cover and midoff,. Monaghan at 226 took Carlton's end. Seven came off him, but ho nearly got Armstrong lbw. The score mounted to 240, and then Sandman came on and Trumper got his leg badly in front to his fu'st ball.- 240 -Jrg—34. The crowd was sorry to see (him go, but lie had taken risks that a worse batsman would have avoided. Sims, tl.ie visitors' captain, got threo cheers from the Canterbury team. He ea'mo in to finish his not out 184, and started with three off Sandman. The change of ends was fatal to Armstrong, who pulled one to Patrick at wide mid--011 and started to rifh. ■ Patrick sent it in fast and Sandman had the bails off with Armstrong well out. 243—9 34. M'Gregor came in, but Bennett at the other end bowled him first ball, the innings closing lu behind Canterbury. The. innings had lasted threo hours thirteen minutes, and barring the 124 at Wellington, was the lightest score of the tour. Bennett was conceded to have bowled magnificently, and no batsman showed any inclination to take liberties with him. He got five wickets for 78. ' Canterbury opened their second innings at 3.00 p.m. with Woods and Caygill, Crawford bowling from the railway end. Woods late cut him beautifully for four and one. -Vlailoy at the other end sent Woods a loose one, which ho banged to leg for four, adding a single off each bowler. Cavgill was very uneasy to Crawford, but got iVaiiey away past mid-ofl' for four. Woods was vigorous, but when iie was 20 lie was clean bowled by Crawford. 24—1—20. Bishop joined Caygill, just as the airman appeared on the scene, and a stoppage was agreed on to watch him. On resuming Bishop started to hit hard, hut was clean bowled by a straight one from Jlailey. 40—2—5. Me ha.d given one stumping chane,3 off Jlnilev. Caygill was going steadily, and- .M.ickmott followed suit. Armstrong and Noble came on in place of Mailey and Crawford, and the change c«tne off. Noble sent li last one down to Caygill, with a bit'of an off break, and it found the leg slump. 58—3—2 N. Heale broke his duck, but HiekmoU, alter cutting Noble for four, hit a ball'hack to Armstrong. U-l—l - 8. Patrick, the incomer, got, a couple of singles and then lifted Armstrong over the embankment, repeating his

performance of tho first innings, and square cut him For four. Beale drove Noble straight for four, and Patrick tried to lift Armstrong into tho pavilion,'Wfiddy dropping the catch on the boundary. 'lt went for four, and lie added four to leg next ball, nnd six next ball to the on just over Mackenzie's head. At 98 Craw-ford was tried at Noblo's end, but Armstrong was kent on, although his last over cost 14" Bealo brought tho century up in eighty-six minutes, but Patrick in trying to lift Armstrong for another six skied it to Collins at short leg. 100—5—26. Sandman was not lonp; m hitting Armstrong for foni% and Bcale got busy with Crawford, finding the leg and off boundary in the same over. A .jumping ball ran up his bat and .evidently struck his head, but lie was able to ao on. At 110 Layer came on, and ban-led Bealo with his fourth ball. 119—6-22.

Carlton joined Sandman, who lifted Lavcr to the off, hut was clean bowhnl by Armstrong in the next over. 125 *7^—l4. Monaglmn did not score, for in slashing Armstrong to leg lie found Xoblo a little behind squaro leg, where a clever oiie-handed catch was brought ofT. 127—8—0/ Bennett was applauded for his good batting performance Hp lifted Lavcr to tho east stand, and made a similar stroke off Armstrong. Again he hit Lnver for four and a single, bringing 150 up. Ho tried to repeat the stroke, but Sims had moved in from the country, and took a good running catch. 164—9—16. Boxshall, 'the last man, got tho applause that usually comes to tho veteran. _ He drove'Lavor straight past tile wicket for four. He ran up the pitch for a hit by Carlton in the last over, and was run out. 1(39.—10—7. Tho innings lasted 133 minutes. • The following arc the scores: — CANTERBURY, First Innings. F. Woods, b Crawford 0 E. K. Cayprill, 1421. lbw b Crawford . . 8 R. G. Hi'ckmott, 12, c Trumpcr b Craw-

ford .3 C. E. Beale, 2323143. c Waddy b Noble . 17 W. R. Patrick, 331211244121114121224111 14444146U11, c Trumper b ATmat-rons; 78 D. Sandman, 141114224-124.111224111111411 11, b Armstrong 61 H. A, Bishop, 11111141, c Waddy b Arm-

strong 'I T.'Carlton, 441111131144, b Armstrong . 26 H. AV. Monaghan, 441111411111, lbw b

Armstrong 21 J. H. Bennett, 1111411, b Crawford . 10 C. Boxshall, 21121, not out . . . .10 Byes . : S Leg-byes . . • . . • ■ 3 AVides . * . • . . • .2 Total ' 253 Bowling. Analysis.—Armstrong, 33 overs. 7 maidens, 90 runs, S. wickets; overs, 3 maidens, 81. runs, i wickets; Noble, 12 ovfers, 3 maidens, 34 runs, 1 wicket; Mailey, 6 overs, 37 runs; Lavcr, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 36 runs. Second Innings. F. Woods, 4111111214. b Crawford . . 29 E. K, Cavgill, 421411144111111, b Noble . 23 H. A. Bishop, 1211, b Mailey , . . .5 R. G. Hicliniott, 11111, c and b, Armstrong * ...... J) C. E. Beale, 1441111441, b Lavo.r . . 22 W.. K. Patrick, 1161146, c Collins b Armstrong 26 11. Sandman, 4112141, b Armstrong . . 14 T. Carlton, 112421114111, not out . . 20 H. Monaghan, c Noble b Armstrong . 0 J. H. Bennett, 14141141, c Sims b Laver . 17 C. Boxshall, 211, run out .... 7 Byes, 1 ....... 3 Leg-b/es . . . ■ . . 1 Total 169 -Bowling Analysis.—Crawford, 12 overs, 1 maiden, 33 runs, 1 wicket; Mailey, 7 overs, 29 l-uns, 1 wicket; Armstrong, 17 overs, 2 maidens, 68 runs, 4 wickots; Noble, 6 overs, 1 maiden, 14 runs, 1 wicket; Laver, 6 overs, 1 maiden, 22 runs, 2 wickets. AUSTRALIA. First Innings. E. L. Waddy, 441141123146111141, b llanoghan , . • ... 41 A. A. Mailey, 111, c and b Monaghan . 3 Collins, c and b Carlton .... 91 Mackenzie, c Boxshall b Bennett . . 30 Laver, b Bennett . . . . » "J Crawford, b Bennett »..»•! Noble, b Bennett 1' Trumper, lbw b Bennett . . . . ■>* Armstrong, run out ( • 11 M'Orregor, b Bennett , . . . . 0 A. Sims, not out . , . . • » Extras Total Bowling Aualvsis.—Bennett, 29.1 overs, 6 maidens, 78 l-nns. o wickets; Carlton, lo overs, 1 maiden, S3 runs, 1 wicket; Monaghan, 20 overs, i maidens. 81 runs, i wickets; Sandman. 7 overs, 23 runs, 1 wicket; Benlc, 1 over, 1 maiden. GROSS TAKINGS £290. The first day's gross takings totalled £ol and to-day's £239. The whole of this sum Will go tn the park fund, less small expenses such as advortismg and catering.'

THE BENEFIT GATE. THANKS TO THE AUSTRALIANS. At the luncheon. Mr F. Wilding, on behalf of the Board of Control, expressed bis appreciation of the generous assistance given by the Australians towards the ground fund in foregoing their share of the proceeds. He referred to the colossal financial genius of Mr €. 11. Clark, ,who, administering a ground with a capital of six shillings, had spent thousands. Canterbury was pleased, not so much with the value of the gift as with the true sporting spirit behind it. Mr G. H. Mason, on behalf of the Rugby Union, said that the Rugby partners in Lancaster Park • were just as grateful as the cricketers. The best thing that Rugby footballers had done was to join with the cricketers in securing the park for all time for the purpose of amateur sport. Mr Sims, in replying, said that he was glad to have organised a team, with the able assistance of Mr Laver, which was able to uphold the high traditions set by Australian teams to 'England from 1896 to 1909. and he was glad that it had not fallen to his lot to bo responsible for a, team into whoso conduct 110 inquiry would have to be made on its return. He thought there was something wrong with the controlling body in Australia if it did not get on with such vory good fellows.

Mr Laver, in replying, said tliat it was tho fine class of people who were running; cricket in Christchurch that made tho game go ahead. Australian teams in New Zealand had one long holiday, treated generously throughout. The members of the team were particularly grateful to. Mr Wilding for tho very pleasant entertainment lie had provided on the previous evening. Mr Noble, who also responded, commended Christehurch on its encouragement of cricket, but urged that good practico wiekots were indispensable. All tho control in tho world would not make cricketers, and lie thought that New Zealand should send a team to Australia, every two years.