NOTES ON YESTERDAY'S PLAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18073, 5 February 1927, Page 10

NOTES ON YESTERDAY'S PLAY.

(Special to the “Star.”) DUNEDIN, February 4. Page was leading Canterbury in a Shield game for the first time, and he signalised this by winning the toss. lie elected to bat on what seemed an easy wicket, though several of the Canterbury batsmen did not appear to find it so. The Canterbury innings opened badly, but finished well. The first two wickets fell for a total of 15 runs, but Read and Cunningham put on $0 runs for the last wicket. When the ninth wicket fell the total was 192, and it looked as if the innings would close for about 200. However, Read and Cunningham did unexpectedly well, though they were a bit lucky, epecially Cunningham, who was badly dropped by Duncan off Dickinson before he had scored. The Canterbury innings was not a brilliant exhibition of batting, and at no stage was the bowling conquered, the scoring being as free during the Read-Cunningham partnership as at any other period of the innings. The fact that seven of the batsmen were bowled is an indication of the upper hand held by the bowlers. It was certainly not very flattering to Canterbury batsmen, as the wicket was an easy one. Just before the partnership between Read and Cunningham a shower of rain fell. This made the ball greasy and necessitated the use of sawdust, and no doubt helped the last two batsmen to put on the good score they did. Page again came to the rescue of Canterbury, and but for his innings the score would probably have been very small. He went in after the fall of the second wicket, when things going badly for his side. Page has the right temperament for big cricket, and the fact that the position was bad did not seem to trouble him in the slightest. Right from the beginning of his innings he faced the bowling confident13'. His innings could hardly be described as a brilliant exhibition of batting. It was more solid than brilliant. In spite of the fact that he was in for nearly three hours, he never really collared the bowling, and his rate of scoring was slow throughotit. His total of 73 included only three fours. This was a tribute to Otago's bowling and fielding. Page scored the runs, but he had to exercise care throughout. He batted for 168 minutes. Ilis innings should further enhance his chances of gaining a place in the New Zealand team. Page gave one chance when his total was 65. It was off Alloo, but Blamires in the slips dropped the ball. The next delivery from Alloo Page stepped out, missed the ball and gave Symonds a good stumping chance, but it was not accepted. Eventually he was dismissed by Alloo, playing one from that bowler on to his sticks. Next to Page’s innings Read s was probably the most valuable to Canterbury. It is rather interesting to note that Read fs by far the oldest member of the Canterbury team and he again proved that when runs are needed experienced players will often get them when the younger men fail. He batted in characteristic style and he laid the wood solidly behind any loose stuff that was sent down to him. When his total was 20 he gave a chance in the slips off Dickinson, but Blamires dropped the ball. This was. the same over in which Cunningham gave a chance to Duncan, so that Otago’s express merchant was decidedly unlucky. A rather curious incident happened in Read's innings. He returned a ball to Dickinson. In playing the shot the batsman went well out of his crease. Dike a shot Dickinson threw the ball hard to Read's end. He hit the wickets and Otago appealed unsuccessfully for rain out. Read ducked and the ball missed his head by inches. If it had hit him it would probably have inflicted serious injury. Talbot played a good knock for a total of 26. His partnership with Page was very useful to Canterbury. They became associated when the total

was 15 for two wickets, and it looked as if the innings was going to be a repetition of Canterbur> r, s first innings in the Auckland and Wellington games. However, Talbot and Page stopped the rot effiectively and carried the total to 63 before they were separated. Talbot was going nicely when he played a. delivery from Blunt on to his wicket. Oliver made 19. but. his displa>’ of batting was onl\ r fair. It was certainly not up to his best standard, which he has failed to produce in Shield, cricket this season. Crawford again failed, being caught by Blair at mid off off Torrance after he had scored six. Blair nearly- misjudged the ball, but he held the catch well. Crawford must have still further reduced his chances of getting into the New Zealand team, and for this reason his failure to-day , was regrettable. Nixon, who was the opening batsman with Talbot, was expected to make runs, but the fourth ball of the match got him Ibw after scoring a nice four off Dickinson. Hamilton, the Old Collegian’s colt, made S and then succumbed to Torrance. It was a case of inexperience against experience. Hamilton played all over a ball from Otago’s veteran bowler, who has now been pla>'ing for the province for twenty-one years. Evans made 9. He never appeared very comfortable. Merritt w'as obviously nervous when he went in to bat. He drove Alloo for a nice four, but next ball Alloo skittled him. Cunningham amused the crowd with some of his unorthodox shots, but he made runs when they were wanted and held his end up well. The most prolific partnership in Canterbury’s innings was that of Read and Cunningham. The next best was between Talbot and Page, which added 48 for the third wicket. Oliver and Page added 43 for the fourth, and Page and Boon 46 for the sixth. Boon played a nice innings for 18. Otago employed five bowlers. The most successful was Alloo, who took three wickets for 37 runs. At one stage his average was three for 25, but Read helped to spoil it. Read was the only Canterbury batsman who knocked Alloo about much. Alloo bowled eighteen overs, including three maidens. He has now taken fift.v-one wickets in Shield games. His fiftieth victim was Merritt. Torrance bowled steadily, and most of his deliveries! commanded respect. Blunt was not up to his usual form with the ball, but this was probably due to the fact that he was suffering from an injured hand. Dickinson was erratic, and some of his deliveries were very near wides. Otago’s fielding on the whole was good, though several chances were missed. Blamires dropped three in the slips—Page, Read and Oliver, the last-mentioned when he had made six. Knight and Blunt were noticeable for some very quick work in the field. Symonds, the Otago wicketkeeper, who was making his first appearance in Shield games, was not impressive before lunch, but he improved greatly after. Of the score of 125 for five wickets? at lunch, 23 were extras, but after lunch until the end of the innings there were only two extras. The value of Blunt to Otago is demonstrated b> r the fact that out cf a total of 107 for four wickets he scored 73. He opened well and played the howling confidently. He brought off some beautiful shots. If he gets going again to-morrow he should not have much difficulty in reaching his century'. Knight and Blunt gave Otago a useful start, putting on 54 before they were separated. They looked set for a much higher total when Knight gave Nixon a chance at point. Nixon, who was fielding brilliantly, made no mistake about it. The bowling of Merritt impressed Dunedin critics. He kept an excellent length, and even Blunt could take no liberties with him. Duncan was obviously unhappy in facing the Canterbury colt, and eventually he was dismissed caught and bowled by Merritt. At the end of the day’s play Merritt had an average of one wicket for 18 runs. Read took two for 42. He got Knight, and then M’Mullan was caught by Page off Read’s next delivery. Duncan stopped Read doing the hat trick. Nixon took one wicket for 11 runs. HIDDLESTON CANNOT TRAVEL TO U.K. (Special to the '‘Star ”) WELLINGTON. February 5. Business interests compel Hiddleston to cancel his nomination for the New Zealand cricket team’s tour.