CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 754, 1 March 1910, Page 8

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIA AND CANTERBURYARMSTRONG AND MAYNE SAVE THEIR SIDE. A GEEAT BATTLE. (By Teleeraoh.—Press Association.) Christchurch, February 28. Lancaster Park has never been the scone of a match more even, eventful, and interesting than that which ended yesterday in a draw, the Australians requiring 34 runs to win, with two wickets to fall. Play was continued till 6.15 by mutual arrangement. To-day's play, like the play on the two preceding days, was full of interest from start to finish. First there was a very spirited wagging of the Canterbury tail, when some batting, as brilliant as it was unexpected, was witnessed. Then after luncli there was the prospect of seeing the Australians facing a total of 340 with four hours to get them in. An exciting hour followed, in which some of the cream' of the Australian batsmen were mowed down for small scores—five for 39. Then followed a memorable and magnificent display of batting, which, being uphill all the way, did not permit of a win—a draw was the best that could bo looked for. /The Australian skipper's feat of playing throughout the afternoon, in face of such odds, will long be remembered by those who were fortunate enough to witness it, and it must be voted as one of the soundest innings .ever played in a big match in Christchurch. The gate takings amounted to .£303 145., which makes the aggregate takings for the match .£342.

The Canterbury men showed by their good batting yesterday that their . good score of the first innings was no mere chance.work. Both U/iese and Sims batted excellently at the start, making their runs by irreproachable strokes, and ltidley was going exceedingly well when he; fell from a splendid hit into the longfield. But Bennett really carried off the batting honours among the. local men, and his contribution of 37 was got by good all-round cricket. He made no mistake in.picking out the talis to hit, and he was fully proof against all. Armstrong's, wiles. Re made his runs, too, by clean.and forceful strokes, his driving in particular being marked by good timing and great force. Boxshall contributed a useful 20, and he made them by a combination of careful defence and nicp bat ting. There was general regret that the innings closed before Sandman had a chance to further show.his hitting pow.ers, for the only two balls which he got ho sent clean over the boundary with lovely strokes.

' It was generally expected that the Australians would make' a big effort to get the 341 runs required, and doubtless they would have done so but for a series of reverses in the early part of the innings, and the slowness of the scoring, as the result of good bowling and fielding during the first hour, practically left the visitors without a hope of making !the p runs in the time at their disposal.' Had the Armstrong-Mayne partnership! como earlier in the innings there is little doubt that the runs would have been hit off. As it was the batting lacked the brilliancy that would almost assuredly have been seen had the side been playing with a fair hope of victory. Nevertheless, anyone who saw Armstrong batting can easily understand how he 2ot his reputation of being at his best when there-is sorest need 'for'an effort. For three and a half hours he batted without making i a bad stroke. / Defence was his first consideration, and it was impregnable. He took no risks, and, until the last half-hour's play, he hardly ■lifted a ball off the ground. Under ordinary circumstances his 149 would, have been worth very much more, for, with about three men near the long field boundary, very many of his best shots only brought singles. , Mayno was an admirable second to his skipper. He was not nearly so solid in his defence, but he Bcored faster, and, 'from start to finish, he made his runs by masterly strokes—strokes as varied as they were skilful. He had two or threo lives, however. He was missed at mid-on when he was 66, and should have , been run out a little later. Notwithstanding these, and a possible chance in the slips, he played beautiful cricket right through. Bennett bowled magnificently. No liberties could be taken with him at any time, and the fact that.he sent down 29 overs, and was bowling just as well at the finish as at any ,time, stamps him as a great "stayer." T. Carlton also bowled very steadily, but at times lacked the accuracy of length and direction of Bennett. The i local men gave a most creditable display of fielding. They had a tremendous quantity of "hot stuff" ,to stop, and they came through the. ordeal with .all credit. Had it not been for two or three missed chances towards tho close of the play, the exhibition of fielding would have ranked with the best ever seen.on the ground. Boxshall was at the top of his form with the.gloves, only letting two balls past him £oi byes. The scores are as follow:— CANTERBTTEY. Erst innings .-....;...'. _-._.™.. 321 Second Innings. ■ W. C. Patrick, c. Kelleway, b. Annstrong _._...„.... 22 H. B. Luck, b. Emery ...._ 35 H. B. Lusk, b. Emery .._ 35 A. Sims, b. Hopkins _ „ 33 D. Beese, b. Armstrong ..;... *~-.. 41 A. E. Ridley, c. and b. Hopkins 15 S. A. Orchard, b. Armstrong 0 T. Carlton, b. Armstrong 2 J. H. Bennett, b. Whitty., ~,.- 37 C. Boxshall, b. Whitty 20 D. Sandman, not out _„.... 12 Byes u ■Leg byes ........ w 22 Total „.„...... „ ....... 259 Bowling Analysis. Whitty, 8 overs, 2 maidens, 31 runs, 2 wickets; Armstrong, 19 overs, 6 maidens, 83 runs, 4 wickets; Kelleway, 6 overs, 3 maidens, 13 runs; Emery 7 overs, 22 runs, 2 wickets; Simpson, 4 overs, 2 maidens, 7 runs; Facey, 3 overs, 22 runs; Hopkins, 11 overs, 2 maidens, 45 runs, 2 wickets. AUSTRALIA. First innings 210 Second Inningi W. Bardsley, st. Boxshall, b. Bennott 0 W. W. Armstrong, not out ng C. E. Simpson, b. T. Carlton 18 D. Smith, b. Bennett 0 A. J. Hopkins, 1.b.w., b. Bennett 2 S. H. Emory, b. Bennett 0 E. E. Mayne, 1.b.w., b. Eeese 102 C. Kelleway, c. Boxshall, b. T. Carl- ■ ton 17 N. Dodde, b. Bennett .. .•„... 5 A. C. Facey, not ont „.. 7 Byes , „„ 7 Total, for eight wickets 307 Bowling Analysis. J. H. Bennett, 29 overs, .4 maidens, 87 runs, 4 wickets; T. Carlton, 17 overs, 2 maidens, 75 runs, 3 wickets; D. Sandman, 13 overs, 1 maiden, 57 runs; D. Ee-sse, -13 overs, I maiden, 58 runs i wicket;' S. A. Orchard, 1 over, 6 runs; W. Carlton, 4 overs, 17 runs. INTERVIEW WITH AEMSTRONG. (By Tdegraph.-Special Correspondent.) Christchurch, February 28. Mr. W. W. Armstrong, tho captain of tho Australian team, and the hero of today's play, was good enough to give a representative of the "Press" hi 6 opinion of the match and of New Zealand cricket. He is a man of fo\t words, giving his opinion about anything slowly ana carefully, but emphatically when occasion demands it—just as emphatically as ho hits a loose ball. "It was a good match," ho said, "a very good match, and it ended in just about tho right way. If it had been played out, Canterbury might have won—l don't say they would havo, but they might have. We were considerably surprised at the fine form shoivn by Canterbury, they being on to us all the time both in batting and bowling. They are the strongest side wo have met yet." Something was said, by tho interviewer .about toe inter-provincial matoica tliiel

season. "Oh, well," was the reply, "Canterbury must have played bolow form in theso matches—that's all. Canterbury certainly batted better against us, and bowled better than either Auckland or< Wellington. Their fielding, too, was good. Keese played a very fine innings indeed, and bowled very well too—as well as any one ou the side. The wicket was ■the best we have played on yet. "Now Zealand cricket has improved considerably since I was here threo year 3 ago. Wβ were surprised at the confident bntting of the local men. Ton have plenty of good material here, and with good coaching you ought to be nblo to get o Canterbury side that would givr an .•liistralian State team a good go. I don't I think you're up to English comrty standard yet. A New Zealand team might bo, bnt, of course, there are counties and counties. I don't think you would have much of a chance against Yorkshire, Lancashire, or Surrey." Conversation turned on the comin; test matches, and Mr. Armstrong expressed the opinion that they would bo good contests.. Ho was reminded that, though Canterbury gave the Australian eleven of 1905 a good game, that team overwhelmed New Zealand. "Yes," Hβ replied, "but you must remember that that team was a representative Australian eleven, and v;e are not. People have an idea that we arc a wonderfully strong side, but we are not. We have neither the batting nor the howling people credit us with. I am confident that the S«is Zealand team will tie a good match for us, and that the test matches will be ding-dong goes. Just let your players ?o on the field with confidence, and not ieel that they are out before they go in."