TROTT & HIS MEN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1635, 30 December 1912, Page 6

TROTT & HIS MEN.

BRILLIANT WIN.

LOCAL MEN RATTLED OUT.

GREAT BOWLING.

AND GREAT WORK SN FIELD,

Only 117 to.get! That was Wellington's enviable position when it faced tho music of the South Molboumo attack for tho second innings on Saturday. Could they got them?

"Not in their lives!" ejaculated a prominent Wclliugtoi player w'hen the question was put nt tho beginning of their innings. "Not in their lives!" he-repeated scntentiously.

"Why not?" asked somo patriotic person near by. "Why not? It's a good batting sido that's going in, you know!" "Maybe," calmly replied tho critic, "it's a good batting sido under certain circumstances, but it's not what you would call a lighting sido. South Melbourne is!" "AU!" said the patriot, and tho awkward conversation stopped at that.

Nobody agreed with the critic, everybody agreed with the patriot, but, at tho end of the afternoon, it was seen that tho critic was right. Wellington was simply mowed down by the Melbourne' attack, backed by a demoralising set of slips cunningly and cleverly placed. A great deal of fast "off theory" was wlmzed down, and this (with other stuff) troubled a lot. To got it through the lino of "red caps" behind the wicket, by cutting, seemed impossible. To tip it at all/meant certain risk. Tho Melbourne attack touched high water mark indeed, and the curt of bitterness was pretty full for Wellingr ton when one of tho umpires gave the Rov. E. O. Blamires out leg-before-wickot, to a rising ball that would have leaped the wicket by about a foot.

Apart, however, from the local feeling of disappointment at the sensational collapse, must people who were present freely admitted that they had seen a splendid aftenuon's cricket. The South Mel-, bourns style, of snapping up the chances was a revelation, and many voiced the opinion that the enterprising Wednesday Association had done right good service for Wellington by bringing such a splendid team across the water.

Tho ball with which' the match was played has been presented to Mr. J. C. Ciisack, secretary of the Mid-week Association, and is to be mounted. The Helbournians leave for Christchurch by tho Maori this evening, and are to begin their match against Canterbury on December 31. South Melbourne Got Out Cheaply. When stumps were drawn at the conclusion of the second day's play, the position was that' the South Melbourne team had a lead of 4 runs on. tho first innings, and had scored 47 for the loss of two wickets in Uio second attempt. There, was a sensational opening when play was resumed at noon on Saturday. M'Cormack (11) and Giller (17), the not-out men, faced the howling of,Eobinson and Fentou. Bobinson's first over yielded only a single, while Fenton sent .down a maiden. In Robinson's second over 50 appeared as the total, but the last ball-of the over—a beautiful length—sent Killer's stumps tumbling on top of the wickc-t-kcepcr. 50—3—17. Kyio followed, but, only to see M'Cormack's middle stump go with the- first ball of Fenton's second oyer. 50—4—10. Kenny, who came next, stopped one, but played'the third ball of the over ' on. DO-r-5-rO. ~ Fen ton's average, at this stage was two for none.

Deas filled the gap, and he and Kyle played confidently,- 'but .the Wellington tickling was good, and' the'runs were' kept down fairly .well.. When, the. total had reached 70; Eobinson knocked over Kyle's leg.stump..just before th« latter had reached double figures. Trott partnered. Deas, who hit at everything hittable,-and presently lifted one from Fentou right over the south-east boundary. . Fonton's fifth over proved expensive, and Blamires replaced him. - t' _ ■ '. ' At this stage Deas was' going well, and seemed to be set, but caiculations-rlike wickets—are often upset in the precarious game of cricket, and so' it. was here. A fast one from Eobinson'shot through his guard, and down went the leg stump. 89—7—26. The retiring batsman, however, had reached top score by lively cricket, awl was heartily applauded as he 'Came, back. ■ • "

Kelly was next; and immediately raised the score to 90 with/a single off Robinson. Tho score had not reached three figures when Trott attempted to glance Robinson to leg, but,-as it happened, the ball, fast as the delivery was, turned in and took the leg pin. The luncheon adjournment was then called.

Purvis went in with Kelly after lunch," and Blamires and Robinson maintained the. steady Wellington attack. Both bowlers .were evidently troubling the batsmen. The Wellington field, as it happened, coined strung up a little nearer to concert pitch than it usually is, but—as so. often, has been tho case with the home sidechances again went a-begging. Kelly was missed behind tho wickets, off Robinson,, mid again in the slips, off Blamires, while Purvis nearly played Robinson on. . The Central bowler, however, was pretty much "on'the spot," and he presently had Purvis out, caught by Phillips. ■ .110—9— G. Pentlaud, the last, man, scored a single, but a little later returned an easy catch to the sure hands of-Blamires, and tho South Melbourne innings was at an end for the.astonishingly small total of 112. Robinson, who had bowl«l with great pace, and had even managed- to get a bit of turn on, finished with the capital avcrago of six wickets ..for 41 runs for the innings. .His average for Saturday's play alone was five wickets for. 23. In running' to tho crease, he seems, to take every inch tho umpires will give him, and' from tho grandstand it seemed as if he should have been noballed several times for dragging on and over the line.

Wellington-Only 117 to Got! Tho question now was: Could Welling: ton make tho 117 runs .wanted to wiuP Host people thought that they could, but, all the same, -there was considerable excitement when Naughton and Phillips went -out to commence an innings in which it was clearly understood that every, run would take a lot of getting: Kylo and Scott, wore the bowlers. Naughton notched a single in Kyle's first over, while Scott sent downtfa maiden..' Then Naughton just tipped the second hull in Kyle's secoiid over, and .Pentlaud held it at. tho wicket. Tho first batsman, in what subset]liontly proved a procession, left tho wicket with tho- telegraph readding 2—l—l. Beechoy then joined Phillips, but troubles were marching, as troubles usually do, in battalions, and the Central man had only just got warm when Phillips touched "a fast one from Scott into the slips, where Sykcs made a beautiful right-hand catch waist-high. 4—2—!!/'

Disaster in Full March. Tho Kev. ]•,'. 0. 'Blauiircs, who carried a lot of Wellington hopra with him, then, joined Beecliey, and, after scoring, four was nearly run out. He brought his store to eight by cutting Scott to the boundary, but, in response to a loud appeal, 'was then given out l.b.w. to a baft that could not possibly have found his wickets. For Wellington it was a most unfortunato decision by the umpire, but, having been given, it had to be accepted, ■ and tIH.-Uontr.il batsman went back with Hio board showing nothing better than 11-3-S. Jtidlane, who had done- so well in the first innings, now partnered Becchcy, and the-hopes of tho crowd mounted when the batsmen made nn•'occasional 3. and someties a ■!. But there.eecmed to bo no luck for Wellington, for just hero Beechcy after late-cutting Scott for four, mitl appearing to be well' sot, attempted to lift him over the south beunr'ni'y. . Tr was one of Becchey's characteristic drives, but the ball commenced to descend a little'inside'the rope, ■ and,'before many quite realised what was coming, the cvoralert Purvis, who was fielding, in the "country," got under it, and made no mistake. Four good Wellington wickets had now been''upset for a paltry 35 runs, and the South Melbourne attack showed no sign of slackening. The batsmen had crossed for the ,irsi

Tim, and Blacklock, who succeeded Beechcy, had to face Kyle—more trouble. The new batsman, whom ovoryone wanted to see get going, blocked the first one, but lashed hard at the next, missed it. and bowled—a bailer. 35—5—0. The match looked to bo all over now, but Fenton and Midlane remained together for some overs, and 40 .appeared after 55, minutes' play. Presently, however, Midlane was clean bowled in trying to glide Scott to leg. 41—G—13. Scott had then taken four wickets for 18 runs. Grimmett joined Fenton,- and had not Tcached double figures before he gave a hot- chance to Kyle off Scott, but the fieldsman injured his finger, and failed to hold the ball. In the same over, however, 1 Scott clean-bowled Fenton with a very pretty ball. Seven,men were out for 52 rums, and Fortune's orchestra—if there is such a thing—was still . busy Maying what may be termed the "Pavilion March" for Wellington. Scott's average at this stage was five wickets for 21 runs, but presently the runs came a little more freely off his bowling.. Tho Oriflht Spot of the Afternoon,

Itobinr-on joined Grimmett after tho tea adjournment, but had not scored when he tipped one from Kyle ilito the sura hand?, of the South Melbourne wicketkeeper, and departed. sJ—B—o. Schmoll, who camo next, pleased tho crowd by a confident opening, and c-xcileiat-uc was renewed when Grimmett, by means of several, beautiful carpet .drives, .increased the score, and the chanco oi victory. Schmoll assisted gamely, and, in Scotf s thirteenth over, Gniiini'-'tt bronght 70 up, and made his own score 20, anu then, a little later, survived a confident appeal behind tho i wickets, off Kyle. Eighty appeared, and j Grimmett looked to be well set. Lveryone was thinking hard, for, after all, it was not a great score to catch, and Grimmett did not look the least bit liko getting out. The spectators, at this stags, were clapping every stroke that got runs, and every clap was a little louder than, the one before. The score was certainly creeping tip, but-alas for Wellington:— at 82, Harry 'i'rott replaced Scott by Gi : ler, and the latter, with his fifth ball, ccatttred George Schmoll's wicket. 82-9 -10.

"Air Over Now." / It was plainly all over now. Southall, the last man in, got a single off the last ball of the over. A bye was run off the first ball of Kyle's over, bnt then Gnm-nu-tt, judging rightly that it was no use "playing caution," let go hard at a ball well up, skied it, and the bowler, waiting i calmly for it, took it safely, and the match was over. South Melbourne had I won by 32 runs. Grimtnett was accordjed a great ovation, and he deserved it, 'Details of the scores are as follow:— South Melbourne. First Innings ; 227 Second Innings. W. H. M'Cormack, 11111311411, b. Pea- ■ ton • W ■S. Sykes, 1112, b. Eobinson 5 W. Scott,' 24, b. Southall 6 J. Giller, 121211231, b. KobinSon ...... 17 J. Kyle, 1113, b. Itobinson 9 A. Kenny, b. Fenton •••••■-■•: „„ 11. Deas, 11412111G2231, b. Eobinson ... 2b G. H. S. Trott, 1111U2, b. Eobinson ... -8 H. Kelly, 11311111, not out ............. 10 T Purvis, 312,. c. Phillips, b. Eobm- ;

A. Pentland, 1, c. and b. Blamires Extras • • •"••••

Total • —" lli "Bowling Analysis. . Overs. M.O. Runs. Wkts. Robinson 10 3 11 - 6 Southall . 8 *• 'J2 1 Grimmett .2 - B - Blaniires -.8 .1 f * Fenton •• 5-1 23 . 2 Wellington. First Innings .........223. Second Innings. - _ ... D. Naughton, 1, o. Pentland, b, Kyle. 1 U. Phillips, 2, c. Sykes, b. Scott ...... i •G. M. Beechey, U14121, c. Purvis,, b, E 6.°Blamirevl3i.'l.b.w., b. Scott... 8 F.' A. Midlauci i -flS3ll,'-b;.Scott SJ ,'. .13; J. P. Blacldock, b. Kyle, ;... « A. H. Fonton, 2, b.. Scott ■• ; A C. V. Grimmett, 3U1U31232211, c.: and ,-; C. Bobfoson,' c7Pentian'i.KKyie . ... .0 li. Schmoll, 1221112,. b. Giller ......... ,1Q T. E. Southall, not out ■ * Extras' ••• •••■■• ""."-'> ■ Total ■:■■■--" "■••.»■ Bowling Analysis; ::'...'.. ' Overs M.O. Euns. WkW Scott .■•■•• " 3 4 ? ", J-. Giller • ' * ' ~ l -