THE INTER-PROVINCIAL CRICKET MATCH.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2765, 28 December 1871, Page 2

THE INTER-PROVINCIAL CRICKET MATCH.

The ninth annual contest between and Canterbury was commenced on t v -e Southern .Recreation Ground—or rather on the Dunedin Club’s Ground —to-day, under favorable circumstances, so far as the weather is concerned. The ground, however, which has been returfed, was extremely dead ; but Heudly managed to give a very fair wicker. Play was to have coup monced at cloven, but there were delays in preparing the ground and, strangest; of all, in getting the ball. Fowler having won the toss decided to send Otago in first, and at ten minutes to twelve play was began, Mac f arlan and F. Fulton facing the bowling of Pierce and Lee. The field was placed thus Fowler (captain), at the wickets ; Cotterill, long stop; Ollivier, long leg and cover point; Stevens, square leg ; Saville, point; Corfe, long off; Wood, long on and long slip ; Souter, thiid man ; Loughnan, cover point and long leg; Pierce and Lee, bowlers and short slip. Professor Sale umpired for Otago, and Mr Maples, who was one of tho Canterbury team, but from an accident was prevented from playing, took Hunter's place as umpire for Canterbury, Souter playing for Maples. Mr Jam.s Murisen scored for Otago, while Mr F. Cotterill performed a like office for Canterbury. As we have already said, play was commenced at ten minutes to twelve, Fulton taking the first over from Pierce, which was a maiden. That example was followed by Lee, and in Pierce’s next he allowed the scorers to put down the first mark to Otago by bowling a wide. The first ball from Lee in the next over, Macfarlan succeeded iu getting well away to the off for three. Fulton also sent him in the slips for a single, and afterwards got a couple fropa Pierce fpi; the first ball in his next over. The next ball he hit bard to point, where it was well held by Saville, I wicket for 7. Kettle replaced Fulton. Lee then bowled a maiden, for which he must credit Macfarlan, who seemed to have a happy knack of striking too late for tho ball. The second ball of Pierce’s next Kettle got away for a single—a short run indeed. A couple of leg-byes, a hit to leg for a single by Macfarlan off Lee, the ball being smartly returned by Ollivier, another single by Macfarlan to point, and a hit to log by Kett|e also for a sipgle, the ball being well returned by'Loughnan, followed m quick succession. Both batsmen were playing carefully,—Kettle especially so, -and increasing the score by singles and couples. Macfarlan drove hard back a hja l ! from Pierce, which the bowler secured in a manner which called fo:tb a cheer from the spectators. Two wickets for ‘22, Macfarlau retiring for a wel earned 13. Gollinson was tho next to appear at the wickets, taking the |ast' hall of' Pearce’s over, -which he drove past him for two, obtained a similar number by a hit past point oft' Lee’s in his next over, and two by a goo.l cut off Pierce. In Lee’s next, Kettle scored a single, Collinson three for a good hit to leg, and a single for a tip to the off. Off Lee’s next over, he got another single, ami in the third hall got a couple for what appeared to ns to bo a chance, -which was not .taken advantage of. Kettle also nicked a single off Pierce’s next. Souter then took Lee’s end, and his first ball Kettlj managed to put away for a single, and scored another for an overthrow. Colliusoii also got a single for another hit in the slips and iu doing so gave bis second chance, Pierce’s qext ovcp was a sepips of ‘1 hampers,” wiped Kottip took mostly oh his person, coming iu for'three'good hits oh the

arm. A series of singles hy both batsmen, and Saville, who relieved Fowler at the wickets, signalled bis occupancy of the pool by refusing to take advantage of a chance by Gollinson. Kettle also gave a chance in the slips, which Fierce could have had if he had been a little sharper. The batsmen, whoso eyes were now well in, were scoring singles and twos in rapid succession. Collinson, whose leg was giving him considerable trouble, got F. Fulton to mu for him. Shortly afterwards Fowler replaced Fierce, Ollivier relieving Cotterill at long stop. Gollinson, who was playing very frdely, and Kettle scored notwithstanding the change, and Lee replaced Sonter. One of Fowler’s, Kettle put .away to short log, and Collinson’s substitute made an attempt to run, and would have lost his wicket, if Stevens had returned the ball properly. A couple of overs followed, and Kettle, in attempting to drive one of Fowler’s to off, managed just to send as far as Gorfe, who secured it with one hand by a well-judged effort. Three for 66. Kettle score of 24 were well got, although he should have retired earlier, having knocked off the bails, a fact which was not observed by the wicket-keeper. Downes next put in an appearance, and, getting a good start, helped Go’linson to score rapidly, so that when an adjournment for lunch was made at 1.45 the score had been run up to 82. Play was resumed at a quarter to three, Sonter relieving Lee. His second ball Downes put away for a single, and in his third Gollinson lost his wicket, the ball going in off his log. Four for 88. J. C. Pulton was the next batsman. Pierce relieved Fowler, and off his second hall Downes got a single for a hit to square leg, which he followed up hy a capital hit to leg for 8 off Soutcr. Fulton broke the ice by a good hit to the on for 3 also olf Sonter, and Downes scored a single for a nice put away to the off. The first of the next over of Pierce’s, Downes got away to the pavilion for 3, and Pierce’s next, Fulton skyed to the olf, when Gorfe, by a well-judged backward step, secured it. Five for !)4. Turton now joined Downes, and started with a couple of singles, following them up with a splendid hit to the off’ of Pierce for 2. A maiden by Sonter, was followed by the loss of Downes’ wicket, a ball from Pierce finding its way among his timbers, after having first come into contact with his body. Six for 100. Macdonnell joined Turton, but the partnership was very short dated, for on Souter’s next ball, Turton was given out leg before wicket. Seven for 100. Keadc was the next to put in an appearance, and played a maiden over from Sonter. The bowling was now really good on Soutcr’s part, and the runs came with difficulty. All the runs were gqt off Pierce, I’eade securing 3 for a good hit to the off, and 2 for a hit well down in the same direction, Fowler then took Pierce’s end. Maidens still came, Souter’s bowling being uncommonly good, having no less than seven successive maiden overs to his credit. Eeado, after scoring 2 off' Souter, tipped one up, which Saville held over the wickets. Eight for 112. Church took Eeade’s place, and the first hit he got off Softer nearly gave him his votu/;, falling short of Stevens at square feg, Maeponnell gof; a nice cut fpv 3 to cover point; and in putting one of Souter’s in the slips, just managed to escape Pierce’s clutches. Church was almost immediately afterwards bowled by Souter. Nine for 118. Allen was the last man, but he was not fated to get a ball, as MacDonncll was soon afterwards caught at the wickets by Saville. Otago’s innings terminated for IIS runs. Otauo. FIRST INSISIiS, F. Fulton, 12, c Saville, b Pierce ... 3 Macfarlan, 3112132, c and b Pierce ... Iff Kettle, 1112111121131U33, o Omfc ... 2-j Gollinson, 221121121111211222, b Soutcr 26 Downes, 3112311113131, b Fierce ... 22 Fulton, J. C., c Gorfe, b Pierce 3 Turton, 1121, 1b w, bSouter .. ... 5 MacDonnell, 11131, c Saville, b Fowler... 7 Eeade, 3212, c Saville, b Soutcr ... 8 Church, I, b Souter 1 Allen, not out 0 Byes ... 2 Wicies 2 Leg byes ... .. 2 118 Bowling Analysis ; Pierce—lo2 balls, 4 maiden overs, 25 overs, 4 wickets, 36 runs, 2 widcs. Lee—72 balls, G maidens, 18 overs, 28 runs. Souter—92 balls, 10 maidens, 23 overs, 4 wickets, 29 runs. Fowler -66 balls, 7 maidens, 16 overs, 2 wickets, 19 runs. Canterbury M'eut in for their first innings at tpn pumites after 4, and at 4.45 the score stood—lANTKliliUJiV, Wood, 11113312.1, b Fulton M Pierce, 211113, not out 9 Lee, 0, b Fulton ... 9 Saville, not out 0 Byes ... -4