CRICKET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16487, 28 February 1914, Page 2

CRICKET.

SIMS’S AUSTRALIAN TEAM V. CANTERBURY. FIRST DAY’S PLAY. LOCAL TEAM’S POOR DISPLAY. It is hard to say when a stronger team of cricketers than Sims’s .Australian team visited New Zealand. It is not often that Laver, Noble, Trumper, Armstrong and men of that calibre belong to a team that has no tail. The Australians arrived from the north yesterday morning and commenced a match at Lancaster Park against Canterbury in the afternoon. This event was. the biggest cricket fixture seen in Christchurch for some time, and although Friday is an off day, there was a very large attendance, • a number of mercantile firms having decided to close for the occasion. The match was looked forward to as the first real test of the visitors in New Zealand, inasmuch as the Canterbury eleven is not much weaker, if at all, than the chosen New Zealand team. Of course, such international visitors were not expected to .allow Canterbury to run up a big score, and they were certainly expected to make runs themselves. In one respect local anticipations were not at fault—the - visitors got Canterbury out cheaply and without exerting themselves. In fact, the home team rotted away from the start, and only two men reached double figures. Still, that was not such a disaster from the spectator’s point .of view if Australia had then entered on a brilliant batting exposition. They did nothing of the sort and scratched away till the end of the day’s play, wlien they had five wickets down for 104 runs. . The saving feature of the innings was the wise reservation of Trumper, Armstrong and .Ransford for to-day’s play. It might even be argued that this course was justified by the state of the light when the Australians were batting, but whatever may be said of it, the Canterbury cricketing public will be glad of the chance to see the incomparable Trumper to-day. From a purely cricketing point of view the play was distinctly disappointing. The Canterbury batting was afailure. Woods started well and bore out his reputation as a dogged yet forceful batsman, hard to dig out. He laid the wood. on, and although the field was well placed some of his off drives were admirable. Patrick, the other double-figure scorer, was the most stylish batsman, on the side. His square cuts were as clean as a whistle, and lie newer . lacked confidence, dealing severely with Noble at times. The failures of the day wero Reese, Hickmott and Wlijtta, although the last named is not in the same class as Reese for reliability. Bishop also let down badly. The most that could he said for these men was. that they succumbed to good bowling and that they were not long enough at the crease to show whether their batting was good or bad.

The. Australian bowlers were watched ■noth interest. Armstrong stood in regard to' the side as Bennett stands in regard to Canterbury. He was the solid, reliable bowler, keeping a good length, and always troublesome. Mailey was tricky; the batsman never knew how he would break, and the wicket-keeper sometimes missed an unexpected straight one from him. His googles came off, and lie got three wickets for 17. Perhaps genius and perseverance are equally" blended in Mailey. He never got loose; Noble howled a very troublesome ball, using his head all the time. Sims changed the bowling frequently, and for showing the paces of his team in this respect he deserves thanks. The Australian fielding was not a revelation hut it was pretty to watch the quick returns, well pitched at the top.of the wicket. The-field was set out in unorthodox ■ order, point and cover being merged in two slightly new positions with the same radius. It looked like a widely set field, but there was a . single only .with a slow travelling ball. What made the spectators sit up was the lightning-like returns at. the wicket, and the perfect precision with which the field backed up. Expectancy was keyed up to a highpitch when Collins' and Dr Dolling opened the Australian innings, and the applause that went up from the east stand when Dr Dolling, was given out was much to he regretted. Evidently the crowd did not realise .what it had missed. Collins was an uneasy starter and showed nothing brilliant, hut Cody shaped like a run getter from the beginning, and showed remarkable quickness on the leg, pulli.ig anything in reach, although later he missed several leg balls from Sandman. His best stroke was a cut, delivered with power behind it. He is still in, and lias enough caution to stay there a long time. Noble, the only other batsman whose style could be judged, was a careful player, content to let the runs come.

Wilson was unlucky not to get a wicket. Carlton got the best figures, the batsmen showing an inclination to lift him. Bennett, as usual, was steadiest.

Laver, M’Gregor and M’Kenzie stood out of the Australian team.

Canterbury won the toss and decided to bat. The wicket was in. good order, though a bit soft on ’the surface. Tile weather was fine, but a strong south-easterly wind blowing along the wicket threatened to interfere with the game. Sims led his team on to the field to an accompaniment of applause. Whitta and Woods opened for Canterbury, Wliitta taking strike to Ransford. Tho first two deliveries swerved a bit to leg. The third came on the off stump, and ‘the bails disappeared, the batsman, knowing nothing about the ball. o—l—o. Hickmott got the bowler well away past point for four, off a half volley. Armstrong bowled at the other end. The field was set well out on the off, but there was hardly a run, although Woods sneaked a single which gave Trumper a chance to display a straight return. At 12, Crawford relieved Ransford, howling a fast wellpitched ball, tho third of which clean bowled Hickmott. 12—2—6. Bishop filled the breach and got a leg boundary. Woods was hitting freely, but not penetrating the field, but at last he got Crawford to leg for three and Armstrong for three twos in the same oyer. ’ well placed through the field. Bishop started to run too early, and was nearly thrown out by Trumper at the bowler’s end.

Bishop had another narrow escape in starting too early, and was then clean howled by Armstrong. 33—3—8. Pending 1 Reese’s arrival, the field indulged in some pretty catching that caught the fancy of the crowd. Woods cut Crawford beautifully through tho slips, bringing his twenty up, and sneaked a single. Again he cut him a bit upnishlv for three. Reese broke his “duck” in the same over, but :t was an uppish cut that Trumper nearlygot under. Armstrong was bowling maidens and one ball beat Woods-and everybody else, just missing the wickets.

Noble canio on at Crawford's end, and Reese drove him to the off for four, his favourite strode, but. succumbed to a low ball in Noble’s next over. 54—4— : 6. Tilings looked none too bright with Reese gone.. Patrick came in, and Mai Icy came on in placo of Armstrong, who had ten overs for 13 runs. Woods' lifted a loose one to the leg fence, bringing 30 up, although the last ball shaved the wicket. Patrick cut Noble for four and lifted the next ball nearly over the fence, where Cody, sprinting, just failed to get up. In the next over AVoods sent a hot one to Sims at mid-oil, off Mailey. 66— 5 —31. He had given no chances, and played a ous innings. Sandman, who had eleo-

trifled the Sydney crowd with his mighty square cutting, and had bit Armstrong for two sixes on one. memorable occasion, started scratchily, but he hit out at Mailey and got four .in the slips, and some singles. Then he touched one from Noble and Armstrong took it left-handed in the slips. 81— 6—7. Carlton joined Patrick, who-Was going steadily, but Noble got him after he had made 2. 87—7—2. . Wilson after making a single, survived three appeals for Ibw and a catch at the wickets off Noble, v A fourth appeal was fatal, the ball striking. his foot. 89—8—1. Bennett, the incomer, made an unexpected- three by poking at Noble, but Mailey bowled him round. hip leg?. 92—9—3. Boxshall,. the last man, .hit Mailey’s first ball up to the on, and Sims running back caught it over his head. 92 —10—0. The innings .had lasted one hour thirty-nine minutes. , At 4.10 p.m. Canterbury took the ■ field, and Collins took strike to Bennett, with Dr Dolling at'the other end, a maiden going up. Carlton .bowled with the wind, and tipd Dolling in a knot, Boxshall getting him 'at the wicket, with the second last ball. o—l_o. Honours , were even .. when Cody went -in,- .but- the, complexion .of the game changed, Cody finding' Carlton cheap. Collins was uneasy and finally got caught at tbte wicket off Bennett. 28—2—10. Waddy, the wicket-keeper,' was the next man in, and it looked .as if the best players were -being; held ; in reserve for Saturday. - Bennett’s second delivery clean bowled him, and the crowd never had a chance to enjoy liis reputed brilliant play. 28-—3—o.-This placed the honours again. .with Canterbury, whose third wicket fell ,at 33. Noble had a great' reception and .it was thought advisable tjf 7put 1 Wilson on. Cody .' struck out at i him, but positively failed to bit one’ ball of the over, much to the amuse-j ment of himself and the crowd. Ben- 1 nett beat Noble badly twice in the over but two came off it. Maidens at both ends were broken by Cody, and then each batsman drove Wilson for four, ; ten coming off the over. ’Four byes and two to Cody brought 60 up,'and four more were added with a snick by; , Noble that just- fended Bennett off the wicket. At 64 Sandman relieved Wilson; .whose six overs had cost 15 runs, hut the runs came slowly. At 80 Ckriton went on in place of Bennett. ; The game was becoming monotonous, ‘ when Noble mis-liit Carlton, and the ball travelling high, was accepted by. Sandman at point. 94—4—36. Canterbury’s total had been passed in eighty minutes. Noble started luckily,-''Tor Bennett, should have had' him. 'He showed no superlative strokes and scored a good deal off a leg stroke. Mailey, the sixth man, camedn with half an hour to go,, when the light was bad, but a consultation between the captainsresulted in a continuance. The century - Came in 84 minutes Cody cutting a loose one from Carlton to the boundary! Ben-: nett took the ball from Sandman with the wind behind him. Then Mailey touched Carlton into Patrick’s hands in the slips. 104 —5—3- Carlton’s figures were three for 32.' Sims was next man and got a round of applause. He was nearly run but by. a hot return from Bishop.. Cody played a maiden from' and stumps were drawn at 5.45 p.m. The following are the scores:— CANTERBURY. ' ' ' ' First Innings. H. B. IVhitta, b Ransford . . . .8 B. G. Ilickmoit, ill, b Crawford ; - . 8 F. Woods, 1111322221413214, c Sims b •Mailey • • < ... 31 H. A. Bishop, 4121, b Armstrong . 8 JD. Reese, 114, b Noble , . . 8 W. R. Patrick, 44111141, not out . ‘. SB D. Sandman, 1111, e Armstrong b Nobl* t T. Carlton, 2, b Noble . . . . ". 3 G. C. Wilson, 1, Ibw b Noble . 4 V' 1 ,T. H. Bennett,. -3, b . Mailey . . 7 3 Boxshall, c Sims b Mailey ... . 0 Extras . . . • 8 Total S 3 Bowling analysis—Ransford, 3 overs, 8 runs, 1 wicket; Armstrong, 10 over?, 4 maidens, 13 runs, 1 wicket; Crawfcrcf. 5 overf 1 . 23 run** 1 ticket; Noble, 8 overs, 2 maidens, 25 runs, 4-wickets; 4 Mailey, 6 overs, 1 maiden, 17 runs, 3 wickets. AUSTRALIA. First Innings. 11. L. Collins, 1423, c Boxshall b Beilnett 18 Dr Dolling, c Boxshall b Carlton . . 0 E. L. Waddy, b Bonnott ... O L. A. Cody, not out . . . . . .. 47 M A. Noble, 2111411121111222111411 c Sandman b Carlton . . . . ' 36 A. A. Mailey, 12. c Patrick b Carlton 3 A. Sims, not out . . . 0 Leg byes, 11 . . ... . 2 Byes, -24. , . .„' . _ , 6 Total for five wickets . . 104 Play will bo resumed at noon to-day. Luncheon will be served, on the ground from 1.15 till 2 p.m.

Playing at Lyttelton on Saturday, the Lyttelton St Saviour’s Guild defeated AVeeks Limited by 49 runs. The scores were:—St Saviour’s Guild 138 (E,.Dailey 40, H. Dailey 26, Page 19, Dunbar 12, Benjamin 12 and Murray 10); AVeeks Limited 89 (Poore 46, llatcliffo 13 not out and Whitehead 12). For the winners A r ovce and Murray* aiid for . tho losers Fraser and Poore bowled best. '