CRICKET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16488, 2 March 1914, Page 11

CRICKET.

SIMS’S AUSTRALIAN TEAM r. CANTERBURY. SECOND DAY’S PLAY. GREAT SCORE BY THE VISITORS. MAGNIFICENT EXHIBITION BY TRUMPER. The match between Aust-nlia mid Canterbury was resumed at Lancaster Park on Saturday in perfect weather with nothing to mar the pleasure of the game. On the first day Canterbury had made 92, and Australia had lost five wickets for 104. However, the Australians had Trumper, Armstrong, Crawford and Ransford in reserve, and the spectators were ensured of a good day’s cricket. The stands commenced to fill early, and in the afternoon there was a huge attendance, which looked like a record for tho ground. The spectators were not kept in'suspense as to the class of. cricket they were to witness. They saw enough of Cody, to whet their appetite tor more like it, and when Cody got out, Armstrong coming in to bat set their expectation keenly on edge. But Armstrong was not a brilliant bat. He was steady from the Btart, arid did not lash at the googly. bowlers, Wilson and "Sandman. Instead lie played them for singles. Bennett’s off balls he declined to hit at, but he drove to some purpose whenever he got a ball to hit. It was a patient innings quite effortless, and the way the big man snuggled down at the crease . gave the impression that he could never get out. It was when Trumper came in that the crowd sat up to watch proceedings intently, and everybody hoped that the champion would get past the critical stage and make a big score. There appeared to be no critical stage for Trumper. He opened out on Bennett with some perfect strokes to the off, placed right between two fieldsmen, who time after time would converge on the ball ; but would fail to get it owing to its marvellous paco. One could have imagined that it was a , purely ’exhibition effort. From driving to cutting, and back to leg glides the batsman 6eemed to have a supernatural knack of finding a clear avenue to the boundary. He monopolised the batting. Everything came to him and he ran to forty whilo Sims was "making five; He . was . beyond criticism, and one could only marvel that any batsman could maintain such a sequence, not merely of correct Strokes, but of ideal scoring shots; half a dozen of which would lift the average game but of the ordinary. The centuries flew up unexpectedly, Trumper averaging one an hour. He made 50 in.twenty-six minutes; 100 in seventythree minutes, as against 191 minutes by Sims, and 150 in 92 minutes as against 150 by Sims in 236 minutes.' He was 200 in 131 minutes and 250 'an 152 minutes. His three sixes worked the crowd" up into a. state of enthusiasm and those who had to dodge the , flying balls shouted • out, ” Turn, it up, Trumper.” Still' it was not often that Lancaster Park had a world’s champion hateman “going” properly, and his placing of the hall was an educative treat. _ Everybody would have liked to see him play out the day, hut" When he skied one from Bennett at 293 he was undoubtedly lotting a little wildly. It was a great and long-to-be-remembered innings. The batsman" never lifted anything that he did .not' intend to lift, and he hit so hard at everything that it was bound to.travel. Tf one had to praise a particular stroke, it wasi the late cut. It was so late at times, that on< one'oehasion hisibat’gave Boxshall a good crack on the gloves just as 'the. ball/ eriterecV/them

Sims was. quite overshadowed by his stylish partner. He had plodded _ towards his century, but the next fifty were secured in forty-five minutes, fast enough for hnybedy, with a .whirlwind like Trumper at the other end. Some of’.Siiris’s strokes, especially on tho leg, were so quick and crisp that one wondered momentarily which batsman had made them. Sims kept everything down. Ho did not cut too stylishly and distrusted the off halls, making the leg his most prolific field. Ho was 182 unbeaten at the end of the day/ arid lie was the subject of endless congratulation from old Canterbury comrades. A score of 051 could not bo got from bowlers who remained fresh, but it is only fair/to the batsmen to sav that the bowling was not thoroughly beateri at any stage. Bennett bowled over after over that required watching. He kept a good length and was "conceded to'be the best man on the side. In three consecutive ovors he badly beat both Sims and Armstrong, who as nearly as possible played him on. Then he bowled a maiden to Trumper after he had had 170 runs knocked off him, and in his next over he got -flie Australian, who misjudged him. Carlton got five wiokets' for ].fi, and bowled very steadily with a opsd length. The googly bowlers ATilson and Sandman did not come off, for the batsmen were too expert to play them anyhow but correctly, and they were always expensive. It was greatly to be regretted that Reese’s arm was too troublesome for bowling.

. The fielding ' was not bad. Woods, Bishop and Sandman in that ordof were extremely good, Woods’s returns being quite first-class. Bishop, fielding in the country, difl not have +he same opportunities +o Urine, but his work was clean. Hickmott marred a good display by drooping Trumper on the houndnrv. Wlritta was verv loose irt the field. Boxshall kept wickets fairly well, stopping a lot of balls on the leg side that a less capable keeper would have let go for four. THE PLAY. Cody, with 47, and Sims, who had not opened his account, were tho not out men. Bennett and Carlton were tho bowlers, as Reeso was suffering from a bad arm. Ccdy, a persistent cutter, brought his half-century up m 95min, but after driving Bennett for four he hit one hard to cover point, where Carlton took . a splendid onehanded catch. 118—6—54. Armstrong, tho eighth man, had a popular reception. / Before : he took block Sims hit Carlton for four and two to leg. Then Armstrong drove Bennett to the on for three. Sandman replaced Carlton, but the scoring was slow. Sims just got his bat down in front of Bennett, tho ball beating Boxshall for four. Almost the same thing happened to Armstrong a oouple of overs lator, but the stroke did not score. The field was placed well out, and singles were numerous, Sims having nine in succession. At 154 Wilson took the ball from Bennett, and a few men were put out on the coundary for Armstrong’s benefit. Carlton came on again, and Armstrong glanced him to leg for forir, having occupied half an hour in getting into; double figures. Sims was 30 with a lovely drive off Wilson, and then he smacked him twice to square leg, where Bishop was fielding cleanly. Then he cut Carlton alorig the ground through slips to the fence. Armstrong was more careful, but drove him straight for four. Hickmott and I Bennett were tried just before luncheon, hut no reparation was effected. After luncheon tho second century came up quickly/ but then Armstrong touched one from Carlton into slips. 209—7—31. TRUMPER’S INNINGS. Trumper, whom the crowd had flame to see, received an ovation on

coming in to hat. Probably it was many years Binoe he had been ninth, man in. Ho opened out magnificently on the off with crisp, well placed strokes, and his late cutting of Carlton and Bennett was a revelation. Ho drove Bennett like lightning to the off, placed clean through the field. Ho was 20 "in ten minutes, Sims rneanwhilo getting well past the half century. Trumper hit two fours and a single off Bennett; rapid strokes and placed to perfection. He cut Carlton gracefully well clear of long slip. Ho glanced round tho field, found an opening, and crack came another four. Ho ran to forty whilo Sims was making 5. Sims then blocked; a ball from Carlton, and . Boxshalh kicked it on to the wicket, but the batsman was in his crease.

At 253 Sandman relieved Carlton. Trumper smote him straight for four, and brought his half century up in twenty-six minutes. Sims was 66, and evit Sandman for three. Trumper pulled the next ball for four, and it was a toss up who would bo top scorer. There were four men round the boundary, and Sandman tossed up a few balls, but they were kept down. Wilson followed Carlton at the railway end, hut seven came off the over, four of them in a straight drive by Trumper, which made him 60. Then lie lifted Wilson to the off fence, bringing 300 up. There were some flashes of brilliaut fielding,Bishop and Woods being quite out by themselves, but. the score mounted, and at 75, Trumper passed his partner, both men going strong for the century. Sims came again, and got to 80 first. At 315 Patrick relieved Carlton at the pavilion end. / Trumper f lanced him for four (82), and drove im for two, and a single (85), getting the bowling. Hickmott came on, and Trumper got three singles and Sims two. A two to leg to Trumper brought him to 90. Sims hit hard at Hickmott, and tho ball went through Whitta’s. hands at leg. Two fours off Hickmott brought Trumper’s century up in seventy-three minutes. Bennett came on and Trumper skied him short, but the field failed to get under it. Sims hung at 92 while Trumper wont on to 137. Then Whitta wont on ns a last resource, but twelve came off the over, eleven to Trumper, and tho fourth century was posted in 272 minutes, and the last fifty in seventeen minutes. This was fast scoring and when Trumper. got to 152 in ninety-two minutes the crowd laughed. Then _he lifted Whitta into the crowd outside the scoring the first six." Then he pulled Bennett over the fence for another six.. At afternoon tea the score was 422 (Trumper 167, Sims 96). After the; interval Sims bit a 1 coijplo of singles, making, eighteen' in succession, ’ and then got two fours off Carlton, passing tho century, which was reached in 191 minutes. Trumper’s score rapidly mounted, but hung fire in the nineties. He hit Bennett right on to the rails, just missing a six, and followed it . with a four, bringing him to 199. A single brought the second century in ,131 minutes.

, Frequent changes of , bowling were tried, and the crowd suggested Boxshall. Trumper hit Wilson to leg for four and then lifted him into tho “frog-pond” for six. Sims.got four over cover and 16 came off the ever. This brought, Sims 150 in 236 minutes. ‘Patrick came on, at 550, and Reese raised a laugh by essaying to help Bcxshall off with the pads, but it was a. false alarm. Instead Hickmott went on, but two fours off him brought 250 up for Trumper in T 52 minutes. Then he gave a hard chance to Reese off Hickmott. Sims was becoming more aggressive and took nine off the over. In Patrick’s next over Trumper skied one to the on, : but Hickmott dropped the catch. '

Trumper was rapidly i breaking records. . The biggest partnership on the ground, between Cuff and J. D. Lawrence, had been passed long ago, and Trumper was within seven of his third century. At 174 Sims gave a possible chance at „the wickets, hut it went for four... .Bennett gained. . applause by sending a maiden over to Trumper. In the "next over Trumper made a tremendous swipe at Bennett and Sandman held it at cover point as it came down from the skies. 642—8—293. Tho crowd cheered him as ho returned to tho pavilion. He had hit .three sixes and forty-four fours'. THE REMAINDER OF THE TEAM. Tho long-delayed Ransford was tenth man,'but when he had made two singles Carlton bowled him. 649—9—2. Crawford, the last man, came in with five minutes to go. There was" much speculation as to whether the Australians would top their Auckland score of 658. but tho time was called with the two men still batting. • When "stumps ' were drawn the score was 651 for nine wickets. The following are the scores:— CANTERBURY. First Innings. H. B. Whitta, b Ransford . . . . 0 B. G. Hickmott, 411. b Crawford . . 6 F. Woods, 1111322221413214, o Sims b Mailey ....... 31 H. A. Bishop, 4121, b Armstrong . . 8 D. Reeso, 114, b Noblo . . . .6 W, R. Patrick, 41111111, not out . .20 D. Sandman, 1141, c Armstrong b Noble 7 T. Carlton, 2, b Noble . . . . " 2 I G. C. Wilson, 1, lbw b Noble . . . 1 <7. H. Bennett, 3, b Mailey ... 3 Boxshall, o Sims b Mailey . . 0 Extras 8 Total . . . ... 82 Bowling analysis—Ransford, 3 overs, 6 runs, 1 wicket; Armstrong, 10 overs, 4 maidens, 13 runs, 1 wicket; Crawford, 6 overs 23 runs ' wicket; Noble, 8 overs, 2 maidens, 25 runs, 4 wickets; Mailoy, 6 overs, 1 maiden, 17 runs, 3 wickets. AUSTRALIA. First Innings. H. L. Collins, 1423, c Boxshnll b Bennett . ’. . ... . .10 Dr Dolling, c poxshall b Carlton . . 0 E. L. W.addv, b Bennett ... 0 M A. Noble, 2411411121111222111411 o Sandman b Carlton . . , .30 A. A. Mailey, 12, c Patrick b Carlton . 3 L. A. Cody, 2124421421213114411141214 c Carlton b Bennett . . . .54 W. Armstrong, 311111141124114112,0 Patrick b Carlton . . . . .31 A. Sims, 1142111141111111111241141131441 . 22112111113111114111111111111111111441 11411421121311112114411114111144145142 11, not out ." . . . . .182 "V". Trumper, 12141411411441414121114141111 42141142142111121114241121441141144214 1242G4G1112111411141444114111124144612 41414414414411112412142444411, o Sandman b Bennett . . . •• .293 Y. S. Ransford, 11, b Carlton ... 2 J. N. Crawford, 1, not out ... 1 Byes, 24114214 19 Leg-byes, 11141124112 . . .20 Total for. nine wickets . . .651 The bowling figures were as follow: Bonnott, four wickets for 179 runs; Carlton, five for 142; Wilson, none for 97; Sandman, none for 83; Hickmott, none for 64; Patrick, nono for 41; Whitta, none for 19. Plav will be resumed at noon today. _____ TEAMS LUNCHEON. . The teams lunched together, ' the ceremony being presided over iy Mr F. Wilding, president of tho New Zealand Council. The chairman in proposing the toast of the Australian team said that New Zealand was glad to see the visitors and he hoped that they would have pleasant recollections of their visit. The present team was a combination of the inost brilliant batsmen that had ever visited New Zealand, and their visit ivould bo cherished by young cricketers, who he hoped would find stimulation in watching men who were refnowned to the most remote confines , of the Empire. The toast was drunk with musical honours. Mr Sims in responding said that the hospitality of New Zealand ensured that tho dominion could get an Australian team over whenever it was wanted | and could select the members. _ Credit was not due to him for tho visit. He had been lucky enough to enlist the sympathy of Mr Laver, who command- 1 od suck respect from players that ho

could accomplish pretty well anything he wanted to do. Mr Laver was called on to epeak also. Ho said that Australians looked on Christchurch as the home of cricket in New Zealand, and were always glad to come back again. Mr Noble was also called on to sp'eak, and recalled the'time, eight years ago, in the same room, when he had been called on to respond, and. also to his first visit to New Zealand, twenty years ago. He hoped that tho present team would help to improve the game in New Zealand, and that it_ would leave a good reputation behind it. Sometimes Australian cricketers had to come abyoad to get some of the praise that was a necessary stimulus to the game. In that connection Mr Laver, one of tho finest men he had over met, had been vilified by men who ought to have appreciated the good qualities of the man. Fortunately most of the team had pretty broad shoulders, and desired only to play the game as good citizens of Australia. The toast of “ The Canterbury Association ” was proposed by ,Mr Noble and responded to by Mr A. Cant. VISITORS ENTERTAINED. Yesterday the visitors were taken for a motor tour to the Rakaia Gorge and on their way back they took afternoon tea at Mr C. R. Clark’s residence. ITINERARY CHANGED. To allow the members of the Australian team to travel overland to the West Coast, instead of by steamer, and also to accede to tho wishes of Wellington for a roturn match, tho programme after the test matches lias bean rearranged. Hie match against Southland will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 10 and 11, the return match against Canterbury on March 13 and 14, the Nelson match on. Wednesday and Thursday, March 18 and 19, and tho Wellington match on March 21 and 22. M.C.C. TOUR. . " FIFTH TEST MATCH. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. PORT ELIZABETH, February 27. The fifth test match" has commenced. South Africa in their first innings riiade 193, and M.C.C. has lost eight wickets for 357 runs. The following are the scores:— SOUTH AFRICA. First Innings. Zulch, b Booth 11 H. Taylor, c Strudwick b .Woolley 42 'D. Taylor," b Rclf . . . .12 . Nourso, b Hearno . . .26 P. Hands, c Bird b Douglas . 83 R. Hands, st Strudwick b Woolley 0 Newberry, b Woolley . . .11 Ward, c Bird b Douglas . . 3 Carter, c Bird b Douglas . 0 Blanckenburg, b Douglas . . 0 Lundie, not out . . . > 0 Extras .' . 1 . . . 5 Total . . ... • 193 Bowling Analysis.—Relf, one for 2G; Booth, or;? for 43;" Woolley, three for 71; Hcarue, one for 34; Douglas, four for 14. MARYLEBONE. ■ First Inningß. Hobbs, c Nourso b Lundio . . 33 Rhodes, b Carter . . . -28 Hearns, o Taylor b Blanckenburg 35 Mead, c and b Blanckenbutg . 117 Woolley, lbw Newberry . . .54 . Strudwick, b Carter . .' _ • 9 Douglas, c Blanckenburg b Lundie 80 Tennyson, not out . . . 23 : Bird, run out . . < , • . 4 Booth, not out . • • * 1 Extras . . • . .27 Total for oight wickets . 357 INTER-STATE MATCH. VICTORIA v. TASMANIA. HOBART, February 28., i The match, Victoria v. Tasmania, commenced in hot Weather on a fast wicket, Tasmania, in their first innings, made 171 (Hawsou 25, Boddam 27, Parkinson 24, Allen not out 31). • Victoria, in their first innings, scored 351 (Willis 93, Brown 21, Lugton 25, Souther 25). Iu their second innings Tasmania had four wickets down for 191 (Hawson 90, Robinson 57, Myers not out 13). AUCKLAND MATCHES. [Per Press Association.] ! AUCKLAND, March 1. Another round of the senior'cricket championship was commenced yesterday in fine weather. Results: —University 112 v. Eden B 128 for seven wickets. Grafton 176 (A. Horspool 60) v. Ponsonby, 147 for two wickets (N.. Sneddon 64, C. Sneddon 33). Waitemata 143 v. Eden A 94 for ono wicket (Taylor not out 47). North Shore 296 (Prime 53, C. Dacre 72, Wallace 51) V. Parnell. WELLINGTON MATCHES. [Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 1. Senior cricket was continued on Saturday. North defeated Victoria College "by an innings, the scores being 273 against 115 and 102. East A beat Old Bovs on the first innings by 307 to 183.' East B beat Hutt by an innings and 75 runs (236 to 50 and 111). Petono beat Central by 88 runs (119 and 160 to 103 and 88). Petono is leading for the championship. DUNEDIN GAMES. [From Orn Correspondent.] DUNEDIN, January 28. Carisbrook B, playing at Albion, made 255 for five wickets (Tuckwell 90) and declared the innings closed. Dunedin made 80 for live wickets against Grange. Downes captured all the wickets. CITY AND SUBURBAN. Richmond Working Men’s" Club made 50 and 15 for three wickets against 72 by Rawliiti. The match will bo continued on March 14.