JjJ^V &•«« Jg^Q.^ '' Cricket.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 128, 13 December 1902, Page 18

JjJ^V &•«« Jg^Q.^ ''

Cricket.

By Touchline.

A GENUINE surprise to all followers of the game was the ending of the Midland — Wellington match, last Saturday. Even the most ardent admirer of the Midland Club did not anticipate, when play was resumed, thait it would end in such a handsome win for his favourite club. .Five wicket® — the flower of the Midland batting — were down the previous week for 47 runs, and the possibility of the Wellington team being given 100 runs to make to win was a remote one. However, the possibilities of the Midland team can never be properly gauged. Quee, who has been under a cloud, came right from under it, and totalled 53 (not out), bv fine cricket. It was defensive right through, but, nevertheless, was interesting — there was nothing dull or dead about it. Even if some of the strokes) did not produce runs, yet those were hat with sufficient force to keep the fieldsmen on the gui vive. There were one or two fine off drives in his total, and a hit off Ashbolt to the top of the pavilion was a sweet stroke. "Quee is a fine bat, with a lot of defence, in form, but he does not appear to haye 1 got his eye in yet. Let us hope he will do so very soon, though. Tins was a note I made a fortnight aero, whenl (xraunenting on the Midland first innings in the match under review. "Billy" did not keep us waiting lon^ for he got groing right from his first ball on Saturday, and, altogether, slaved the finest innings- seen on the Bason Reserve so far this season. • » * To commence at the beginning; Staples and Smith resumed play, the latter taking strike to Richardson. In playing the fifth ball of the over. Smith dislodged hia bails, and a peculiar position arose out of that act. Later on I will discourse on it, and. therefore, leave it just here by remarking that six wickets were down for 47 runs. Quee came im, but Staples soon left, and he was followed by Stephenson the latter just reaching double figures when he sent a ball back to Ashbolt. Upham joined Quee, and in one over banged Hales's bowlino; to such an extent as to put nine runs to his credit. Upham increased his total to 14 runs, and then lifted a purposely-pitched short-length ball from Ashbolt to Hickson in the deep field, and was retired in consequence. Harry Davis was the last man, and, although, he only made three runs, and never appeared at ease, he kept his end up while Quee was making runs at the other. The innings closed for 131 runs, Wellington being left with a total of 152 runs to make to win. * • • The batting capabilities of the Wellington team appeared equal to these figures, judging from their previous performances this season. The wicket was dry, and firm, and although it bumped occasionally, was nevertheless easy to play on. The credit of the weak display of batting must be given in the right place — viz., to the excellent bowling of Upham and Stephenson for the Midlanders. True, three of tij£ wickets were obtained luckily, _ but the keenness of lthe fieldsmen assisted the luck on those occasions. It is said— and said truly — that it is when necessity demands, it that Upham bowls in his best form. In the two previous games in which he has bowled this season he appeared to be losing a lot of the devil in his bowling, yet, against the acknowledged best batting team, in the city, he secured averages of seven wickets for 58 runs, in the first innincs, and six for 30 in the second — thirteen for 88. Truly, a great performance, and one which indicate© that our fast bowler is still up to the mark. Stephenson's bowling also calls for comment. His figures were — Three wickets for 16 runs and four for 34. He kept an excellent length, and came back from the off nicely at times. • • • To review the Wellington batting. Gore and Richardson opened as usual, the former taking strike. The third ball from Upham, Gore scored a sincle, and Richardson got opposite the fast bowler. His first ball went outside his

legs, and, lunenng to it, he overbalanced, and hung on the chalk-line. Williams jumped quickly across on the leg side, to intercept the ball. His strata^ gem. proved successful, for the sohere rebounded off his pads on to the wickets, and a great "veil" from the bank followed Richardson's dismissal. Mahony joined Gore, and play looked like settling down. The hopes of the Wellington supporters began to rise, but when the score reached 26 a misunderstandinec between the batsmen saw Gore sacrifice his wioket in favour of Mahony. At the time of his dismissal Gore had made nearly all the runs scored, and was batting with much freedom. S. Hiokson just got going when Stephenson sent a good one past him, Davis meanwhile bringing off a brilliant catch at mid-off disposing of Mahony. A. Gore stood quietly on the chalk-line, and Williams lifted the bails off to oblige him. AsihboJt got into double figures with some nice strokes, and accompanied by a running comment on his strokesi by a "barraeker" who had been slightly overpowered by the strong rays from tlhie sun. Weybourne came in, full of vitality, and scored quickly. Twelve runs he put on the spore-sheet., and then midioff — the hurdle that brings him down nine out of ten attempts — safely held a simple catch froim him. "Barney" never seems to be able to make a safe stroke of the off drive, and, foi" a while, he should leave it alone. If h© cannot make a cut of the ball eotmine; down on the off side he should let it go by. Taylor did not worry the fieldsmen much. Latham had a couple of hits off Stephenson, and Clayton had tihe doubtful honour of being debited with a "par of specs?' for the match. Hales was not out with 2, and byes were kept down to the small number of 7. • ♦ • That is the tale of tihe game. But, tlhere was an incident during its piro>gress that caused, for the time being, as much excitement as the match, itself. Richardson was bofwling round tihe wioket to Smith, anri j n making a hit to leg he planted his 1 foot up against hi® leg stump, dislodging the bails. An appeal was made instantly by the wio ketkeeper to the umpire at the bowlers' end. The official, not noticing tihe dislodsment of the bails, because Smith nad placed himself in front of the wickets in making the stroke, came to the conclusion that the appeal was for feg-before-wicket. He, accordingly, gave the batsman "not out." An appeal was then made to the umpire at th© haits>-

man's end, and he, being within his right, gave the batsman out for ''hit wicket " and Smith retired. When the tenth wicket fell, the Midland captain sent Smith in again, claiming that the decision of the umpire first appealed to could not be over-ruled by a subsequent decision of the other umpire. Of course, there were mistakes all round, and whoever advised Upham to take the course he did was to blame for the scene that followed. The Midlander said he had the approval of "the best authority m Wellington" for the course he was pursuing, and would not take any other method of getting the satisfaction he wanted. In the meantime, the umpires and the Wellington team had left the field and the two batsmen and a crowd of enthusiasts boys, etc., were left in possession. Better counsels, however, prevailed in tihe long run, and when the umpires, followed by the Wellington batsmen, entered the field, the Midlanders were in. their places. * * * The arguments pro and con have been very heated. It was always an understood thing that the decision of one umpire could not be over-ruled by tihe other. In my opinion, as the rules were known, in Wellington on Saturday last, if Smith had persisted, and remained, at tihe wickets, he would have had right on his side. In the event of at disagreemeiiut between the umpires, the rules provide that the state of things existing previous to the decisions being given continue. Smith, however, did not take this course, and, having retired, could not resume batting without the consent of the opposing captain. Upham, having aipolied for this pea-mission, and beem refused it, took an entirely wrong course, and could not expect any sympathy. I thought myself that the fieldsmen, having made a mistake in* appealing to the wrong umpire, should have been made to suffer for their mistake. Of course that is a legal argument, but in equity is not a fair one. However, since Saturday, one of the latest rule books from the Marylebone Club has turned up in Wellington. By the way, there has only been one copy sent to. Wellington by the Cricket Council, although fellow-scribes in Christchurch have received them. If a courtesy like this is extended by the Cricket Council to cricket writers at all it should be to the whole of the craft (Continued on page 19.)

m the colony, and mot alone to Christchairch writers.. In the new book a note to Law 47 reads aa follows — "When the umpire at the bowler's wicket has given a batsman "not out," the other umpire may answer any appeal within his jurisdiction, subject to an observance of Law 52." That effectually settles the question. The "hit wicket" appeal was within the jurisdiction of the umpire 1 at the batsman's end — and hi® only — and he was quit© within his rights in over-ruling the other umpire. • • « The following are the leading batting and bowling averages in Wellington senior cricket up to, and including 1 , last Saturday's play —

• • • It is a rather far cry now from the Newtown — Gas Company juruox match but one or two incidents in that ?ame tihat have been pointed out to me do not reflect the greatest credit on the Newtown team. With am old general, and, withal, a courteous gentleman of the stamp of Mr Kellins: amongst them, it would appear to me that his influence should check anything in the nature of unfair play. One instance is a oaiteh which the Newtownj team allege was made over the boundary, reference thereto beiniP made in the notes of on© of the "ites" that write for the "Times." The umpire states, and does so deliberately, that the catch was made in the field of play, the fieldsman stepping over the boundary after he had held the ball. This he stated to the Newtown team, in appealing against the decision. Yet. mention was made of the matter at the ordinary meeting of the Cricket Association, the chairman (Mr. Luckie) allowing no discussion on the matter, however, ruling that the decision of the umpire on a matter of fact could not be reviewed by the committee. A little later in the game, a Newtown batsman was run out—of that there was not the slightest doubt — yet, when the umpirei aforesaid, gave his decision, tihe Newtown captain requested the captain of the Gas Company team, to allow another umpire to be substituted for the one who was then acting. The whole conclusion is this: If the Newtown team, which contains in its ranks many promising players, and lads of good repute, cannot play its matches without imputing unfairness to umpires, the sooner they disband' as a club the better. • • • Players of the national game will be amused by a singular incident which, a friend of mine witnessed at a local cricket match last Saturday, says a writer in the "Birmingham Mail." The batsman skied the ball between tihe wickets, and stood still for a moment or two watching >ts aerial flight. Then, as the bowler reached the middle of the pitch to make the oatch, the batsman, ran, with his head lowered, either by accident or intent, against the bowler, whom he upset. It so happened, however, that just at the moment of collision the ball came down, and hit the batsman a severe blow on the back of the head, causing him to fall to the ground in a dazed condition. The bowler regained bis feet, and, oonsideiring that the batsman's charge had been deliberate appealed on the ground of wrongful obstruction of the field. The umpire answered in the batsman's < favour, whereupon the bowler did what most players would have done before, i.e., went after the ball, which had rolled some yards away. By this time the batsman had recovered his senses. i Looking round, he realised the situa- ' tion, and, too dazed to regain his feet, ( started to crawl in. This he just sue- 1 ceeded in doing before the bowler, run- 1 ning with the ball, had put the wicket down. The series of events, as can be imagined, provided a* laughable spectacle, and, as most of the fielders held an

opinion opposite to that of the umpire, the idea that poetic justice had been meted out by the descending ball caused them considerable sat&sf action. It is with the deepest regret that I have to announce the death of Mr. R. J. S. Harman. one of the finest supporters the game has ever had here. The present generation of cricketers know Mr. Harman through the great and vet unostentatious interest he has displayed always in our orioket doings. Many cricketers, once their day is over lose all interest in latter-day playei*s but Mr. Harman was not one of these. His sound advice and sportsmanlike attitude was invaluable, not only to crioket, but also to kindred sports, and all will sympathise deeply with his family in their bereavement. — "Scorine; Board " m the "Canterbury Times." • • • Frank Layer was 33 years of age on Sunday last. Auckland play Lord Hawke's team on the Domain on 20th, 22nd, and 23rd December. Fred. Midlane made 24 for Sydney Club, in a second-grade match, on Saturday week. C. W. Garrard's average in Canterbury cricket, up to date, is 80.33 — his scores being . 22, 134, 9 (not out^ and 76. T. R. McKibbin recently secured four wickets for 12, and six for 9, and "nerformed the hat trick in a match at Laverton, Western Australia. D. Hay, the well-known Auckland player, and selector of the Northern city's representative teams, gathered together a century recently by a fine display of batting. Stevens, with four wickets for 9 runs, had an. outing for the G-ais Company against the Phoenix last Saturday. D. Niven, with five for 35, was the best bowler on the Phoenix side. In a second-grade match in Sydney recently, one of the ~atsmen struck the ball, and the nair ran two runs, both of which were short, with the result that no runs 1 were scored off the stroke. Frank Harris is D-roving a tower of strength to the Gas Company team. His last Saturday's record was : Five wickets for 29 runs 1 with the ball and 26 (top score for his side) with the bat. Scoring was on the light side in Sydney on Saturday week. The best tally was Duggans 93. Farquhar 58, Pye 35, Miller 26 Jansen 36, Woolcott 38, Howard 33, Close 37, Hartigan 41 (not out). There is a rumour in Melbourne' that Warwick Armstrong has been offered a very lucrative position in, South Africa by a Mr. Logan, who was such a e^reat friend of George Lohmann. It is not known whether the Australian Eleven man will accept it. Some Canterbury scores. — F. S. Frankish 48, O. Pavitt 39 (not out), C. W. Garrard 76, C. Prebble 33, R. Strange 33, J. Wheatley 51, Lawrence 46, Ward 42, Walmsley 51 (not out). Callaway, five wickets for 42 runs, and Howell, three for 35, are the best boiwiing tallies in the exchange before me. "A Fossilite" asks . — "How is it. here in Wellington, that whenever a youngster shows proficiency as a good ailround exponent of the noble game, there are so many embittered would-bes and have-beens among the onlookers so ready to decry him?" I don't know — can any of my readers supply the information.

Runs V VVukets veiaere lichardson 3 ales Itephenson 'ucker . . ialbam .. Jpham . . lickey . . [oldsworth irice 102 169 148 177 37 168 268 87 138 16 26 21 25 5 19 30 9 14 6-3' 6-51 7-0-7 1! 7-41 8 8' 8-ys 9.61 9&

Bowling :

lahonj loldsworth Jpham jatham l. Gore Veybourne !. Hickson lalley iash . . 'uckei luce . . Williams No of Tunes Total In{rt> not out. runs. 4 0 270 6 0 156 (i 1 124 3 0 70 4 0 88 4 o 81 6 0 108 4 8 71 5 1 (54 6 1 79 G 1 77 6 0 91 Average. • «7 50 25 50 - 24 80 23-33 22 20 25 18 17-75 16 15-80 15-40 15-16

Batting