OTAGO v. SOUTHLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 62

OTAGO v. SOUTHLAND.

The annual interprovi^cial cricket tnateh between Otago and Southland waa commenced at the Carisbrook Ground yesterday. The weather was fine, but a stitt north-aster blew across the wioket, making matters somewhat unpleasant for the player*. At times disconcerting shadows chased each other across the .ground"; otherwise the conditions generally were $ood. Mr Watson, the caretaker, had prejprfred a splendid wicket, end tbe ■ outfield ;was true and fast. Siedeberg was elected captain of the Otago team, and lost the tow to F. Liggins, tbe Southland wptain. Southland compiled 171 before the last "man ,was sent back to th© pavilion. Southland* scoring was somewhat inconsistent, three -foatemen only making any shape at thefcowling. The feature of the Southland ironings, and of the day's cricket, was the baiting of D. Hamilton, who gave quite one of the beet displays of aggressive cricket seen on the Carisbrook Ground for many a day. It was an innings full of imerit and delightful to look upon; moreover, it was not marred by a single faulty etrokc. Hamilton compiled his runs at a good pace, scoring freely all round the ' wioket. The feature of his batting was his powerful off and on driving; he ale© used the pull stroke, to great advantage, and got in several cri6p cuts. He scored, 13 4's and one 6, the- latter a fine hit into jibe members' pavilion. The Otago bowlsng was good, Fkher trundling particularly well, keeping a good length, and. having ths majority of the batsmen "playing" to 4iim. The fielding was well up to standard, »nd there were few chances unaccepted. /Otago made a good stand, and have lost Awo wickets for 175. The batting was not (particularly exciting, and at times it was jwearisome. Austin played quite correct oricket for his runs., but was never really "aggressive. Eckhold, who is not out with •84, scored -file majority of the runs with *hi 9 favourite stroke — the cut, — but he also got W several hits to leg. Siede<3erg did, not really.^open -out, and his runs were compiled by Correct rather than forcible cricket. Frequent changes in the .bow-ling were made by Southland, hut there appears' little variety in the attack, there being a superabundance of slow leg-break bowlers. Tfie fielding of Southland was goo-3, the picking up being generally clean an 4 the throwing in for the most part accurate. Messrs Hamel and Richardson w^re the .umpires, and their decisions gave every 'satisfaction. The attendance throughout ihe day was small, but those who were present had the satisfaction of .seeing some good cricket, particularly during the career of D. Hamilton, of Southland. Play commenced at 11.15. Southland elected to bat, Keenan jwid Glasgow .being the pioneers. Fisher open<wl the attack for Ota.e;o at the pavilion end. Keenan taking strike to the Carisbrook left-hander. SfJ runs were Scored off the over, including a boundary to Keenan. Austin bowled at the railway end. and with the last ball of the over «rot~ Glasgow caucrht in the slips oy Oarg. One wicket, was. down for 7 when D. Hamilton partnered Keertan. The wicket was playing well, but the batsmen iwepe playing carefully. At last Keenan Kofc a clipping driro off Fisher to tbe boundary. D. Hamilton brought B0 un with a swiagiiMC leg hit off Austin, and liter, with a hook stroke off the sameIbowler, got 3. The first «sensation of the iday was a fine free drive by D. Hamilton off Fisher, the ball traroUintf high and &sET>Ver the rails. This brought 20 up, after 25 minutes' play. D. Hamii^n was driving powerfully, but »»uld not pet them through the field. At last he got a terlsp cut off Austin to the boundary. The run -getting at this 6tape had been at the "rate of one a minute, 40 going «p as the result of 40 minutes' play. Both batsmen •were goin? confidently, but at 48 the end Jiact come for Keenan, the Southland leftfianckr being cansfht by Eckhold at lonsr-on I»ff Fisher. THe outgoing fcat6man had S>»tted <jonfi<Je-ntlv for Tiis runs, and was at Crease 45 minutes for hie eeore. Two

wickets ioA raHen for 48 runs when Kane joined D. Hamilton. The newcomer had a short life, fisher clean bowling him first ball. Doig came in to see D. Hamilton hook a short one from Austin to the boundary, bringing up the half-century. The wicket was on the easy side,"" and did not appear to altogether suit either Fisher or Austin. With the score at 59 (Hamilton 34, Doig 3), the first change in the bowling was made, Bannerman (ttya Dunedin representative) taking thc_ ball from Austin at the Bouth end. Austin had bowled nine overs for 24 runs and secured one wioket. "With the score at 62 Fiaher found hie way wi*h a well-pitched ball into Doig's wicket, knocking back the off stick. The outgoing batsman had not shaped at all i confidently. Four wickets were down for 62, as the result of an hour's batting, when Crockett joined D. Hamilton, who was batting freely. Hamilton signalised" the appearance of -the newcomer by pulling Bannerman for 5, all run lyit. Hamilton was showing hie strength on ihe leg side, and got Fisher away nicely to Hhe boundary, bringing his own score-'^o the half century. Crockett had a " life " before he had scored to Ogg, at second slip off Bannerman, the ball going away, just dropping out of reach of the fieldsman's hands. Bannerman was bowling somewhat errartioally, and anything pitched short was promptly and powerfully punished by D. Hamilton. Bannerman's first over was a maiden, and off three over* the batsmen scored 20 runs. The Otago captain evidently thought there was room for improvement, for witih the score at 86 Bannorraan was taken off, making way tor Ogg at fche south end. The new bowler had a, single soared off his first over, when another change was made, Corbett, of Albion, going on at the pavilion .end in place-of-Fisher, who had 1 bowled 14 overs, 3 maidens, 39 runs, for 3 wickets. Fisher did not open too well, but once settled down howled quite in ,Jbis best style. Hamilton was doing the bulk of the scoring, 'having put on 25 while Crockett ! was getting a couple. The former was i hitt/ing powerfully, and witih a clipping off drive got Ogg away to the boundary, ( bringing 90 up. The next ball from the ! Grange bowler Hamilton swung to long-on j for 3 Crockett, who had not been happy i to the bowling, was run out from a smart ; throw in by Eckhold at long-on. Five I "wicket* had fallen for 97 when Liggins, the Southland captain, joined Hamilton, who was battihg in aggressive style. In one ovier he twice pulled Corbet* to the boundary, the strokes bringing forth cheers and raising the century as a result of 97 minutes' batting. A ball or two later Hamilton swept Ogg to the square-leg boundary. With fche score at 116 (Hamilton 89, Liggins 3) an adjournment was made for luncheon. Resuming after luncheon, Pisher took up the bawling at the pavilion end in place of I Cbrbett. Two runs were soo-red off the | over. Austin resumed the attack at the ! south end vice Ogg. Off the Cariabrook bowler's second ball Hamilton pulled a couple, and from the fifth ball .got in a clipping off drive. 'His end was near, for I with -the -first of Austin's .second over } Hamilton -was out " leg before " to -the | Carisbrook- bowler. , The outgoing batsman was greeted with "hearty cheers on. returning to the •pavilion. Hamilton was bairting | one hour 48 minutes for his score of 95, ! in the getting of" which he 'did not give a I chance. It tubs an excellent innings, j marked by powerful driving and pullinar, i with an occasional crisp square cut. He ! was never at any stage in trouble to -the "bowling, which he played with the utmost I oonfidenoe. It was particularly unfortunate that Hamilton should have been out within i five of tiie coveted century io thai always unsatisfactory dismissal lbw. Six wickets were down for 125 when Huntley joined Liggins. The batting, which had been breezy and full of life^during Hamilton* tenancy at the orease. \iow eettied down to "slow to easy." Nine runs only were scored off the first seven overs after lunch, Fisher bowling three consecutive maidens and Austin a like number. Fisher was pitching them up just outside the off stick, but Liggins was mistiming them badly, and 1 those the batsman did get on to- were 6topp€«l by crisp fielding. Runs were coming very slowly, mainly in -singles, and 14 were scored as a result of 20 minutes batting after lunch. The cricket at this stage was wearisome, and the Bpectaoular side of the game was dull, the batemen acting in the main on the defensive. Fisher was trundling well, in one over twice beating the batsman (Huntley) and the wicket with a ball coining in from the off. Huntley was fortunate in surviving this particular over from the Carisbrook left-hander. With the Southland score a* 132 Oorbett took the ball from Austin at die southern end. When he -had soared 4 Huntley, who had never been happy to CFisher, gat^e Austin a/chance at mid-off,' *but that usually safe field missed a' obmpaii/iivejy easy catch Hunil^y signalised the "life" by off -driving. .Fieher'for a couple and getting a flukey 3. through the slips off the same bowler, fciggims. .was batting safely and getting his runs without any display of cricket fireworks. The ex-Ofcago bataman brought the score up to 150 by clumping Corbel* for 3 to the on boundary. A few j balls later Fisher appealed unsuccessfully for "teg before" against Liggins, who was \ then 13. With the score at 152 Corbet* bowled Huntley "neck and crop" with an off break. The retiring bataman led rather a charmed life, and in one over was greatly in trouble to Fufher. who beat batsman and wioket twice with successive balk. Poole came in to see Fisher bowl his * fourth consecutive maiden, and to lift Corbott high and hard to the on boundary, where Banne-rman, fielding >deep in 'the " country," made a one-handed attempt at the ball well out of reach. A ball or two later Poole mishit Corbet* through the slip? for 3. But the batsman's e-nd wa? near, for with his score »t 9 Poole hit one from Fisher into the hands of Siedeberg at cover, the Otago captain bringing off an easy catch. Bight wickets had fallen for 157 when H. S. Hamilton joined Liggins,who had been *coring very quietly, in the with a .crisp square cut. The newcomer had a short life, pulling Fisher to the boundary and scoring a single off Corbett before. being bowled '.'all the way" by tha Albion bowler wirtih the l«st ball pi line owsr. Decbie, the last man, came in ■to be clean, bowled by Fisher without scoring. The innings closed -at 3.15 for 171, as tihe result of 3±. hours' batting, Liggins carrying his hat for 21. At 3.25 Otago took the bat, Doig opening the attack to Austin at the pavilion end, and D. Hamilton to Eckhold. The Dunedin representative scored his first boundary by swinging Hamilton to square-leg, the ball racing through the rails. Austin raised a cheer by sweetly cutting Doig to th* boundary. When Eckhold had 7 to his

credit he survived a confident appeal for "leg before" to Doig, a leg break bowler. The -batsmen were not taking any liberties with the bowling, although it scarcely warranted euoh respect. The scoring was slow, and although the s batemen were getting in a few crisp cuts the field was so ■well placed that few balls got through. Austin broke the monotony of things by driving Hamilton to the rails. "With the score at 33 the first change in the bowling was ' made, Keenan going on in .place of Doig at the southern end. OS the new bowler's second ball Eckhold crisply cut one through to the boundary. At 39 another change of i bowling was made, Crockett taking the ball | from D. Hamilton, bowline; from the pavilion end. Off the fifth ball of the newcomer's first over Austin brought up 40 with a crisp square-out for 3, the fieldsman throwing in the ball just in time to save the fourth run. There had been nothing exciting in the batting up to this stage, both Eckhold and Austin "playing for keeps." The Dunedin representative broke the monotony by swinging a ball from , Crockett to leg, the ball going to the rails for 4, all run out. Austin, who had for some time been very quiet, brought up the hair century after 50 minutes' play with an off drive. With the score at 56 (Austin 26, Eokho-ld 30) an adjournment was made for afternoon tea. This refreshing interlude over, the match was resumed.- Three runs were added when Doig took the ball from .Crockett, and bowled from the pavilion end. Keenan was .meanwhile plugging away at the southern end with his leg breaks. Eckhold was getting the bulk of the bowling, but he was doing nothing with it, being content in the main to play it back to"the fcowler. The cricket at this stage was tame and uninteresting, even the few enthusiasts round the ringside , half dozing over the ,quiet game. With the score at 67 Poole, a medium pace righthander, replaced Keenan at the southern end. The change in the bowling introduced fresh life into ' the • game, Eokhold appreciating the change by crisply cutting the medium-pace bowler twice- in successive hits to the boundary-^ Austin, who had been quiet for a time, lifted Poole high And hard over the bowler's head to the boundary, bringing 80 up. At this stage Crockett, at point, was doing good work, fielding smartly several crisp cute off Eckhold's bat. Seven runs were scored off Poole'snext over, asd the pace of the game improved. Eekhold brought up his half century and the total to 95 with a beautiful out for 3. Austin raised a chee# by bringing up the century with a fine drive off Huntley, v who had replaced Poole at the southern «nd. The "100" had occupied an hour and a^half in compiling. Austin's time had come, for off the next ball off Doig the Carisbrook man was caught by Keane behind the wiokete. Austin was batting 90 minutes for hie score of 46, in the getting; of wheih he showed good form all round _ the wicket. He was never truly aggressive, but he played correct, albeit quiet, cricket.. _ Ogg came in to open hi* account with an uppish stroke off Doig, the ball sailing over H. Semiiton'a had ,at mid-off. Eokhold brought up 110 wilh a' beautiful cat off ,Doig to the public' pavilion. Eokhold was looking for the cut all day, and- "brought off several fine ones from almost impossible baHs — on occasions it off the centre stick. Now and- then he swung round on the leg «ide, -and one such off Doig made music against -the -tin fence. At 117 Huntley, who had been bowling rather well, was .taken off to give place to Keenan at the southern end. Ogg signalised his appreciation of the change by sending the new -bowler 'past point to the boundary. The bowler had his revenge a few balls later by Bowling Ggg. Twq^ wickets had fallen for 127 when Siedeberg joined Eekhold. Three runs were added when D. Hamilton took up the attack at the pavilion end in place of Doig, who had bowled 19 overs, 7 maidens, for 35 rune and 1 wisket. Siedeberg register his fir6t boundary in a peculiar manner. The Otago captain cut Keenan towards the boundary, where it ■was stopped by a fieldsman, who, however, in attempting to pick up" the ball, accidentally threw it under the rails. After this little diversion Siedeberg hooked one off D. Hamilton to the boundary, bringing 140 up,. The Southland bowling was being well exploited, and the Southland captain was at a loss whom to try. Eventually H. Hamilton was put on in place of Keenan at the southern end. Siedeberg. who had been batting quietly, brought his score to 20 with a hit to the square-leg boundary off H. Hamilton. The Otago captain^had not really opened out, huf brought up 160 with a pull off H. Hamilton, the ball going for 3. At 161 another change was made in the Southland, attack, Huntley -resuming at the southern end in place of M. Hamilton, who had bowled four overs 4or 13 runs? Siedeberg drove Huntley to the boundary. A few balls later. Eekhold -cut B. Hamilton for -3, bringing 170 up, and Siedeberg squarecut D. Hamilton, surpassing the Southland first innings total. Nothing of further interest ooourred, and at 6 o'clock stumps ; were drawn for the day with the total at' 175 for two wickets (Eckhold not out 84, Siedeberg not out 35). Following are the detailed scores: —

FINE BATTING DISPLAY BY D. ' A WIN FOR OTAGO.

Fihst Dat — Wednesday.