CHRISTCHURCH NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent )

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 61

CHRISTCHURCH NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent )

Saturday Mas another ideal day for cricket, and the grounds were in good ' order. Notwithstanding that the wickets were all in favour of the batsmen, the scoring, taken all through, was poor, and Riocarton and East Ch rial church each made an extraordinary collapse in their second inninge. West Christ-church made a sensational finish against Riccarton in their race against time for a three point win. Riccarton had made 292, and (he Westerners had lost one wicket for 100. Continuing, the latter took their total to 320. Lusk was immediately caught and bowled without any increase to his score (555. Pcake (32), and I Reese (105), then made a fine stand, but with -the total at 217 both were dismissed. Both men batted fineiy. Weston (47). Wilson (23), and Thomas (20). also ga\e good displays. The fielding was fair, and the ■wickets well distributed among the bowlers. A most unexpected rot set in in Riccarton's second innings, and the toam was all out for a miserable 57, of which Anthony made 20 by nice cricket before being stumped. K. Williams, with 10, was the only other double-fig-uro scorer. Riccarlon were dismissed with 23i o\fcr*, Malone getting six for 35 and Ree->e three for three. The fielding was good. The We-aterners had less than a-quarrer of an hour in which to make the 30 runs to get a full win, and excitement ran high among the crowd of spectators. Lusk and Recce Rot to work at once, but the latter was caught after hitting a couple of boundaries and breaking a hat. Wilson joined Lusk, and the pair notched the required number in the last over, amidst much enthusiasm. Linwood's only innings against Eait Christchurch totalled 284. in reply to the Easterners' first effort of 94. With three men absent, the latter offered a most feeble resistance to Ellis and Orchard, and were all out for 41, Boxshall making 20 of three by powerful strokes, and Me*eh 14 by careful play. Ellis and Orchard accounted for tl eir eight opponents in 13 overs, the laiter getting four and the former three wickets. The fieldinor. all there was of it. was very good; and Linv.ood won by an innings and 149 runs. Sydenham beat St. tAlbans by eight wickets. The Saints had made 146, and Sydenham had lost six wickets for 189 riin'. Continuing, the latter took their total to 263, Xeill (27), Robson (24), and Aekro>d (23), making nearly all the -idditional rune. The fielding was again good, but the bowling was not up to the standard. The Saints' secend innings produced only 129 runs, which were pretty evenly distributed. Dr O'Brien was top scorer with 30, made in good 6tyle, while Wood #ot 26, Prankish 23, Ford 12 and Jackman 10 not out. T. AY. Reese was absent. As usual, the fielding was fine, and A. Jones got a splendid average. Sivdinham lost two wickets in making; the 12 runs required to win (Ackroyd, run out, one. Patrick, bowled O'Biien. 0). Gray hit up 11 speedily. The only century-maker in cup cricket on Saturday was Dun Reese, skipper of the ■\Vest Christohurch seniors, and he increased his previous score of 31 to 105. when he was caught, after a first-olass exhibition of battijut. Reese has this season, scored 1076

runs in cup, interprovincial, and international crickex. and has taken 90 wickets. There are still two Saturdays to play, and Dan has a chaneo of establishing a New Zealand record — 1000 runs and 100 wickets in first-grade cricket in a season. It has 1o be lememberod, though, that this season has been an exceptionally heavy one, owing; to the wonderful spell of fine weather, and 1 the many interpro. matches. It is a rather stiff proposition to expect the popular lefthander to get 10 wickels in the coming match with Sydenham. which starts on Saturday, but r.o one would congratulate Reese more heartil, than the Sydenhamites' were he to accomplish the feat, and associate his name with the record. The coming match between West Christchurch and Sydenham will decide the piemiership of Canterbury cricket for the season. The Westerners are favourites for the match, but almost evtiyone recognises that it would be for che benefit of the old crame ! were the suburbanites to wrest the palm I from the present holders (who ha\e held j it since the inauguration of the district i scheme). On the occasion of their previous. , meeting this season. Sydenham "doubled I up" badly on their own eround. and the I Westerners gained an easy victory. Since j then, however, other teams (notably, Linwood) have made stood showings against the premiers, and it is expected that the "model borough" reps, will take heart of grace and play up to the extent of their ( undoubted ability as a solid combination. ! Both teams have very large followings "of , entln>siastie supporters (mainly due to the i district sohemei. and there is store to be crowds on Hagloy Park to witness the contest. Tom Malone (W.C.) was "on the iob" in Ricearton's second innings. His figures read: 12 overs. 35 runs. *i x wickets (four bowled). Other good bowline figures on Saturday were: — D. Recce (W.C). 4£ overs, maidens, three runs, three wickets; Parkinson (R.). 5 oveis. 15 runs, two wickets: A. Jones (S). il overs, three maidens, 23 runs, four wickets; J. Bruges (S). two and a-half overs. 11 runs, two wickets; J. Bennett (S.). 21 overs, seven maidens, 45 runs, two wickets: S. A. Orchard (L.) seven overs, on? maiden. 20 runs, four wickets: H. Ellis (L.), six overs, 16 runs, three wickets.