All posts by h716a5.icu

The weather that was so good for the start of the Frizzell County Championship could not extend its favours to include the start of the last-ever Benson and Hedges Cup competition

Ralph Dellor28-Apr-2002
NickKnight – ton at Birmingham
Photo CricInfo
The weather that was so good for the start of the Frizzell County Championship could not extend its favours to include the start of the last-ever Benson and Hedges Cup competition. Most matches in the first round of zonal matches were affected to some degree by April showers.The first result of the day was in the Midlands/Wales/West Division at Northampton, where the home side beat Glamorgan by eight wickets. Glamorgan never really threatened to score enough runs, losing wickets at regular intervals. Only Robert Croft with 33 and Matthew Maynard (32) came to terms with the Northamptonshire attack. Tony Penberthy returned the impressive figures of 3 for 6 and Jeff Cook 3 for19. A total of 122 was never going to be enough and, in spite of the early loss of Graham Swann to Mike Kasprowicz, David Sales (53*) Mal Loye was unbeaten with 53 as Northamptonshire were home, and dry, by eight wickets.A Nick Knight hundred was the highlight of a rain-shortened match at Edgbaston between Warwickshire and Somerset. The England opener carried his bat for 126 not out in an impressive Warwickshire total of 263 off the revised 41 over duration. Duckworth/Lewis machinations meant that Somerset had to score 270 to win but the loss of four quick wickets rendered that equation unlikely. When captain Jamie Cox went as well before 50 runs were on the board, Somerset’s only salvation appeared to be the weather, and that duly obliged – for a time. A recalculation saw them needing 173, but Warwickshire ran out winners by 94 runs.They might have had only a short trip across London from the Oval to Lord’s, but Surrey’s batsmen did not travel well. Surrey were bowled out for just 122 by their transpontine rivals. Mark Butcher (51) at least offered some resistance to Ashley Noffke, who took 4 for 34, and Chad Keegan with 3 for 24. Outgoing skipper Angus Fraser was in miserly mood, conceding just 22 runs in his 10 over stint, and he picked up a wicket. Despite interruptions for rain, Middlesex moved easily past the required total losing only two wickets in the process. Owais Shah led them home with an unbeaten 50.At Chelmsford, Essex set Sussex 207 to win, having recovered from 18 for 4 at one stage. The mainstays of the Essex innings were skipper Ronnie Irani who hit 47, newcomer Aftab Habib with 46 and Paul Grayson who was still there at the end of the 50 overs with an unbeaten 49. With Irani taking 5 for 36 in his 10 overs, including Chris Adams for 54, the game was evenly poised with Sussex needing 87 in 19 overs with 4 wickets in hand when the rain returned. Richard Montgomerie was 44 not out. Essex were declared the winners by 86 runs.In the North Division at Trent Bridge, Yorkshire recovered from early strife against Nottinghamshire. Greg Smith took four early wickets, but Yorkshire recovered to 225 all out, thanks in the main to a century partnership between captain Darren Lehmann (89) and Anthony McGrath (48). Smith ended with 5 for 39 from his 10 overs. Nottinghamshire chased a revised target of 100 off 17 overs between the showers that further reduced the target to 71 off 13. Yorkshire’s bowlers held their nerve and won by 2 runs.Rain dominated proceedings at a damp Derby. When play eventually got underway, Lancashire stuttered to 17 for 2 in the 27 balls that were possible before the return of the rain initiated a hurried return to the pavilion and the match was abandoned.

Many Southampton fans are far from happy with a tweet from the club on Friday in regards to their defending.

The Saints will be happy that the season is over. While there were some positive moments, such as reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, they ended up 15th in the Premier League, so Ralph Hasenhuttl and his team have plenty of work to do to get the players ready for the next campaign.

Their defensive record was particularly disappointing. Of the 20 teams in the top flight this season, only West Bromwich Albion conceded more than their 68 goals (Sky Sports). However, that has not stopped the club’s Twitter page from sharing a compilation of tackles from the players with the caption “Access Denied”. Talk about irony.

The tweet was shared on the club’s official Twitter account, and it is fair to say that it attracted the wrath of many of the club’s supporters. These fans took to the social media platform to share their thoughts on the ill-judged tweet.

Let’s see what the Southampton fans had to say below

“The social media team have left themselves as wide open as our defence..”

Credit: @andydavis1978

“Haha this is the most inappropriate tweet so far. Defence has been shocking.”

Credit: @doeboy1

“We were 1 place off relegation.. access denied is not appropriate”

Credit: @OBondERR

“Please delete this …. conceded for fun this season”

Credit: @Spakey98

“Weird tweet considering how bad we were defensively”

Credit: @SaintLee_

“This club are calling us fans mugs . Been a season ticket holder for over 3o years. Maybe I will show them access denied 60 goals let in and this ?”

Credit: @nicksfc73

In other news, Southampton are interested in this player previously compared to Lionel Messi.

If Durham are to get their season going they must start soon

Ed Green23-May-2002

Frizzell County Championship Division TwoP   W  L  D  Bat Bowl Deduct PointsMiddlesex                 3   3  0  0 13   9    0.00   58.00Derbyshire                3   3  0  0  8   9    0.25   52.75Worcestershire            4   1  2  1 14   9    0.00   39.00Glamorgan                 3   2  1  0  3   9    0.00   36.00Gloucestershire           3   1  1  1  9   9    0.00   34.00Essex                     3   1  1  1  8   9    0.50   32.50Nottinghamshire           3   1  2  0  1   9    0.50   21.50Northamptonshire          3   0  2  1  7   7    0.00   18.00Durham                    3   0  3  0  2   9    0.00   11.00

Durham v Gloucestershire, Chester-le-Street (24th – 27th May)If Durham are to get their season going they must start soon. Although they were only denied a win in their game against Derbyshire by the loss of three wickets for one run when in sight of victory, they have been well beaten in their other two games. Their failure so far has been based on an inability to score runs. Only Nicky Peng, Martin Love and Paul Collingwood average over 30 in the championship. It is the length of the tail that is their greatest difficulty – seven out of 13 players have county averages in single figures.Collingwood has also led with the ball, along with debutant and leading wicket-taker, local 21-year-old Anthony Davies. Erratic speed merchant Steve Harmison has found his wickets expensive at 40 apiece so far. The youngest county have also been unfortunate with injuries, losing both opening bowler Brown and opening batsman Daley in the course of games.Gloucestershire’s batting has been on a far firmer footing, New Zealand based dual national Craig Spearman has weighed in with two centuries and captain Mark Alleyne and Kim Barnett (41) have reached three figureTheir lower order sticks around longer and contributes more.Gloucestershire also have the advantage of a more settled bowling line-up, with Jon Lewis, who took 12 wickets in their start-of-season defeat by Worcestershire, Official overseas player Ian Harvey and James Averis are both among the wickets already.Nottinghamshire v Northamptonshire, Nottingham (24th – 27th May)These two Midlands counties have both gone under the wheels of a rampant Middlesex side in the early weeks of the season, and both look, on early evidence, hard-pressed to push for promotion.Notts have had great difficulty scoring runs this season, achieving just a single batting point from three games, raising just four fifties between them. Only Darren Bicknell has so far passed two hundred runs. They did, though, score their batting point in their only previous home match, a seven-wicket defeat of Essex in which South African dual national Greg Smith posted a career best eight for 53.Northants on the other hand have conceded totals of 524, 538 and 541 in three games, although two of these were on the placid surface at Northampton. This is despite recruiting Ricky Anderson and Carl Greenidge, from Essex and Surrey respectively, to bolster their attack. Both youngsters have a turn of pace and have produced impressive bowling at times. They are also the kind of athletic deep fielders who will be needed if Northants are to continue buying their wickets at over fifty runs apiece. The pair top Northants’ bowling averages.Aussie run machine Mike Hussey and Mal Loye, as usual, top the batting with four centuries between them. But a couple of huge totals mask a batting fragility that has seen them skittled out for under 131 against Middlesex and lose flurries of wickets in both innings in their defeat at Derby.Essex v Derbyshire, Chelmsford (26th – 29th May)Essex host second-placed Derbyshire after recording their first win of the season against Worcestershire, thanks to an amazing performance by 37-year-old John Stephenson, who recorded the best innings and match figures of his 18-year first-class career (three for 60 and seven for 44, giving ten for 104 in the match), taking more wickets in his first game of the summer than in either of the two preceding seasons. A reliance on wickets from bowlers who are no more than military medium may be perceived as a weakness, but the attack has achieved an impressive strike rate so far.The loss of long-standing overseas player Stuart Law to the county of his birth means another Lancastrian, captain Ronnie Irani, has the chance to top the batting averages, closely followed by Andy Flower and local Darren Robinson who is in his tenth summer and performing as well as he has in years.The home side welcome back England captain Nasser Hussain for a rare appearance, and will be hoping he brings some of the form he showed in the recent Test match and Benson & Hedges clash.Derbyshire come into the game on a high, with the services of their captainDominic Cork available on the back of three successive wins, as many as in 2000 and 2001 combined. While their batting, in view of their record in preceding seasons, must remain open to question, the side’s progress has been remarkable. Their inevitable Aussie Michael Di Venuto, left-hander Stephen Stubbings and EC passport holding Chris Bassano are aided by team mates who have mostly scored fifties, and all of whom have contributed when called upon.The visitors’ bowling probably remains their key weapon in a match against probably the strongest opposition they have faced all season, a varied attack that is well capable of taking 20 wickets a match. Both sides are hoping for a return to first division cricket.

Everton are said to be lining up FC Porto manager Sergio Conceicao as their next boss after Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to join Real Madrid.

What’s the story?

Ancelotti’s surprise return to the Santiago Bernabeu has left the Toffees with a real dilemma, and it appears they have cast the net far and wide to appoint their next manager.

And, according to Football Insider, the Merseyside club have got their eye on Conceicao, with the 44-year-old still having yet put pen to paper on a new contract at Porto.

The report claims that the stand-off between the two sides has opened the door for him to move to Goodison Park, and that Everton are “keeping tabs” on his situation.

Would fire up Goodison Park

While Sky Sports have revealed the Toffees are set to undergo talks with former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, it’s his fellow Portuguese manager Conceicao who Farhad Moshiri and co should really be looking at.

Speaking to Goal, journalist Lidia Paralta Gomes, said of Conceicao: “They see him as a homegrown guy with the authentic Porto mentality – very passionate, very intense, very proud. There are claims that he is all about attitude and not sophisticated enough, but those are minority”.

That dedication and willingness to win is reflected in comments made by Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas, who played under Conceicao at Porto.

The Spaniard said: “Behind every serious and disciplined coach there is also a great person. During the three years with Conceicao I came to know a man who demands the maximum. He always wants to win and transmits this will to his players”.

Conceicao meanwhile himself admitted: “I am never 100 per cent happy. There is a dark side inside me, and it will never leave”.

Another key thing the 44-year-old will bring to the table is his ability to manage a squad of players, and his style should see him become a really popular figure at the club.

In a piece about his tactical philosophy, Football BH wrote: “Conceição garnered respect quickly. He introduced a fine blend of spirited charisma and tacit discipline to not only get the dressing room on-side but the despondent fans as well.

“Conceição has one intangible attribute all top modern managers possess. He is able to bleed an extra 5% out of every player in his squad, imploring them to pull in the same direction and pull hard.

“The authority doesn’t come from shouting the loudest or micro-managing every detail. It has grown from his honesty with the press, his public team-talks in front of the fans and jogging 24-miles home after losing a bet with his players.”

That ability to get his players leave everything on the line for him shows the remarkable man-management skills that Conceicao possesses, and that intensity and passion that people have raved about, should endear him to the Goodison Park faithful.

Toffees fans only have to look across to the red half of Merseyside to see the kind of impact a charismatic manager can have on an entire club. Conceicao appears to be built from that same never-say-die mould and would be a perfect fit for Everton.

If Moshiri wants to really kick-start things at Goodison, then he should turn to Conceicao instead of Nuno.

And in other news, Everton could find new Pienaar by signing this star player…

Bourne 231 for six (David Christmas 92 not out), Market Rasen 117 all out (Richard Howitt 5 for 21)Bourne won by 114 runs, taking them back clear at the top of the league

Lincolnshire CCC Media Release23-Jun-2002Bourne 231 for six (David Christmas 92 not out), Market Rasen 117 all out (Richard Howitt 5 for 21)Bourne won by 114 runs, taking them back clear at the top of the league.Grantham 298 for six (James Clarke 162 not out), Caistor 119 all outGrantham won by 179 runs and go above Market Rasen into second placeSleaford 242 for nine (Richard Tomlin 70), Lindum 130 all outSleaford won by 112 runs and stay fourth.Market Deeping 267 for six (Chris Jones 112, Lee Peacock 61, Mike Troops 5 for 63), Boston 204 all outMarket Deeping won by 63 runsMessingham 281 for 5 (Ashley White 129 not out), Allenby Stevenson Grimsby Town 130 for eightWinning draw to Messingham who move back up to sixth.

A number of Liverpool supporters are excited by an update regarding striker Patson Daka, claiming that it could hint towards a move to Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp is sure to be looking at new signings ahead of the summer transfer window, with various areas of the pitch requiring additions.

Although Liverpool look well-stocked in attack at the moment, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino all vying for minutes, another face there wouldn’t go amiss.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/the-latest-liverpool-transfer-news-4/” title=”The latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

With the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi potentially moving on, another forward could bolster Klopp’s options in the final third.

Daka is a player who has been linked with a move to Liverpool, having excelled for RB Salzburg, scoring 68 goals in 125 appearances.

It is now been reported by the Liverpool Echo that the striker has been omitted from Zambia’s latest squad, in order to focus on his future, which signals that the player could be on the move this summer.

Liverpool fans love Daka update

The @LFCTransferRoom Twitter account passed on this report and these Liverpool fans reacted to it, with some speculating that he could be about to make a move to Anfield, others hoping that he does make a switch to Merseyside and one even feeling a bit tired of transfer rumours already!

“Ohhhhh ok. Let’s see what’s going down”

Credit: @CMT17LFC

“Sign him please. Sell Origi first. He will be great competition for Firmino”

Credit: @Anggara16126514

“We want him in Liverpool uniform”

Credit: @jarukulwanich

“Tielemans, Daka and Raphina incoming?”

Credit: @max2710

“Exactly what we need!”

Credit: @OindoC

“Lol transfer rumours kill me”

Credit: @NargleInAFez

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been hailing the skills of one Reds player after a video emerged. Find out who it is here.

Rob Turner is holding a Golf Day on Tuesday July 23rd at Cumberwell Park Golf Club near Bradford on Avon, and if the last few events that have been held for his benefit are anything to go by then those who sign up for the day will have a good time

Richard Walsh15-Jul-2002Rob Turner is holding a Golf Day on Tuesday July 23rd at Cumberwell Park Golf Club near Bradford on Avon, and if the last few events that have been held for his benefit are anything to go by then those who sign up for the day will have a good time.Last weekend well over 200 people attended his Summer Ball that was held in the grounds of Taunton School, and by all accounts everyone had a most enjoyable evening.Last Monday Rob held his `House of Commons Lunch’ in the Churchill Room at the Houses of Parliament, that was attended by 75 guests, with Ned Sherrin as the guest speaker.Rob told me: "The meal was really good, and we had just finished eating when the fire alarm went off. It could have been a disaster in the making, but luckily our local M.P. Adrian Flook went off and sorted things out so we could get on and go ahead with the auction which was a great success."The Golf Day at Cumberwell Park next Monday will start off with a rolling buffet on arrival, 18 holes of golf and then a sit down dinner at the end, with several guest speakers including Phil De Glanville, the former England and Bath RFC captain.Already Rob has attracted fifteen teams, who are paying £250 per team, but he would like to recruit another five if possible. Any individual or team of four who would like to sign up for Rob’s Golf Day should make contact with Doreen Barnes on 01455 230489 or 07876 173440.

A major update has emerged on Jacob Murphy and it could lead to a transfer masterclass from Southampton CEO Martin Semmens.

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, the Saints are among a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign the 26-year-old from Newcastle this summer. The report claims that Leeds, Burnley, Galatasaray, Porto and Bayer Leverkusen are also keen on the former Norwich man.

Murphy is out of contract at the end of next season and could soon be available on a free transfer if he opts against signing an extension at Newcastle. Steve Bruce is said to be keen to keep him at the club and Newcastle are working hard to tie him down to a new deal amid interest from elsewhere.

Back in October 2020, Bruce praised the “matured” 26-year-old, highlighting his physical development in recent years. He told the Shropshire Star: “I never contemplated it (a loan move) from the first week he was back. He was a different player. Certainly physically he’s come back in really good condition.

“We all know he’s a good athlete and he certainly looks like he’s matured. He had been practicing free-kicks on Thursday in training and I was thinking ‘let’s see if he can do it again’.”

Semmens masterstroke

Southampton CEO Semmens could be about to pull off a masterstroke if he can land Murphy.

The Daily Mail reported earlier this week that Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl wants to sign a right-back to challenge Kyle Walker-Peters this summer and Murphy could be the perfect addition to the squad to fill that role. He is capable of playing at right-back as well as on the wing and could be a cheap, versatile option for Southampton to bring in.

Interestingly, he posted better statistics in the Premier League at right-back for Newcastle than Walker-Peters did for the Saints. Murphy averaged an impressive WhoScored rating of 6.9 in 13 starts in that role, scoring twice and setting up another goal. Walker-Peters averaged a slightly lower score of 6.84 in 30 starts, failing to score a goal but setting up two for his team-mates.

This suggests that Murphy is on a par with Walker-Peters, if not slightly better, and could provide him with some excellent competition next season.

The two could battle it out for the starting spot at right-back in Hasenhuttl’s team and help each other raise their game in the process. Competition for places is important to avoid complacency and Murphy could keep the Saints full-back on his toes if he arrives at St Mary’s.

The £25,000-per-week dynamo can also play on the wing and he hit 17 Championship goals across two separate campaigns for Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich whilst playing in a forward position. This means that Hasenhuttl could also utilise him in a more advanced position if he is unable to break into the team at right-back.

Murphy could be a superb signing for Southampton and Semmens could pull off a masterstroke by bringing him in.

AND in other news, Semmens masterclass: News emerges on “unfortunate” £10m flop, Saints fans will love it…

Liverpool will reportedly begin talks with PSV Eindhoven to sign 22-year-old forward Donyell Malen [Sky Sports via Paisley Gates].

Gearing up for 2021/22, the Reds have now seemingly turned their attentions towards the Netherlands international.

Malen is also being linked with Borussia Dortmund as a potential Jadon Sancho replacement, however Liverpool are expected to firm up their interest in the attacker within the summer transfer window [Sky Sport].

Experiencing a sparkling 2020/21 season, the Dutchman registered an incredible 37 goal contributions from 45 appearances; 27 goals and 10 assists [Transfermarkt].

Interestingly, Malen was on the books of Arsenal and Ajax as a youngster before making the move to PSV [Paisley Gates].

Valued at around £25 million by his current employers, he is most certainly within the price-range of the Anfield giants [Paisley Gates].

As you can imagine, loads of Reds diehards took to Twitter to discuss this development.

Liverpool fans react:

Replying to popular fan outlet LFC Transfer Room on Twitter, here is what some supporters had to say upon hearing what one fan called ‘huge’ news:

“Finally we’re moving for a player we need this could be huge”

Credit: @Hillionaire23″this would be an unreal signing”Credit: @kevndawson”Better than daka”Credit: @Plz56486107″Considering he played for arsenal but didn’t get game time if he does what Salah did in his first season with us we could have an absolute monster on our hands”Credit: @AndyQui31450677″For the right price it would be a great signing, but I want as many goalscorers as possible in this team”Credit: @1CraigFisher”This guy is probably the origi replacement”Credit: @acupoftea100In other news, fans react to an Anfield Road expansion update.

Cantabrians were lucky in the summer of 1913/14, they saw the last first-class century played by one of the legends of cricket – Victor Trumper

Lynn McConnell16-Aug-2002
Arthur Sims’ Australian XI 1913/14 touring team to New Zealand – including Victor Trumper (back row, second from right)Cantabrians were lucky in the summer of 1913/14, they saw the last first-class century played by one of the legends of cricket – Victor Trumper.He was in New Zealand on a private tour with a side known as Arthur Sims’ XI. It was chock-full of top Australian cricketers and provided some marvellous cricket for New Zealanders in what was the last summer before the onset of World War One.Little did they know that 15 months after he played one of the highest innings of his life, 293 for Sims’ XI against Canterbury at Lancaster Park, that Trumper would be dead, the victim of kidney disease.The other aspect of his innings was that with the tour’s organiser Sims, he shared an eighth wicket stand of 433, that remains a world first-class record for that wicket.His 293 is still the seventh highest first-class score on New Zealand soil.It was one more than the maiden, and unbeaten, first-class century Trumper scored for New South Wales against Tasmania in 1898/99. It was the second highest score of his career, behind the 300 not out he scored for Australia against Sussex on the 1899 tour of England.It was also his eighth score in excess of 200 runs.Canterbury scored 92, Monty Noble picking up four for 25 and Arthur Mailey three for 17. But any disappointment Cantabrians felt was soon changed as Australia lost three wickets for 28 runs.Australian then reached 105/5 by the end of the day, although Trumper hadn’t batted as Sims deliberately held onto him with the Saturday crowd in mind. It was to prove a crucial decision.On the Saturday morning of February 28, 1914, 5000 people turned up to Lancaster Park.Sims went to the wicket when the first wicket of the day fell at 118/6. He started batting with Warwick Armstrong and when they had added 91 runs, Armstrong was out with the score 209/7.Trumper came in and batted like a player who had been caged up and was having an overdue taste of freedom.He hit his 50 in 26 minutes.Alan Mitchell in his biography of Arthur Sims, “84 Not Out”, noted of Trumper: “All his shots were firm and his timing exact. The Canterbury bowlers, recovering from this assault, kept on a length and the fielders on their toes.”Trumper moved on to 80 and, passing Arthur’s [Sims] two hour total at the point, went on rather more sedately to his century. It had taken him seventy-five minutes, the second 50 at little more than a run a minute.””In 17 minutes, Trumper added another 50. Sims, realising what was happening, had the perspicacity to feed Trumper the strike. He hit 18 singles in order to turn the batting over to him. He reached his 200 with his fourth 50 coming in 39 minutes.”Once again Trumper celebrated. Another twenty-one minutes flashed by and up went his score by another 50. By now the crowd was babel. Arthur had also passed his century in one hundred and ninety minutes,” Mitchell wrote.The side’s 600 followed and Sims scored his third 50 in 45 minutes.”When Trumper moved into the 290’s his treble century seemed a certainty. Still the Canterbury bowlers kept at their work and [Joseph] Bennett was applauded for giving the scoreboard a brief rest by sending down a maiden. Then Trumper on 293, went for a big hit, got an outside edge, and D M [Don] Sandman took the catch at deep point.”While the crowd rose and Trumper walked in happily – with every reason for an excuse to seek his bed early that night – and Arthur mopped his brow, the statisticians went to work.”They had watched a world record eighth wicket stand – 433 in one hundred and ninety minutes, or ten minutes over three hours, and in that time Trumper had hit 293 runs, Sims around a century.”Trumper gave chances at 116 and 251.Christchurch’s Press newspaper said of the innings: “Those who went to Lancaster Park on Saturday got the cricket feast of a lifetime. There were probably very few in that big crowd who had ever seen anything like it, and doubtless the great majority will never see its equal again.”There is only one Trumper in the world, and after watching him – for over three hours – execute his magic-like strokes all round the wicket, one could subscribe enthusiastically to the sentiment conveyed in his being styled ‘the incomparable Victor.'”Talk about the champagne of cricket! It was all that, with an electric sparkle running through it all the way.”Those who weren’t among the large crowd that day were soon rewarded with the Press’ description.”The cricket scribe’s vocabulary is quite inadequate to describe Trumper’s innings. Much of the daring that electrified the cricket world a decade or more ago had departed. He is said to have mellowed with age, and strengthened his defence. It may be suggested that the mellowing process has left absolutely untarnished the superlativeness of his strokes.”His defence may be sounder. Once can easily believe it, but that ‘age has withered or custom staled’ his remarkable powers as a batsman is unbelievable after his Saturday’s display.”His driving? It was equal to that of great batsmen who have specialised in the stroke. More often than not the only description of its power would be the pace at which the ball would be seen travelling to the fence and the remarkable short space of time it took to get there. His late cutting was a marvel.”Bennett’s perfect length ball just outside the off stump – the most deadly ball in his repertoire – was flicked away anywhere between slip and point with the ease and precision of timing that was absolutely artistic.”But probably the most astonishing feature of his play was on the on side. Balls just clear of the leg stump whether they kept low or bounced high, were unerringly despatched towards the on fence, and the manner in which he kept the high bounding balls all along the sward and yet go the same power into the stroke, seemed nothing short of jugglery.”Only cricketers could appreciate the difficulty of it. Altogether it was a display of batting, which for sound defence and purity of stroke with the maximum of aggressiveness and minimum of risk has never been equalled in Christchurch.”The Christchurch Star, the city’s then evening paper described the innings as the “rejuvenescence” of Trumper.”Upon how little an incident the success of failure of a game of cricket depends. Had [Harold] Bishop on Friday evening returned the ball to the wickets smarter than he did, Sims would have been run out for a blob. Instead, he defied our bowling all day long on Saturday, and kept his end up while the greatest of all batsmen piled on the runs.”The Star’s writer, “Square Leg”, noted that it had become fashionable to describe Trumper as a ‘has been’. However, he could only wonder what the cricket lovers of Australia had been denied as the result of “the efforts made by the jealous ones to drive such men out of the game.”He also made the point that Trumper had long had an appetite for New Zealand bowling.”To see Trumper going is to see the champagne of cricket, and Saturday’s innings was forceful and extremely clever. But not-withstanding this he had a fair share of luck. Soon after passing his 100 [Charles] Boxshall caught him at the wicket, but Umpire Hanford gave him not out. Trumper, like the true sportsman he is, turned around immediately to the wicket-keeper and said, ‘Hard luck, Boxy; I hit it.'”That was indeed hard luck for Canterbury. He also survived a few very confident appeals for leg-before; and seeing the way in which he frequently covered up his wickets to glide straight balls, he was lucky to get the verdict.”And Sims, who was in the last days of his playing career on his home midden, also drew praise.”Sims exceeded anything he ever did for his native province, and his effort shows that in good company a player’s efforts are far more likely to succeed than in bad. Sims was, of course, quite overshadowed by Trumper, and yet it cannot be said that the Canterbury lad gave a chance.”He was careful to a degree and played for keeps all the time, and was just as keen for runs at the close as at the beginning, and was heard to advise Trumper to go carefully so as to commence again on Monday.”The Lyttelton Times also had its say.”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 pace.”One could have imagined that it was a purely exhibition effort. From driving to cutting, and back to leg glides the batsman seemed to have a supernatural knack of finding a clear avenue to the boundary.”The writer said Trumper’s innings was beyond criticism.”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 out of the ordinary.”Trumper’s placement of the ball was described as “an educative treat.””If one had to praise a particular stroke it was the late cut. It was so late at times, that on one occasion his gave Boxshall a good crack on the gloves just as the ball entered them.”Sims’ side won the game with ease, by an innings and 364 runs, still the largest winning margin in New Zealand first-class history.