Cricket 1883

5 2 CRICKET; A "WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. a p r i l 26 ,1883. any material improvement on the first innings, for when six runs were scored, Studd, with all his caution, was unable to get clear of a bumping ball from Palmer, and, in trying to play it, only managed to place it in Blackham’s hands, where it remained. Bates was his successor, and the Yorkshireman commenced to score in a neat and vigorous style. The ball travelled very slowly along the turf, and the batsman failed to get anything like a fair return for their excellent hits. In one instance Bates, after playing a ball hard against the ground and into Boyle’s hands, turned to walk away from his wickets, and the crowd, deluded into the belief that the batsman was out, cheered loudly. Of course Bates came back again, and the wonder was that, after being so frequently fooled by the professional batsman in this way, the spectators should so easily fall victims to the old familiar ruse. When an ad­ journment was made for lunch, the total stood at 15 on ly; for although the batsmen wore play­ ing freely, runs were not easily obtained. The weather changed about in the most provoking fashion, for after a stretch of pleasant sunshine for the adjournment hour, rain again commenced immediately the play was resumed. The bats­ men were not long in doubling the scoro when play was resumed, and as 30 runs came in sight, a change in the bowling could not with safety be longer deferred. Midwinter, therefore, re­ lieved Boyle; but before the effect of the change became manifest, the players retired again to shelter from a very slight shower. The im­ patience of the spectators was excited by this unnecessary break in the game, and they clamoured loudly for the players to continue. Finally another start was made, but the pause was fatal to Bates, who, on again facing Palmer, was clean bowled with the first ball. The ominous fact that the middle stump was again knocked away testified to the accuracy of the bowling. When Leslie came in he commenced to score, but his stay at the wickets was so limited that his efforts made no material altera­ tion in the state of the game. Before reaching a double-figure score he ran out, and drove a ball from Midwinter in the air, and as it came down in the vicinity of Horan a cool and clever catch was the outcome. Three wickets had now fallen for 41 runs, but Barlow still resolutely kept one wicket standing, although his score was still represented on the board by a single figure. Steel was his next partner. Although Midwinter had proved a success as a change he was taken off after a few overs, and Boyle again resumed at his old crease. The first four hit of the second innings was made by Steel, at Palmer’s expense, the effort being a swinging square-leg hit to the grand stand pickets. Steel appeared to like the change, and a very shoit trial served to prove its in­ efficacy. M‘Shane was brought in from long- field, and deputed to try his powers, but his opening was not re-assuring to his side. Steel was punishing every loose ball in determined fashion, and in one instance he almost sent Palmer over the chains, the stroke, as it was, producing a good four. Palmer, after bowling from the start, now gave way to Midwinter, but Steel continued to hit merrily, and another fine four to leg brought 80 up, and carried the bats­ man’s individual score to 36, this number having been acquired in brief time. Although the wicket w a3 not at all favourable to his style, Cooper was now compelled to take a turn himself at the bowling. On a difficult drying wicket, Steel’s fine exhibition of batting was worthy of great praise, and both batsmen, by their judgment in running scored every possible run, carefully avoiding all unnecessary risks. The ball was rarely sent in the air, but in one instance Steel sent one up to Scott near the chains, the fieldsman failing to judge the catch properly. The four runs that resulted from the hit brought 100 in sight, the onlookers according the batsmen a hearty complimentary cheer. As showing how rapidly Steel had scored, it is sufficient to say that when 100 was hoisted, he claimed exactly half the number, although he had not gone in until after 40 appeared. The appearance of the third figure seemed to alarm the Victorian captain slightly, and in sheer desperation he sought for a more successful bowler in the second-rate division. Horan was first tried, but proved scarcely up to the standard, so Turner, who occasionally does a good thing in this way for his club (Richmond), was given a trial instead. Neither measure brought the result looked for, and with the failure of legitimate methods, the Victorians suddenly remembered that they required some refreshment, and marched to the pavilion in a body to satisfy the want. This modern manoeuvre to distract th9 attention of bats­ men when scoring rapidly has become decidedly popular, both sides having practised it frequently during the present season, and occasionally with a large measure of success. In this case, how­ ever, this illegitimate device did not come off, for both batsmen continued to score with re­ newed vigour. Barlow was loudly cheered for his first four, the hit being quite an event, but Steel repeatedly indulged in the luxury, and his score, like the total, crept up rapidly . As 130 was hoisted the scorers called 70 for Steel. At this stage the long partnership was dissolved, Barlow putting the ball up in the slips, and being easily caught by M‘Donnell. His contri­ bution for over three hours’ batting was a modest score of 27, the number being obtained while his four successive partners had put together exactly 106. The value of his innings to a side playing a hard up-hill game cannot be measured by results alone, and for patient, resolute defence the display could not well be surpassed. Four down for 133 was the anounce- ment from the board, and the prospect of the Victorians having to bat a second time was not nearly so remote as when the third wicket fell. When Read joined Steel lively times were ex­ pected, and the start made by the new-comer augured well. But the stand was not of long duration, for in a wretched light Palmer worked in a beautifulleg-break that fairly mastered the Surrey amateur player. Five out for 147 was the information hoisted as Tylecote came in, andhe did nothing that necessitated an alteration, as far as the total was concerned. After the English wicket-keeper had played a few balls carefully, Palmer spread his stumps all round the turf with a very fast full toss. Six wickets down for 147 runs. As soon as Barnes came in, Steel’s brilliant innings was abruptly closed, Palmer taking his centre stump with just such another ball as that which destroyed Tylecote’s hopes. Steel was loudly cheered for his fine innings of 76, acquired under difficult conditions, and with scarcely the suspicion of a chance. Vernon, after a leg hit for 2, returned the ball to Palmer, and it was securely held. Eight for 154. G. B. Studd barely managed to stop the first ball from Palmer, who was taking every advantage of the dull light and sending down a number of dangerous fast yorkers. At the oppo­ site end, however, Barnes was not equal to the occasion, and he soon put one in the air, which Blackham snapped up gladly. At this startling and unexpected collapse of the English batsmen the onlookers became exceedinglydemonstrative. Bligh, who came in next, fell a victim to Turner, who sent down a ball that was much too good for the English captain. The ball fairly puzzled the batsman, and after standing irresolute for an instant, he tried when too late to play it, but found his wicket disturbed. The total of the innings was 156, and Victoria had thus scored a victory by an innings and 73 runs, and amply avenged the decisive defeat which the weakened forces of the colony sustained at the hands of the Englishmen in the early part of the season. ,The victory was even more popular with the onlookers than that of the Australians, for although the rain commenced to fall just at the finish, a large crowd gathered before the grand stand and cheered the Victorian players in turn, a similar compliment being also accorded to the Englishmen. The events of the second innings were the fine stand made by Steel and Barlow, and the consummate judgment shown by Palmer in working his bowling in the dull fading light. The battingjjfeat referred to was the one re­ deeming feature in an exhibition that was otherwise very poor. The Englishmen may have been unfortunate in having to bat on such a wicket, but unless they could have made a better attempt to play Cooper’s bowling than'in the first innings, a good wicket, on which that slow bowler excels, would have been a doubtful benefit to the team. The manner in which Steel and Barlow treated the bowling without a mistake \ proved that the wicket was playing better than was expected, but the batsmen were certainly unfortunate ]*in having to play the critical part of the game in a very poor light. In recognition of his fin« innings of 76 Steel will bo presented with Mr. Sutton’s trophy, a handsome silver cup, given for the highest ag­ gregate scorer on the English side in this match. Never before has Palmer more completely proved his claim to" be regarded as the best bowler in Australia than in this match, for both on the dry and wet wickets he performed with fine effect. Turner proved a useful auxiliary at the finish, when his peculiarly deceptive delivery was the one thing necessary to complete the collapse, and Cooper showed sound judg­ ment in utilising his services just at the critical instant. Indeed, as a captain, the South Mel­ bourne player proved a marked success in this match, and his club has fairly gained the honours of the occasion. V ictoria . P. S. McDonnell,cBates, b Barnes ....................6 J. Me C. Blackham, run out ....................1 G.J. Bonnor, c Tylecote, b Barnes ....................54 H . Scott, c Tylecote, b Barlow.............................29 T. Horan, b Barnes .. 87 G. E. Palmer, c Steel, b Barnes.............................2 E. Turner, c Barlow, b S t e e l............................ 18 W . Midwinter, not out 92 H. F. Boyle, c Tylecote, b B a r n e s ....................4 P. G. McSbane, b Bates 27 W . H. Cooper, 1b w, b Barnes.............................1 B 9,1 b 4 ....................13 Total .284 E nglish E leven First Innings Second Innings. C. T. Studd, b Cooper .. .. E. F. S. Tylecote, b Cooper.. 11 c Blackham, b Palmer 8 4 0 Bates, b P a lm e r .................... 0 21 C. F. H. Leslie, 1 b w, b Palmer...................................... 0 c Horan, b Midwinter 9 A. G. Steel, b Cooper .. 11 76 W . W . Read, c Midwinter, b Cooper ...................................... 7 9 Barlow, not o u t .................... 4 c McDonnell, b Palm e r .................... 27 Barnes, run o u t .................... 11 c Blackham, b Turner 2 G. F. Vernon, b Boyle.. .. 3 c and b Palmer.. .. 2 G. B. Studd, b Palmer.. .. 2 not out............................. 0 Hon. Ivo Bligh, b Palmer .. 0 st Blackham, c Turner ‘2 L b 1, n b 1 .................... 2 B 4, n b 1 .. 5 55 Total . . ..156 BOWLING ANALYSIS. V ictoria . O. M. R.W. A. G. Steel 55 25 79 2 Barnes .. 51.2 23 70 5 Leslie Bates 19 87 21 O. M. R.W. C. T. Studd 26 16 13 0 Read.. Barlow 25 6 0 84 1 17 0 52 1 E nglish E leven . Second Innings. O. M. R.W. .................... 9 8 11 0 .................... 4819 65 7 .................... 21 7 29 0 Midwinter 15 5 17 1 McShane 4 2 8 0 Horan .. 8 2 8 0 Turner .. 9 1 18 2 Cooper and Palmer bowled a no ball. First Inninpcs. O. M. R.W. Cooper.. . . 1 3 5 29 4 Palmer.. . . 15.1 6 21 4 Boyle .. . . 8 1 8 1 C ricket .— A song written and composed by J. H . Smith and dedicated to A. N. Hornby, Esq. “ It will be welcomed heartily by all lovers ©f the national British game .” —Era Post free, 18 stamps of author, 22, Clifton-street, Wolver­ hampton.—Ad' vt .