Cricket 1884

20 CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. feb . 28, ism . play. It was thought that the remaining five would carry the score to 500, but they failed to realise expectations, the innings terminating for 420, or only eight ahead of Sydney. In fact, only for the easy chance m issed by Alick Bannerman a tie would have be :n announced as the result of the first inn:ngs of each side. Horan put together his 126 by capital play without a mistake, and Scott deserves the heartiest praise for his correct and beautifully-played innings of 114 notout. He gave one possible chance to Oleeve at short-leg when he had made but few runs, and another j ust after reaching the century, and these were the only blemishes on his really fine display. Bonnor showed sound cricket for 41, M ’ Shane made his 25 in free and vigorous style, and Walters had considerable luck in composing his 25. In their second innings the Victorians found themselves compelled to put forth their best efforts to obtain the 136 re­ quired to win, small as the number is. The wicket had crumbled, and aided the bowlers somewhat, and Evans and Garrett were in such fettle that no fewer than seven wickets fell before the winning hit was made. M’Donnell, 42 : Horan, 21; M‘Shane, 17 ; Scott, 12; and Blackham, 12 (not out), deserve praise for their play, especially Blackham, who is always all there at a pinch. Percy Lewis, who was not out with Blackham at the finish, cannot be too highly commended for the coolness and confidence he showed. The bowling right through the match was first-class on both sides, but the magnificent wicket took all the sting out of it in the first innings of each side. Garrett never bowled better, and seemed as fresh at the finish as he was at the start. He kept a fine length throughout, and sent down that off ball of his with an accuracy that few bowlers have ever excelled. In the first innings his figures of 423 balls, 26 runs, 68 maidens, and six wickets are highly creditable. In the second innings of Victoria, when the wicket had crumbled, Garrett was especially difficult, and broke back at times in a way that astonished the batsmen. In this in­ nings he took three wickets for 76. And if you bestow praise on Garrett, you must bestow scarcely less praise on Evans, who never bowled better than he did on the morning of the third day. He varied his pitch and pace all through with sound judgment, and once shaved both Scott and Horan with really splendid balls. Evans’ figures are—in the first innings, 308 balls, 83 runs, 38 maidens, and two wickets, and in the second, 200 balls, 48 runs, 28 maidens, and three wickets. Other Sydney bowlers shaped fairly well, but none of them approached the form of Evans and Garrett. Of the Victorian bowlers, Midwinter merits the greatest praise. He did not come off particularly well in the first innings, but in the second he was all there, and troubled the batsmen so much that they could make very little headway against him. In this innings he sent down 203 balls for 53 runs, 27 maidens, and seven wickets, and it can be safely said that during his long career he never bowled better. Palmer, in the first innings, bowled well, but with bad luck, and his five wickets cost 131 runs. In the second innings he was in great form and completely puzzled the batsmen. He sent down his off break and leg break with equal precision, and fully deserved a better record than three wickets for 56. Little comment need be passed on the numerous other Victorian bowlers who had a try. It may be mentioned, however, that Bonnor, with erratic cannon shots, succeeded in getting the Victorians out of an awkward fix during the partnership of Garrett and Allen. The fielding, except in two or three instances, was A 1 on both sides. Blackham, as has been already said, was perfect at the wickets. A. Bannerman, though he missed Boyle, deserves the warmest praise. He was simply ubiquitous, and never picked up smarter or returned more oorrectly. Moses may be bracketed with Alick. The former made no mistake wherever he was placed, and his brilliant efforts at long-leg will long be re­ membered. S. Jones, too, was in great field­ ing fettle, and did some splendid work, and Bonnor, if he had done nothing else, would merit particular praise for his magnificent catch which disposed of Garrett. I cannot go through the whole list of those who per­ formed creditably, but I may mention that M’Shane was a pronounced exception, and that in no first-class match have I witnessed such fumbling as he showed on this occasion, Boyle missed a couple of chances off his own bowling, and he ought to have caught Murdoch at mid-on close up. Altogether the match was a very pleasant and well contested one. It was a consider­ able advantage to the Sydney men to have won the toss, and therefore the victory gained by the Victorians is all the more to their credit. It will be admitted, I fancy, that we are the stronger team, but not so much stronger as was supposed before tho match started. We have better batting right through, but I believe the Sydney bowling was superior to that of the Victorians, at any rate in the first innings, and I also venture the opinion that they surpassed us in fielding, with one exception, and that is, of course, the wicket-keeping. I do not know how many will agree with me, but it is my honest conviction that had Blackham kept wicket for Sydney, and Hall for Victoria, New South Wales would have won the thirty-first intercolonial. The condition of the wicket speaks volumes for the ability of MacAlpine as a curator. It did not show the slightest sign of crumb­ ling until 832 runs had been scored on it. Midwinter gets the bowling trophies, value five and ten guineas, the latter from His Honour Judge Williams, and Murdoch has won the Association batting trophy value five guineas. Some kind friend has pre­ sented Scott with a handsome album, and Horan is to receive a special five-guinea prize. N ew S outh W ales . First Innings. A. Bannerman, b Palmer .. 12 Second Innings. c and b Mid­ winter .. ..8 4 W. L. Murdoch, c and b Mid­ winter ....................................158 b Palm er.. S. P. Jones, c Walters, b Horan ......................................52 H. Moses, b Palmer.......................18 E. Evans, b Midwinter .. ..8 8 T. W. Garrett; c and b Bonnor 64 R. Allen, b Bonnor.................. 27 J. Nunn, b P alm er..................24 O. Marr, o Walters, b Palmer 0 R. Hall, b P alm er..................0 J. Cleeve, not o u t .................. 8 Extras ..........................16 Total b Midwinter .. 4 c and b Mid­ winter .. .. 0 o and b Mid­ winter .. . . 1 1 st Blackham, b Palmer.. .. 4 b Palmer .. .. 0 b Midwinter .. 24 o Bonnor, b Midwinter .. 29 not out .. .. 2 b Midwinter .. 2 Extras .. 11 Total ..148 V ictoria . First Innings. P. S. McDonnell, o Cleeve, b G a rrett.....................................15 G. J. Bonnor, o Garrett, b Jones .....................................41 T. Horan, b Garrett .. ..126 P. Lewis, b Garrett..................... 15 W. Midwinter, c Murdoch, b Evans ..................................... 16 H. Scott, not out ..................114 F.Walters, b Evans..................25 J. M. C. Blackham, b Garrett 3 not out G. E. Palmer, run out .. .. 10 F. G. McShane, lbw, b Garrett 25 Second Innings. c & b Evans .. 42 c Evans, b Gar­ rett .. .. 5 1b w, b Garrett 21 not out .. .. ? c Bannerman, b Evans .. .. 10 run out .. .. 12 .. 12 H. F. Boyle, h w, b Garrett .. 1 E x t r a s .............................29 T o t a l...........................420 c Murdoch, b Evans .. ..1 7 c Nunn, b Gar­ rett .. .. 4 Extras .. 6 Tota ..186 BOWLING ANALYSIS. N ew S outh W ales . B. R. M. W. B. R. M.W. McShane . . 112 48 12 0 .. 8 1 1 0 Palmer 362 130 82 5 .. .. 196 56 21 8 Boyle .. . 92 88 16 0 .. .. 12 5 2 0 Horan.. . 104 83 14 1 .. 8 1 1 0 Midwinter . . 196 70 15 2 .. .. 208 53 27 7 Lewis .. . . 24 10 8 0 Scott .. . 76 89 4 0 Bonnor . 76 28 5 2 .. .. 20 18 0 0 In the first innings Palmer bowled three no-balls, Scott and Bonnor each one. In the second Bonnor bowled two wides, Palmer two 4 no-ball 8 , and Mid­ winter one no-ball. V ictoria . First Innings. Second Innings. B. R. M. W. B. R. M.W. 453 126 63 6 .. .. 208 76 24 3 Garrett Cleeve .. , Marr .. . Nunn .. , Bannerman Allen .. . Jones .. . Moses .. . Evans .. . 112 56 7 0 96 21 12 0 16 2 2 36 17 1 86 15 I 140 67 18 12 4 1 200 48 28 3 In the first innings Garrett bowled a wide and a no- ball, Jones and Evans one no-ball. T H E FOURTH A U S T R A L I A N T EAM . FIKST MATCH.—v. A COMBINED ELEVEN OF AUSTRALIA. The fourth Australian Eleven opened its career on New Year’s Day, at Melbourne, against a combined eleven. The latter was materially weakened by the unavoidable ab­ sence of Evans, who, owing to the death of his brother, could not play. Spofforth and Massie were also absent, but a very fair team was nevertheless sent into the field to face the formidable Murdoch and his com­ rades. Murdooh, on winning the toss from Horan, who had been elected skipper of the combined team, decided to take advantage of the splendid wicket. Alick Bannerman fell quickly, but Murdoch and M'Donnell getting together soon upset all notion of the speedy downfall of the Fourth Australian Eleven. These two played exceedingly good cricket, and it was not until 214 appeared that the second wicket fell, M'Donnell at this stage being grandly caught in the long field by W. Giffen off Walters. The re­ tiring batsman played a fine game for his 111, but he had a good share of luck. Turner mis-judged a chance for him in the long field, and W. Giffen missed him at point, and had either of these been taken the dashing young Victorian would have failed by a great deal to reach the century. George Giffen played in his most vigorous style, and another stand was made, Murdoch and he having added 105 before Giffen, who had Next Issue of CRICKET will be published Thursday, March 27.