Cricket 1885

u CRICKET ; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. Jan. 29 , 1 m. as lie beat Shrewsbury for choice of innings, and of course elected to bat, M ‘Donnell and Bannerman first representing tbe Cornstalks. Attewell delivered the first over to Banner- man, the field being placed as follows:— Barnes, slip ; Scotton, third man ; Ulyett, cover-slip; Shrewsbury, point; Briggs, cover- point ; Flowers, extra cover-point; Peel, mid- off ; Bates, mid-on ; and Bead, long-on. Tbe first over was a maiden, but M'Donnell opened his account by hitting Peel (who started from the other end) to the off for 2. Attewell sent down anothermaiden toBanner­ man ; a single followed from M'Donnell, who directly after cut Attewell beautifully for 4. This was followed by three singles, and a cut for 3, all by M ‘Donnell, then a rare crack for 4 by M'Donnell from Peel sent up 20. All the scoring was done by M'Donnell, another grand hit for 4 from Peel bringing up 30. Three more runs were added, when the New South Wales player (who bad made two singles only, while his partner had piled on 30) was given out “ log before ” from Peel. Murdoch, who followed, seemed ill at ease, but M‘Donnell continued to score rapidly by brilliant hitting. After Murdoch had made 5 by fluky play he was caught at the wicket in hitting round to leg at one of Peel’s, sky­ ing the ball, which Hunter ran for to ehort- leg and secured, to the great disappointment of the Adelaide people. Murdoch has been singularly unfortunate in Adelaide, never having been able to get a score, so that the public there can only judge of his powers by hearsay. Scott joined M'Donnell, and Ulyett bowled in place of Attewell. Scott made a single, and M'Donnell then hit Ulyett for 4 and 3 in one over to leg. An adjournment was now made for luncheon, the total being 56, of which M'Donnell claimed 47. After an interval of forty minutes the men resumed their places, and from this point for nearly an hour the indifferent fielding mentioned above took place, M'Donnell hit the first .ball for 3, and from tho second Scott should have been run out, but a bad throw in allowed him to escape. Singles and a fine cut from Peel by Scott for 4 brought up 70; three 2’s and four singles sent up 80, the runs just now being pretty equally divid-.d. Flowers relieved Peel, who changed ends, taking Ulyett’s place. M'Donnell cut Flowers for 2, which, with several singles and a rare crack to the off for 4 from Peel, sent up 90. Once more a chance of running out Scott was thrown away, although it mattered little, as Peel clean bowled him just after. (Three for 95.) Blackham followed, and two 2’s and a single by M'Donnell from Flowers sent up the 100 amidst applause, A splendid cut by Blackham for 4 followed ; an uppish cut by M'Donnell went for 2, and be then hit a ball straight to Barnes at long-off, who, however, could not judge it in the glaring light, and failed to hold it. Just after this a loud shout from bowler, wicket-keeper, and slip for leg-before to Blackham resulted as above mentioned, Barnes having just gone on in place of Flowers. Almost directly after, Blackham hit aball to Ulyett, and M'Donnell running down to him, without Blackham moving, both were at one end. Ulyett threw the ball nicely to Peel, but he fumbling it, allowed M'Donnell to regain his wicket, to the chagrin of the fielders. Buns now came fast, M’Donnell making many splendid hits, till 140 appeared on the telegraph board. Three to M’Donnell followed, and a tremendous cheer announced that the Victorian bad completed his century. Runs came fast till 190 appeared, and thenM’Don- nell’s brilliant innings was brought to a close by his pulling an off ball from Attewell into his wicket. During the partnership between Mm and Blaekham the total had been exactly doubled. Giffen next appeared, and Bates bowled in place of Barnes. Blackham scored freely, and the score was increased almost solely by Blackham’s exertions to 224, when one of those changes which con­ tribute to the delightful uncertainty of the game took place. Blackham was beautifully caught at slip from Bates, who was bowling wide on the off side for catches, and with the addition of three Giffen was clean bowled in trying to hit a straight one to leg. Bonnor and Palmer were now together, but with the score at 233 Bonnor was wonderfully caught by Read, and with the addition of six more Palmer was smartly taken at point. Alex­ ander and Boyle did very little. A sharp piece of fielding between Flowers and Hunter resulted in Alexander’s being run out. Cooper had not a chance of scoring before Boyle was caught at the wicket, and the innings closed for 243, the last six wickets falling for 19 runs. It being close on six o’clock the stumps were now drawn for the day. There were about 7,000 spectators, tho extra charge of 2s. no doubt keeping many away. The day was a public holiday in Adelaide, the Banks and Government Offices all closing at noon. S econd D a y , D ec . 13. Saturday morning opened dull and threatening, while a sharp shower fell just before eight o’clock. There seemed every prospect of a dirty day, but fortu­ nately it held off, and only the tail end of a thunderstorm stopped the game for fifteen minutes just before luncheon. At h»lf-past four, though, the wind suddenly veered round to the west, blowing with such force that it was impossible to keep the bails on, while the tents on the ground appeared doomed to ba tirn up every minute. With the wind came the dust, fill­ ing the whole cricket ground, so that at one period both fieldsmen and batsmen stretched themselves at full length on the ground, to prevent being all but smothered. The game, after the dismissal of Shrewsbury for nil, was all in favour of the English team, Scotton, who went in first, remaining at the wickets all day, and only giving one difficult chance to M’Donnell at slip during his stay of five hours. Some idea of his caution can be judged when it is stated that he only scored 14 runs an hour. Ulyett was, as usual, very busy during his stay, and when he looked in for a huge total, in hitting at a half-volley, he struck the ground very hard, and sent the ball into the hands of mid-off instead of to the boundary. His 68 was made in his best form, and 96 runs had been added during the partnership. On Barnes joining Scotton the Colonial bowl­ ing was completely mastered. None of the frequent changes availed, and the total was raised to within.10 runs of their opponents’ score for the loss of two wickets only—Barnes not out 86 and Scotton not out 71. Boyle was the only man who took a wicket during the day, but Palmer bowled best by far, though the extraordinary true­ ness of the pitch was all in the batsmen’s favour. The fielding of the Australians was good, with the exception of Murdoch, while Blackham was a long way from being in his best form at the wicket. It was nearly a quarter-past twelve when the Colonials took the field, quickly followed by Shrewsbury and Scotton. Boyle first delivered to Scotton, aud sent down a maiden. Giffen led off at the other end, also starting with a maiden. Scotton then got Boyle through the slips for a couple and to leg for a single. He then sent a full toss from Giffen for 2. Seven maiden overs next followed, and a couple of byes were run. Scotton then cut Giffcn for 4, but in the next over from Boyle Shrewsbury pulled one into his wicket. He had never been at home, and although he had several chances to score from bad balls hs could not begin. Ulyett came next, and it was soon evident he was in form. Com­ mencing by driving the first ball he received for a single, he served Giffen tbe same at the other end—both fine hits, but well fielded and returned. The first ball of Boyle’s next over he again hit with tremendous force, and Bannerman attempting to stop the ball, split his forefinger nearly from top to bottom, causing him to retire for the day. Bicliard, a South Australian player, took his place, fielding in fine style all day. The batsmen, it was pretty evident, had the bowling—even at this early stage of the game—completely under control. A square leg-hit by Ulyett sent up 20, and at 23 Cooper relieved Giffen. Onresuming, after a heavy shower, 30 quickly appeared, and though Bonnor bowled ill p' ace of Boyle tho total was 41 when the lunch-bell rang. After forty minutes’ interval, hostili­ ties were renewed, and Ulyett immediately hit Bonnor to the grand stand for 4, Scotton also driving Cooper for 4 and 3 in one over. Ulyett hit Bonnor grandly for 4 more, when Palmer was put on. Several singles and a rare hit from Cooper by Ulyett for 4 raised the score to 75, when Giffen again tried in place of Cooper. A tremendous drive by Uiyett was now well fielded by Murdoch, and only 1 scc.red. Singles and twos followed more slowly, but at three o’clock a cheer announced theposting of the 100. Boyle then bowled, Palmer crossing over to the other end. Ulyett hit Boyle to leg for 4, but this was his last effort, as he was then caught from a mis-hit. (Two for 107.) Barnes followed, and runs came very slowly. At length the new comer hit Palmer for 4 and 3, and 130 was signalled. At 136 Cooper again tried, and Boyle retired in favour of Bonnor. A loose bit of fielding by Murdoch next gave Barnes 3, and at 156 Giffen took Bonnor’s place. Another bad bit of fielding by Mur­ doch gave Barnes 3 more, and as the bats­ men were evidently quite at home, Scott tried. The dust and wind were now horrible. After 200 appeared, M’Donnell relieved Scott, Barnes immediately hitting him to square- leg for 4. Alexander then tried, but each man hit him for 4, and when Barnes had made 79, a hard chance to Cooper at point from Palmer’s bowling was dropped. Soon after Barnes again hit Alexander for 4, and it was not long ere play ceased for the day. There must have been nearly 10,000 on the ground, who appeared delighted at the suocess of tho Englishmen. TniRD D ay , D ec . 15. On arriving at the ground on Monday morning, it was evident that the keavy rain had greatly interfered with the prospects of one of the greatest scoies on record, and for the first two hours the ball flew about in all directions. Barnes, however, by fine play added 48 to his score before he was “ yorked” byPalmer. M’Donnell again played splendid cricket, although he should have been out twice just before he was badly run out, being missed by Bates at mid-off, and badly let off by Hunter at the wicket. Giffen did not give a chance for his 43, although once fairly stumped out, which the umpire did not allow. Another bad decision- was also given when Flowers was sent away “ leg before ; ” and Next issue of Cricket Feb. 26<