Cricket 1885

a p b i l 23,1885. CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 69 hand. On Flowers joining Bates the hopes of England’s supporters revived. The merry Yorkshirtman hit out most lustily, and Spofforth and his fellow-trundlers came in for severe punishment. Just before ap­ proaching the century Bates was caught at the wickets, and it was generally thought the innings would not last another half-hour, for the wicket at one end had now begun to “ kick.” Bead, who has never here but once played up to his reputation, joined Flowers, and between these two runs were made at an alarming rate. Bead smote the Demon all over the field, making runs off almost every ball. Spofforth had to retire, and soon the bowling was in a regular “ knot,” and all the fieldsmen save Evans utterly demoralised. The excitement of the on­ lookers almost baffles description, and as the batsmen lustily spanked the bowling in all directions they applauded vociferously. The bowling was collared, and it appeared a certainty that Bead and Flowers would make the required number of runs before they were separated. When but twenty runs were wanting Bead tried to pull a straight, slow, full-pitched ball round to leg. The pace deceived the batsman, and a shout of joy proclaimed the downfall of the Surreybatsman who had so lustily propelled the ball over the field. Bead’s innings was as dashing a display as has been witnessed on the ground. Odds of three to one were still offered on the Englishmen, but when Atte­ well was run out by Flowers without further addition to the score the supporters of Australia began to feel more comfortable and a feeling of buoyancy overcame them when Peel retired after making 3. Fifteen runs were wanting as Hunter took his position at the wickets. The score gradually increased to 207. Two good hits would finish the affair. Flowers had the strike. He was well in. Would he attempt a bold stroke for 4, for Hunter might go at any moment ? These were the thoughts which came to mind. It was soon over. Flowers in making a cut at Spofforth made a miss hit, and gave Evans at point a chance which was eagerly snapped up. A scene of the wildest excite­ ment ensued. The players rushed joyously from the field, and even the more sober- minded of the onlookers became somewhat unsettled in mind at the splendid finish. The Englishmen fought a gallant fight, and had the worst of the luck which always attends the game, and though beaten the bold front they offered cannot but engender in the minds of the victors a feeling of respect. The next match here on March 14, between the Englishmen and the best Australian Eleven that can be got together, will be looked forward to with great interest, particularly as the visitors will have a couple of days’ rest to thoroughly fit them for that engagement. The Australasian says: — “ Without doubt the most interesting and exciting match ever played in Australia was that which terminated at a quarter to 4 on Tuesday on the Association Ground, Moore Park. At noon sharp the n >t-outs—namely, Barnes and Shrewsbury—opened to the bowling of Trumble and Spofforth. With­ out any addition to the 29 Barnes was splendidly taken at the wickets by Jarvis off Trumble, and 3—5—29 went up as Bates stepped to the crease. By good and careful play the score was carried to 59, and then Shrewsbury was deceived by Spofforth’s pace, and retired clean-bowled. 4—24—59. The retiring batsman played an excellent game, and was becoming vei'y dangerous just before he received his quietus. Briggs made a single, and also fell to a beautiful breakback from Spofforth. 5—1—61, and the Englishmen and their friends des­ pondent. The advent of Flowers to the crease improved matters somewhat, and when Bates departed, capitally caught at the wickets by Jarvis off Spofforth, the score stood at 92, of which Bates by fine free play had made 31, which included 2 fours and one grand hit to long-on off Spofforth, clean out of bounds, for 5. With 6 wickets down for 92, and 122 still wanting to enable them to score a victory, the chances of the Englishmen looked very poor indeed. The annals of cricket contain no more brilliant instances of plucky and resolute batting than that shown under adverse circum­ stances by Flowers and Maurice Bead. Nothing daunted by the heavy task before them, the two batsmen mentioned initiated a display which will long be remembered by those who had the pleasure and good fortune to witness it. Almost from the start Bead hit out in the most vigorous manner, and sent the Demon travelling to all parts of the field. In vain did the fielders out by the boundary try to stop his hard and telling strokes. Buns mounted up with startling rapidity, and the Demon seemed as if he did not know where to pitch the ball to avoid the severe punishment meted out to him by Bead, who was playing in his very best form. Flowers, too, was busy, and though he did not score at anything like Bead’s rate, he nevertheless, put the wood on splendidly at times, and made several excellent strokes. Massie changed his bowling frequently, but the batsmen treated all comers alike, with the exception of Trumble, who sent down some capital overs, and was at no time heavily hit. Ten after ten went up, amidst great applause from the spectators, who felt very pleased at the gallant stand made by the two Englishmen. Spofforth changed ends, but this was of no avail, and Evans, Garrett, Jones, Horan, and Trumble all had a try. Still the runs came, and still the shouts and applause rang all over the arena. 150, 160, 170, 180, and at last 190 were posted, and the Australians almost began to regard themselves as a beaten team, for only 24 runs were now wanted, with four wickets to fall, and Flowers and Bead playing as they never played before. At last, to the infinite delight of the Australians and their friends, Spofforth clean bowled Bead with a slow full toss, which the batsman tried to pull to square-leg. 7—56—194. The batting of Bead is deserving of the very highest praise. The only really bad stroke he made was off the first ball he received from Spofforth. Bead spooned the ball over Scott’s head at mid-on, and if the latter had been in his right place the brilliant display of the Surrey man would not have been witnessed. But after­ wards Bead made no mistakes. He hit out magnificently all round, and his fine score of 56 includes no fewer than nine 4’s. His partnership with Flowers, on a by no means easy wicket, had resulted in an addition of 102 runs to the score, and when Bead retired, Flowers walked into the pavilion with him, and both were greeted with a perfect storm of applause. Attewell came in, and was at once run out because Flowers would not go when called. Flowers, instead of responding, looked behind him and would not stir. The downfall of the dangerous Attewell infused some fresh heart into the Australians, and as 8—0—194 went up they felt that victory might yet be in store for them. Peel joined Flowers, and every ball was watched with the deepest interest. Each run was loudly applauded, and the applause was increased te ifold when Jarvis presently caught Peel in grand style at the wickets off Trumble, who was pegging away in that cool, collected style so charac­ teristic of the young South Melbourneite. Spofforth, too, had pulled himself together after Bead’s departure, and with his right shirt-sleeve tucked up to the arm-pit, and his sinewy arm fully exposed, he clearly showed that he meant to do or die for Australia. 9—3—199 was the state of the register when Peel fell, and as Hunter, the last man, took guard, the excitement round the ground and in the Pavilion and Stand was something to be remembered. Gradually the runs went up by lucky snicks on Hunter’s part, and by resolute strokes on the part of Flowers, whose Nottingham blood was fully aroused to the critical condition of affairs. Now the notches numbered 206, and only eight more were wanted to defeat the strong team of Australians. A four and a couple of doubles or two fours would suffice, and everybody was in a state of the keenest excitement. At length Flowers made a single off Trumble, through a mull by Spofforth at mid-on,and then the Demon took the ball, and with the first of the over got rid of Flowers, who popped a rising ball gently into Evan’s hands at point, and the innings closed for a total of 207. So ended, in favour of the combined Austra­ lian team, one of the very best and most exciting matches ever played. The shouts that rent the air at the finish will long ring in the ears of those who heard them, and amidst them all will stand out prominently the loud and hearty cheers in recognition of the splendid innings of 56, played by Flowers, an innings which was a treat to witness and which clearly showed the spectators that the peculiarly built Notts player is indeed a batsman of a high order of merit. Flowers, it seems, was once actually caught by Jarvis off Spoffortb, but the umpire's ,/sai was not out. It is the first defeat sustained by the Englishmen during their tour, and no one will deny that they fought in the pluckiest and most determined way to still wear the wreath of victory with which they had been graced without a break until the present reverse by the narrow majority of six runs. Standing out conspicuously among the com­ bined fielders was Jarvis, whose wicket- keeping was simply perfect, and has seldom, if ever, been surpassed. He effected three f rand catches, and the way he took pofforth’s fast ones on the leg side re­ peatedly brought down the house. It was a treat to watch him from start to finish, and it is simply his due to say that his magnifi­ cent form behind the sticks had a great deal to do with the victory gained by his side. The fielding all round was capital, though when Flowers and Bead were scoring so rapidly it seemed as if a little looseness was shown. This, however, was more apparent than real. The fact is that Flowers and Bead hit so hard that though the fielders very often got within a yard or so of the ball they failed to pick it up owing to the paco at which it travelled. A. Bannerman was all there, as usual, and Evans, Massie, Bonnor, Scott, and Garrett did some very fine work. The match right through was most enjoyable, and the many thousands who witnessed it had a genuine treat afforded them, especially towards the finish. The umpiring of Messrs. Payne and Elliott was first-class, and Mr. Portus deserves the highest praise for his accurate scoring. T. Garrett won Mr. Pope’sten-guinea trophy for highest individual score on theAustralian side.