Cricket 1889

MAR. 21, 1889. CRICKET: A WEEKLY BECORD OF THE GAME. 45 batsman never gave the semblance of a chance, till the coveted century was gained. Starting the defence at twelve o’clock, his brillianc innings was brought to a close some ten minutes before six o’clock by a magnificent catch by Pullinger, and several spectators rushed out and carried the little batsman on their shoulders, while the band struck up “ See the Conquering Hero Comes.” Abel was deposited in the centre of the band stand, and made to bow his acknowledgements to the plaudits of the ladies in the Grand Stand before he was allowed to retire blushing to the Pavilion. Read’s innings was a remark­ ably smart piece of dashing cricket, unfortu­ nately cut short bv a ball popping up from the shoulder of his bat. Wood’ s 26 was also merry. Smith lent valuable aid to Bobby Abel with a steady 21, while Coventry and Fothergill put together a rapid 50 for the last wicket. The Transvaal fifteen, with 291 up against, and two whole days, had decidedly the worst of the game. However, an excellent show was made, Oripps’ 48 not out being invalu­ able—the best display of cricket shown by the Transvaal men. Melville’s 22 included seven smart boundaries, Pullinger’s 17 was of a like nature, while Schuurman’s 19 was the result of very careful cricket. Fothergill’s analysis reads best—four wickets for 17 runs. Smith obtained a like number for 41. T hird D ay — F riday , F eb . 1. 130 behind, and all day to play ; this was the order of the day for the Republicans, and for a time they looked like doing it, Lowes and Greathead commencing in a careful manner, and getting 29 before the former succumbed. Newby’s effort of 26 was plucky, and was only cut short by a fine catch at the wicket Cripps looked like staying again, but a good one from Fothergill sent him baok. No one else shaped successfully against the bowling, and the innings only reached 88, leaving the visitors easy winners in one innings with 42 runs to spare. Fothergill’s analysis was again the best, being seven wickets for 25 runs, Briggs securing five for 40. Full score and bowling analysis :— T he E nglish E leven . B. A. F. Grieve. Dold............... E. M ‘ Mas ter, Abel, c Pullinger, b Newby ............... 114 Hearne, b Cooley ... 2 Bead, c Schuurman, b Newby................40 Wood, b Cooley ... 26 M. P. Bowden, l bw, b Cooley............... 7 Briggs, lbw, b Cooley 1 C . A. Smith, c Piton, b Schuurman ... 21 b Newby ............... 10 Hon. Coventry, not out ......................33 Fothergill,b Wishart 22 B 3,1 b 3, w 3 Total ........ F ift e e n of JoHANN*6BBRG.^/fc* -^ '-f^ Second Innings. First Innings. Schuurman, c and b Briggs............................ 19 Newby, c Wood, b Smith 0 Melville,c Hearne,bGrieve 22 Lomas, b Grieve............... 0 Cripps, not ou t................ 48 Piton, c Bowden, b Briggs 11 Fleischer, b Fothergill ... 12 Greathead, b Fothergill... 0 Harrison, c and b Briggs 5 Wallach, b Smith ......... 2 Pullinger, run out .........17 Gibbs, st Bowden, b Fothergill ............... Dold, b Smith ............... Cooley, c Abel, b Fother­ gill ............................ Wishart, c Bowden, b Smith............................ B 14, lb 4, w 1,n b 3... b Briggs ......... 0 c W o o d , b Fothergill ... £6 c Wood, b Briggs 13 ... 12 b b Fothergill b Fothergill c W o o d , Fothergill b Fothergill b Fothergill run out b Briggs ... c W o o d , Fothergill c Wood, b Briggs run out ......... 0 c Read, b Briggs 0 Total , 161 not out ........ W2,nb 2, lb4 8 Total... O. M. R. W Cooley ... 36 7 73 4 Wishart... 20.2 2 45 1 Newby ... 3011 46 3 Melville ... 6 0 11 0 BOWLING ANALYSIS. E nglish E leven . First Innings. " ~ O. M. R. W. Schuur­ man ... 19 Pullinger 10 Cripps ... 20 Dold ... 24 F ift e e n of JoaANNESBi&tL i First Innings. O. Second Innings. M. R. W. O. M. R. W. Briggs................. 43 23 64 3 ......... 33.1 15 40 5 Sm ith................ 25 8 41 4 ......... 10 4 14 0 Fothergill.......... 18 8 17 4 ......... 23 14 26 7 Grieve ............ 12 3 17 2 Fothergill bowled two no-balls, and Smith and Briggs a wide each. and so many the songs, that manv, holding in consideration an early start at five o’clock in the direction of hotel, thought fit to hold high orgy till the coach started. So finished a week at one of the most extraordinary towns now thriving on the world’s surface. 9 17 1 1 20 0 6 36 0 8 34 1 Cooley, Newby, and Dold each bowled 1 wide. It seems hardly credible that, two years ago , where now stretches a huge town of 20,000 inhabitants, and increasing daily, all signs of life were limited to an old Dutch farm and three or four tents pitched by men who scented gold. The gold exceeded their wildest hopes, and from all parts of South Africa—aye, and from the Mother Country, toe—men have been flocking to the Rand, and still there is room for more; the gold shows not the smallest sign of running out, and hundreds of men who, six months back, were practically penniless, are now possessed of wealth beyond their own telling. It will be naturally supposed that a “ go-ahead” town of this kind would hail a visit of English cricketers with a cordial wel­ come—and so it was. Our boys found them­ selves on arrival fixed up for banquets, balls, theatre parties, breakfasts, and visits to mine, &c , sufficient to fill up a month instead of a week’s stay. Johannesberg, however, is blessed with a healthy and bracing climate, and the Englishmen got through the week’s gaiety more satisfactorily than at Kimberley, where the intense heat knocked most of them u p ; consequently their cricket showed con­ siderable improvement, and they were enabled to add two victories to their list. Nor did they devote their attention to the noble game alone. Many of the team were to be seen after breakfast on ‘Change, with the price-list in their hands watching the rising market, and from their glowing faces I fancy the cricketers managed to gather in a penny or so before the week was out—thanks to kindly tips from those “ in the know.” On Friday morning the team en masse went over the Jumpers’ Gold Mine, and had their first intro­ duction to the “ Banket” formation, which has the appearance of red almond cake, lying at an angle of 45 degrees between walls of red clay, and being some 4ft. in thickness. The appearance of almond cake is due to white pebbles in the red substance, round which lies the gold. Ih is is of course mucA easier to crush than ordinary quartz : in fact, one can break it up in one’s fingers. The mine, however, was very wtt and dirty, and our boys were glad to get up to the surface, where a substantial lunch awaited them. On Tuesday a visit was made to the great Robinson’s Gold Mines, where we saw their new 60 stamp battery, which is almost finished, and to which is to be added another of like power. The reef runs in a like manner to the Jumpers— but the mine is more developed—and con­ sequently the inspection proved Iong and tiring. On Wednesday, underLyndy Wynslow’s guid­ ance, most of the team were taken out by coach to Langlaagte, some four miles out of Johannesberg—where is a pretty little Dutch homestead, surrounded by some fine willows and large orchards of peaches—an oasis in the desert. Here we found a most inviting swim­ ming bath and a breakfast afterwards laid out under the trees, and returned vigorous and sufficiently refreshed to stop at the wickets all day. Thursday morning saw us at Black Reef Mine, which shows a striking difference to the others we saw, in that the reef only dips 10 deg., and consequently no shafts are needed. That night we found ourselves doing the “ light fantastic ” at the Globe Theatre—guests of the ladies of Johannesberg, at a ball at which some 400 were present. Fortunately the dissipa­ tions had no effect on our cricket (perhaps we are getting hardened), and Friday saw us polishing off the Transvaal in a manner most satisfactory. To wind up the week’s festivities/ we were entertained on Friday night at a public banquet at Height’s Hotel, some 100 being present, and so long were the speeches NINTH MATCH—v. TWENTY-TWO OF PIETERMARITZBURG. F irst D ay — W ednesday , F eb . 6. Magnificent, but exceptionally hot, weather favoured the opening of this, the ninth con­ test of Magor Warton’s cricketers in South Africa. The discussion as to the number of men to represent the local side, which had previously ocourred at Port Elizabeth and also at Johannesberg, also cropped up here— the original understanding on the part of the Englishmen having been that they were to meet an Eighteen. Twenty-two men had, however, been selected to play, and, as on the previous occasions, it was decided in favour of the larger number. The wicket was, as usual, straw-coloured matting, on a hard ground devoid of grass, but not of such a red hue as the Englishmen found at Kimberley and Johannesberg. The ground, termed the Oval, lies in a valley thickly wooded, and on the arrival of the afternoon thunderstorm the light is apt to become very trying. The local team, having won the toss, were the first to bat, but their performance did not reach the expectation either of their oppo­ nents or of tho spectators. F. F. Crauford, Kent County player of a few years back (the captain), was got rid of for 8. P. Hutchinson, who figured for the Gentlemen of Sussex some three years back, was dismissed for 7, and the rest followed in their footsteps, with two exceptions—R. P. Spurway, late of Somerset County, playing a 28 in excellent and very taking style, while Borain, of local talent, put together a dashing 15. No other batsman attained double figures, and the final total of the Twenty-two amounted to 92, a very mode- late score considering the excellent wicket provided. Briggs proved the chief cause of the downfall, obtaining 11 wickets for 34 runs, while Smith got 6 for 52, Fothergill towards the finish getting 2 for 2. The innings of the Englishmen was chiefly notable for the advent of Ulyett, who had arrived at Pietermaritzburg some three or four days previously. He, with Abel, com­ menced the defence, and the pair put together 47 before Ulyett let out at a half volley, and was bowled for an admirable 22. Maurice Read joined, and another stand was made, the new comer playing the bowling, which was straight, if not dangerous, with his usual brillianoy. And six o’clock saw 88 on the board for one wicket. Second D ay— Thursday, Feb. 7. The following day was somewhat unsettled as regards weather, the light being poor in consequence. Read was soon caught at deep mid-wicket for 26 (two for 95). Hearne joined Abel, and for a time the cricket was somewhat slow. At 112 Abel was well caught at short- leg for a 48 which was not altogether devoid of luck. Bowden did not shape very cleverly, and was soon well caught at long leg (four for 126). Hearne now hit his wicket, after a care­ ful 18 (five for 126). Wood ran himself out, Briggs tumbled over his wicket, and with seven down for 132, the visitors did not appear to have things altogether their own way. Smith, however, added a useful 17, Grieve staying some time for his 9, and the fall of the last wicket saw 164 on the board. Hime alone of the bowlers was destructive, six wickets falling to him at a cost of 40 runs. T hird D a y —F riday , F e b . 8. Considerable delay having been caused on the second day by rain, it became a question as to whether the local team would make the match a draw. The majority of the spectators thought they would ; and, consequently, were NEXT ISSUE, APBIL 18.