Cricket 1890

“ Together joined in cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron. Registeredfor^SansrSsaionAbroad. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1890. A L A D IE S ’ C R ICK E T MATCH A T D R EW S T E IG N T O N . [As IT APPEARED TO A MALE ONLOOKER] From the Devon and Exeter Daily Gazette of August 22nd. A very interesting matcli was played on Wednesday on the grounds of Mr. T. Pons- ford, Drewsteignton, between a picked eleven of ladies, who styled themselves the “ Non­ pareils,” and a team of gentlemen, who had to bowl, field, and bat (with broomsticks) left- handed. In the field the ladies presented a charming appearance, but the other side was, perhaps, hardly so picturesque.* The ladies won the toss after some delay, caused by the penny’s disappearance when flung into the air. This was mainly due to the fact that the captain of the ladies (Miss Adams, of Puddicombe) always flung it be­ hind her instead of tossing it straight up, and then was alarmed lest the coin should strike her on the head when it came down. After three pennies had been tossed, one of them was found on the grass. No one knew exactly which one it was, but, to waste no more time, it was agreed that the “ Non­ pareils ” had won the toss. After some discussion among themselves they agreed to take the innings, and sent in Miss Evelyn Danvers and Miss Fulford to break the bowling of Messrs. H. P. and E. P. Adams. The first-named batswoman, after scoring one, was well taken by F. Tothill. Miss Adams (captain) followed, and runs came freely until her partner, Miss Fulford, was easily caught at short-leg. The next comer was Miss Danvers, who, after making ten in picturesque style, fell while taking centre, and retired to change her drees. Miss Mabel Adams followed, and opened her account by cracking Mr. E. P. Adams grandly to leg for one, but she was immediately after bowled by a well pitched long hop. Three for 26. Miss M. Fulford came next, and distin­ guished herself by making the finest stand of any of the ladies. Meanwhile Miss Adams’s pulling was greatly admired, and it was found necessary to place all the field in a row on the on side. Runs, however, continued to come steadily; also wides. When the score had reached 42, Miss Adams was given out from her own appeal for a well- judged catch at mid-on. Miss Simms, who was the next comer, compiled a most useful one, before being taken at long-off. Five for 43. Miss Ella Adams followed, and commenced by lifting Mr. H. Chichester neatly through the slips for two, and then, opening her shoulders to a long hop from the same bowler, pulled it grandly to the off for three. She was soon after clean bowled, but it was some minutes before the umpires could persuade her that she was really out. Seven for 92. Miss A Chichester, although coming m far down on the list, played a capital innings, and piled up a most useful 17 before suc­ cumbing to a high catch in the slips by Mr. J. Tothill. Miss E. Fulford now joined her sister, but the latter, who, it was generally hoped, would now succeed in carrying her bat, was bowled by Mr. J. Houseman. She was loudly ap­ plauded on retiring for her steady and careful play- Miss Tothill came next, and proved herself to be an expert runner; soon after driving Mr. G. Chichester hard to leg she was bowled, and the innings closed for the exceedingly creditable total of 132. We believe this to be the largest score ever made by a ladies’ team in Devonshire. After a short adjournment the masculine innings commenced, and Messrs. J. H. Houseman and J. Tothill were despatched to face the bowling of Miss Ella Adams (medium lobs) and Miss Evelyn Danvers (slow twisters). Miss Mabel Adams kept wicket and the rest of the field stood in two groups, one on each side of the batsmen. Miss Ella Adams’s fourth ball went swiftly past the wicket-keeper, who ran after it in company with the long-stop, and after it had stopped, picked it up and flung it at Miss Ful­ ford for no particular reason, and she stopped it with her foot. “ How’s that ? ” called out Miss Fulford. “ Out,” said the umpire. Here the game was interrupted for a time, as the umpire could not decide which of the players was out. It was ultimately agreed that both should have another chance. Mr. J. Tothill was soon afterwards beautifully taken at point by Miss Adams for 9. Mr. E. P. Adams followed, and began by driving Miss Danvers over the bowler’s he id for 4. A smart piece of fielding by Miss Ful­ ford was loudly cheered. Running alongside the ball, she picked it up as soon as it had stopped, and flung it with both hands at the umpire, who held up his hand to signify apparently that this should count 1 to Miss Fulford. Mr. E. P. Adams succumbed to a tricky delivery from Miss E. Danvers, which just reached the wicket. Mr. R. G. Chichester came next, but, after scoring a lucky 3, was dismissed by the same bowler, who showed excellent form throughout the innings. Three for 29. Mr. H. A. Adams was the new comer, and for a time runs came freely. Another wicket that of Mr. J. H. Houseman, who had put’ together a most useful 11, was soon secured, and Mr. P. C. Adams came in. When the score had reached 40 Miss Danvers was entrusted with the bowling. This lady bowled at such a terrific pace that, if she ever bowled straight, she would probably capture five wickets in a single over. Neither wicket­ keeper nor longstop made any attempt to stop or even touch the ball until it was fairly “ dead,” so that byes (which the gentlemen were debarred from running) might have been scored freely. Mr. H. A. Adams was magnificently bowled and stumped by Miss Danvers for a careful eight, during the compiling of which he had only given nine chances. Mr. R. H. Chichester, who followed, scored freely until he was accidentally caught by Miss Tothill (who apologised) for an invalu­ able 18. Six for 68. Mr. H. P. Adams (captain) now came to the broomstick, and the bowling was fairly collared. He broke his “ duck ” with a single into the hands of mid-wicket, who dropped it, and refused to stand there any longer. The partnership was eventually cut short by a iece of smart play on the part of the wicket- eeper, who, concealing the ball till both batsmen were out of their ground, stumped Mr. P. C. Adams, and then calling out “ play” when the other batsman’s back was turned, very nearly bowled that gentleman. The retiring batsman had played an almost faultless innings for 13. Seven for 81. Mr. J. R. Chichester followed. At 82, 83, 85, and 86 the incomer should have been stumped, and Mr. H. P. Adams was nearly caught at 84, 85, 88, and 89. At 91, however, he was bowled by a high full “ volley ” from Miss Adams, who was understood to draw the attention of the field to the “ break” on this particular delivery. The outgoer had suc­ ceeded in knocking up the largest score of the day, and was loudly cheered On retiring. At 96 a new bowler was tried. This |lady, like all good bowlers, had a distinct method of her own; she runs about half way up tho pitch before delivering the ball and then pre­ tends to bowl. The batsman seeing her hand move thinks she has bowled and strikes out at nothing; when the bat is in the air she flings the ball at the wickets with unfailing aim. In this manner she secured two wickets with two successive balls. Messrs. J. R. Chichester, H. A. Davis, and F. Tothill brought up the rear, the two former putting together a useful 16, and the latter being not out with four to his credit. The innings soon afterwards closed for 108, leaving the “ Nonpareils ” victorious. The victory was mainly due to the fine batting of the Misses A. Chichester, Adams, and M. Fulford. None of the unseemly alter­ cations that so often take place in men’s matches marred the harmony of this one, the only point on which there was any diversity of opinion among the “ Nonpareils ” being whether 108 was less than 132 by 19 or 27.