Cricket 1891

OCT. 29, 1891 CRICKET: A WEEKLY HECORD OF THE GAME, 461 LORD HAWKE’S TEAM IN AMERICA. FIRST MATCH.—v. GENTLEMEN OF PHILADELPHIA. F irst D ay , F r id ay , S e pt . 25. Lord Hawke having won the toss, a great advantage, so the wise ones thought, sent in Messrs. Wright and Hewitt to face the bowling of Patterson and Baily. Both batsmen play­ ing carefully, runs came slowly. At 13 Wright was missed in the slips. Playing with more confidence, the score was rapidly in­ creased, a change of bowling was deemed necessary, and it was a great relief to the fielders and their friends when at 62 Hewett was bowled for a well played 30. Lord Hawke was loudly cheered as he came to the wicket and at once gave a fine exhibition of his quality as a batsman. His strongest play is a fine off-drive, but he is master of all strokes, playing a brilliant aggressive game. He was chiefly responsible for the increase of the total to 86 , when Wright was finely caught by Brewster at mid-on from a hard drive. Lord Throwley came in, and the fact must be chronicled that this is the first time in this country that two English noblemen have been seen at the wickets together. Lord Hawke still continued to do most of the run-getting, while his companion’s hits seemed more lucky than well timed. It was not till after lunoheon that the gallant captain in attempting to put one of Scott’s r I o w s out of the ground was well caught by Patterson in the out-field. Woods was the next man, and the Australian started out as a hitter, and seemed inclined to rapidly increase the score, when his stay at the wicket was cut short by a fine catch at point by Law, who ran in and held the ball though he himself fell down. Wreford-Brown was hardly settled at the wickets when he lost the companionship of Lord Throwley, who was snapped by the wicket keeper for a useful 23. K. J. Key came in and much was expected from Surrey’s great hitter, but he was not at home with Scott’s off breakers, playing in a cramped style that was not at all what the crowd had been looking for. Per­ haps he had in his mind a certain match at tho Oval in July 1889, when he was twice clean bowled by the Belmont colt. Wreford- Brown had no difficulty with the slows, playing confidently and well, and rapidly adding to the total. His batting was decidedly superior to any, except that of the captain, and many good judges thought his cutting and placing the best exhibition of the day. At 228 Key, in attempting a big hit, was easily caught at cover point. Hornsby tipped the first ball he received and was well taken at the wicket. Ricketts came in and showed good form for his five singles when he was given out by the umpire, a decision that did not meet with the approval of the majority. Brown still batting in masterly style, 20 runs were added while Milles was his partner, when the new comer, running out at one of Scott’s slows, missed it and was easily stumped by Ralston. Hillyard was the last man in, but Brown gave him no chance to score, for in an attempt to make a big hit from Scott, the ball was elevated in the neighbourhood of Coates and the innings closed for 259. Half-an-hour only remained for play, and Captain Brockie wisely selected Scott and Coates to defend the wiokets. Much interest and anxiety was shown by the spectators as to how the Belmont pair would play the “ demon ” Woods in the waning light. Scott took the first over. It was a maiden, and the crowd breathed easier. Neither Hornsby nor Woods seemed more han ordinary bowlers, but every delivery of the young Australian was watched with in­ creasing interest, and it was with a sigh of relief that the time for drawing stumps was reached with the wickets still intact and 29 runs on the score sheet. S econd D ay , S a tu r d a y , S e p t . 26. Under a cloudless sky, with a scorching sun and hardly enough breeze to stir the many flags on the club house and grand stand, the game was commenced with Brown and Woods bowling to the not outs of the previous day. Coates drove the first ball from Woods to the ropes, and followed this up by several good strokes from the slow bowler, while Scott only made a single. With the score at 42, Coates made a good hit to leg on which a third run was attempted; there was some hesitation and Scott was run out. Patterson was greeted with applause on coming in, and though at first he seemed troubled by the fast bowler, he quickly settled down and played in his usual fine style. Coates con­ tinued his rapid scoring, being especially severe on Woods, but in attempting a hit from Brown, the ball only reached Howett at point and he retired for a well played innings of 38. Bohlen came in and some pretty cricket was seen. Patterson drove Woods twice to the boundary for four runs each, when, having delivered 80 balls for 34 runs without getting a wicket, Lord Hawke decided to give the fast bowler a rest and Hillyard was substituted. W ith the score at 98, Milles went on in place of Brown, 10 runs and 4 byes being scored from his first over. The crack Germantown pair were well set and runs came at a lively rate. Brown was given another trial and in his second over Bohlen was caught at the wicket for 29. His con­ tribution had been made in his best style, his off drives being particularly fine. F. W. Ralston then joined hisclubmate, and 140 was soon the score. Patterson was playing pretty cricket now and the English captain resolved on another change of bowling. Woods went back at his old end, and his third ball went at a terrific pace past the wicket keeper for four byes. The wicket was evidently unsuited for him. His good length balls got over the wicket, while the long reach of both batsmen smothered all well-pitched balls. Runs still came, and Wreford-Brown took the ball from Woods. This change was immediately effec­ tive, for he clean bowled Ralston in his fourth ball. Ralston was applauded for his well played 19. Four wickets were now down for 164 runs, and the even game was noted when it was remembered that the fourth English wicket fell for 368 runs. R. D. Brown, the Harvard University captain of last year, then appeared, and after Patterson was loudly cheered for a half century, Brown hit his English namesake twice to the ropes and was soon in double figures. Woods tried the other end with the total at 190, Shortly afterwards an interval was taken for luncheon. Woods and Brown resumed the bowling and in the fast bowler’ s second over R. D. Brown was caught by Ricketts in the out-field. The fielder misjudged the hit, but finally brought off a circus one-hand catch that was the signal for a round of applause. The veteran, Sutherland Law, received quite an ovation and opened his score with a single off Brown. A pretty on-drive by Patterson brought 200 on the telegraph board, which was greeted vociferously. WTith six more added Patter­ son’s long innings was brought to a conclusion, Woods sending down a very swift ball which pitched well to the off, but whipped back at lightning speed and removed the off bail with­ out the batsman attempting to play the ball. During his stay Patterson never made a mistake, and his placing was admirable. He went to the Club house amid great applause. Brewster partnered Law, and started with stealing a very short run on the leg-side. At 217 the new comer received a life, Lord Throwley dropping a hard chance in the slips. Immediately afterwards Law in attempting to place a curly one from Brown was easily caught by Hornsby in the slips. 219—7—7. Brockie came to Brewster’s assistance, and the latter cemented the partnership by a brilliant cut off the “ demon ” Woods. W ith­ out having troubled the scorers, Brockie was magnificently thrown out from short leg by Woods, whose fine performance brought out a shout of recognition. Baily came next, but evidently did not relish the fast bowling, and after scoring but 9 runs was bowled off his hand by a swift, rising ball. 228—9 - 6 . The last man, H. I. Brown, partnered Brewster, and the excitement became great. There were still 31 runs to make to tie and only one wioket to fall. At 233 Brewster hoisted another ball to long slip which Hornsby made a capital, but fruitless attempt to secure, and Brown augmented the total by a drive and cut which added 7 runs, following this up by placing Woods to leg for a couple. Brewster added three singles, but the innings was abruptly terminated by Brown calling his partner for an almost impossible run, which resulted in the latter being run out through another capital piece of fielding by Woods. W ith just an hour of playing time remaining, the visitors started their second innings. Hewett and Key were the first pair, Patter­ son and Baily sharing the bowling: The runs from the start came very rapidly, Hewett doing the lion’s share of the scoring,so that at 30 a double change was made, Brown and Scott going on to bowl. The former soon got Key, he losing his off stump in trying to pull a full pitch. 34--1—7. Scott should have gotten Hewett’s wicket shortly after, but R. 1). Brown misjudged the fly and the fortunate left-hander with his captain as his partner continued his successful and run-getting career. Finally, it came to an end, however, he getting his leg in front of a straight one from Brown. 73—2—49. Ricketts came in and succeeded in playing out time, the total being 85 for 2 wickets when stumps were drawn. T hird D ay , M onday , S eptem ber 28. At the commencement of the game on the third day, the attack was entrusted to Brown and Baily, and from the third ball of the former Lord Hawke put up a fluky one in the slips, which Baily just failed to reach. After increasing the total by one or two rather lucky pulls the nobleman turned and hit Baily hard to leg, the ball went on a bee line to Middleton, who was fielding substitute for R. D. Brown, and a splendid catch sent his lordship to the club house, the telegraph reading, 100—3—28. Hornsby came in, only to see Ricketts well taken at short slip off Brown 6 runs later. This was a promising start for the local men, and fully discounted the previous advantage of the Englishmen. Upon Wright joining Hornsby, however, each batsman was given a life by Scott at mid on off Baily’s deliveries. Each of the hits were high and went beyond the fielder, who managed to get under them, but failed to hold the ball, which dropped over his shoulder and into his outstretched hands. Immediately afterwards, Wright hit a liner just within reach of Brockie, at mid off, and that fielder had his hand so badly split in his brave effort to catch the ball that he was com­ pelled to retire. R. D. Brown made his appearance at this moment, however, and Middleton was continued as substitute, the captaincy devolving upon Patterson. As Hornsby was showing a disposition to hit, Scott was put on vice Baily, in the hope of securing a separation on a catch in the outfield. The idea was a good one and might at once have proved successful. The ball was at once hit direct to Middleton at long-on ; the youngster found the sun in his eyes and failed to connect. Tho mistake did not prove costly, however, as the same batsman was soon afterwards well taken at short slip off Brown. Woods filled the vacancy, and his appearance was the signal for a round of applause. W ith half the wickets down for 134 runs the match still looked in a fairly even condition. But Brown was bowling grandly, and after repeatedly beating Wright, at last secured his dismissal on an easy catch to the insatiable Baily at short slip, the NEST ISSUE NOVEMBER 26