Cricket 1892

APRIL 28, 1892 CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 88 LOBD SH E FF IE LD ’S TEAM IN AUSTRALIA . R e p r in t e d fr o m th e Sporting Life by pe r m issio n . THE TWENTY-FIFTH MATCH—v. VICTORIA. M e l b o u r n e , M a r ch 17 t h , 18 t h , a n d 19 t h . F ir s t D ay — T h u r sd a y , M arch 17. The next to the last match of the team was nearly ending in a fiasco. The Englishmen were billed to meet Victoria, on March 17, 18, and 19. Now Victoria, all out, has a pretty warm team just now. There has, however, been so muoh first-class crioket this season that some of the men have found it difficult to get away from business. For instance, Trumble and M’Leod, in a bank, could not get away to play for Victoria in this last match, and Bruce, being anxious to go to Adelaide for the big engagement, could not leave his business. This became noised abroad, and it reached the ears of the Earl away down in Tasmania. He realised that a weak Victorian team would not make any sort of show against his powerful eleven, and promptly decided that he would not let his men waste their energies against a weak team. He, therefore, telegraphed to Melbourne that unless a full eleven of Victoria was put into the field he would cancel the engagement. Whereupon Major Wardill, his agent, went to tlie manager of the Bank where Trumble and M’Leod worked, and explaining the position to him, at once obtained the services of Trumble and M’Leod. Bruce is an enthusiastic sportsman, and he, too, agreed to play. All these conces­ sions were of course gained because of Earl Sheffield’s generosity, and because of the fillip he had given to cricket in Aus­ tralia by spending so much money in bringing out the team. With these three men playing, Victoria had a fairly strong team, although Blackham would not play, preferring to give someone else a show, as he had not done much lately in big matches. Houston, a North Melbourne player, was chosen captain of the Victorians, probably as a compliment to his club, which has sprung into prominence during the past few months. He did not make a very promis­ ing start, as he lost the toss, and had to be put in first on a slow wicket, after the rains which fell on the previous day. Bruce and Bowman (a stonewaller) were the first batsmen, Loh­ mann facing Bruce, while Attewell dealt with Bowman. The dashing left-hander started with a square cut for 4—a characteristic stroke—and a pull, which also sent the ball to the leg boundary. The scoring was not fast, however, Bruce making most of the runs, principally by fourers. Twelve overs were down before Bruce had a smash at Attewell. He treated him with the same measure he had dealt out to Lohmann. The separation was brought about at 36 by Bowmann putting a ball into mid-on’s hands. Bruce up to this time had made 33. Trott, like Bowman, was content to see the left-hander pile up runs, and the latter had actually negotiated 50 when the total was only 53. Then Trott pulled Sharpe, who had relieved Lohmann, for 4. The new-comer only sent down three overs, and as they cost 19runs off he came, Peel taking his place. The change had almost immediate effect, as Bruce, who usually plays the left­ handers so well, put one rather softly back to Peel. He made 54 runs out of 61 in the most perfect style, and without a shadow of a chance, in just a trifle over the hour. Two more wickets fell before luncheon, when the total was only 71. Tarrant stayed with M’Leod until 102 was up. Ross followed at 107, and at 111 M’Leod was caught in the slips. His 33 were not made perfectly, but it was a useful contribution from a much improved, useful player. Worrall and Houston went for short runs, and were successful for a time. Sucoess, however, emboldened them, and they overdid it, the captain coming to grief at 130. The two last wickets fell to Lohmann, who on this second try had bowled exceed­ ingly well, and the innings was done for 137, a most disappointing display. The English­ men fielded grandly, and there is no doubt their tour in Tasmania has benefited them. Grace and Abel began the Englishmen’s innings, and the old man had his u3ual luck, luck which started the tour with him, and has stuck to him ever since. He cut the first ball he had from Trott straight into the hands of Letcher at point, but it did not stay there. Trumble also bothered Grace a good deal, but Abel was at his ease from the start. The first 25 went u p quickly, the men scoring very evenly. Letcher was severely punished, and M’Leod and Worrall were put on. In the Scotchman’s first over Abel cut two balls to the fence, but the first ball of the next over beat him all the way, and he was clean bowled. (One for 65.) Read cut his third ball a bit uppishly, and Trott, throwing a pretty picture, fell forward and caught it. Bean stayed with Grace, who had not batted in his most perfect style, and when stumps were drawn the total was 72 for two wickets— Grace 34, Bean 4. The attendance during the day was fairly good for an off day, about 4,000 being present. S econd Day— F r id ay , M arch 18. The attendance was not so good on Friday as on Thursday, because the game was regarded as a foregone conclusion for the Englishmen, who found the weather brighter and the wicket faster than on the previous day, but they- did not do as well as they expected. Trott and M’Leod continued the bowling. W. G. was in a careful mood, and took no liberties, but Bean smacked the slows about, or, rather, started to, for he made a mistake, and found his wicket disarranged. Three for 84 gave promise of a good score, more especially as Stoddart quickly settled down. Worrall went on, and immediately worked a change in the game. Worrall has his days when his well-pitched up balls are almost unplayable. Stoddart at once snicked a ball which Houston, the wicket-keeper, failed to hold. The Middlesex man scored rapidly off M’Leod, and first 110 and then 120 went up. A change now came o’er the scene. Stoddart was splendidly caught on the chains by Walters very near the spot where Walters himself had been caught by Stoddart. Peel and Lohmann were quickly got rid of, and Grace, who had played with unwonted care, was the next to go, fairly beaten by Trumble. This was the seventh wicket, and as it fell at 139 with the total only two beyond the V ic­ torians’ , the latter’s hopes rose high in an­ ticipation of a close game. They were, how­ ever, doomed to disappointment. Philipson joined Briggs after luncheon, and runs came apace, both men hitting out with vigour. The total reached 173 before Briggs was given out leg before wicket, after several unsuccessful appeals had been made. Atte­ well and Sharpe were seen out by Philipson, and the score closed at 184, which gave the Englishmen a useful lead of 47. Worrall obtained a fine average, but the wicket had not proved as easy as was expected; in fact, it helped the bowlers a little. That is to say, it was not an easy wicket to score on. The ball did a lot, though slowly, and any attempt at rashness generally brought the batsman to grief. Now the Victorians’ innings can be put into a dozen lines. Bruce again played beautiful cricket, and ran up 50 out of 72 without a mistake. Walters played a trifle more freely than usual, but none of the others reached double figures, and all of the ten put together only got as many as Bruce. Briggs and Attewell were the de­ stroyers. Both bowled splendidly, and they were backed up by fine fielding. Philipson, who was giving M‘Gregor a rest, did his part well, as he stumped one man and caught two. T h ir d Day— S a tu r d a y , M a r c h 19. The match was finished in an hour. Briggs only made 3, but Bean and Peel pulled off the game. The former batted in something like his English style. The Englishmen thus won by nine wickets, and the problem is now how much they would have won by if Bruce, who made 104 in the match, had not played. The following were the scores:— V ictoria . First Innings. W. Bruce, c and b Peel ... 54 A.N. Bowman, c Bean, b Attewell ........................ G. H. S. Trott, st Philip­ son, b Peel ................. F. H. Walters, c Stoddart, b Peel............................... 4 R. M’Leod, c Abel, b Loh­ mann ...............................33 A. Tarrant, lbw, b Loh­ mann ............................... 7 C. H- Ross, c and b Peel... 5 J. Worrall, b Lohmann... 9 R. Houston, run out ... 11 H. Trumble, not out ... 6 C. Letcher, c Peel, b Loh­ mann ............................... 0 L b ............................... 1 Second Innings, c Philipson, b Attew 11 ... 5) 3 b Attewell......... 7 4 c Philipson, b Briggs .......... 4 Total .................137 E n g la n d . First Innings. Mr. W. G. Grace, b Trumble .................44 R. Abel, b M’Leod ... 33 M. Read, c Trott, b M’Leod ................. 0 G. Bean, b Trott ... 11 Mr. A. E. Stoddart, c Walters, b Worrall 32 R. Peel, b Worrall ... 7 G. A. Lohmann, b Trum ble................. 3 not out ..........15 c and b Briggs... 0 et Philipson, b Briggs .......... 7 b Briggs .......... 3 c Attewell, b Lohmann ... 4 b Briggs .......... 4 b Attewell.......... 5 b Attewell......... 0 E xtra ... 1 Total ...100 J. Briggs, lbw, b W orrall...............21 Mr. H. Philipgon, notout ...............15 W. Attewell, c Wal­ ters, b Worrall ... 0 J. W. Sharpe, c Ross, b Worrall ......... 2 B 13, lb 3 ....... 16 T o ta l.......184 In the Second Innings Briggs scored c Graham (sub), b Trott 3, Bean, (not out) 39, Peel, (not out) 14; b l —Total 57. BOWLING ANALYSIS. V ictoria . Lohmann Attewell... Sharpe ... Peel......... First Innings. O. M. R. W. . 26 12 43 4 ... Second Innings. O. M. R. W. 11 24 0 19 11 50 1 0 4 ......... 3 Briggs 17 E n gland . 0 17 0 6 33 5 Trumble... Trott M’Leod ... Worrall... Letcher Bruce ... First Innings. O. M. R. W. ... 22 8 28 2 ., ... 17 3 49 1 ; ... 21 10 34 2 . ... 20.4 5 ... 4 0 ... 1 0 Second Innings. O. 3 34 5 . 22 0 1 0 M. R. W 0 8 0 1 29 1 2 5 0 0 14 0 CROYDON CLUB—MARRIED v. SINGLE. Played at Croydon on April 23. M arried . H. R. Groom, c V. Biacoe, b Ching ... 43 L. J. Turner, b H. Biscoe ................. 3 A. Warren, b Wicks 8 W. H. Bagott, c Drage, b Watson ... 0 G. F. Jiong, b Flinton 12 E. R. Wilkinson, b Flinton ................. 5 J. A.Arc her,b Flinton 9 J. Aris. b Ching ... 20 E. H. Balch, b Ching 0 P. W. Scrivener, b Wicks ................. 0 M. Wheeler, b Ching 0 W. T. Tayior, not out ........................ 0 B 6, lb 4, w 1 ... 10 Total ..110 S in g l e . E. A. Williams, b C. P. Wicks, not out 13 Balch........................ 0 R. Biscoe, c Long, b T. B. Joy, b Turner... 0 J Balch ................. 0 H. W. Ward, lbw, b A Straker.b Turner 0 Turner ................. 17 T. A. Watson, b S. J. Ching, b Turner 4 Turner ........ . ... 2 J. Whitcomb, c Long, C. W. M. Feist, b Warren................. 25 absent ................. 0 V. G. Biscoe, b H. Biscoe. absent ... 0 Turner ................. 0 A. E. Drage, absent 0 A. Hill, b Warren ... 0 G. Spicer, absent ... W. J. K. Flinton, b t*3, ID2 .......... 5 Archer ................. 35 — R. Archer, b Warren 8 otal ..........119 *** T he scores of the Public School matches will appear together in a special column.