Cricket 1894

460 CRICKET t A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME* DEC. 29, 1894 ful style has created a most favourable impression. Now came a long partner­ ship. Stoddart and Brown kept company for a little while, but the captain soon ran away from the latter, although some of his strokes were uppish and dangerous. In an hour he made 51, but the rest of his runs were made more slowly. He was finally caught at long-field off, a hit which on most grounds in the world would have gone clean over the heads of the crowd. With Brown he had rattled up 110 in 70 minutes. The advent of Brockwell was not calculated to let the spectators sleep. The dashing young Surreyite set full sail straight off', and in forty minutes had sent up 45. It was, however, his lucky day out, for when 13 he gave a difficult yet possible chance to Reedman at slip, and a couple of overs later Lyons at point let him off. Both these chances, and likewise one which Brown gave at 63 to Fred Jarvis to cover-slip, were all off the fast bowler, Jones, who was bowling capitally. At last Brockwell made a big on hit, and came to grief. Peel followed, but the first ball he had was a trimmer, and down went his wicket. Ford started to hit from the start and was soon smacking fourers, but he was badly missed by Dyer at cover when he had made 22. Brown continued to play fine cricket, and when stumps were drawn the total was 342 for five wickets, Brown having made 92, and Ford 47. S econd D ay — N o vem ber 10. As Saturday in Australia practically means a half holiday, a large crowd was expected, and no one was disappointed with the attendance of 8,000, which included the Governor, the Premier of the Colony, the Chief Justice, and a great many other leading citizens. The weather was very warm and oppressive. Punctually at noon—each day’s play is begun in Australia at 12 o’clock—Brown and Ford continued the Englishmen’s innings to the bowling of Jones and Giffen. Brown crept slowly towards his 100, which in due time he reached, while Ford laid on the wood with severity. The tall left-hander had added 19 when he was snapped up at the wickets. Briggs came in, and Jones, the fast bowler, looked like getting him every ball for an over or two. Still the Lancastrian gradually got set, and it was mainly owing to his scoring that the 400 was hoisted. With a single added, a fine catch at slip disposed of Brown. The Yorkshireman had played a masterly inn­ ings, marred only by the one easy chance when he had made 63. He played all the bowling with great judgment during his three and a half hour’s stay at the wickets. Briggs did not long survive Brown, and Humphreys was caught at the wickets, but Mr. Gay and Richardson, who were each let off once, gave some little trouble for the last wicket, and when the bowler missed a straight one, the grand score of 477 was on the board. Faulty fielding assisted the Englishmen largely, yet considering that some of them had not run into their best form, the total must be regarded as a remarkably fine one. Giffen bowled splendidly with­ out any luck, and young Jarvis also gave the batsmen some trouble. Jones, the fast bowler, was not deadly, yet he had Brown and Brockwell twice missed off him. Shortly after three o’clock Lyons and Walter Giffen faced the bowlers, the former taking strike to Richardson. Right away he cut a ball just out of reach of Humphreys’ outstretched hand, and in the next over from the swift bowler cut another, which a eprightlier man than the Sussex veteran would have held easily. Peel opened from the other end, and runs came slowly off him. By gradual stages 46 was reached, and then Peel changing sides, and bowling over the wicket instead of round it, sent home Giffen and Lyons in quick succession, (Two for 49.) Reed­ man and A. H. Jarvis carried the total to 79, when the latter was beaten. Giffen (the captain) went in, but he and Reed­ man got on to Lockwood, who had replaced Richardson, Reedman knocking 12 off one over. Humphreys bowled vice Lockwood at 102, and the crowd smiled, but the smiles were turned to sadness when his second ball was gently potted up by Reedman to Peel at cover. Darby, one of the most promising batsmen in Australia, joined Giffen. He is a left­ hander, and plays a hard, confident game. He was not bothered by the lobs, but hit three 4’s and one fiver—all to square- leg off them. This sent his total past Giffen’s ; in fact, he was soon highest in the innings. Richardson was put on again for the edification of Giffen, but Richardson on the Adelaide oval billiard table was not the dangerous bowler Giffen feared on fiery English wickets, and the batsman made several nice leg hits. This pair were still in at a quarter to six, Darling having made 33 and Giffen 28, while the total was 155 four wickets. T h ird D a y — M onday , N ovem ber 12. A public holiday is always observed in Australia in honour of the Prince of Wales’s birthday, but it is the custom in South Australia to celebrate it on the nearest Monday. Therefore on Mon­ day, November 12, it was kept up this year, so that plenty of people were able to attend the cricket. Again about 8,000 were present, and there would have been more if Adelaideans had only dreamt of the treat in store for them. As it was many thinking the South would not reach a total of 300, and that the batting would be somewhat tame, preferred to go for picnics to the hills. Instead of being tame the batting was high class, and the local team reached the high score of 383 —one of the best scores ever made against an English eleven in Australia. The weather was gloriously fine, not warm, yet just sunny enough to be pleasant. Darling and Giffen went on batting, and fairly collared the bowling. All the changes but Peel were rung without effecting a separation until Humphreys went on, and he eventually disposed of Giffen, who was batting two hours and three-quarters without giving anything like a chance for 64 runs. With Darling he had put on 173 while they were in partnership—a record for Australia. Five for 275. Just before Giffen got out Darling reached the century, a wonderful feat, considering that he had never played before against English bowling. Imme­ diately afterwards he lifted a ball off Humphreys, and Brown at square-leg made a bad miss. Then, when he had made 117, Richardson got a fast one past him. Darling is a big, burly left-hander, twenty-four years of age. He plays a strong game, yet his defence is splendid, and he hits with judgment. His innings lasted two and three-quarter hours, and only the one chance marred it. All the succeeding men but the last one made a few and the follow-on was saved, although, to win, the South Australians would have done better if they had fol­ lowed on. Peel obtained a fine average, and it was a wonder Stoddart did not try him while Giffen and Darling were set before luncheon. The fast bowlers were absolutely harmless on the perfect wicket, and whatever terror they exer­ cised in England, so long as the wickets remain good they will be harmless in Australia. The fielding was far from being perfect; in fact, after 300 went up it became rather slovenly. With twenty minutes to bat Ward and Briggs were sent in. The former made 11 and the latter 5—all off Jones—and then, on the stroke of time Ward pulled a fast off- theory ball on to his wicket—one for 16. In the two days so far 876 runs had been made for the loss of twenty-one wickets. F ourth D ay — T uesday , N o vem ber 13. In pleasant weather the match was resumed this morning at noon, Stoddart going in to bat with Briggs. With 10 runs added Briggs was out leg-before in trying to hit a straight over-pitched ball to leg. Brown went in, but at 30 lost the company of Stoddart, who threw away his wicket in the same way as he did in the first innings by lifting a tempting ball to the long-field, Walter Giffen bringing off a nicely-judged catch. Something was expected from Brockwell, but after pottering away at four balls from Giffen he snicked the fifth, and had to leave for the Pavilion—four for 31. Peel and Brown, playing steadily, doubled the score ; then at 62 Peel was out leg-before, and at 68 Brown was lured forward by Giffen and sent the ball into cover-point’s hands. Ford and Lockwood, both exhibit­ ing unwonted cautiousness, stayed until lunch-time, when the total was 86. Ten minutes after play was resumed two more disasters happened, Giffen in successive overs beating and bowling first Ford and then Lockwood. Humphreys stayed a little time, while Gay, hitting with great confidence, scored off Giffen; then in rapid succession a fine catch at mid-off and a brilliant piece of stumping disposed in following overs of Humphreys and Gay. Thus for 130 closed an ignoble effort on a wicket which was almost flawless, and certainly fit to make 250 or 300 upon. Giffen never bowled better, and when Brockwell’s wicket fell his analysis was 7 overs, 5 maidens, 3 runs, 3 wickets. The fielding was capital. With 224 to win, South Australia sent in Lyons and Walter Giffen, Richardson and Peel bowling. Lyons hit like fury for 32, N EX T ISSUE JANUARY 31