Cricket 1902

1 9 8 CRICfeET : A WEEKLY RECORt) OF THfe GAMfe. J u n e 1 2 , 19t)2. NOTES FROM SCOTLAND. (B y O ur S pecial C orrespondent .) Jupiter Pluvius is alas ! having a very long innings, and one, unfortunately, which even a Rhodes or a Hirst is powerless to terminate. The first of the two annual matches between the Grange and Northumberland County was Commented on the 6th, but on the rtext "day the game was abandoned ota account of the rain, without a ball beingbowled. Each club played twelve-a-side, and the Grange had the first lease of a slow wicket. L. H. Balfour-Melville and A. G. G. Asher opened, and kept together until 37 appeared, when both were dismissed, the former having 26, and Asher 11. With E. S. Balfour-Melville and T. Johnston associated, the light became very bad. Nevertheless a good stand was made, the former batting freely, while T. Johnston contented himself with keeping up his end. When the score was taken to 74, the third wicket fell, E. S. Balfour-Melville being bowled by Lowings for 27. R. H. Johnston filled the vacancy, but was soon caught at wicket. All this time T. Johnston had been displaying great caution, the Fife­ shire batsman taking, as he did, an hour to get his first twelve runs. L. G. Thomasnow came in and did most of the scoring until he was beaten by K. Gillespie for 29, the fifth wicket having added 43. With Pepall, G. (12), and A. G. P. Pullan (22) ashispartners, T. Johnston completely altered his methods, his caution giving place to brilliant hitting. His 50 had occupied fully two hours, but in the next quarter of an hour, 30 came from his bat. Soon afterwards he completed his century, but when he had added 26 more, R. Gillespie found his way into his stumps. T. Johnston’s brilliunt innings of 126, which took three and a half hours to compile, was chanceless. Be bit nine 4’s, and the features of his play were his cutting and off- driving. C H. Tremlett (26), and Beaton (18 not out) put on 44 for the last wicket. The Grange venture realised 333. Bowling for North­ umberland County, Marshall had four for 56, R. Gillespie three for 77, and C. M. Skinner two for 29. The vibitors played out time, and when stumps were drawn, had scored 26 for the loss of two wickets. The successful debut of Douglas Smith, the popular Perthshireprofessionalfor Worcester­ shire, has been produ tive of feelings, both of joy and sorrow in Perth. Joy that he should have acquitted himself so well, suc­ ceeding as he did where so many failed, and sorrow because it is feared that his fine play may be the prelude tohis permanent inclusion in the Worcestershire eleven next season. Last year Smith headed the Scottish hatting averages with 62, and in bowling secured twenty-nine wickets for 18 runs apiece. Prior to his going Perthwards, he was asso­ ciated in Natal with Llewellyn, who has also played for Perthshire. Should Smith play regularly for his native county next summer, lerthshire’s loss will most assuredly he Worcestershire’s gain. Aberdeenshire on the 7th travelled to Broughty Ferry, where they engaged For­ farshire in a county championship match. '1he home county batted first and made a good start with W. R. 8t arp and J. A. Kyd. The latter played good cricket until he reached 26, when H. H. Smith uprooted his stumps. W. R. Sharp being now set, was joined by A. C. Millar. The newcomer forced the game nicely, but with 18 to his credit was bowled by Johnson (A.); Higgins (P.) was now Sharp’s partner, and a splendid one he proved. 1he pair, playing beautiful cricket, defied all bowling changes. W. R. Sharp, when he had scored 79, was out for the first time this season, being bowled by Johnson. His runs were made in his usual excellent style. Higgins’ 42 was also a very fine effort. Towards the end of the innings W. Stewart (12) and G. K. Chalmers (18) did well. When the ninth wicket fell at 216 W. R. Sharp declared. Bowling for the visitors, W. Webster had three wickets and ■Johnson (A.) had a like number. Aberdeen­ shire requiring 217 towin did not begin well, W. M’Intosh, when 7, being beaten by Chambers (G. H .); J. Scharenquival (11), and H. H. Smith (9) also fell victims to Chambers, the slowleft-hand bowler display­ ing good judgment. Soon afterwards he also brought about the dismissal of W. Mac- kinnon. W. Webster and J. Williams now came together, but neither of them remained long, both being out off Higgins’ bowling. J. C. Faiquhar, who filled the vacancy, com­ menced in promising fashion, hut his partner, Johnson, was disposed of after making a single. On J. M. Pirie joining Farquhar a splendid partnership ensued. Both played fine cricket and all the efforts of the Forfar­ shire bowlers to dislodge them proved tin- availing. When the 100 was hoisted they were still together, and almost immediately afterwards time was called, J. C. Farquhar being credited with 25 and J. M. Pirie 19. Forfarshire had all through the best of mat­ ters, Aberdeenshire being at the close 115 runs behind with three wickets to fall. Chambers (G. H.) bowled best for the home team and had four wickets. Perth may he described as having been, up till last Saturday, the grave of Edinburgh hopes. On three consecutive Saturdays Perthshire had inflicted severe defeats on the Edinburgh Academicals, Carlton, and Royal High School (F.P.) Last Saturday, however, Leith Caledonian came within an ace of defeating the North Inch representatives. The latter, going in on a dead wicket, found runs hard to procure as the ball travelled slowly. Perthshire were all dismissed for 143 ; VV. McDonald, 23, R. McG. Mitchell, not out, 22, and G. Burnfield, 20, being the chief scorers. Leith Caledonian, who were strongly represented, replied with 137 for four (A. S. Cairns, 48; J. Peel, 34; and A. J. Reid, 32). The visitors may thus be said to have gained a “ moral victory.” Though Fifeshire have not succeeded so far in getting a victory in their county matches, tifeshire clubs have been doing very well this season. Dunfermline on the 7th gave a good exhibition against Cupar on their own ground. The home team dismissed their visitors, on a bad wicket, for 28, and then went in and compiled 125, R. K. Smith, 43, and A. A. Muir, 32, being highest scorers. For Dunfermline, Vernon (J. H.) bowled splendidly, having eight for 14, included in this being four wickets in four balls. The other victorious Fifeshire team was Burntis­ land, who also dismissed their opponents— the Stewartonians—for 28. Burntisland’s innings realised 84 (D. J. B. Kirks 22). Bowling for the Fife Club, Mitchell (G.) met with most success, having five for 10. TheWesternDistrict Championshipmatches on Saturday drew large crowds. Greenock had Uddingston as their visitors, hut were beaten by 20 runs—66 (A. Ballantine, 21) to Uddington’s 86 (Hirst, S., 35.) Bowling for the latter team, J. H. Paterson did best with six wickets. Uddingston have yet to record their first defeat. Drumpellier narrowly escaped disaster at the hands of the West of Scotland, the scores being: West 141 for nine (T. O. Mathieson, 37, H. C.Baruour, 34, and J. Hampson, 20.) Drumpellier 78 for nine (0. T. Mannes, 41.) Bowling for the West, Broadley had five for 28, andA. E. Sainsbury four for 28. For Drumpellier, Hirst (J.) had four for 24, andW . Wotherspoon threefor 38. In the remainingWesternDistrict Champion­ ship match, Clydesdale compiled 103 for seven (T. Tripney, -25not out) to Poloc’s 34 (allout.) K . S. RANJITSINH J I’S FIFTY CENTURIES. B y A lfreii D. T a y l o r . By his magnificent contribution of 135 for Sussex against Surrey, at the Oval, on Tuesday last, Kumar Shri B.<njitsinbji completed his fiftieth first-class century. The Indian Prince played his first match for Sussex in 1895, so that, deducting the season of 1898, when he was in India, he has ac'ually registered fifty centuries iu six years and one menth. Such an achievement, it is needless to add, is unique in the annals of the game :— 150.—Sussex v. M.C.C., at Lord’s, May 9, 10, 11, 1895. Out of an innings of 385. This was his first match for Sussex, and in the first innings he had scored 77 not out. He also dismissed eight of the M.C.C., sending back half-a-dozen with the ball, and catching out two. 137 not out—Sussex v.Oxford University, at Brighton, June 24, 25, 26, 1895. Out of 272. It was in this fixture that the record English aggregate of 1,410 runs was scored for the loss only 28 wickets. 110.—Sussex v. Middlesex, at Lord’s, July 15, 16, 17, 1895. Out of an innings of 285. He also registered 72 in his second attempt. 100.—Sussex v. Notts, at Brighton, July 22, 23, 24, 1895. Out of an innings of 171 ; the next highest score being 21 by Air. W. L. Murdoch. 138.-—Sussex v. Yorkshire, at Bradford, May IS, 19, 20, 1896. Out of an innings of 296, the next highest scorer being Mr. W. Newham, with 35. 114 not out.—Sussex v. Gloucestershire, at Brighton, May 25, 26, 27, 1896. Out of 420 for three wickets, Bean (G.) scoring 113, and Marlow 108. 107.—Sussex v. Somersetshire, at Brighton, May 28, 29, 30, 1896. Out of a total of 525 for four wickets, Mr. W. Newham scoring 201 not out, and Mr. W. L. Murdoch 144. 146.—M.C.C. v. Cambridge University, at Cambridge, June 15, 16, 17, 1896. Out of an innings of 355.' 171 not out.—Sussex v. Oxford University, at Brighton, June 25, 26, 27, 1896. Out of 329 for six wickets. This was a most exciting match, for at the time for drawing stumps, Sussex only required 10 runs to achieve victory, after the Dark Blue captain had voluntarily closed his innings. 154 not out.—England v. Australia, at Man­ chester, July 16, 17, 18, 1896. Out of a total of 305. An innings that has been described as the finest ever witnessed on a great occasion. He also contributed 62 in the first attempt, while it is worthy of notice that only one other batsmanscored over 20 runs in the second inning's of England. 100 not out.—Sussex v. Notts, at Brighton, July 30, 31, August 1, 1896. Out of a total of 190 for three wickets. He com­ pleted the century in the last over of the match, and also scored 52 in the first innings.