LADIES’ CRICKET MATCH IN VICTORIA.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 269, 22 April 1875, Page 3

LADIES’ CRICKET MATCH IN VICTORIA.

A ladies’ cricket match which took place a week or two ago at Sandhurst proved a great success. In describing it a local paper says:—“There were two special features in the day’s play; the one, the batting of Miss Midwinter; the other, the bowling of Miss Gerber. The former young lady has comparatively all her brother’s mastery of the ball at the wickets. Her defence is good, and she is besides a very powerful hitter. She made one clean drive for 4 yesterday under the chains, which even Beswick might have envied. Nor was the bowling opposed to her at all to be despised, for Miss Gerber has pitch, pace—when she wants it—and patience. Almost always on the,spot, she varies her bowling with the astuteness of a veteran like Wills, and her pace with the variety of a demon like Allan. Indeed, Miss Gerber, with a good field behind her, would be a dangerous opponent anywhere. Her fielding, too, was excessively good. There were numerous other points in the play which would call for comment were it not that in these cases to particularise is to be invidious. With regard to the match, indeed, Shakspeare might be quoted, and one may Ire allowed— paraphrasing him slightly—to say, ‘For its own person, it beggared all description.’ No one could have watched the healthful glow on the cheeks of the young ladies who were engaged in the match yesterday without feeling assured that cricket carried out purely and simply is a game as conducive to health as anything, and, moreover, a game as easily played by ladies as croquet. During the whole day’s play there was no show of migracefulness. Of course, at times the lield got disorganised, and long-leg found herself in a place more like mid-off, but still the mistakes made were few and by no means frequent. At point the two ladies who filled the position for their respective teams were especially good; while in the bowling department it is doubtful whether a second eleven of the 8.U.C.0. could excel the precision and judgment of Miss Gerber and the other ladies who trundled at the wickets—and with good success too. Catches were ‘like angels’ visits, few and far between,’ but then the chances given were neither numerous nor easy. So it may be said that the Ladies’ Cricket Match of 1875 was a grand success. ”