CRICKET.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2162, 29 January 1881, Page 2

CRICKET.

THE AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN r PIE TEEN OF CANTERBURY.

Many _ were the anxious peering* at daybreak this morning to find out what sort of weather the cricketers and the spectators were likely to* have for the match which has been such a general subject of conversation for so many weeks. There was a strong breeze from the N.E. early in the morning, but this moderated a trifle before the hour of starting for the ground. The beat must in some measure have reminded the visitors of their native home, and everything looked well for the prospects of the day’s play. The Canterbury team wore driven on to the ground by Mr Lewis with a four-in-hand team, and Mr Beecher did the same office for the Australians.

The ground looked in perfect order, and everyone was loud in praise of the condition to which Napier, the ground keeper, had got it. The Australians arrived first at the scene of action and indulged in some practice, from which it was evident that they bat with more freedom than the last team which played here. The Canterbury men were a little late on the ground, and the necessary preliminaries, pitching the wicket, &0., were not concluded until eomo time after the appointed hour for commencing the game. The wind, too, had again increased in strength, and matters did not look so pleasant for a good day’s cricket. The umpires decided on were Mr E. T. McDonnell for the home team and Mr VV. D. Meares for the strangers. We must mention that the arrangements for the accommodation of the Press were not up to the usual mark, and that up to the commencement of the game no provision in the way of the necessary chairs and tables had been provided. The scorers were Messrs Cotterill and White. The attendance on the ground was hardly as large during the early part of the game as we expected to see. The Canterbury captain having won the toss, elected that the local team should go to the wickets. This, in our opinion, was a mistake, but probahiy the captain was, as he ought to be, the best judge. At half-past twelve the Australians took the field, which was stationed as follows :—Blackham wickets, Alexander point, Boyle mid-on, Spofforth and Palmer bowling and in the slips, Murdock long off, Jarvis long on, hut tho rest were continually changed about. Oorfe and Watson went in for Canterbury, the former facing Spofforth, who opened from the south end, and the batsman got a single off the demon’s second, though Watson was very nearly run out through Boyle’s fielding. The rest of the over produced nothing, and then Palmer went on at the other end. Oorfe poked Palmer’s third to short-leg for a single, and then played from Spofforth. Watson broke his duck for a square leg hit for one off Palmer, and then drove tho long bowler for a similar number, but was run out in attempting a short one next ball—l—4-2. Leach was the left hander’s successor, and scored a single to start with, then playing a maiden from Palmer. Another little one to Oorfe was the next addition to the score, and he then, amidst applause, hit Palmer splendidly, past the reporters’ tent, for 4, the ball going into the fence and necessitating a new one being sent out—lo went up to the telegraph. A leg bye, resulting in a couple, followed, and Leach cut Spofforth for a single, followed by the same batsman getting another point and then a couple. Another sharp run was successfully done by the two, and Oorfe snicked Spofforth for two. Another snick by Leach brought 20 up; but his partner fell a victim in Palmer’s next over, as he hit all round at a curly one. 2—20—9. Ashby came in to fill the vacant wicket, and his partner drove Spofforth for a single, the fielding being first-rate. However Leach then gave half a chance in the slips, which was not accepted, and, in consequence, added one more to his score. Dave started by driving Palmer for 2, but nothing more was got off that over. Leach then added another, and brought his score to 10. Ashby drove Spofforth well to the off, but was splendidly caught by Murdoch, the fieldsman falling over with the ball —25—3—2. Hartland followed in, and Leach drove Spofforth for a couple. Palmer settled Hartland with a fast one, and the board showed—27—4 —o. Seoretan came amidst applause to join his old schoolfellow,who signalised the partnership by sending Spofforth away amongst the crowd to square leg for 4, a very fine hit—3o up. Secretan cut Palmer for 2, and drove him for a similar number, though the last hit was worth more, hut for Jarvis’ fine fielding. Murdoch wbs also fielding splendidly, and it was evident the Australians were doing all they knew. After one or two more single?, Secretan brought 40 up by a nice leg hit for 4 off Palmer. Both batsmen wore playing in first-rate form, and hopes entertained of a good stand. The attendance was now very good, not less than a couple of thousand persons being on the ground. Murdoch made another magnificent catch, which sent Leach back to the pavilion. The retiring batsman had made 18 in the very best style, and it was hard lack on him to fall a victim, when so well set, to a catch that would very seldom come off—4s—s—lß. The Canterbury captain was next on the scene, and after an over or two pulled Spoffor.h round to square leg for two, and was missed at point next ball, but slogging at the next, was clean bowled—4B 6—2 W. Frith then appeared, and his first effort being a 3, 50 was hoisted, and directly afterwards the adjournment for lunch took place. The following was the score at that time : Canterbury. First Innings. C. C. Corfe, 1,1,1,4 2, b Palmer 9 G. Watson, 1,1, run out 2 W. E. Leach, 1,1,1,2,1,1,1,1, 1,2,4,1,1, c Murdoch, b Spofforth 18 D. Ashby, 2, c Murdoch, b Spofforth ... 2 J. Hartland, h Palmer 0 H. H. Seoretan, notout 13 A. M. Ollivier, 2, by Spofforth ... „. 2 W. Frith, 3, not out ... ... ... ... 3 Leg-byes 2 Total 51