THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 70, 4 October 1884, Page 4

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

On July 24th, 2oth, and 26th the AustraHans played the twenty-firsfc match of their tour, against the Sussex County eleven. The contest took place at Brighton, and proved a most exciting one. The home team won the toss, and commenced batting wish Ellis and Tester to the bowling of Cooper and Giffen. The start was very bad, Ellis being caught at slip, and Newham, his successor, stumped, both off Cooper's bowling, before the score reached 5. Whitfield, the Sussex captain, now joined Tester, and both hit so well that the score was quickly taken to 70, when Whitfield was bowled by Palmer for 34 ; and directly after this, Tester mas caught at the wicket for 31. Humphreys and Jesse Hide were now together, and"by" by steady play they raised the total to 126, when the latter was bowled by Spoffort for 29. G. N. Wyatt followed, and the score rose gradually to 161, when Humphreys was out lbw. Blackman, who came next, stayed while 30 runs were scored ; but at 191 he was well caught in the long-field by McDonnell. And now came the remarkable part of the game. Sussex had seven wickets down for 191, and every one expected the innings to close for a little over 200. But Wyatt was now joined by Phillips, and these batsmen at once put a very different appearance on the game. Wyatt and Phillips at once began to hit, and they gave the Australians a rare "leather-hunt." All bowlers seemed alike to them, and they hit all over the field. Runs came rapidly, and after the pair had been batting 70 minuter, 300 went up. All the Australians, except Murdoch, Scott, and Bannermann, were tried with the ball, but none of them could effect the desired separation, until, with the total at 373, Wyatt was clean bowled by •' the demon " for 112. His innings was really a magnificent one, as he had only given one chance to Murdoch at the wicket, when he had made SI. Juniper, the next man in, was immediately bowled, but Hide and Phillips played out time, the score being 387 for nine wickets — Phillips, 109 (not out), and Hide 4 (not out). Next morning the innings soon came to a close. Nine runs were added, and then Phillips was easily caught at third man, for a splendid 111. His hitting was occasionally faulty, but he batted very pluckily and ran with great judgment. The Sussex men must be congratulated on the large score they made against the fine bowling of the Australians. Their total is the largest ever made by any county against the colonial team. The Australians commenced batting with McDonnell and Bannerman, and runs came quickly. Kain somewhat interfered with the game, and caused the players to retire now and then ; but the score rose steadily to 45, when Bannerman was bowled by J. Hide for 20. Murdoch came in, and played with great confidence. At 60 McDonnell was caught at cover-point for 30. Giffen followed, and the score Avas raised to 100, when he was clean bowled in attempting to drive one of Humphrey's "lobs." Scott came next, but at 101 was out lbw to Humphreys, and, in the same over, Bonnor was bowled by a ball from the same bowler. Midwinter now joined his captain, and the play improved vastly. Both batsmen played brilliantly, and soon put on 100 runs between them. At 220, however, Murdoch was caught at slip for a splendid innings of 87. Palmer followed, and he and Midwinter played out time. On Saturday morning the game was resumed ; but, witn 19 runs added, Midwinter was caught at mid-on for a first-rate 67. Spofforth followed ; but, after making 1, was easily stumped. Boyle came in, but at 261 Palmer was also stumped. Cooper followed, and played steadily, while Boyle knocked up no less than 48 runs before he was bowled by J. Hide, and the innings closed for 309. Being 87 runs to the bad, the colonials had to follow on, and Bannerman and McDonnell commenced batting. After scoring 3, Bannerman was easily c and b by Humphreys ; and at 10, McDonnell was out in the same way. Giffen now joined Murdoch, but with the score at 13, he too was caught off the lobber, and Scott, who followed, was out first ball, lbw to the same bowler. Humphreys had thus performed the "hattrick," taking 3 wickets with consecutive balls. Bonnor and Murdoch were now partners, and these two improved the state of the game considerably, as the score had risen to 82 before Bonnor was caught at the wicket for a useful and hard-hit 42. Only two runs later Murdoch was bowled by J. Hide for 37, put together in his usual careful style, and Palmer and Midwinter were now associated. At 110 Palmer was caught at slip, and at 133 Midwinter was caught at point for 27, and Cooper was out in the same manner for 5. Spofforth and Boyle each put on a few runs, but the innings closed for 144, leaving Sussex 58 runs to get to win. The county men had only 55 minutes to do this in, and the splendid bowling of Spofforth and Midwinter prevented their obtaining more than 25 of these runs, in doing which they lost four wickets. The batsmen got excited, and in trying impossible runs no less than three of them were run out. The game thus ended in a draw greatly in favour of Sussex. .