The Second Day's Flay.

Auckland Star, Volume XVI, Issue 3807, 21 October 1882, Page 3 (Supplement)

The Second Day's Flay.

AUSTRALIA VICTOBIX

It has been my luck to witocss a large number of sensational incicents ia tbc world of sport since my return to the " Old Country,'1 but never, either on a racecourse nr anywhere elac have I taken part in such a scone of excitement as distinguished tbe last three-quarters of an hour of the great cricket match, England v. Australia.

The first day's play was interesting enough, tho bowling nnd fielding—eren to the writer's unknowing eyes-appearing marvellously smart. Mover, however,fora moment, did any doubt cross the spectators' minds as to wbat the result of the match would be. When the colonials finished

their first innings for 63, tbe odds of 6 to 4 offered on England prior to the commencement of the game, expanded to 7 to 4, with plenty of layers and very few backers. Kvcu at the end of tbe opening day's play, and after the English were all out for 101, tbeso odds were still on offer—in fact, 2 to 1 was once or twice laid to small sums. On the second morning, speculation rnkd languid to begin with, though when Massie was seen to be in form some friends o£ Australia took 7to 4to £47. This

little spurt, however, soon collapsed, and whoa, the colonial team retired, after their second innings, and it was seen the "flower of England's cricketers" had only to make 85 to secure victory, 3 to 1 in hundreds was

freely offered on the homo team. One gentlemen "ramped" about the field for nearly an hour, trying to get 3 to 1 to £50 on England. He was unsuccessful just at first but eventually discovered " a mug " (so he called him), who agreed to take £100 to £25 The layer then said he considered he had made that "pony" (i.c, £25) uncommon easy, bat his face, later on, as the English "stars" went down, one after another, was a a picture, and I fancy he went home in a somewhat shattered frame of mind. Well, Australia won—that you will have heard long ago ; but what yon won't have heard, and which, I am sure, it will gratify you to hear, is that the victory has been ihoroughly well received. Our newspapers all over the country do honour to the Colonial team. Writers seem never tired of eulogising their cool confidence, quiet energy, and masterly play. Spofforth's bowling and Maesie's batting have formed the theme of oceans of compliments, and, indeed, it is only fair that their share of the Rlory should bo the greatest. Massie's 55 practically won the match, and never was Spofforth's bowling more deadly aud unplayable. The "Daily Nnvrs" report says :—"The wicket was even more decidedly against the batsman and in favour of the bowler than on the previous day. Nevertheless, our visitors neaily doubled their score, making 122 as against 63. There was, perhaps, some slight falling off in the English bowling. Barlow—who bowled almost the whole of the preceding afternoon with remarkable steadiness and success, taking five wickets for ouly 19 runs—wai less effective, and even Peate did not succeed as he had in the first innings in the long succession of maiden overs which made hu analysis so striking. Still, on the whole, the bowling was remarkably good, especially in the latter part of the Australian innings. Only three of the Colonials reached double figure?, including Massie's fine achievement of SC, the highest individual total of the match." In the end the whole Australian team wns disposed of for 122 runs, thus leaving tlie home side So to win. This for one of the most perfect batting elevens the country could select seemed no great feat, an( the odds were supposed to be largely in their favour. Dr. W. G. Grace and Mr Hornby opened the innings, their appearance at the wickets being the signal for hearty cheering. Both played with considerable animation, but when the score had reached 15 the Lancashire captain was bowled by Hpofforth for 9. Barlow one of the steadiest batsmen m England, followed, but was mmediately bowled also by "the demon," as he is called, for 0.

Dlyott followed, and for a whilo the spell of the Colonial- bowling seemed to bavo been broken. Kuns came with fair rapidity; 20, 30, 40, 50 wero successively exhibited on tbc board, and the hopes of an English triumph rose high. At length Ulyett gave a chance to Blackham, who never missed one, and Mr A. V. Lucas took his place. There wcro thus three wickets dawn and 34 runs were required. But the overthrow of Ulyet't was a great encouragement to tbc Australians, and when very soon afterwards Dr. Grace was caught by Bannerman at mid-off—having made 32 out of a total of 53 —their elation naturally knew no bounds, The Hon. A. Lyttelton now joined Mr Lucas. It would be hard to name two more accomplished batsmen, but they found it hard to play fpofforth and Boyle. Both wero bowling in their best style, Spofforth especially seeming to be irresistible. It was no small feat that two gentlemen guarded their wickets against twelve splendid maiden oveM in succession, and shortly after five o'clock it waa known that they had raised the score by the most careful play to 65.

Thi3 was the crisis 01 cue game. Twenty runs wero wanted, and to get them there were Lucas and Lyttclton still in ; Bead, Steel, Studd, Barnes, and Pcate to follow. At GG Mr Lyttclton wns bow.'edby Spoffbrth —19 runs wanted and five wickets to fall. Tho excitement now prcw apace, Jt was visible everywhere—in the pavilion, on tho sUnds, throughout the dense ring of spectators, and in die field itself. The Austroliaos were congratulating each other openly —meeting in groups whenever a wicket fell, aud displaj ing an eagerness and elation seldom seen in a cricket-lield. On the other side every ball was watched nnd every single ruu cheered as though v had been a phenomenon. Mr Lucus had just ulnycd a 4 through the slips, grea ly to the delight of the ou-loukers, when Mr htccl was caught and bowled by Spoilbrth. Another accession of anxiety — fifteen runs wanted, four wickets to " fall. Maurice Kend, the hopo of Surrey, succeeded. Great was the enthusiasm with which ho was greeted. In previous matches with the Colonials ho had greatly distinguished himself. Ho waa bowled by Spoflbrth's second ball. Fifteen runs still wanted, and throe wickots to tall. Barnes followed, and presently drove the fast 1 owler for 2; then 3 were run for a byo ; and then came anothar disaster. Lucas played on, and 10 runs wcro yet needed, and thcro wero now oniy two wickets to fall. The excitement reached a pitch wliich mere words can hardly convey, and it was not lessened when Barnes ecnt a catch to Murdoch, and left Mr C. T. Studd and Pcate, tho last men, in face of tho Australian bowlers, with still 10 runs to win, Pcatc scooped the first ball to leg for 2, but this was the end. Tho last ball ot tho over—Mr Studd novcr having had a fiugle ball—disarranged tho professional's wicket, and tho English team were beaten by 7 run?. The Australians were warmly cheered by a vnst crowd, who would rather the victory had gone the other way, but who were generous enough to admit that our visitors had fairly won, nnd by means of splendid cricket. And so ended tho most important of the contests between English cricketers and the Australians, a contest fought out with indomitable pluck by the winners, and which will long bo remombered by tlioso who bad tho good fortune to witness it.