CRICKET.

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2629, 9 January 1874, Page 3

CRICKET.

ALL ENGLAND v. VICTORIA,

Third Day—December 29.

The game was resumed at twenty minutes to twelve o'clock, with Greenwood and Gilbert at the wickets. In the first over, which was from Allan, Greenwood scored 1 for a cut behind the wicket; in the next, from Cosstick, a hit to leg for the same number, and then 1 more for a hit to mid wicket [off Allan, well run. A pair of maidens followed. Greenwood next scored a single off Cosstick, and received a maiden from the other bowler. Gilbert, who had been playing carefully, and up to the present had not got a run, now made a pretty leg hit off Cosstick for 2. Another maiden from Allan to Greenwood, and Gilbert put one from Cosstick to short-lojL'. scoring a unit on account of Hedley dropping tbe ball. A little life being needed in the gamf. Greenwood started for a run ; Cosstick thrS? down his his wicket just as he got back, and Gilbert started for the overthrow, nearly losing bis wicket in turn. After a maiden from either end, Gilbert hit a ball from Allan to the off for 2, and his partner received a maiden from the other bowler. Gilbert scored a single for a legb't off Allan and played a maiden from Cosst; ;k. In tl c next over from Allan, Greenwo 1 lifted the ball into McGan's hands at sbv. ~* leg, and retired with a total of 16, having been just twenty-five minutes in making four runs. 3—16—32.

W. G. Grace filled the vacancy, and there was a buzz of expectation,as well as a shout of applause, round the ground as he took his place at the wickets. , Bis first ball from Allan he cut to cover point, but it was stopped, and be made nothing off the remaining three. Cosstick's next to Gilbert was a maiden, ohe ball from the bat. however, going dangerously near to Ktelly. In the next over from Allan, Grace slipped one ;£or a sß»gle, and Gilbert playing rather awkwardly to a ball which bumped, plaoed it in M'Gan's hands at short leg. 4—6—33. Gilbert was three-quarters of an hour making his six runs. : ' ■

When Jnpp joined the champion, it was felt that the match would be decided by'the stand these two made. After a maiden at each end, W. G. got one away to the off, and played a maiden from Allan. This brought Cosstick opposite to Jupp, and the latter, much to the disappointment of the spectators, ended his brief career by placing tbe ball in the bowler's hands. 5—0—34.

G. W. Grace received the remainder of the over without scoring. The two Graces being together, the field were on the qnivive, and the batsmen did not leave them idle long. The champion played a maiden from Allan. His partner opened his shoulders to a jfine square leg-hit, but only counted 1. The ball, which went high in the air, was taken on the hop by Goldsmith, who waited for it. Jupp in the same place would have rushed in and made a catch, but it would have been a very difficult one. In the next over from Allan, the wicket-keeper bad a chance of stumping G. F., but did not hold the ball. The batsmen now warmed up a little, but the younger of the pair was much more free with the bowling than his vis-a-vis. The captain having made 1 to long-leg, G. P. folio »ved with a hit to the on for 2, another pear the same place for one, the ball going right through Midwinter's fingers, a third to midon for a single, winding up for the present, with a beautiful cut off Allan for four, which extorted loud expressions of approval from all parts of the ground. W. G. now got the bowling,.but was unable to score, the activity in the field frustrating all his efforts. G. F. again troubled the scorers adding singles for hits to cover point, to-leg, toi the off (Midwinter failing to stop the ball)j aud one for a snick, ending by raising the ball rather flukily in the neighborhood of the bowler's head. His brother then managed a splendid hit to long leg for four, and, repeating the dose, gave Goldsmith an excellent opportunity of making a good catch, but it was declined, and 2 runs were put down. The champion had only made 7 runs when he gave this chance. The next event was a good straight drive by G. F. Grace for 2. W. G. followed suit to leg, but Carr interposed, and only 1 was scored. The champion got another in the slips, Wyndham allowing the ball to pass, and both batsmen successfully repeated tbe same experiment. G. F. continued with a straight drive for 1, and a splendid hit amid load cheers to long-leg for 4. Allan then took a ball in the slips, which looked like a catch, and there was loud applause when the mistake was discovered. The champion sent the ball to long slip for 1. After a bye, very smartly run, and a pause for several maidens, G. F. got one to the off. The captain sent another to longslip, which counted two in place of 1, because Boyle dropped the ball instrad of returning it at once, and the scorers credited the same batsman with a couple for a hit behind the wicket. The telegraph board

now showing 70 runs, Cbnway relieved Cossttok with the ball. Off the first delivered "the champion "made a capital drive for 1, and his'brother copied the hit, boo Midwinter stopped the ball. A maidenfrom Allan folio wed, the bowler once gettingvery near W. G.s wicket. G. F. scored 1 for a leg-hit off Conway, and a brace for a hit off Allan in the same direction. W.G. getting opposite to Conway, effected a rattling good cut, bub the ball was beautifully fielded by Coates, and his score remainded as before. A leg-hit for 4 followed, and the game, with the two Graces well set, seemed to look more promising for the Englishmen. G. F. stepped out to his next ball from Allan, and missed but the wicketkeeper Jid not put himself ia a position to avail himself of tho opportunity. The champion then gave Kelly what looked like a chance at point, but it was not taken. A ma'den from Allan to G. F. and ditto from Conway to W. G., the latter making fruitless attempts to get bold of tho leg balls. G. F. made a capital drive off Alton, but Carr prevented any alteration in; tha score. Another maiden from Conway to W. G., two leg balls going unpunished. G. F. contrived to get 1 for a good forwanf hit off Allan, placed one from Conway in the slips, and made a fine drive, off Allan, but did not Bcore for the last hit, Carr being the obstacle. A raniden from Conway to W. G., and G. F. scored 1 off Alfcin. On playing a ball whteh broke back in Conway's next ever, G. F. was disposed of by Cooper, who made a very good catch, having to reach out to,the ball. G.F.Grace retired amidst loud congratulations, with a rapidly made score of 28, got by brilliant play: 6—2S—B4, Oscroft, the next man, owing to the forgetfulness of the umpire, played a fifth ball from Conway, and then a sixth, which pitched to leg and broke back taking the top of the off stump. 7—0 —84. It was now apparent that it must be a one innings match, but Lillywhite filled the breach, and it became of interest to see what the Englishmen could do in this most up-hilly game. The captain having played a maiden from Allan, Lillywhite made two good hits off Conway, but both were stopped by Cooper without a run being added. The champion next got a single at mid-off, and a couple for a hit to long field, Both batsmen had played a couple of maidens each, Grace's score standing at 25, and Lilly white's at 0, when time was called for luncheon. \

The luncheon attended by the players was served under the conditions which have been previously described, and the game was resumed after an interval of three-quarters of an hour. Allan bowled a maiden to.Lillywhite, and Grace got a drive off Cjjnway far 1. Both batsmen havings played a maiden, the champion.endeavoured to,enliven the proceedings by a fine hit off Allan to the off, but the balfwas capitally stopped'by Cooper with 'One hand. Three more maidens appeared on the books, and then Lilly got his first run off Conway, in the slips.. ■! The captain followed, with a couple of singleß, and two maidens ensued. Both batsmen were evidently doing their best, and the score continued to mount a. unit at a time. The champion got 1 in the • 'slips, 1' to midoff, 1 for a straight drive, 1 to mid on, and Lillywhite scored a single at short leg. A maiden from 'Allan intervened, and • Conway tried -Lilly white i: with a slow. Result, two juns for, m bit to tbe off. : The,same., batsman .added another for a leg hit, and received a; maiden from Allan. Cosstick.having gone on again in place of Conway, W. G. slipped the ball for i; bringing 100 on the boaroV-acircunißtancQ which was signalised by gfceat'dbeeHng. The champion next scored 1 for a drive off Allan, and received a maiden from Cosstick. Lillywhite scored 1 behind the wicketi, And then got a fine hit off; Cosstick to 'long ;f}eld for 3, following this up with a straight drivo off Mian for 1, Carr missing the ball, ; 'jTfiere was ap exciting little episode it_ the next over. Lillywhite started, to run, ahd ,waa* halfway across when /Kelly fielded the 1)all, but threw it in badly, and the batsmen, Who had gone back to their respective, Wicjcets, ran,, for the overthrow. Lilly white's j_exfc score was off Allan at short leg, and off Cosstick at long field, W, G. contributed 2 for a leg hit, and as soon as his partner had had time to play a maiden., rep'ejiited the trick. This brought 110 runs.-b^, r Hbo board, and a fresh bowler in. the person of Boyle, who supplanted Allar_..'3_illy- ri /- vvhite placed the first ball 6'f the new comer to leg for 2, the runs being made very smartly, while the fielding was decidedly .slow. .In the ,next over Lillywhite had a narrow escape of being run having sent in the ball sharply.'--'' s%ree maidens were bowled; successively, two of them by Cosstick, and W. G. began to punish the bowler who took his wicket on Saturday. After making a straight drive for 2, Cooper allowing the ball to: pass him, he lifted a ball clean' over the chain: fence, which counted 5. This was the first and only fiver made in the match. It was a grand hit, as was shown by the, fact q|, the ball travelling so far 'against the Wind. This feat was greatly applaudedby the spectators. 'Lillywhite then scored 2 off BbyJCflsobortson missing the ball); and thei next'delivery from the same bowler took his oiKstump. 8—19—125. Lillywhite made„an (excellent stand against the bowling, and gbi,all his runs in very'good style. He'waS 'waimly cheered on returning to the pavillion.

W. G. Grace had now got over 40 runs, and there wasa* strong desire that the two remaining bate would keep> their; wlofeßts up long enough-to. enable him to make.one of his good scores, but the fates wero against it. As soon asi Southerton= had filled the vacant situation, iW; G. contrived a magnificent lift to long field off Cosstick for 4, but lost his partner in the next over, 80y39, tho bowler; making a ■ very clever catcher and rolling. oVer with the ball, in one band. 9—0—129. Bush, the last manycame out, and the captain did i all he could to get tbe bowling and run whenever there, was a shadow of a chance. ■ The champion, quickly put together 4—2 to long field, l to tlie on, and another stolen while Kelly was picking npf the ball at point; opposite! .'the bowler, a risky, run was made for a tip-to the on. The bowling flow, being fronn.ithe other end, Bnsa got. another single, audaciously ran in face of the field. - Grace again had the strike,-but could not get the,ball away._> Busbj,•being,*opposite to Boyle, made a powerful, hit,, but was caught;by Conway, standing and -the innings closed at a few-minutes past four o'clock for a total of 135, Grace carrying out his bat with the magnificent jsoore of 51. Grace was at the wickets three hours and a quarter, and—'barring the chance he gave ; to Goldsmith—hia innings was a really splendid one. He did not score so rapidly as on Saturday, but there could have been no better exhibition of batting than his performance against very difficult bowling, and eighteen good men in the field. During the last half eyer, it should be stated, the fielding was very indifferent. Allan's bowling;.average was very fine—24B balls for 40 rttriS; 1 '"

The result of the match is a victory for the Eighteen in one innings, with 21 runs to spare. Cooper, as the highest scorer, is the winner of the gold medal presented by Messrs Edwards and Kaul. Before the players left the ground some/champagne waa drunk in honor of both sides. Mr W. G. Grace, in proposing the health of the Victorian Eighteen, coupled with the name of the captain, Mr Robertson, said he was afraid the Eleven had not b&h wzn in their best form, but he hoped a return match would be played the same.ground, when he was of ppinion they would make a very much better stand. , Mr Rpbertßon, in response, expressed the belief that tbe Eleven were not in form, and mentioned that when he first came'out from England he felt very much the effect of the different light. The ground had also been against the Englishmen. Mr GTace had asked'his permission that morning to have it rolled, but he felt that he was playing a match for Victoria, and that he was bound to play the strict game without conceding a singhi point. The ground waa therefore not roiled,, and the batsmen had had a bumpy,wfeket against them, thpugh,-of ; course, ihe Victorians might have had the same thing tq contend with, y ' : '- ! ■ 7 •

[the full''Score appearediinyesterday's issue. | ,:...„