RETURN CRICKET MATCH.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VII, Issue 326, 8 February 1876, Page 6

RETURN CRICKET MATCH.

Clyde v. Alexandra, [from our own correspondent.] Seldom have we enjoyed a finer day for cricket than Saturday last, the day fixed for the return match between,the Clyde and Alexandra elevens. The breeze was just sufficient to cool the atmosphere, without raising the dust. The former match was played on New Year's Day at Alexandra, and the return was therefore fixed to come off at Clyde. Between 10 and 11 o'clock, Clyde began to look quite brisk, as buggies, dogcarts, and horsemen began to arrive from the lower township; and groups of people in cricketing costume began to gather in the streets, discussing the odds in the betting, which were slightly in favor of the. visitors. Punctually at 11 o'clock, there was a general move towards the ground, and at half-pasc play was begun, the Clyde team handling the willow. Messrs Simmonds and Rees bowled for Alexandra, and did great execution; and by the time the last man went, victory for the incoming team was considered a certainty. However, after Alexandra's first innings, the hopes of the Clyde team rose considerably ; and during lunch (which was served on the field), a good deal of mild chaff went on, and interest in the result began to heighten. The Clyde men started- very well in their second innings, but presently the wickets began to fall, and I doubt the players' spirits followed suit, for it did not take long to dispose of a good few of them. Clyde, however, did not abandon all hope, especially when the first five Alexandraites in the second innings went out for 14 ; but Mallard and Brown made a stand, and brought the game to a close. The Clyde team took their beating almost as a matter of course, and expressed themselves at the start as expecting it. No doubt the large scores made by their opponents on New Year's Day gave some reason for a feeling of this sort; but I would ask them to compare the runs made by some of the players in the two matches, when they will see the glorious uncertainty of cricket. A team should never express themselves as certain of defeat, for it has a great effect on their play ; but should rather remember that a game is never lost until it is won. The following are the scores : Clyde.— first innings. Denniston, b Simmonds—3 3 Fache, W., b Rees—l2 3 Stewart, c Rees, b Simmonds—lll ... 3 Walker, b Simmonds ... 0 Stevens, 1 b w, b Eees—l23l... ... 7 Richmond, run out—l 1 Simpson, c Simmonds, b Rees—2 ... 2 Webb, b Simmonds—l 1 Mack ay, not out ...'..' 0 Phinn, st Ratcliffe, b Rees—l2l ... 4 Fache, G., 'b Simmonds ' 0 Wides 2, leg-byes 2, byes 7 ... 11 35 SECOND INNINGS. Richmond, b Rees—243l ... ... 10 Mackay, b Rees ... 0 Denniston, b Simmonds -212212 ... 10 Fache W., lb w, b Rees 0 Walker, b Rees .. 0 Stevens, 1 b w, b Simmonds—2 ... 2 Stewart, not out—llllllll 8 | Webb, b Rees 0 Simpson, b Simmonds... ... ... 0 Phi an, hit wicket—l 1 FacheG., c Simmonds, b Ratcliffe —111 3 Byes ... ... ... 7 Alexandra.—first innings. Mallard, b Stevens—l 22 5 Forrest, c Pimpson, b Stevens—l ... 1 Rees, st Richmond, b Stevens—2 ... 2 Ratcliffe, b Richmond—l 22 5 Rice, not out—2lllllll3 ... ... 12 Brown T., run out—2l 3 (Jrossan, b Richmond—l ... ... 1 Simmonds, b Fache—232 ... ... 7 Ryan E., b Fache—l 1 Rees Jas., b Steve us —22 Dewar, b Stevens—l 1 Wides 3, bye 1 ... 4 44 SECOND INNINGS. Rees, b Stevens—l 22 .. 5 Rice, c and b Stevens ... 6 Ratcliffe, b Stevens— 1 ... ... 1 Forrest, b Stevens- 2 ... ... ... 2 Simmonds, c Fache, b Stevens ... 0 Mallard, not out-21 1112 8 Brown, not 0ut—1223 8 Wides 3, bye 1 ... 4 i 34 M Clyde total, 70 ; Alexandra total (with five , wickets to fall), 7S.