THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS AT INVERCARGILL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2984, 18 January 1881, Page 3

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS AT INVERCARGILL.

(by telegraph.)

Invercargull, January 18,

The Australian cricketers arrived at the Bluff yesterday morning per Itingarooma and commenced their first match in New Zealand the same day on the Invercprgill ground. The team consists of Murdoch, Spofforth, Boyle, Palmer, Alexander, Macdonell, Groube, Jarvis, White, Blackbam, and Slight. Bonner is laid up with a bad leg, the injury to which is so serious that fears are entertained that be will lose the limb. Bannerman is away through a domestic bereavement. The substitutes belong to the East Melbourne Cricket Club.

At about 12.30 the visitors were conveyed to the ground in a four-in-hand, and shortly after the wickets were pitched, and Invercargill having won the toss went to the wickets, playing to the bowling of Palmer and Spofforth, both of whom were most fatal, and with the exception of one ball badly muffed the fielding of the Australians was equally as good as tbe bowling. The twenty-two were disposed of for the small score of 43, Spofforth taking ten wickets for 19 runs, and Palmer nine for 21.

After an interval Murdoch sent in Jarvie and Spofforth to the bowling of M'Haffey and H. Morrison. The first ball of M'flaffey's was a wide ; with that exception the over was a maiden. At the second b?ll from H. Morrison, Spofforth was badly missed by Little at long off. Spofforth driving Morrison over the boundary for two 4's consecutively caused the first 10 to appear on the telegraph. Spofforth continued to play in a very free style and 20 soon appeared on the board. Spofforth was applauded for a good hit over Morrison's head, which realised 3. The next noticeable feature was M'Haffey's sending down of his maidens. Nash then took Morrison's end and the third ball was driven by Jarvis to the boundary. Another hit to the boundary by Jarvis, and 40 appeared on tbe telegraph. Jarvia was loudly applauded for driving M'Haffey to leg for four, and the same over he snicked a nice two off hie bails, bringing the score up to 50. Jarvis was then very well caught by Clayten off Nash, baviDg played a very careful inning of 13. Total 51 for one wicket. Buchanan took the next over at M'Haffey's end and two more byes were added. Murdoch having now joined Spofforth several more runs were added to the score, and then Nash clean bowled Spoiforth splendidly. M'Donnell joined Murdoch, and cemented the partnership by making a single off Nasb, and directly afer wards a 2 off Buchanan, which was made into a 4 by an overthrow. Both the batsmen continued to hit freely, and 80 appeared on the telegraph. Murdoch received a rather nasty hit in Buchanan's next over, but after a Bhort interval continued batting. A few overs later Murdoch hit Buchanan beautifully to leg for 4. Nash missed a very difficult catch given him in the slips by M'Donnell, and directly after M'Donnell hit Nash out of the boundary. Read was next tried at Buchanan's end, but M'Donnell treated him most unmercifully, making 7 off his first over. Ellis was then tried instead of Nash, but the fielding of the 22 was very loose; runs came rapidly, and 110 soon appeared on the telegraph. Another change in the bowling was tried and Kingslead went on in the place of Read. Murdoch was missed at square leg by Gurr ofl Kingslead rather easily. In the next over Ellis clean bowled M'Donnell, who had made 36 in unexceptional form. Slight came next, and Murdoch continued scoring very fast; his time had now, however, come, and he was run out after Bcoring 40 in excellent form. Alexander next appeared, but was soon disposed of, being caught by Neill off Kingsland— a well judged catch. Slight was next partnered by Boyle, who was bowled by

the first ball by Ellis. Groube now partnered Slight, but the bowling at this time was well on, and runs came slowly. At 6 p.m., when the stumps were drawn Groube and Slight were still in. The total for 6 wickets was 154.