CRICKET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2220, 1 February 1868, Page 2

CRICKET.

$ U.M Tl'll CANTJiIUIUUY T. ALBION.

The third mutch of the present season between these clubs was commenced yesterday, at Hurley I'ark, and at the time of drawing the stumus in the evening, was very largely in favour of the former. Kach club having credited themselves \ri:lt one of the previous matches, the present one wan looked upon as the deciding event, and a corresponding iimonnt of anxiety to procure the best team from their respective members, wits experienced by each. The Albion succeeded in selecting a very strung one. but their opponents, as will be seen by the scoring, more than counterbalanced all their efforts in that direction by enrolling the lion. S. 6. Lvttelton 011 their side. On all former occasions the Albions imve invariably proved themselves superior in bowling to the United, whose forte lies more in batting, but yesterday their deficiency in bowling was fully made up by the Hon. S. G. Lyttelton, who also being ut superior batsman the Albions were absolutely nowhero. The mutch can, however, scarcely be looked upon as a bona J'ulc one between the two clubs, tuul in consequence of the peculiar circumstances should, wo think, lie considered an extra event leaving the real merits of the clubs to be decided by a match amongst de Jacta members,

Tlio weather was very fine nil day, but a strung breeze occasionally almost direct acrois tlio wieket, proved troublesome to both bowlers and batsmen. Two tents were erected on the ground for spectators, and .Mr G. Oram bail also a boolli for dispensing refreshments. During the day ii good number of persons, amongst whom the fair sex were well represented, visited the ground and evidently took great interest in she proceedings. Lord Lyttelton was also present and watched the game very intently throughout. The ground was in beautiful condition, nml the ball played as lively and free as could be desired. The wickets were pitched at 11 a.m., and the United, having won the toss, put their opponents in. Messrs Turner and Wood were lirst to represent the interest of the Albion ; the Hon. S, G. Lyttelton leading the attack on behalf of their opponents. The lirst over was ut maiden, and then Mr Moore took the ball at the other end. Two singles were scored, and the Hon. S. Lyttelton bowled another maiden; the batsmen evidently being bent upon caution, and the ex-

ccllence of the bowling preventing almost anv chance of a safe hit. Combined with good delivery and more than average pace, the lion, S, Lyttclton possesses the talent of altering his pitch at will so soon as lie observes the batsman's weakest point, Hj g bowling is certainly superior to any of the Canterbury men, and this was soon most forcibly demonstrated. Messrs Turner and Wood defended the stumps very ably for a considerable time, but anything more than singles was rarely obtained, aud these wer;> principally from Moore's bowling. Moore howled seven overs, and then was superseded by Mainwaring,whogavetwowides in the first over. The lion, S. Lyttclton bowled eleven overs, and then with the second ball of the succeeding one found his way to Wood's Ice stump, the first wicket falling fur 3] runs Wood's eight comprised one two and h'i sm Klcs. Stevens took the vacant place . a wide was given by Mninwaring, and then' in j the next over, the Hon. S. Lyttclton carried away Stevens' bails: 2 for 32, JJobbs next handled the willow, but his stay was short, be being clean bowled in the second over for nil. Turner had made a few singles and two byes were added in consequence of the carelessness of long stop, thus making a total of 37 for the third wicket. Kent came next, and a short stand was made, and ys relieved Main waring. Rent having scored sixteen by his accustomed lively play, and his companion having added three to the list, the partnership was dissolved by the latter giving Moore a somewhat difficult catch at mid-on, 4 for 62. Turner'i inning was a very careful one, and his total comprised of one 4, oneone 2, and nine singles Dickenson was next to show at the stumps and Harley took the ball from I'owys. Jq his next over the Hon. S. Lyttelton dismissed Lent, who had scored 18, obtained principally by cuts to point and slip, nn d r ] rawa to | ' His 18 consisted of two threes, four two* and four singles :• five wickets for f,2. CaWert filial the vacancy, but aft-r putting five together, was very cleverly stumped by Powyg off the Hon, S. Lyttelton's bowline ■ six 78. Bruce was the next defender" but »oon lost his partner, who succumbed to Harley in the fifth over: 7 for 87. Dickenson's score was made up by 3 twos and 2 ingles Youn" took Dickenson's place, but eight more wer? only added to the total, when Uruc e in' cautiously gave Cotterill at long stop a c?;an-r-e and retired for 5, making eight wickets for 95 runs. Cresswell, the last man then wsniu, and scored one oil the last ball of the over, and was then disposed of bv Jl*, ev thus closing the innings for Yniinv carrying out his bat for tlirre. Jt mi y b e remarked that a largo numU-r was from byes, owing to the t 'h e long-stop, otherwise the total would not have been so great. The innings hid ocr-.-,W two hours and a quarter, and an adj m'nutnt was next made for lunch, which w,i; ;-rved by Mr Oram in the Pavilion, with hi- accustomed taste.

The United, represented k Cotterill and A. Oliivier, took the bats at 2.15, Youn* and Dickenson handling the leather on l .'-half of the Albion. The bowling was very good and the seorintr for a con-iderable time somewhat slow. Gotterill was the firs# to sucsumb for 10, con-istin? of one 4, una => and four singles. Eighteen overs had been bowled and only 2-1 scored. The Ifon. .S. J.vttelton succeeded, and it soon became evident that lie would prove a sticker. With A. (jllivier as a partner some really scientific cricket was displayed, and notwithshndini that Turner and Stevens successively relieved Dickenson in the bowling, a separation could not be effected. A. (Jllivier was evidently in his best form, and lie combined a good defence with free batting when a chance offered. But his partner shewed still more excellent play. Possessing great length of reach, with perfect freedom of wrist, ami playing with a straight bat, the Hon. S. Lvttelton is a batsman of rare merit in this part of the world. Almost all his hits were forward, and nothing evinces powers of defence better. The in-n in remained together whilst 54overs, were bowled, and more scientific cricket was certainly never witnessed in Canterbury. Ultimately Oliivier pare one into Calvert's hands at slip from the shoulder of his bat, retiring with a well-earned 49, made up of 2 fours, 1 three, 10 twos, and 18 singles. E. G. J. Stevens next joined the Hon. b. Lvttelton, and remained long enough for that gentleman to add 4 to the score, when be was bowled by Young for nil: 3 for 142. Harley filled the vacancy, but, after making five by singles, was dismissed by Young, who was now bowling in beautiful form : 4 for 157. T. Moore next shewed at the wicket, but the Hon. S. Lvttelton had for some time been stepping out' of his ground to reach the short-pitched balls, incited thereto no doubt by the fact of there being no wicketkeeper. This was too great a jibertv to be suffered long, and Beut, watching his'opportunity, quietly left his place at long-stop for the wickets, and smartly stumped him. The Hon. S. Lyttelton thus retired for a total of 104, having been at the wickets over two hours and a half, during which time he had only given two chances, one of which was very difficult: 5 for 182. His score consisted of oue 5 out of the ground, 5 tours, 6 threes, 16 twos, and 24 singles. P. Oliivier was next called upon, but the greatest difficulty had been overcome, and the wickets now fell rapidly. Moore was bowled in the second over for seven, and lient received au uulucky hit on the right eye from the ball, compelling him to leave iiis plaje in the field: 6 for IS7. A, Oliivier tt-ok Bent's place as long-stop, and Powys joined F. Oliivier. Oliivier made a few smart runs, but evidently being too careless, sent one into the air, which being secured by Turner at point, he retired for 14 : 7 for SOI. Mainwaring next took the bat, but Powys in the third over played the ball back into Dickenson's bauds, and retired for 7 : S for 207. Heade joined Mainwariug. but after three singles and 2 twos being added, the latter was clean bowled by iekenson ; 9 for 214. lirittan, the last on the list, joined Keado, and succeeded in making six by smart play, when Heade got his leg before wicket, aud was given out for 4, thus closing.the best innings ever played in Canterbury for 224 runs. The followidg are the individual scores

ALBIOX. Wood, b Lvttelton ... ... S Turner, c Moore, b Lvtteltou ... IS Stevens, b Lvttelton ... ... 0 Hobbs, b Lyttelton U Bent, b Ljtteltou ... ... ... IS Dickenson, b llarlej ... ... 15 ' Calvert, st Powys, b Hftrloy ... a Bruce, at Cotterill, b Lvttelton ... 0 Young, not out ... ... ... '$ Souter, b Lyttelton ... ... 0 Crosswell, b Ilarley 1 Byes 10,1 byes a, wides 10 ... ... 25 Total OS U.O.C.C. Cotterill. e and b Dickenson ... 10 Ollivier (C.), e Calvert, b Yoiuig ... 49 Lvttelton, si Bent, b Young ... 101 Slovens, b Young ••• 0 Ilarley, b Young 5 Moore, b Young ... .. ... 7 Ollivier (F.), c Turner, b Dickenson ... It l'owys, eand b Dickenson ... ... 7 Alaiuwaring, h Dickenson ... ... 7 lu-iide, lbb Dickenson ... ... 1/ lirittsin, not out ... ... „ (i Eyes 3,1 byo 1, wides 7 ... ... 11 Total ... ... ... "J-i Tho match will be resumed at 1 p.m. today.