CRICKET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5920, 16 February 1880, Page 5

CRICKET.

ENGLAND Y. THE COLONIES. This match, in which 11 from among those of our cricketers who have learned the noble game in the Mother Country are pitted against a like number of their brethren who have been obliged to content themselves with suchinstructions as can be obtained in the .Colonies, was commenced on Saturday in rather dull weather. The Colonies won the toss, and though the two best batsmen in the team, Ollivier and Cotterill, could contribute but a unit between them, others were more fortunate, and the innings reached 179 ; not a very large total when the exceeding badness of the opposing bowling is taken into account. The analysis of the bowlers employed suffered somewhat, and deservedly so. Neither was the fielding quite up to the mark, as two or three catches were missed, and numerous extras given. The Englishmen have lost two wickets for 57, and it may be remarked that the cricket was better all round during their innings than in the earlier part of the afternoon. The northern pitch played very well, but the other end showed signs of too much water.

Punctually at half an-hour after the proper time, the Englishmen took the field, and Cotterill and ’Watson, who have both been consistent scorers of late, were chosen to act on the defensive. Watson began by running his partner out, a performance for which he atosed by playing an excellent innings, and, with the aid of Beeves, keeping the field on the move till 77 had been reached. Unluckily for his side, Ashby, through a strain, was obliged, after bowling a few overs, to hand the leather to Corfe, who,’after sending down 10 balls for 15 runs and a wide, resigned it in favour of Secrefan, who, in his turn, was succeeded by Morice. All this time Sheath had been working away with round-arm slows at the other end, but though Watson should hare been stumped once off him, no other chance was given, and, after each man had driven him for four, an alteration was deemed advisable, and a successful change bowler appeared in the person of Longden, who sent Beeves to the right about with his second ball. The ontgoer’s score included some good cuts. Ollivier unwisely selected Secret an as the fieldsman into whoso hands hysend an easy catch (78 —2—l) and VF atson was run out, but 0. Frith scored fast, and after he had been caught in the slips, the Englishmen found a worse foe in Turner, who caused the bowling to visit various corners of the ground in quick succession. He put the wood on to the slows to such effect that one hit alone realised six runs, and as Million, too, seemed inclined to score, Ashby tried a few lobs. Million, in playing at one in his own lethargic fashion, was taken at the wickets ; and though Fuller had a life given him in the long-field, he profited little thereby, leaving Turner, who had j ust made another big hit for 5, to carry his bat. The English began with Corfo and Secretan, who faced the attack of Euller and Frith. Corfe drove the first-named bowler beautifully to the off for 5, and hit him squarely to leg for 4. Soon afterwards, however, he infringed the laws of defence and made room for Ashby, whose arrival Secretan celebrated by lifting Frith to the on for 5 ; but, with the score at 46, he, too, was guilty of the same mistake as Corfe, and retired for 27, made; in clean, determined style. Douglas batted steadily, and nothing further happened before the calling of time. Score:— THE COLONIES-First Innings. . 6, Watson, run out 39 E. J. Cotterill, run out 0 W. P, Beeves, b Longden ... 36 A. M. Ollivier, o Seoretan b Morice ... 1 C. Frith, c Longden b Sheath. 19 L. Cohen, b Longden 3 "W. J. Cotterill, o Ashby b Longden ... 3 d. A. Turner, mt out 85 W. V. Million, o Douglas b Ashby ... 13 E. T. A. Fuller, b Secretan 7 W. Beard, b Ashby 1 Byes 10. leg-byes 7, mides 5 22 Total 179 , ENGLAND—First Innings. H. H. Secretan, Ibw b Fuller ... ... 27 C. C. Corfe, Ibw b Frith ... 16 D, Ashby, not out ... 19 F. Douglas, not out... ... ... ... 3 Extras I Total W St Albans C.O. y. “ Lyttelton Times” C.O.—A match between the above Clubs was played on Saturday on the ground of the former, and resulted in a win for the local team by 25 runs. The match was decided on the first innings—the scores being St Albans 55, Lyttelton Times 30. The batting on neither side was very brilliant, but the bowling was fairly effective, Donohue and Nelson trundling for the St Albans; and W. G. Atack and Gray for the Times . The weather was rather against the visiting team, as on the commencement of their innings a nasty drizzling rain set in and continued to the close. Timaett t. Geealdine. —A match between teams from the Timaru and Geraldine Clubs was played on the ground ef the latter on Thursday last, which after some capital play on both sides resulted in a victory for the Timaru team by 34 runs on the. first innings. The scores were —First innings Timaru, 117; Geraldine, 83. The Timaru team scored 98 in the second innings for the loss of five wickets.

The return match between the “ married ” and “single” men in the blacksmiths’department oa the railways, took place on Saturday afternoon in a paddock opposite the Waltham Hotel. T. Kennedy captained the latter and E. Smith the former. A good deal of excitement was manifested as to the issue of the game, and the attendance of spectators was numerous. The married winning the toss went in first and scored 24, and of these Childs and Finch were the premier scorers. The tingle then followed with a total of 35, and of these Eobard was the only contributor who got into two figures. The married in their second innings scored 57, and E. Smith’s 37 was much applauded. The single men obtained the required number of runs in their second innings with the loss of one wicket, Eeidy and Baverly distinguishing themselves. The conquering match, which is looked forward to with considerable interest, will come off at an early date.