CRICKET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10595, 2 March 1895, Page 5

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND^ THE FINAL TEST MATCH.[Special to Press Association.] * MELBOURNE, March 1. While the Selection Committee was deliberating there was the usual discussion amongst others as to the chances of players, and all agreed that the choice of place lay between Turner, Lyons and M’Eibhin. “If they leave me out,” renmrked Lyons, ,f they will make the biggest mistake in the world, as I am in tip top form, and never felt better in my life, I have a feeling that I should like to have ago at the Englishmen.” It took about half an hour to make the selection. Qifieu and Blackham declined to speak afterwards about the selection, but admitted that practically only three names were at stake, viz,. Turner, Lyons and M’Eibbin. Turner, however, said that he voted against Lyons, as.he considered that on his recent batting the latter should not be in the team. * c I say nothing against M’Eibbin,” added Turner, “ but I have my reputation and have done a great deal for the colofay. I showed first-class form in the recent match in Brisbane, and am in first-class form now. All things considered, I am of opinion that I have quite earned my place in the team. However, I have done with cricket from to-day. I have helped the colony for years, and, deserve fairer treatment now.” i

Considering that it was an off day today, the attendance at the final test match was highly satisfactory. Over ten thousand people were present before lunch, and the attendance increased by fully thirteen thousand as the afternoon wore on. The Australians were decided favourites, ’but when it was known that Giffen had won the toss, the odds lengthened maternally, and 7 to 5 was laid on them. The weather was fine, but threatening* and the wicket was in splendid condition. Of course Giffen elected to bat, arid seat in Bruce and Harry Trott, while Sfcoddart entrusted the bowling to Richardson and Peel. Bruce opened vigorously aad freely, but at 27 gave a possible chance to Ford in the slips, which was not accepted, the ball glancing off Phillipson’s hand. At 35 four leg-byes were run, but at 49 Bruce hit one from Peel sharply into the slips, where McLaren- took it with difficulty. Bruce’s 23 included four fours and sis singles. Giffen, who* filled the vacancy, opened very cautiously, being content to allow Trott to do the scoring. A nice hit to leg by Trott brought 50 up, the same batsman following with a square leg hit for 4. At 57 the South Australian crack opened Ms shoulders and cut Richardson for 3. At 65 Lockwood relieved Richardson, off whom 20 runs had been scored in ten overs, and at 72 Briggs replaced Peel. Play was very slow until the luncheon adjournment. On resuming the batsmen displayed the 'utmost caution. At 80 Giffen cut Briggs to the rails for 4, and in the next over Trott got an off drive from the same bowler for 4, Brockwell by smart fielding saving two runs from the next stroke. Giffen obtained 5 off Lockwood in the next over, and caused the century to be hoisted. Shortly afterwards the Victorian player hit wildly at Briggs, and bad to pay the penalty. Trott’s 43 included five foturs, one three and four twos, and represented the result of an hour and forty-five minutes at the wickets. At 103 Giffen hit a loose ball from Leckwood to leg for 4, and at 109 Iredale, who succeeded Trott and had been feeling his way, drove Briggs for 3. At 112 Richardson again wentt on, Lockwood, who had howled fifteen ewers at a cost of 21 rims, retiring. At 115 Giffen got Richardson nicely to leg for 4, and eleven runs later Richardson bowled Iredale with a shooter. Iredale’s score-consisted of one three and five singles. With Gregory’s advent Peel relieved Briggs, and in Richardson’s next over Gregory him to leg for 4. At 131 Gregory drove Peel to the off for 4, and Giffen hit Richardson to leg for a couple, and with a late cut put him to the rails for 4. and brought 142 up. Giffen now played Peel on to his wicket after making 57, included in which were four fours, two threes and six twos. He batted faultlessly during the two hours and a quarter he was at the wickets. Darling filled the vacancy, and at 148 Gregory beautifully cut Richardson to the fence for 4. The pair now began to score rapidly, and at 183 Briggs relieved Peel, who had cost S 3 runs, and 3 runs later Brockwell was tried in place of Richardson, whose wicket had cost 74 runs. In one over 13 were scored off Brockwell by Gregory, and at 221 Lockwood went on in his place. Brockwell only sent down four overs, but they produced 22 runs. At 223 Darling should have been run out, but Lockwood failed to take the ball from Ward. At 228 Peel relieved Briggs, who had obtained one wicket at a cost of 45 runs, and at 243 Phillipson badly missed Darling. At 262 Richardson went on instead of Lockwood, Ford taking Peel’s place. These frequent changes, however, had no effect, and the partnership remained unbroken when the stumps were drawn for the day. In an hour and a quarter the pair had put on 131 runs. Gregory’s score includes eight fours, while Darling has nine fours to his credit. With oup or two exceptions the fielding of the Englishmen was splendid. The following are the scores:— ATTSTBAUA. First Innings. Bruce, c M’Lareu b Peel ... ... 22 H. Trott, b Briggs ... ... -42 Giffen, b Peel ... 57 Iredale, b Bicbardson ... ... 8 Gregory, not out ... ... 70 Barling, not out 72 Extras 11 Total for four wickets 282 Bicbardson took one wicket for 81 runs, Peel two for 70, Briggs one for 45, Pord no wicket for 9, Brockwell no wicket for 23, Lockwood no wicket for 44. i Over £6700 were taken at the gates today. LONDON, Mahch 1. The Daily News says that the chances of winning this test match seem to be in favour of the Australian team, which is stronger in batting than it has been for ten years past. Some of the members of the English team are not playing up to their Home form. A match was played at Lancaster Parkon Thursday between an eleven of Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen’a employes and a Laeston eleven. The game was won easily by the former team. Scores—Sargood’s, 251 (Halley 78, Whittle 68, Robinson and Quinn 29 each, Hellyer 15 and Orchard 13) j Leeston, 76 and. 98.. For the .losers.

Ehodas 37 aotout and 47 not out batted best. A match, was played on Thursday at the Ashburton Domain between the Ashburton Juniors’ Cricket Club and St Saviour’s (Sydenham) Cricket Club, and resulted in a win for the visitors by 53 tuns. Ashburton, 68 (Bsigent 28, C. Pilbrow 10); St Saviour’s, 121 (Alfrey 41, and the Eev E. A. Scott 27). A match was played at the Ashburton Domain yesterday afternoon between the Ashburton Junior Club and a team of boys from the Melanesian Mission vessel, and resulted in favour of the latter. On Thursday afternoon the Ashburton and Teniuka teams met at Temuka, Ashburton batted two men short. Temuka won by four wickets and 25 runs. lu the match played at Hagley Park on Thursday between the Veterans and the Fruiterers of Christchurch, the former made 57 in the first innings and 101 in the second (Dickenson 16, Longden 17, Blake 60 and Burnip 16), total 158. The Fruiterers made 45 in the first innings and 48 in the second (0. Taylor 24 and 22 and Brown 14), total 93. The Veterans thus won the match by 63 runs.