THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1892, 15 May 1890, Page 28

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

THEY WIN THEIR FIRST MATOH. (Per Press Association.)

London, May 8

The Australian cricket team commenced their opening match to-day at Sheffield Park against tbe team selected by Lord Sheffield. Burn and Trumble, of the colonial team, are not playing in this match. Dr W. G. Grace has been elected captain of the local team. Murdoch won the toss, and decided to bat. At the luncheon adjournment the Australians had lost two wickets for 55 runs.

At the close of the day's play the Australians had lost eight wickets for 190. Trott scored 35, Walters 26, both being caught. Murdoch was not out for 92. He played with great judgment, and although he gave three chances, they were all very hot ones.

The weather was showery, but the rain was not heavy enough to interfere much with the game. The fielding of Lord Sheffield's team was admirable.

May 9. It is raining heavily to-day, and the Australian cricket match was postponed. „

May 10.

The cricket match, Australians v. Lord Sheffield's team, which had been postponed owing to heavy rain, was resumed to-day and resulted in a decisive victory for the Australians by an innings and 34 runs. The visitors, with eight wickets down for 190, resumed their innings, but the last two wickets only added a single to the score, the innings closing for 191. Murdoch's score was 93i ; Ferris, not out, 0. The wicket was not in favour of the batsmen, and so it proved to the Englishmen, who, in their first innings, were all disposed of for 27, of which number W. Gr. Grace made 20 before being bowled. Six of the local team were dismissed without scoring. Of the Eleven, four were bowled, the remainder being caught or stumped. Having to follow on, the Englishmen made a much better stand, but were all out for 130 runs. A. E. Stoddard (caught, 21), Briggs (run out, 35), Peel (bowled, 28), and W. G. Grace (caught, 9) were the highest scorers.

The fielding of the Australian Eleven was excellent, especially that of Gregory, Murdoch, and Turner. Seven thousand people were present to-day. A hot sun dried the wet wicket and made it treacherous. In the Australians' innings, Briggs secured four wickets for 47 ; Afctewell, three for 53 ; LohmanH, two for 48 ; and Peel, one for 17. In the first innings of the Englishmen Turner took four wickets for 9 runs, and Ferris five for 18.. In the second innings Turner tock two for 41, and Ferris seven for 70. Murdoch was in for over four hours, and hie score included 13 boundary hits.

May 12.

In their cricket match against Warwickshire, at Birmingham, to-day, the Australians went in first and were all disposed of for 89.' Murdoch was bowled after scoring 4,