THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2203, 21 May 1896, Page 36

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

AUSTRALIANS v. LORD SHEFFIELD'S TEAM, London, May 11. The Australian cricketers began tha opening match of their tour at Sh flle.id Park today, when they were opposed, by an eleven chosen by Lord Sheffield. There was splendid weather and a large attendance, including the Prince of Wales, to whom Sir H. Trott (captain of the visiting team) was presented. Tho wicket was cot of the best, beirg rather lively. Trofct won the toss, ami decided to bat. Doc nan and Darling were the first two to go to the wickets; Pougher and Mold being entrusted with the bowling. Each batsman played with . confidence and scored freely. Darling gave the spectators a brilliant display of hard, clean driving, bat gave a hard return to'Pougher early in the taxiing*, which vrafl not accepted. With 34 on the board Jackson relieved Fongher. May 12. Daring yesterday afternoon 15,000 people were present at Sheffield Park. The Englishmen tried freqnent changes of bowling. Doncan had a lucky innk-gs, being frequently beaten by bolls which, however, were off tfao wicket. Darling played excellent and Btyliah eclcket, bat gave two chances. His score, included eleven 4'a. Iredale was. bowled cf£ hie pads. Giffen played steadily, but Hill showed cta&hing form. The Australians' first innings closed for 257. Their collapse is unaccountable. The remaicicg five wickets fell under half an hour, and only added 16 runs to the score. Mold bowled splendidly, while Lilley gave a brilliant exhibition behind tho wickets. Trott's score included seven 4's. Lord Sheffield's Eleven lost five wickets for 80 runs. Grace and Jackson sccred ireely. v • There was a Urge attendance at the second day's play. ' The weather was splendid, and the wicket in excellent condition, playing first rate. The following are the scores bo far :—

Jones took eeveu wickats for 81 runs, M'Kibbin one for 38, Hkdy one for. 22, Giffen none for 49. H. Trott and W. G. Grace lunohed at the Royal tablo yesterday. May 13. Jones and M'Kibbin opened the bowling for the Australians in the first innings of Lord Sheffield's team, and the fast ones from the former thrice struck Graca in the tibs in the first; over. The veteran batted brilliantly, and scored 50 in half an hoar. With the score at 58 Jones changed ends, and with his first ball dismissed Jackson. Then a rofc set ia, and waa not checked until Ranjitainhj! appeared at the wickets. Ho batted fault easiy— his catting, driving, aed pulling being very fine. In one over he scored 13, but was eventually disposed of by Jones, who made a msgnifloenfc onehanded catch in the long field. Lilley's battiDg was .very Btylish, and he, too, was dismissed with a one-handed catch. Altogether the fielding of the Australians Was excellent and -Jones's pace created a great impression. Donnan and Darling were again the first to represent the visitors in their second inninge. Hearne acd Mold began the bowling, and the latter waa relieved by Davidson with the score at 49. The change proved effective, Dcmnan being caught off him almost immediately. The Amtraliaua lost eight wickets for 173. Darling scored 35. Tha batting of the team was only moderate until Trott and Hill became associated, when a good stand was made. Frequent changes in the bowliug were tried, and a separation was not effected nntil Hill played one on to hia wicket. The attendance at the third day's play was good. The weather was splendid, but tho wicket had become heavy. The total of the first innings of Lord Sheffield's team was 194, and not 190, as previously telegraphed. The Australians continuing their second innlr,g3 were disposed of for 194. Requiring 258 runs to win, Lord Sheffield* team went in a second timo and when slumps were drawn had lost four wickets for 180'runfl. The game thus ended in a draw. Scores :—

Jtane? took two wickets for 49 runs, ITady one for 13, Trott one for 4, M'Kibbin 0 for 48, Giffen 0 for 16. May 14. Gregory, who 'was run out in the match against Lord Sheffield's team, sacrificed hfmssff to save Trofct. The' latter, although p'ayirg cautiously, made eleven 4'«. LUlej wss in brilliant form at the wiokets, catching two men and cot allowing a tingle extra. When the Englishmen went in again only two hours were left for play. Grace and Jackson forced the game in the endeavour to hit off the runs if possible, and both wera raised twice. The bowling was frequently changed, and the fielding was poor. Rsirjttsinhji again showed capital form. Among his hits wore seven I'fc Jackson hit freely all round, but was rather luoky, ao, besides the chances mentioned above, several of his hits went up, and others were snicks behind the wickets. Ha had nine 4's in his 95. The Fall Mall Gazette questions the fairneis of Jones's delivery.

"Australians. First ianing3 257 Second Innings. Donnan, c HearuOj b Davidson ... 25 Bailing, c Ranjitsinbji, b Hearne ... 35 Kelly, b Hearne 9 Giffen, b Mold 18 Iredale, c Lilley, b Davidson ... ... 11 H. Trott, not out 59 Hill, b Davidson ... ... .„ ... 23 Gregory, rua out .~ 0 Eady, c Lilley, b Pougher ... „. 10 Jones, c Ranjitsinhji, b Pougher ... 0 H'Kibbin, b Pougher M . ... ... 4 Extraß „ „ ... ... 0 ' Total 194 Mold I ok one wicket for 60 runs, Davidson threa f»r .'JB, Pougher three for 19, and Hoarne two for 47. Lord Sheffield's Team. First innings „. „. 19J Second Innings. Grace, c Giffen, b Jones... «, ... 26 Jackson, not out •„. „, 95 Gunn, c Hill, b Kady ... 6 Kanjitsitthji, c Donnan, b Jones ... 42 Fry, b Trott „ 5 Extras ... .» ~, ,M, M M 6 TqUI for (m VfidWtO ... 160

Australia.— First Innings. Doiman, b Fry ... ... 32 Darling, c Lilley, b Mold 67 Giffen, c Lilley, b Jackson. ... ... 38 Iredale, b Grace ... -. ,„ ... 14 Gregory, b ttrace ,„ 6 H. Trott, c ItaDJitsinhji, b Hearne ... 43 Hill, c Lilley, b Wold 32 JCady, c Hearne, b M01d... .„ ... 2 - Kelly, not out .„ „, 2 Jones, b Mold 9 M'Kib'in, stLillay, b Hearne... „. 0 Exbras .„ ,„ „ 12 Total 257 Mold took four wickets for 61 runs, Grace tw< for 40, Jackson one for 40, Fry one for 39 (Hearne'i average was not sent). Loud Sheffield's Team.— First Innings. Grace, c Kelly, b Jone3 ... ... 42 Jackson, c H'll, b Jones 17 Shrewsbury, c Dottnan, b Jones ... 1 Gunn, c Giffen, b Jones ... ... 5 Itanjit-dnhji, c Iredale, b Janes ... 70 Fry, b Jones... . ' ... .„ .„ 0 Hearne, c Kelly, b Eady... ,„ ... i Lilley, c and b M'Kibbin ' ... ... 21 Davidson, b Jones „ ... ... ... 4 Poujfher, not out ... „, ... ... 10 Mold, run out .„ ... „, ... 0 Extras ... ... „. ' .„ .„. 0 Total 190