Cricket game summaries from the Times, 1890

CRICKET. ENGLAND V AUSTRALIA.

Everything favoured an excellent day's cricket at
Lord's yesterday. Glorious summer weather and fast
wickets have been too rarely experienced this season
not to be appreciated. And the game was most
stubbornly contested. There was another immense
crowd, and every ball seemed to be watched with a
keenness even remarkable for a cricket company. The
precision of the fielding and the accuracy of the
bowling prevented any quick scoring. Early in the
morning such ballsmen as Ulyett, Barnes, and Lohmann,
usually fast in getting runs, could make only slow
headway against the Colonials. Later in the day the
Australians themselves when they went in had the
same experiences. During the six hours' play Mr.
Lyons was the sole batsman to hit with any great
vigour. His stay furnished much lively cricket.
England, with a lead of 41 runs on the first innings,
had the game well in hand all the afternoon. As the
score stands, and with the wicket still in pretty good
order, the home side should, of course, win. But of
all games cricket is the worst about which to
prophesy. Something phenomenal happens when least
expected. However, from such a brilliant array of
batting talent the English adherents should have little
anxiety as to the accomplishment of the task which
to-day England will be set. While the scoring was
slow, the cricket once more was of a thoroughly
interesting nature. Where the chief Australian
bowlers failed Mr. Lyons proved successful. He had
a large share in the dismissal of the last five English
batsmen. Ulyett played in excellent form, and so far
has the highest figures in the match. When Australia went
in a second time some fine hitting by Mr. Lyons, who
should have been early caught, improved affairs after
a bad start. But it was Mr. Barrett who caused the
home side so much trouble. His style, though very
unattractive, is particularly effective. For four long hours
he kept up his end. Always content to send back a
good length ball to the bowler, and never attempting
to hit anything that was on the wicket, he met with
great success. At the same time he very seldom
missed punishing a loose ball. Although there was half
an hour's more play than on Monday, seven runs less were
scored : 14 wickets fell for 233 runs, against 15 for
240 on Monday. But the slow scoring was not so
much noticed owing to the keenness of the game. It
was essentially a cricket crowd : the grand stand,
terraces, and enclosures were filled to overflowing,
and the attendance numbered about 17,000.
England, who had lost five wickets for 108, completed
their innings in an hour and 50 minutes for an
addition of 65. The Australian bowling and fielding
were equally good. Mr. Lyons went on at 141 and
took the last four wickets. Ulyett, who carried
off the batting honours of the innings, was seventh
out at 147 : he had played a fine forward game, and
his 74 occupied him two and a half hours. He gave
no chance, and his chief hits were four fours, six
threes, and 12 twos. Lohmann made a few capital
strokes, but Barnes did not play at all well. Mr.
Lyons's analysis came out the best, his five wickets
averaging six runs each.
Australia, who were 41 behind, went in a second
time at 20 minutes to 2, and before luncheon lost
Messrs. Trott and Turner for eight runs. Subsequently
Mr. Lyons, profiting by an escape at the hands of
Barnes with the figures at 2, batted brilliantly, and
had put together 33 in 25 minutes, when Peel gave
him a short-pitched ball and he skied it to cover-
point. When Mr. Lyons left the deficit had been made
up. From now to the close of the day--i.e., for three
and a quarter hours--the cricket proved very quiet.
Mr. Barrett exercised the greatest caution. The
bowling and fielding were excellent. Dr. Grace
varied the attack frequently, and when he himself
took a turn he quickly got out two batsmen. The
ninth wicket fell at 142, with 40 minutes still left
for play. Mr. Burn gave a difficult chance to the
wicket-keeper, and Mr. Barrett was nearly caught at
point by Dr. Grace. At the finish the Colonials were
127 ahead with a wicket to fall. The catch at mid-
on that dismissed Mr. Blackham was made by Barnes
in a remarkable manner. It will be noted that three
of the Australians were out leg-before. Score : ‐
[[STATS]]

KENT V. MIDDLESEX

Yesterday this match was continued at Tonbridge.
At the end of Monday Kent had rather the better of
the game, as with four wickets in hand they were
within seven runs of the Middlesex score. Yesterday
morning, in three-quarters of an hour, the home side
finished their innings for an addition of 47 runs. Mr.
Wilson, who was not out 62, increased his figures to
84. It was a fine innings and extended over two
hours. The chief hits were eight fours, two threes,
and 11 twos. Middlesex, who were 40 runs behind,
lost two wickets for 32. Messrs. O'Brien and Ford,
however, then put on 80 runs. Mr. O'Brien hit eight
fours, a three, and two twos, and Mr. Ford six fours,
a three, and six twos. Subsequently Mr. de Paravicini,
whom Mr. Watson helped to add 69 for the seventh
wicket, played well. He scored five fours, a three,
and ten twos. The Middlesex total reached 280.
Thus Kent were left with 241 to make for victory.
In 25 minutes they lost a wicket for 40 runs. Score
at present :--
[[STATS]]
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