Scotland v Australia 17, 18 & 19 July 1905 by Cricket Scotland

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Ground:	Raeburn Place, Edinburgh
Scorecard:	Scotland v Australians
Event:	Australia in British Isles 1905

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DateLine: 31st January 2013

 

 

Day 1:
At Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, yesterday, the Australians commenced the twenty second match of their present tour, when they encountered a strong Scottish eleven. Naturally, the match evoked much interest in Scotland, and long before the time for starting there was a large crowd present, which after lunch, must have numbered close to 7000.

 

The weather was dull and threatening all day, rain never being far away, but a strong wind from the south west blew it over, and except for the fact that nine minutes were cut off the game at the close through bad light, no time was wasted.

 

From the fifteen men at their disposal the Australians left out Kelly, Hopkins, Noble, and Armstrong, while the Scottish captain dropped Smith, of Lord Eglinton's Eleven, from the selected twelve.

 

Darling won the toss, and after a glance at the wicket, took first knock. Then followed a highly interesting day's cricket, in which the Scotsmen did remarkably well. The bowling of Bull and J.T. Anderson, who were chiefly utilised, was always good, while in fielding the side gave very little away. Their groundwork was of the smartest description, while only one real chance which came to hand was dropped.

 

To get rid of the Australians for 284 runs was indeed a creditable performance, while in the hour which was left for them to bat Hirst showed splendid defence, in addition to an aptitude to take advantage of the loose balls which were going.

 

It was intimated yesterday that the officers of the Highland Light Infantry had offered the services of the band of the regiment, who will play on the ground this afternoon.

 

A start was made at 12.10 when Duff and Trumper came out, Bull sending down the first over. Duff took the bowling and cut the second ball past cover for four, and then survived an appeal for obstruction off the last delivery. The University player, J.T. Anderson, was at the other end, and Trumper could do nothing with his first five balls, but managed to turn the sixth to leg.

 

Peel was fielding smartly at cover, and evoked a cheer for his stopping of a hard stroke by Trumper. Success was not long in attending the Scots, Macgregor taking Duff, off Anderson, at the wicket when only 13 runs had been scored. The batsmen were finding the Perthshire professional easier to play than the Australian student, who with four men in the slips, and the ball coming off the pitch very fast, was requiring a tremendous amount of watching.

 

Trumper was careful for a time, but at length he touched one a little off the wicket, and a loud cheer went up when it was seen that Jupp in slips had safely held it, two for 24. Anderson at this point had got both wickets at a cost of six runs.

 

A cheer greeted clever stopping by Hirst when he brought up a smart cut by Hill, many being of the opinion that it was a catch, while next ball Hill was all at sea with one from Anderson, and narrowly escaped being sent back.

 

Both batsmen then settled down to play the game, and runs came slowly, the half century taking as many minutes to complete, though in the over in which it was completed Hill put Bull away for 4, 2, 4, and 1, and brought on DLA Smith in place of the old Essex player. The Scottish captain, however, only changed Bull from the Inverleith to the pavilion end, and put Anderson off.

 

Runs still came slowly, owing in large measure to the excellence of the Scottish fielding, The crowd groaned at a seeming mistake by R.H. Johnston, but the ball was a bump one, and in a few minutes they were cheering themselves hoarse when the Scottish captain, at long-on, brought off a magnificent catch which disposed of Hill. The fielder had to go across for the ball, and reached for it with his one hand, knocked it on, and then took it with the other.

 

Nine runs later Bull gave way to Anderson, and the New South Wales man exercised some caution to begin with. The over before lunch saw H.J. Stevenson go on for Smith, and the crowd settled down for some amusement.

 

Gregory got him to the boundary, and then put him away to short leg for a single, but McLeod left him severely alone, Macgregor having to pick the ball from between the batsman's feet. When the adjournment was made the total was 93 for three wickets.

 

Before the teams came out again they were photographed. On resuming, the bowling was again in the hands of Bull and Anderson, but runs were difficult to gather, so close was the fielding. The best strokes for a time were a grand on-drive by Gregory off Bull, and a pretty hook by the same player for two, while between these McLeod got Anderson to the on-boundary.

 

Eighty minutes were occupied in reaching the hundred. At 120, Bull, who was varying his bowling well, gave Gregory a half-volley, which the little man lifted to the outfield for Hirst to bring off a good catch, four for 123.

 

Laver came in next, and commenced by putting Bull away by cover-point, a cheer greeting Lord Dalmeny's smart fielding of the ball. Runs were still exceedingly hard to get, Laver being somewhat uncomfortable with Anderson's fast deliveries. The fifth wicket only added 16 runs, when McLeod in attempting to drive Smith mishit into Stevenson's hands at third man. The retiring batsman had played a careful innings, and hit six 4's, three 3's, and four 2's.

 

Darling was next man in. Further disaster befell the Australians, nine runs later, when Anderson, who had been off the wicket for the most part, got in a beauty which nipped away Laver's bails. Next over, Darling, off successive balls, drove Smith twice over the ring and once out of the field, and an over later he again manifested his partiality for the Grange man by again getting him away finely to the off for 4 and then on-driving him over the barricade at the farm end for 6.

 

This punishment brought on the Perthshire professional again for Smith but the Australian captain continued hitting with delightful freedom which characterised his display in the exhibition match when last the Australians were in Edinburgh. The second hundred went up after the innings had been in progress for three hours and five minutes.

 

G.W. Jupp for Anderson was the next change in the bowling, and Gehrs played the newcomer to cover and went for the run. A quick field by Stevenson, and a grand return to Macgregor, saw the bails off before Darling could get up, seven for 207. The retiring batsman had hit two 6's, six 4's, and three 2's.

 

Cotter quickly got to work, taking a 6 and three 4's off an over by Smith, who had again gone on, though there was a chance to R.H. Johnston from a drive to the ropes. When he had scored 37, however, Cotter returned one tamely from Jupp over the bowler's head, and Smith, crossing from mid-off, easily held it.

 

It was not long before Newland put the ball into Johnston's hands at slip, and after Howell and Gehrs put on 31 for the last wicket, the venture closed, after lasting three hours and twenty minutes, for 284.

 

The Scottish team, who had an hour's batting before them , opened with Hirst and D.L.A. Smith, Howell sending down the first over, from which Hirst turned one nicely away to leg and found the boundary, and then got a single with an off stroke along the carpet past the bowler.

 

Duff was bowling at the other end, and again the Uddingston professional reached the boundary. Smith opened his account with a pull to the ropes off Howell, and before scoring another he was missed in slips by Laver. Hirst again got Duff to the boundary, and a safe stroke by Smith to cover and a 3 leg-bye put 20 on the register.

 

Both batsmen were playing a very careful game, but at length Hirst got a couple from a pretty stroke wide of mid-on, and Smith found a single turned into 5 through a rash return by Darling going to the boundary. A leg bye for 4 helped the score, and again Hirst made to drive Howell, but spooned high to square leg and got 3 for the stroke; while Smith swung the same bowler square for another 4.

 

When he had 25 Hirst gave Newland a chance behind the wicket, the stumper failing to take the ball, and a delivery or two later he cut McLeod prettily for a couple. Before 50 went up Smith poked one across to Cotter at point. The old Craigmount Academy boy had played carefully for three-quarters of an hour.

 

Nine minutes from the arranged time, six o'clock, the game was adjourned for the day, the light having become bad. The Scots had then scored 51 for the loss of Smith's wicket.

 

Day 2:
Overnight the rain which had threatened all Monday came away, and it was feared that the big match at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, would be spoiled. The morning broke fine, however, and improved as the day proceeded, with the result that during the later stages of the game yesterday the proceedings were conducted under delightful conditions.

 

With the improvement in the weather there as a corresponding improvement in the attendance, though on Monday 5551 persons had paid for admission, realising £227. 11s, while in addition, 1000 schoolboy tickets had been sold. At its best the crowd was estimated at nearly 9000 strong, which must be compared very favourably with the attendances at some of the big matches in England.

 

To add to the gaiety of the afternoon the band of the Highland Light Infantry was in attendance, the officers of the regiment having offered its services. The rain had not affected the wicket to any appreciable extent, and naturally the spectators came down to see the Scots follow up their good work of Monday, when they got rid of the Australians for 284 and scored 51 for the loss of one wicket.

 

A double disaster befell them right away, two wickets going down without a run being scored, and it was not until the arrival of Gregor Macgregor that the collapse was stayed. The Middlesex captain survived a chance of being run out, and was in large part the saviour of the side.

 

A spirited display by J.T. Anderson at the close of the innings saved the Scotsmen a follow on. The smartness which had characterised the Scottish team in the field the first day was again in evidence yesterday when the Australians went in for the second time.

 

The feature of the innings was the play of Trumper, who hit freely till he had passed his 50. Hill did well, though not playing much pretty cricket. As in the first innings McLeod played the steadiest game of the side, and he was never in trouble with the bowling.

 

Later in the innings Duff came out with better figures, though he never seemed to relish Stevenson's lobs. Towards the close of the day the two Scottish bowlers who had distinguished themselves on the first day again became prominent, Bull disposing of a couple of batsmen with consecutive balls, and getting four wickets for only 10 runs, and Anderson doing well in beating Darling.

 

If the disastrous half-hour at the beginning be put aside, the Scotsmen have shaped better than was generally expected, but how they will after today should Cotter be put on remains to be seen.

 

A punctual start was made at twelve o'clock, and when the Australians came out it was seen that Gehrs had taken up the duties of stumper in place of Newland, the latter being absent owing to a family bereavement.

 

Hirst (28) took McLeod's bowling, being accompanied to the wicket by Dickson (1), Howell being the other bowler. The start was a disastrous one for Scotland, as McLeod with his fourth ball had Hirst completely beaten, and next over Howell upset Dickson's leg stump. The Uddingston professional hit four 4's in his score of 28. Thus a couple of good Scottish wickets had gone down without a single run being added to the overnight score.

 

B.L. Peel came next, and with a glance to leg for a single, the Academy master monopolised the scoring, the while Jupp was carefully playing himself in. The Carlton captain had been in ten minutes before he started scoring, a stroke along the carpet inside cover giving him a single off McLeod, and next over he got a single off Howell with a like stroke.

 

The Australian captain at once set to circumvent this, and Laver came forward to silly cover, and after stopping a couple very smartly, he sent back Jupp in the same over with a catch very low down off McLeod, four for 59.

 

Lord Dalmeny was next man in, and his favourite stroke was soon seen when off the first ball he got he put McLeod close to the ropes for 3. His stroke was, of course, known to Darling, and he set his field for Howell's bowling, with one man at short square leg and another rather deep behind the wicket.

 

Lord Dalmeny had a take stroke into slips, and afterwards got a single with a well-judged run, after which G. MacGregor, the Middlesex stumper and old international footballer, opened his account with a forward cut for two. A couple of singles, the one in front of the wicket on the on side, the other between the men at leg completed his Lordship's innings, as he then touched a delivery from McLeod into slips, and was taken high by Laver.

 

Duff for McLeod was a change in the bowling at 78, and with MacGregor collecting runs steadily, the register assumed a healthier look from a Scottish point of view. R.H. Johnston was some time at the wicket before he had a scoring shot, a lovely pull off one from Howell to the boundary, the first hit to the ropes of the day. A round of applause greeted another of the same by the Scottish captain, and at one o'clock the century was reached when MacGregor got 4, 2, and 1 off Howell.

 

The innings had then been in progress an hour and forty nine minutes. Eleven minutes later, however, MacGregor, who had steadied up the side when matters had been looking black, sent one straight to the hands of Duff at mid-off, the wicket realising 44, seven for 111.

 

Bull was the new comer, and the Perthshire professional commenced with finding a single on the leg side doubled through an overthrow, and followed it with a pretty late cut for a couple and a fine shot to leg for three.

 

When the score stood at 120, and fifteen were wanted to save the follow on, Howell had Johnston beaten all the way with a ball which upset his off stump. H.J. Stevenson was tenth man, and with Bull now settled down it seemed as if the required runs would be got before lunch, till at 130 the Academical captain played tamely into the hands of Kelly at mid-on.

 

An adjournment was then made for lunch, with the score at that point being 130 for nine wickets, Scotland requiring to get five runs with their last wicket to avert the follow on.

 

The game was resumed under almost ideal conditions, a light breeze tempering the heat of the sun, which was now shining with all its summer fervour. Howell and McLeod were once more the bowlers. A cheer went up when first a leg-bye for 3 and then a bye for 4 saved the follow on. This done, J.T. Anderson, the Edinburgh University student, put McLeod away to leg for 3, and followed it up with a couple of pretty cuts, late and square, for two each.

 

A forcing drive along the sward past the bowler gave Anderson a four to his score, while another to deep leg and a tip through the slips brought his total to 17. With the score 158, however, Bull played on. The innings lasted for two hours and a half, the follow on had been saved, and a third day's cricket assured.

 

Laver and Trumper were the batsmen, Anderson and Bull the bowlers, when the Australians came out for their second knock, 126 runs to the good.

 

Laver took a single from Anderson's first ball, and next lifted Bull to the ropes for 4, Trumper's first scoring shot being one which he took cleverly off his wicket to square leg for 3. The renowned Australian was seen at his best when he faced Bull, for with a lovely off-drive, an on-drive out of the ground for six, and two late cuts which went into the crowd, he collected 18 off the over.

 

Smith, at the farm end, was the first change the Scottish captain tried, but Trumper chopped the Smith inside point for a couple. Success was not long in attending the Australian student when he changed over to his favourite end, for with 48 scored he had Laver taken in slips by Jupp.

 

Hill was the newcomer, and with his advent Trumper sent up the half-century after the innings had been in progress for thirty five minutes. Seventy showed on the telegraph board when Mr Johnston tried a double change in the attack, Peel and Jupp for Smith and Anderson. From Jupp's first delivery, Hill survived a confident appeal by the bowler for lbw.

 

Runs came apace, till at 89, Trumper, in trying to drive Peel cocked the ball high up for Lord Dalmeny at point to hold. The retiring batsman had batted for fifty minutes for his 55, in which were a 6, eight 4's, one 3, and a couple of 2's.

 

The innings had been in progress for an hour when the 100 was signalled. Five runs later Hill put up one from Peel to cover point, Anderson having to wait a bit for the ball coming down.

 

When Hill went in he required 40 to reach his 1000 runs for the season, and in only getting 30, he missed this by 10. On the fall of the wicket the tea interval was taken.

 

Duff filled the vacancy when the game was resumed at 4.20, some minutes being wasted in shifting the crowd from the front of the screens. Peel and Anderson had the attack in hand. Scoring was slow, fifteen minutes only producing five runs. Then McLeod cut Peel hard to the ropes, and the following over Duff drove Anderson to both sides of the wickets for a couple of 4's.

 

This brought on Bull again, the Perthshire man making a great effort to take a return from Duff. The same batsman got a single past the bowler, and then McLeod hooked Bull to the ropes for 4. A ball or two later it was a near thing of his being run out, Stevenson returning the ball from far out right on to the top of the wickets.

 

With the score 148 Stevenson was tried with his "lobs" and had Duff at sea with his fifth delivery. Still no success attended the Scottish bowlers so at 170 Mr Johnston called up Hirst for the first time in the match, a round of applause greeting the burly Yorkshireman when he took the ball.

 

This change was no more effective than the others had been, but better luck attended the replacing of Stevenson by Bull at the other end, the new bowler getting McLeod in his first over after resuming. To reach his 52 McLeod hit six 4's, three 3's, and five 2's, and all through he had given a stylish display of batting.

 

Gregory now came in, but neither he nor Duff found runs come easily, what with the constant changing of the bowling and the close fielding of the Scottish side. The second hundred was put up after the innings had lasted for two hours and ten minutes, and 14 runs later the Australians lost their fifth wicket, Gregory being caught at mid-on by Smith.

 

Cotter was the next man, and remembering his brisk hitting of the previous day, the crowd in a manner set themselves down for its repetition. Instead of that there was soon a great shout, when from the first ball he received he mishit it high in the air for Lord Dalmeny to bring off just such a catch as that with which he had previously sent back Trumper with.

 

Only 6 runs had been added when Duff went out to one from Bull, missed it, and found his bails off before he could recover himself, seven for 220. Duff's contribution of 62 was so far the best of the match, his principal scoring shots being seven 4's, four 3's, and five 2's.

 

Five minutes from the time set for the drawing of stumps, Anderson was in among Darling's stumps, and with the downfall of the Australian captain play was stopped for the day.

 

With two wickets in hand the Australians possess the comfortable lead of 358 runs, and that on a wicket which is beginning to break up at one end.

 

Day 3:
After three days of interesting cricket at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, the great game between Scotland and Australia ended in a draw. For a quarter of an hour before the pulling of stumps yesterday, the last two Scottish batsmen were in, and amid the greatest excitement they defended their wickets to the end.

 

As on the previous day the weather conditions were perfect, though the pitch was inclined to crumble at one end. The attendance was not much behind that of Monday, nearly 5000 being present.

 

The day's drawings at the ground amounted to fully £177, not including schoolboy tickets, which added to the £277 of Monday, and the £314 of Tuesday, gave roughly a sum of £760. The Australians guarantee was understood to be £300, with half gate above £600, so that the visitors have every reason to be satisfied with their visit to Edinburgh.

 

Taking their play all over, the Scottish team, in making the show they did, gave a better display than was generally expected of them, though there were periods of the game when the Australians were taking matters easy.

 

This was chiefly noticeable towards the close of the first innings of the Scots, and again at the beginning of the second, but there was no mistaking the fact that from the tea interval onwards on the last day the Australian captain was fighting hard to get the side out.

 

He had kept Laver and Cotter off the bowling during the greater part of the game, but whenever Darling saw that they would be really required to get rid of Dickson he did not hesitate. During the last three quarters of an hour he varied his bowling, very much, but the critical time had passed.

 

D.L.A. Smith, Hirst, G. MacGregor, and M.R. Dickson all did yeoman service with the bat, the last named confirming the opinion that he is the best player in Scotland for such a game. In a lesser degree, Bull deserved great credit for his plucky work at the close. It was a game in which Scottish cricket showed up in a very favourable light, and one which should do much towards helping the game along north of the Tweed.

 

When play was resumed yesterday morning, the not out Gehrs (11), was accompanied to the wicket by Newland, the bowlers being J.T. Anderson and Bull. Anderson finished his incomplete over of the previous evening by sending down a ball to Newland.

 

From Bull's opening over Gehrs got the ball past the bowler for four, but after he had gathered a 3 and 1 he lost Newland, smartly taken at the wicket by MacGregor. Howell, the last man in, never got the chance to open his account, Gehrs after adding a couple, being easily stumped by MacGregor.

 

Ten minutes had sufficed to bring the innings to a close, the Australians possessing the comfortable lead of 368.

 

The opening of the Scottish innings was again entrusted to D.L.A. Smith and Hirst, Gregory and Duff sharing the attack. The batsmen were not long in setting to work, Hirst getting Gregory past the bowler for a single, and Smith later cutting him for 4. Then the Uddingston professional placed Duff to leg for another single.

 

Ten went up when the same player hooked a short pitched ball from Gregory to the ropes. With 15 scored, Gregory strained himself first ball of an over, and after a short wait Duff went on for his next essay. Runs came easily to the batsmen, Hirst especially having some pretty strokes on both side of the wicket.

 

Gregory retired and Kelly came out to field, Howell going on to bowl. Smith at once got the new man to deep leg for 4, and then cut him square for a couple, but when the score was 40 the Grange man gave a chance of stumping off Howell.

 

Three boundary hits in succession, two by Hirst to deep and square leg off Duff, and a pretty leg stroke by Smith off Howell brought out the half century, and with it McLeod for Duff. The attack was now in the hands of regular bowlers, and the batsmen had to exercise extreme care.

 

The rate of run getting slowed down, the best stroke for some minutes before lunch being a hard one to the ropes past cover by Smith. When an adjournment was made the Scottish score was 59 without loss, Smith 32, and Hirst 27.

 

On the game being resumed the attack was still in charge of Howell and McLeod. Smith got a single to the off from Howell, and then Hirst reached the ropes at the same place. With 28 to his credit, Hirst reached out to one from McLeod, was beaten by the break of the ball, and narrowly missed being stumped.

 

Seventy was reached when Smith got Howell deep to leg among the crowd, and Hirst off-drove McLeod for a single. The Grange amateur continued to bat in his best style, a hearty cheer greeting a fine stroke to square leg. At 77, however, Hirst put the ball over to Darling at mid-off and was out. He had offered splendid defence for an hour and in his 33 his principal scoring shots were five 4's, and one 3.

 

Only one run was added to the score when McLeod went through Smith's defence. The retiring batsman had never been in difficulty while at the wicket, hitting seven 4's, one 3, and three 2's. With Lord Dalmeny as partner, Dickson late cut Howell for a 4, and also got a single before his Lordship played on to Howell, three for 83.

 

MacGregor filled the vacancy. Dickson was not comfortable with McLeod, but showed a partiality for Howell by late cutting him to the ropes. Scoring was a slow process for a considerable time, singles being the only runs got, and those were few and far between. At Length Dickson cut McLeod late for 4, and brought out the century after the innings had been in progress for an hour and thirty four minutes.

 

A cordial cheer greeted the stroke, and this was renewed when, the following over, that from Howell, MacGregor twice cut the ball to the ropes, late and square. Clever fielding by Trumper in slips was appreciated by the crowd.

 

With splendid bowling, backed up by the smartest fielding, the batsmen could not afford to take liberties, the best lift the score got for a long time being a four bye and a good stroke past point by Dickson for 2.

 

MacGregor had a lucky hit to the boundary through the slips from a stroke he meant to go forward. This he followed with a good one to the off for a single, and a lovely late cut in amongst the crowd, Hill chasing the ball, but failing to overtake it.

 

With the batsmen well set by this time, Darling made a change in his attack, calling up Laver for Howell, and then Cotter for McLeod. This was the first trial the Australian captain had made of these two bowlers, and the crowd watched with expectancy the initial over of the fast bowler.

 

Taking an eighteen yards run, there was no doubt about his speed and his shortness, for his fourth delivery rose dangerously near MacGregor's head, while in his next essay MacGregor had to duck to save himself. Another four bye was followed by Dickson getting Cotter through the slips for the same figure, and he kept the scorers engaged with a well placed stroke on the leg side, which Duff by smart fielding kept down to a single.

 

The tea interval was taken at four o'clock, the score then being 146 for three wickets. MacGregor had then 30, and Dickson 22.

 

During the interval the main topic of conversation among the spectators was whether in the hour and three quarters which remained for play the Scotsmen, with seven wickets in hand would be able to hold out and make a draw of the game.

 

On resuming MacGregor ducked to Cotter's first delivery, and then a single was got when the ball went off his shoulder. Dickson chopped the New South Wales man for a single, and then cut Laver through the slips. Hill went after the ball and stopped it with his foot, but the momentum he had on carried him over the ropes, and through the spectators. Three runs came from the stroke, and next ball MacGregor misjudged a ball from Laver and put it softly to Kelly at mid-on, four for 155.

 

The Scottish captain who was next in, was never at ease, and went back five runs later without having scored. Darling had his field now set with three men in the slips, a third man, and only one man on the on side.

 

A single by Jupp to mid-off and a couple by Dickson off Cotter were the only runs for a time. There was little grumbling, however, at the slowness, for time was a more valuable consideration to the Scottish team at this point that runs, a draw being the best that could be hoped for.

 

Jupp went for a very short run, which almost cost Dickson his wicket, Laver returning well to Newland, who put off the bails very smartly, though not quick enough to send back the footballer.

 

For a time the Carlton captain kept up his end, without doing much in the scoring line, and at length Cotter had him beaten, the ball taking his off stump, six for 164.

 

Peel came next, the partnership being now an Oxford Authentic one. Dickson added four to his score with a pretty glance to leg, and then Peel brought out 170 with a capital hook.

 

Other two runs came when the ball from Laver cannoned off Peel, whose next stroke was almost disastrous. He had popped Laver into the slips, where a slight slip by the fielder made a run seem possible. Both men were inclined to go for it, then hesitated and finally each bolted back to his own crease, a narrow escape.

 

A cheer greeted Dickson when he put Laver past cover to the ropes, and then got three deep to leg. Peel had a poor stroke in slips off Laver, and then next he faced Cotter he played on. The wicket had put on 20 runs.

 

There was now fifty minutes left for play, with three wickets to fall. Dickson was heartily applauded when, after being in two hours and a quarter, he reached his fifty, after which Anderson brought out 190 with a shot to square leg for 3. With forty minutes to play, and Scotland 174 behind, McLeod went on at the farm end for Laver.

 

Dickson was almost all over one from the new bowler, and the same over he found a single behind the wicket converted into a three through loose returning. Over keenness for a run nearly led to Anderson's retiral. However, Dickson would not go, and the Australian student had to scurry back.

 

The stubborn resistance of the batsmen was making an exciting finish to the game seem more and more probable, and Darling had again to change the his bowling, Howell going on at the pavilion end in place of Cotter.

 

The bowlers found a straight bat offered to them, and the second century came along in slow time at 5.35, having taken two hours and a quarter. One run later Anderson gave Laver in slips an easy catch.

 

Stevenson was the new comer, and after Dickson had cut Howell for 4, the batsmen had a conference in the middle of the pitch, Stevenson having evidently brought down orders from the pavilion. The defence was good for a time, but with fifteen minutes to go McLeod had Stevenson beaten.

 

Bull started at once by shoving McLeod to leg for a single, and then found himself faced by Cotter, who took the ball from Howell. As the time for drawing stumps approached there was keen tension among the crowd who cheered Dickson when he put Cotter's last ball of an over away to the off for a single, and a minute later drew level with the best score so far of the match, that of Duff.

 

Howell went on for an over to enable Cotter to change ends. The fast man's second delivery was a no-ball, from which Bull, however, collected a couple. It was the last over, and the crowd cheered Bull as he played every ball he got.

 

There was a hesitation after Cotter had finished his over, but when the umpires signalled that time was up there was a scene of tremendous excitement as Dickson and Bull came in. In his grand not out score of 62, Dickson hit eight 4's, two 3's, and three 2's. The Scots had thus saved the game being 157 behind with one wicket in hand.

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