Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Van Diemen's Land v Port Phillip, 1851

Van Diemen's Land v Port Phillip, 1851

 * This is the archived discussion of the TFAR nomination for the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page. 

The result was: scheduled for Today's featured article/February 11, 2018 by Ealdgyth - Talk 16:28, 19 January 2018 (UTC)



A cricket match on 11 and 12 February 1851, played by teams from Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) and Port Phillip District (now Victoria), was the first between two Australian colonies, recognised in later years as the initial first-class cricket match in Australia. It took place at the Launceston Racecourse (pictured in 2009). The match was part of celebrations marking the separation of the Port Phillip District from New South Wales in 1851 as the colony of Victoria. The team representing Port Phillip was drawn from the Melbourne Cricket Club; the Van Diemen's Land team consisted of players from both Launceston and Hobart. The visiting Port Phillip team was expected to have an advantage but had difficulties with the batting conditions and the unusually slow nature of the opposition bowling. Batting first, Port Phillip scored 82; Van Diemen's Land replied with 104, assisted by a large number of extras. Batting again, the Victorian team scored 57, leaving the Tasmanian team needing 36 to win, which they accomplished on the second day to record a three-wicket victory. Following this match, intercolonial cricket became increasingly widespread.
 * Most recent similar article(s): no sports in months, unless I missed something
 * Main editors: Lourdes, Sarastro1
 * Promoted: April 2017
 * Reasons for nomination: Anniversary. I condensed the blurb but need expert help for the final cuts.
 * Support as nominator. Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:31, 13 December 2017 (UTC)
 * Support as a co-creator.  Lourdes  16:44, 13 December 2017 (UTC)
 * Support: looks good to me. Freikorp (talk) 11:01, 5 January 2018 (UTC)