CRICKET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 26, 10 November 1936, Page 2

CRICKET.

M.C.C. PLAY VICTORIA. TWO CENTURIES BY COLTS. (By J. B. Hobbs. Copyright in all countries. Reproduction in whole or in part forbidden.) [MELBOURNE, November 9. Although it seems that the Victorian match against the Maryl'ebone Cricket Club must end in a draw, there were many bright features in to-day’s play. Tho Victorian team has played itself into a safe position in reply to England’s total’ of 341. After the English bowlers had taken three early wickets, two Victorian colts—Lee, a left-hander, and Gregory, a right-hander—figured in a great partnership. Voce howled a sensational first over to give England] a flying start. _ _ Voce accounted for two or Victoria’s array of left-handers with the fifth and sixth balls of his first ovei. O’Brien’s dismissal was excusable, but Darling’s was a sad lapse. Voce sent down a very fast ball of good length which Darling tried to hook why, I can’t conceive. Ho missed completely and had tho off stump knocked back. Fames and Allen made tlie hall lift above the ordinary, though this was not so noticeable in Voce’s case. Fames was not as fast at the start as I have seen him in England, butf this was his first chance to get properly loosened up, and he soon got into top gear. Fames bowled very well before luncheon without sharing the success of Voce and Allen, although lie beat the hat many times. Rigg and Lee fought back, and it was left to Allen, coming on at 25 for tho first time, to get the former well caught at short leg by Fishlock. It took a long time after this for Lee and Gregory to settle down against the bowling, which was exceptionally good early. Lee at the outset looked likely to be caught in the slips. He afterwards play, ed well, but scarcely as well as Gregory, who cut and hooked in good style. Gregory is only a little chap, but makes the hook shot magnificently with the bat brought well above the shonl:.cr. He and Lee were smart between the wickets. This is refreshing, because in these days so many runs are missed. Gregory, with a beautiful hook, brought up the 100 in 110 minutes. After both batsmen had (passed the fifties, runs came freely. A hundred for the partnership was registered, and then came the 150, the last 50 scored in 32 minutes. The howlers lost a bit of their length, hut several runs came from Lee through snicks that eluded the slips. Tho partnership of 200 was brought up with tho last ball before tea, thus breaking the fourth wicket record for Victoria against England. In tho last hour the hatting had improved out of all knowledge. The batsmen had eliminated snicks and were hitting the hall in the middle of the hat and getting right on top of the bowlers. Lee and Gregory did splendidly. It was an awkward time for the two youngsters to come together with three wickets down for 27.

Fames Earns Wicket. After tea they made good . strokes all round the wicket, hitting the ball hard. Gregory, though no relation of the Sydney Gregorys, bears a great name, and much is expected of him. Although the howlers were tiring, the wicket had improved considerably since lunch. It was not until' Lee had scored 160 that he was dismissed, being clean bowled by Fames, who had thoroughly earned this wicket. There was a

change in the weather near the end of the day, and bad light and rain caused an adjournment for 25 minutes. Scores ENGLAND. First Innings 344 VICTORIA. First innings. O’Brien, c Worthington, b Voce 1 Rigg, c Fishlock, h Allen ... 10 Darling, b Voce 0 'Lee, b Fames ... ... 160 Gregory, not out ... ... 109 Sievers, lbw, b Sims ... ... 1 Barnett, not out ... 2 Extras 11 Total (for five.wickets) ... 294 Bowling analysis—Fames, one wicket for 42; Voce, two wickets for 51; Sims, one wicket for 58; Allen, one wicket for <M. MATCHES AT DUNEDIN. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, November 9. Games not finished on Saturday in the senior cricket _ competition were concluded this evening. Grange, 155 for five wickets (Knight 6l) beat University 153. Kaikorai 204 beat Old Boys 175. NOTABLE PLAYER. FRY TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND. New_Zealand is to have a visit from that notable cricketer C. B. Fry, who is travelling to Australia by the Orion to write for a leading London paper a description of the play during tlie coming tour. He will in due course go on to New Zealand with the team. During his travels, Mr Fry will write a book which in all likelihood will embody matter other than cricket. He is looking forward to bis stay in New Zealand, where he hopes to have time for some fishing and generally to see the country. He made contact with the High Commissioner’s office before departure and he was supplied with a considerable amount of information. Mr Fry is a man of many interests; as a writer lie has his own inimitable style. He is very keen about sea-train-ing for boys, and in this connection lie is the Hon. Director of the Nautical ; School Training Ship Mercury. His home is at Harnhle, on Southampton Waiter. A friend recalls the fact that Fry, when in his prime, was approached to join an Australian M.C.O. team and replied that he would have gone if £2OOO could have been allotted out of the proceeds to help tlie boys of . the Mercury. He still makes himself responsible for the continuation of this excellent work.