MATCH DRAWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 133, 7 June 1926, Page 8

MATCH DRAWN.

IN ENGLISHMAN'S FAVOUR.

AUSTRALIANS' SMALL SCORE,

ROOT WINS AN OVATION.

LONDON, June 6. The attendance totalled seven thousand. Root continued his destructive way. completely beating Andrews with a ball which came back, in contrast to the four leg-breaks which preceded it. Ryder was shaky, and several times sent the ball dangerously near the fieldsmen. Macartney, following an excellent, four off Geary through cover, snickeA the same bowler into the hands of first slip. The total was then 73 for seven. Gregory's first ball from Root was sent to the boundary. In the next over lie was badly missed by Jupp at deep cover, the fieldsman failing to judge a straight drive. Geary was bowling a good length and varying his pace. After s«_-ven maidens Gregory became impatient, hit out at Koot, missed twice arid the third lime skied the ball, which was held by Smith at the wicket. Still requiring ten to avert a follow on Ponsford and Richardson took no chances, but played judiciously, scoring mostly singles till Root sent down a no-ball, whi'-'u Richardson legged to the boundary. Having obtained the required ten, both bat~men settled down to make runs. Ponsford was trapped by Root in the same manner that Bardsley and Woodfull had been, cocking the ball to the fieldsmen at short square-leg. With Richardson he had carried the score from 80 to 101.

Oldfield was magnificently taken at second slip by Carr in the first over from Geary.

Root was the hero of the day, and was accorded a great ovation at the close of the innings. He relied largely on the leg turn, for which he had four fielders close in, mixing an occasional off-break which came in sharply off the pitch, aud whose rarity constituted its deadliness. None of the batsmen was at home facing him.

Twelve minutes before lunch Holmes and Whysall faced Gregory and Macartney. The opening was very quiet, both being content to keep their wickets intact. After lunch runs continued to come slowly mainly at the expense of Macartney, who, when Holmes was nine, induced him to hit out, but Mailey, at square-leg, failed to accept the ball. Both batsmen continued stonewall tactics, and one hour produced twenty-eight runs. Then Whysall knocked eight off one over from Ryder. When he was 21, Whysall sent Richardson to Bardsley at leg, but the fieldsman dropped it. Richardson was unlucky, for in the same over Andrews let a catch pass through his hands. When the total was fiftyfour, Holmes gave a hot return low to Hichardson who made no mistake with | it. Holmes was rarely beaten, but failed to make the most of his opportunities. Richardson kept the batsmen on the defensive, but more liberties were taken with Mailey. The Australians were left eighty-five minutes to get 212, and the quiet manner in which Bardsley and Woodfull opened showed that there was no desire to attain the impossible. Woodfull was beaten by Larwood's pace, being inclined throughout to play him late.

Taylor's leg-stump was rooted out first ball, and the board read 10 for two. Bardsley and Andrews livened the game up. Andrews had a life at the wicket when 17, but scored boundaries off all the bowlers. Bardsley went out while attempting a quick single, Jupp at cover throwing down his wicket. Andrews continued forcing the game with Macartney, and batted freely till time. Andrews hit ten fours. Following are the scores: — N. OF ENGLAND.—First Innings .. 239 Second Innings. Holmes, c and b Richardson 15 Whysall, not out 47 Hallows, not out 7 Extras 7 Total for one wicket (innings de- — clared closed) 77 Bowling Analysis. —Gregory none for 10, Ryder none for 15, Richardson one for 7, Macartney none for S, Mailey none for 29. ACSTRALIA.—First Innings. Bardsley, c Carr, b Root ... 11 Woodfull, c Larwood, b Root ....... S .lailey, lbw, b Larwood 3 Taylor, c Whysall, b Root 22 Macartney, c substitute, b Geary ... 15 Andrews, b Root .. 5 Ryder, b Root 4 Gregory, c Smith, b Root -.-., 6 Ponsford, c Carr, b Root 14 Richardson, not out m 13 Oldfield, c Carr, b Geary 0 Extras 4 Total 105 Bowling Analysis.—Larwood one for 28, Root seven for 42, Geary two for 25, Jupp none for five. Second Innings. Bardsley, run out 10 Woodfull, b Larwood 7 Taylor, b Larwood 0 Andrews, not out - , 68 Macartney, not out 20 Extras ...... ...__ 5 Three wickets for 110 Bowling Analysis.—Larwood two for IS, Geary none for 26, Jupp none for 39 Watson none for 22. — (Reuter.) COMPARATIVE AVERAGES. GREGORY TOP BATSMAN. LONDON, June 6. The following are the leading averages of English and Australian cricketers for the season to date:— BATTING. Ings. N.O. Runs. Avg. Gregory 10 5 435 87 Hendry 2 0 139 69.50 Woodfull .... 10 1 625 69.44 Hendren .... 14 4 676 67.60 Sandham ...-.- 13 1 692 57.66 Shepherd 13 1 653 56.91 Brown 12 1 503 53.90 Stevens ....-- 11 1 527 52.70. Andrews 11 2 444 49.33 Hobbs 11 0 519 47.18 BOWLING. Wkts. Runs. Avg, Rhodes 40 349 8.72 Greenstock ... 1" 185 10.88 Richardson ... 25 291 11.64 Richmond .... 44 513 11.65 Tvldesley- 35 412 11.77 Macaulav ....-- 41 511 12.46 MeCanlis 14 195 13.02 Parker 55 Su!l 14.70' Gregory is 33rd on the list with 15 wickets "for 403 runs, an average of 26.86.