BRIGHT BATTING AT HOBART

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21992, 16 January 1937, Page 13

BRIGHT BATTING AT HOBART

ENGLAND LOSES EIGHT FOR 392

BARNETT 129, HARDSTAFF 94, NOT OUT (UNITED* PRESS ASSOCIATION—COrYKIGUT.) (Received January 16, 12.30 a.m.) HOBART, January 15. The crowd of 7000 who saw members of the Australian eleven play for the first time with a combined Tasmanian team against England watched an interesting day's cricket. England batted in perfect conditions, scoring runs fast, although Ward and Grimmett headed the attack. Oldfield contributed to the bright cricket.

The home team persisted in using Ward to bowl into a strong breeze, but Grimmett in five overs at that end before lunch had the batsmen in serious trouble. In the afternoon Ward bowled for more than an hour into the breeze. His length was distinctly erratic a'nd he retired after 15 overs for 71 runs. This gave Grimmett an opportunity of taking two quick wickets, including that of Barnett, who hit 10 fours and three sixes, in making 129 in 134 minutes. Wyatt, whose wrist was painful after a preliminary practice, batted soundly, cutting „and pulling splendidly. He made 30 before being brilliantly caught on the leg-side close to the wicket. When five wickets were down for 222, Hardstaff and Allen became associated in a stand that produced 50 runs in 28 minutes and 100 in 59 minutes. The bowling was absolutely innocuous, neither Ward nor Grimmett causing the slightest concern. It was only when Allen began jumping yards down the pitch that Ward secured his first wicket at a cost of 91 runs. Allen was caught in the slips after a partnership of 124 runs made in 71 minutes. Hardstaff moved slowly after five o'clock and was still six off the century at stumps, after battin t* for 139 minutes. England, with eight wickets, for 392 in 297 .minutes, is in a very sound position, Scores:—

ENGLAND First Innings

L. B. Fishlock, Ibw, b Walsh .. 13 C. J. Barnett, lbw, b Grimmett .. 129 A. H. Fagg, c Burrows, b Walsh .. .28 R. E. S. Wyatt, c Rushforth, b

Coombes . .. • • ,30 J. Hardstaff, not out .. .. 94 R. W. V. Robins, b Grimmett .. 10 G. O. Alien, c Putman, b Ward .. 55 J. M. Sims, run out .. .. 7 G. Duckworth, c and b Putman 6 K. C. Fames, not out .. .. 2 Extras • .. .. .. 18

Total for eight wickets .. 392 Eowling: Walsh took two wickets for 36 runs; Burrows, none for 32; Thomas, none lor 18; Coombes, one for 50; Grimmett. two for 114; Ward, one for 109; Putman. one for 15. SHEFFIELD SHIELD

VICTORIA BATS vAGAINST QUEENSLAND (Received January 16, 12.15 a.m.) BRISBANE, January 15. In a Sheffield Shield match against Queensland, Victoria, first innings, lost five wickets for 286 runs (Gregory 75, Lee 33, Hassett, not out, 93).