THE FOURTH TEST.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1054, 18 February 1911, Page 6

THE FOURTH TEST.

AUSTRALIA AT THE WICKETS. A DOGGED STAND. FINE BATTING BY RANSFORD. Br TclecrapU—Press Association-CopyriEbt. (Rec., February. 17, 8.30 p.m.) Melbourne, February 17. ■ The fourth Test cricket match, the start of which was twico postponed owing to bad weather, commenced today in dull weather and with a soft wicket. • South Africa won tho toss, but Slierwoll sent tho Australians in, as ho considered tho South African bowlers could mako good uso of tho soft' wicket to-day, and as tho 'weather was forecasted fino tho wicket would probably roll out well for South Africa's innings to-morrow. • '

Comraaillo, Pearse, and Campbell wero omitted from tlio South African team. • '

Trumper and Bardsley opened tho Australian irinin'gs against tho bowling of Llowellyu and Faulkner. Bardsloy's first ball off Llewellyn was missed in tho slips by Vogler. Trumper wsa dismissed with a leg break, Australia thus losing ono wicket for 1 9 runs.

Hill camo in next and started aggressively, being applauded for beautifully straight driving Faulkner for 4, and back-cutting Llowcllyn for 3, and also on driving him for 4.' Llewellyn then googlicd Hill, tho score being two for 21.

Armstrong followed and cautiously played soveral googlies from Faulkner with his pads. Tho batsmen wero keen. Bardsley, in 45 minutes, scored 10 runs.

Llowcllyn, in attempting to stop a hard straight drivo from Bardsley, split tho littlo finger of his bowling hand and retired ' temporarily, Schwartz replacing him in tho bowling.

, At 00 Vogler .relieved Faulkner, Tho scoro for tho first hour stood at 70. At 74 Llewellyn' relieved Vogler, and Sinclair.Schwarz. The. compilation of tho century occupied ,80 minutes.

N On tho resumption of play Faulkner and Llewellyn took up tlio bowling. When ho. had knocked up 40 Bardsley was missed by Strieker at short leg off Faulkner. This'* batsman readied his half century after 96 minutes' play. Armstrong was foolishly run out off ,a no-ball.—Thrco wickets for 126. Tho retiring batsman'had batted,76 minutes and had hit two fourors.

Gohrs began confidently. At 146 Vogler relieved Faulkner, and dismissed Gclits with his first ball.' Four for 146.

Kelloway.was next man. in, and by. patient. scoring tlio' total was brought up.to 171. - Peglor. then relieved Vogler, who was disappointing, being, erratio and unablo to find his length. '

Bardsley was next caught'at shortleg. Ho had batted 154 minutes, his innings. being characterised by stylish play. Ho mado.fivo fourors.

Ransford, who replaced him, started nicely. When at' 25,'Kolloway was badly missed' by Schwarz, who shoiild havo cauglit and bowled him.'•'Whim tlio scoro stood- at 198, ' Faulkner relieved Pegler, who had bowled six overs, having secured one wicket for twelve run 3. Two hundred occupied ,177 minutes to compile. On resuming,. Schwarz and Pegler took up, tlio bowling. When 23,. Ransford was missed in- the slips by. Vogler off Pegler. It was an easy chance. Tho sun was, shining now for the first timo for tho day.

■Slow play followed. At 238 Sinclair relieved Schwarz, who had taken no wickets for 26 ■ runs. It took 222 'minutes to compile'2so. At this stago Vogler was again tried, in place of Pegler, but Ransford scored 11 off his first over. After this Faulkner relieved him. ' '

Ransford reached 50 after 75 minutes, and Kolloway tho same number. in 123 minutes. When Ransford's; contribution stood at 58 he.was, again missed in tho. slips by„Vpgler flff, Kel: loway batted''stolidly- for 144 minutes, and was then run, out. Ho made ono fouror. Six for'2B9.

When Cotter appeared tho field'was deeponed in expectation of somo big hitting. Tho spectators wero delighted when Cotter played tho ball, softly a few yards into mid-wicket and stolo a run. Ransford ' was off-driving well. Thrco hundred; occupied 263 minutes to compile. Cotter was then dismissed. Seven for 310. Ilorclern, next man in, had a cordial reception on his first appearance. Tho partnership, however, was short-lived, Ransford succumbing. Ho had batted 126 minutes, playing tho most attractive cricket. His covor drives and cuts wero particularly good. Ho niado only three fourors. Tho outfield was dead after tho rains. Tho South Africans' ground fielding /vas good and clean, but their catching was faulty. Tho nttondanco was 1 8400, and tho takings £227.' . ' ; 1 Tho scoring was as follows :— Australia: , First Innings. Trumper, b. Faulkner . 7 Bardsley, c. Schwarz, b. Pegler ... 82 Hill, b. Llewellyn ...; n Armstrong, run out 48 Gehrs, st. Shonvell, b. Vogler ... 9 Kolloway, run out 59 Ransford, 1.b.w., b..Schwarz !! 75 Cotter, b. Pegler . 10 Hordern, not out '. '. \ Extras 15 Total for eight wickets 317