STRONG BATTING

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 208, 29 May 1926, Page 9

STRONG BATTING

BY AUSTRALIANS AGAINST SOUTH OF ENGLAND RYDER PASSES CENTURY GOOD DISPLAY BY ANDREWS By Telegraph.—Press Association Copy bight London, May 27. The weather was threatening when the match between the Australians and the South of England was resumed this morning at Bristol. The wicket was soft as a result of rain overnight, but improved during the day, the rain hanging iff until tea time, when it fell again and delayed resumption for a while. After two overs, however, rain fell again and compelled abandonment for the day. The attendance during the day was large. Parker was expensive in his opening over, but he then kept Macartney on the defensive, finally beating him in the third over, when the batsman attempted to swing the ball to leg. Taylor soon attacked Parker, sending him to leg for a 4 and a 2 in the first over. Woodfull, on the contrary, was unable to do anything with this bowler, and was lucky to survive an appeal for “leg before” off him when he had scored 31. Parker provided plenty of pitfalls, varying his break and gaining pace from the pitch at every ball. Gibson kept a good length, but was not difficult to play. Meyer, who replaced Gibson, proved expensive, both Woodfull and Ponsford gathering in a dumber of singles. A hundred appeared on the board in an hour and three-quarters. Fender then replaced Parker, but the batsmen became freer and hit the bbwling strongIV, Fender especially suffering, Woodfull and Ponsford gaining many quick runs between the wickets. The last ball before lunch Ponsford tried to glance to leg, but Strudwick snapped, it up, the board then showing the loss of four wickets for 131. Gibson took up the attack on the resumption, and his third ball caused Woodfull to reach forward, dragging his back foot over the crease, and lie was smartlv stumped bv Strudwick. Woodfull had played a chanceless innings of two hours and five minutes, _ during which he showed powerful driving and strokes to leg. He hit five 4’s Gregory did not stav long, but in the first over he sent Gibson to the leg boundary on his second ball, and twice straight drove the same bowler to the boundary. His third attempt, however, was superbly taken bv Sandham, who was running at top speed and had to jump to make the catch. The score was then six wickets for 151 runs. Mever’s bowling improved, but he had verv little luck. Ryder started off with a 3 off Mever. nrocetoed to

hit freely, giving Sandham In the long-field plenty of work, tbe latter’s fielding being a feature, and saving many runs. Stevenwas played very eas ily. He had. no length, and his font overs yielded 23 runs, largely to the credit of Ryder, who continued to play a

strong bat on the leg side. Andrews was more careful than his colleague, timing the ball well, especially on the leg side and driving stronelv to mid-off. Rvder, when' he had scored 42, gave a difficult chance high up to Stevens at short leg off Gibson. He celebrated his release bv driving the next ball out of the ground. Both batsmen continued brightlv, and Rvder, who was in scoring mood, hit out at everything, but was badlv beaten twice bv Gibson. He then again nearly cleared the ring, and also hit three 4’s off Fender. When lie had scored 53, Andrews hit a ball hard into Stevens’s hands at short leg, but the fieldsman dropped it. As he approached his centurv Rvder became quieter and plaved sounder cricket He made a couple of luckv snicks in the earlv nineties, mistiming his drives off Fender, but he reached his centurv as the result of an overthrow following a quick single, in an hour and three-ouarters. Andrews, when at 73, was badly missed both in catching and stumning bv Strudwick off Parker. The following are the detailed scores:— SOUTH OF ENGLAND. First innings AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Collins,, b. Fender 9 Macartney, b. Parker .. 7 Woodfull,' st. Strudwick, b. Gibson 69 Tavlor, c. Merer, b. Parker 16 Pohsford, c. Strudwick, b. Meyer 23 Andrews, not out 74 Gregory, c..Sandham, b. Gibson ... Id Rvder, not out 1°” Extras •’ Total for six wickets 328 —Reuter. RUNS PILED UP RAPIDLY (Rec. May 28, 10.55 p.m.) London, May 27. With six out for 151, Australia appeared to have lost their grip on the game, but Ryder and Andrews, playing a fine innings, regained the position. The Englishmen were sorely puzzled during the great partnership. Ryder abandoned his previous pottering tactics Using his feet, he hit hard, and made manv fine drives. Andrews gave his best display of the tour. Their cricket was a treat. Woodfull was also' in good form. Runs were added at the rate of 100 an hour. This came as a shock to the critics, who had condemned the visitors’ slow play.— Ans.N.Z. Cable Assn.

CHAPMAN’S INNINGS DELIGHTFUL London, May 2b. The Australians are pleased with having dismissed the strong side at Bristol for such a score. Only cnee were the bowlers mastered, when Chapman and Hendren worn associated. The Australians’ success is likely to cause the English selectors anxiety. Chapman s innings was delightful, his cutting and driving being excellent. He seems certain of a Te«t place. Hendren plaved \painfully slow. If batsmen like linn are chosen it will mean that the Tests will never finish.. The tail-enders failed, five wickets falling after tea for 11 inns. Macartney was the mainstay of the bowfin” and was always troublesome. The Englishmen lost many runs owing to bad running. , , , .. . . . Collins was unlucky to lie dismissed in the last over. He appealed against the liHit and the umpire said; One more over.” Everett’s omission seems, to indicate that the Australians will not have two fast bowlers in the Test Philip Trevor in the ’"Daily T’clo<»rniih” saw. Chapman's innings was Hie Yest thus far played against tlm Australians. The quality of the Australian bowling depends entirely pn one’s

viewpoint. Duleepsinhji met it ,cheer- ■ fully. Chapman made it appear des- ' perately easy. Others who stayed sji ficiently long to give any iinnressmH.' made it appear difficult. —Aus.-i\.Z. Cable __ Assn.' , , , The "Daily Mail” cricket critic says the wicket was easy, yet for nearly three hours the Englishmen lingered at the. crease with an air of apnnehcnsion painful to witness. Apparently like the batsmen of 1921 they saw "Danger written behind every Australian bowler in letters of fire, yet when Chapman found the field placed to block his onside shots, he nulled and hooked. He saw no red -liqht- behind the Australian's arm. Chapman completely collared the bowling, showing the weakness.,, of which the Australian critics fore- . warned us at the time of selection.— Sidney Cable.