A PLUCKY FIGHT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 149, 20 December 1907, Page 2

A PLUCKY FIGHT.

AUSTRALIA DEFEATS ENGLAND FIRST TEST. COLONIALS DID NOT DEVELOP A "TAIL." , By Telegraph.— Pressl Association.— Copyrights.' SYDNEY, 19th December. No rain fell last night, but the morning broke dull and showery. As the day advanced a strong southerly breoze sprang up, and ' tho wicket dried out 'very well, although remaining a bit sticky. When the test cricket match was resumed, Armstrong and Noble, the not-oub men from Tuesday, went in, and Fielder and Barnes opened tho attack. Off the former Armstrong scored 7, but' Barnes's first ball was fatal to Noble, who did not odd -to his previous score. Four for 74. M'ALISTER SHAPES WELL. Ransford joined Armstrong, and the newcomer- in a' few minutes hit himself into double figures. Then Blytho, who had gone- on at Fielder's end, secured Ransford, who lifted one straight back to the bowler. Five for 95. M'Alistcr followed, and the century went up as the result of two hours and twenty minutes' play. Rhodes then replaced Barnes. M'Alister was slow in starting, bub presently he got the length of the bowling, and scored rapidly. At the outset • (he fioldsmen formed a ring round Iho wicke-t, bub M'Alister soon forced the field to deepen. A CHANGE OF BOWLING. At 120 Crawford was tried instead of Blytho, and in his second over he bowled" Armstrong, who had \ played capita] cricket in an innings lasting an hour and fifty-eight minutes. At this time the board read — Six for 124. Cartc-r came in, nnd opened with a boundary score, which had the effect of bringing on Barnes again in place of Rhodes. Carter began to smite the bowling, and was soon in double figures, hitting Jour 4's in rapid succession. Twelve • runs were- scored off one over of Crawford's. After lunch, Blyfcho and Fielder took up the bowling. Carter's 19 waa the result of five strokes. Ho was batting stylishly and confidently. M'Alislor, with 28 on, was missed by Young at the- wickots rather simply off Fi&lder. Carter scored more freely than his partner, and soon outstripped his score. • Braund relieved Blytho at 164, but still the runs cam© freely, both batsmen keeping neck and neck. ' Excitement began to grow as tho pursuit of tho last 100 to win was entered on. At 182 Fielder gave way to Barnes, and Crawford went on at Braund's end. The latter's second ball dismissed M'Alistor, who was accorded a great reception for his splendid innings. Seven f<>r 185. GOOD WORK. Cotter followed. His partner continned to flog tho bowling in great stylo, and tho second century went up in throe hours and sixteen minutes. Fielder was then put on again, but still the runs came, Carter having 53 to his credit for soventy-ono minutes' batting. Ho punished Fielder unmercifully, notching 11 off ono of his overs by beautiful strokes. A further change of bowling took place. Barnes relieving Crawford, and Carter's time was up, as ho played a ball from Fielder into Young's hands behind Ihe wickets. Carter had played a plucky innings, and was accorded a great-^'re-ception. Eight for 218. STRENUOUS PLAY. Hazlitt waa tho next matt in, and at 238 Blytlw took the bair from Barnes, and Braund went on at Fielder's end. Both batsmen wove playing as if their very lives depended on the issue, and consequently the scoring was none too fast. Hazlitt, who wag batting in groat style, gavea difficult chance to Hard3taff, who fell in the endeavour to reach tho ball. 1 The tea adjournment calmed the great excitement. On resuming. Rhodes took Blythe's place, and Fielder relieved Braund. Tlio Englishmen's fielding as tho Australians nearcd the end became loose When only 3 runs were required to win tho excitement was intense, and Hazlitt. with a beautiful leg-glance, made tho winning hit for 4, amid frantic cheering from the five thousand spectators present. This gave Australia tho first leg-in for the "Ashes" by a two-wicket victory. Scores : — ENGLAND. First Innings 273 Second Innings 300 Aggregate 573 AUSTRALIA. First Innings 300 Second fnnings. Trumper, b Barnes ' ' ... ■ 3 Macartney, c Crawford, b Fielder 9 Hill, b Fielder \ ... 1 Noble, b" Barnes 27 Armstrong, b Crawford 44 Ransford, r and <'b Blytho ... ]."5 M'Alister, b Crawford t 41 Carter, c Young, b Fielder ...' 60 Cotter, not out 34 Hazlitt, not out ... 34 Extras 9 Total for eight wickets ... 275 Aggregate 575 Bowling Analysis. — Fielder took three wickets for 88 runs, Barnes two for 63, Blytho one for 55, Crawford two for 33, Rhodes none for 13, Braund none for 14.