LEATHER HUNTING

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 108, 7 May 1926, Page 7

LEATHER HUNTING

AUSTRALIA MEETS ESSEX

WOODFULL A DOUBLE CENTURY

MACABTNEY BRILLIANT ALL BOUND THE WICKET.

(United Presa Association—Copyright.) (Reuter'a Telegram.) (Received 7th May, noon.) •' LONDON, 6th May. The match between the Australians and Essex, which is being played at Ley ton, was started in fine weather and on a good wicket, there being an attendance of 7000. The conditions, however, were wintry, notwithstanding the fitful showing of the sun, and there were a coupli of hail showers before lunch. The bowling of Essex was in no way comparable with that of Leicester, and the batting of the Australians had undergone an entire change, being freer, more forcing, as well as being more enterprising. When stumps were drawn, the visitors had lost eight wickets for 532 runs. Collins, the opening batsman for Australia, was unlucky to get a magnificent in-swinger before he had found his feet, but Macartney and Woodfull quickly settled down to work, and piled up a acore rapidly, the first hundred appearing in sixty-three minutes. Macartney was brilliant all round the wicket, while Woodfull was bright and attractive, particularly in front of the wicket, and the field was kept constantly on the run. Macartney obtained his century with a splendid cut to the boundary, after two hours at the crease, and Woodfull took ten minutes longer. A new ball did not din 'nish the rate of scoring, both batsmen turning and cutting fast balls from Nicholls delightfully, driving the mediumpaced balls of Eastman, and the slower ones of Hipkin. Macartney gave an easy chance, which Freeman at longfield missed, and he square-cut the next ball, which was taken at the boundary by Ashton. He displayed wonderful wrist work, and hit ten fours, batting for two hours and a half. The total was then 270. Hipkin, in the next over, held a hot, wide return from Taylor, taking the ball almost on the ground. Ponsford, when he had scored thirteen, was the subject of a curious appeal from Hipkin. The ball appeared to remove the bail, rebounding from the 'keeper's pads and removing the other bail, but the umpire, decided in Ponsford's favour. Woodfull continued freely, driving all the bowlers impartially, and found all the weak spots there were in the field. He latec t Ashton delightfully. Richardson was uncertain at the start, but soon settled down, relying largely on leg s'.rokes. ■ When the board showed 419, Woodfull ran out, making a terrific hit, but missed, and was bowled, after a chanceless innings. He was forceful and superb at driving, batting for four hours. His score included fourteo-i fours and only eighty ' singles, and lie received a tremendous ovation on Icavin'g the ground. His principal partnerships were with Macartney, which realised 270, and then with i Jonsford and Richardson, realising 69 each. Gregory had a lucky escape in the slips when he had scored one, and again at three, when he was missed in stumping. Hendry, essaying a short run, ,wns sent back and ought to have been easily run out, but Nicholas broke the wicket prematurely. The concluding stages of the game were quiet, Hcndry being graceful and free all round. The fielding was patchy. The folowing is the detailed score; AUSTRALIA. First Innings. . Collins, b Nicholls o Woodfull, b Hipkin '.'.,', 20] Macartney, c Ashton, b Hipkin .'.' US Taylor, c and b Hipkin 6 Ponsford, Ibw, b Eussell „ '. 23 Andrews, b Ashton \[ 5 Eichardson, b Hipkin ........ 45 Hendry, not out " ' 7l Gregory, c Nicholls, b Hipki'n ". '. 7 Ellis, not out 27 Extras ' g Total for eight wickets 532