CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 19442, 28 December 1926, Page 3

CRICKET

SHEFFIELD SHIELD VICTORIA 573 FOR ONE WICKET Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, December 27. The Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and New South Wales was continued 10-day. When stumps were drawn Victoria had made 573 runs for one wicket in the first innings. Woodlull made 133, Ponsford 331 not cut, and Hendry 86 not out. The weather was fine and wicket excellent. The opening pair (Woodfull and Ponsford) gave 20,000 spectators a thrilling day’s cricket and the visiting howlers and fieldsmen a gruelling time. They started to paste the howling with the‘first ball, end kept right on. Ponsford’s first 50 came up in twenty-eight minutes, and the first 100 in seventyfive minutes. Frequent bowling changes were tried, but failed to retard the rate of scoring. The second century appeared on the board in 132 minutes, the last 50 taking seventeen minutes, and the third century in 180 minutes. With 75 more runs added. Woodfull was snapped lip by Hatcliffe off Andrews. Ponsford was then 232. Throughout Ins innings Woodfull gave a wonderful display of punishing batting. Hendry joined Ponsford, and, inspired by his partner, kept the tired bowlers and fieldsmen busy. Both batsmen were going strong when time was called.

[Now South Wales made 221 in its first innings.]

P.ONSFOHD AGAIN

[By Wallaby.]

Once mere ibis wonderful Victorian batsman. W. H. Ponsford, is after a record. He already holds pride of place with tho highest individual score ever made in a first-class match; —viz., 429 for Victoria against Tasmania, at Melbourne, four seasons ago. He is also included in the list of those who have made three hundreds in succession in first-class matches, he having knocked up 162, 429. and 108 in his second, third, and fourth appearances in big cricket. , „ , The partnership of 375 for the first wicket has been beaten on four occasions. ono of them being when Ponsford himself and Mayno put on 456 as a start for Victoria against Queensland in 192.3-24, The absolute record for this wicket is the 554 which J. T. Bro yn and Tnnnicliffo smacked up in 1898 for Yorkshire against Derbyshire. There is every prospect of a record aggregate score being put up, as \ icto’ria have still several good batsmen to come after Ponsford and Hendry (the latter, it will lie remembered, thrashed the New Zealand bowling last year in Melbourne to the tune of over 300 runs) have been disposed of. The highest aggregate in first-class cricket is the 1,059 which Victoria made against Tasmania in 1922-23; and New South Wales made 918 v. South Australia in 1900-01. In this latter innings there were fire partnerships of over 100 It is worthv of note that of the ten highest aggregates for an innings eight wero compiled by Australian teams or teams in which Australians wore included. SOUTH AUSTRALIA V. QUEENSLAND ADELAIDE, December 27. In the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland South Australia made 5(9 runs in tho first innings (Alexander 88, Williams 56, and Pritchard 16). Howe took two wickets for 82 runs and Bensted two for 121. The match was resumed in fine weather. Rain had deadened the outfield, but the wicket was not affected. With 432 on the board for six wickets overnight, the South Australians went in for forcing tho game against weak and ■frequently-changed howling. Alexander plaved a sound and excellent game, while Williams rattled up the runs. Queensland made 203 runs for the loss of six wickets (Gill 20, Oxenhara 47, and Thompson 91). Oxcnham and Thompson made a fine stand, with lively cricket, for the third wicket, but otherwise the visitors found it difficult to negotiate the howling of Williams and Halcomhe. The latter is n fast bowler who is still in his teens. He is playing in his first interstate match. M.C.C. TEAM'S TOUR CAT,Ciri’TA, December 26. After heating the Indian and AngloIndian Schools at _ Bengal, where Sandham made his sixth • century of the tour, the Marylehnne cricket team played a drawn onc-day match against tho British Schools at Bengal. In endeavoring to hit runs quickly Marylebono lost four wickets for 5 runs, hut then Sandham. Parsons, and Wyatt played out time.—Sydney ‘ Sun cable.