THIRD CRICKET TEST

Evening Star, Issue 22277, 2 March 1936, Page 12

THIRD CRICKET TEST

M.G.G. TOf DOMINION'S TOTAL HARDSTAFF A CENTURY [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, March 2. The third test match was resumed half an hour early to enable stumps to b© drawn at 5.30. as the Englishmen are leaving to-night for the final' game at Christchurch. Hardstaff (57) and Langridge were the opening batsmen, the latter scoring 5 off Griffiths’s uncompleted over. Matheson bowled a maiden first over. Hardstaff, with a brae© off Griffiths’s third over (his second was a maiden) brought up 300 for 325 minutes’ play. Although only 16 wickets had fallen, the match is now on its last day. The Englishmen scored only 20 runs off the first nine overs, only 24 runs coming up in the first half-hour. Vivian (two for 50) had meantime replaced Griffiths (one for 58). At 316 Cowie replaced Matheson (one for 64), Hardstaff then being 71 and Langridge (the left-hander) 13. There was still not a boundary registered after threequarters of, an hour’s play, and the general atmosphere was one of peace, as the Englishmen continued to play correct strokes to every bowler. ,Eveutually Hardstaff cover-drove Vivian to the fence to make his total 75. A similar stroke off Cowie in the succeeding over made the Notts player 80. At 329 Griffiths took over again from Vivian, and drinks arrived at noon, with the total at 333 (Hardstaff 81 Langridge 20. Immediately on resuming Griffiths skittled Langridge. 334—7—20. Sims succeeded the Sussex letthander, but plav continued dreary. Vivian at 346 relieved Cowie at the Kingsland end, and by this stage Hardstaff had reached the nineties. The spectators (a couple of hundred) applauded ironically ’ as 350 went on the board for 400 minutes, Sims having batted 31 minutes for 10 runs. Hardstaff was more restrained than ever approaching his century, Sims pulled Griffiths for 4, and the applause was hearty as England passed the Dominion’s‘total of 368. Vivian meantime howled four consecutive maidens. Cromb replaced Griffiths and bowled a maiden. . , . • There was a sensational incident during Vivian’s fifth maiden. Hardstaff, driving hard, knocked down the umpire (Mr O. R. Montgomery), who took a few minutes before he could resume duty at the bowler’s end with an injured shoulder. Hardstaff now started running smartly between the wickets with the object of getting his three figures before lunch. A single to Hardstaff made him 98 and broke Vivian’s run of maidens. AVith a brilliant cover-drive off Cromb the Notts player got 4 to top his century for 229 minutes. Scores to the lunch adjournment:— NEW ZEALAND. First innings 368 M.C.C. First Innings. Parks run out 65 Smith c and b Matheson ... ... 48 Barber b Vivian 93 Hardstaff not out ... 105 Mitchell-Innes c Wallace b Vivian 7 Human c Wallace b Cromb 5 Holmes o Blandford b- Griffiths ... 7 Langridge b Griffiths 20 Sims,not out 19 Extras 9 Total for seven wickets ... 378