The Fourth Test.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XI, Issue 52, 15 February 1921, Page 5

The Fourth Test.

AUSTRALIANS MAKE 389. ENGLISHMEN’S SECOND INNINGS. OPENS WITH CAUTIOUS PLAY. [By Cable.—Preet Association.—Copyright ] Melbourne, Feb. 14. The weather was fine for the continuation of the test match. The wicket was good and the attendance large. Armstrong and Gregory resumed to the bowling of Parkin and Howell. Armstrong opened with two to leg. Gregory cut Howell to the fence and followed with a stroke to leg for two. Armstrong then got a nice one through the slips, for which he ran three, passing England’s score in 262 minutes. Howell, who was a little erratic, bowled a wide, but the fielding was very keen and many runs were saved. Armstrong then drove Parkin to the boundary, completing hisi 1000 runs in first-class cricket this season. Gregory was smartly caught behind the wickets off Parkin, and the crowd, recognising his splendid effort, gave him a tremendous ovation.

Kelleway followed and began cautiously with a single off Parkin, which brought up 300 on the board in 284 minutes. Armstrong then drove a hard one and Parkin, in trying to stop a jumping ball, was hit in the face. Kelleway dropped down to stubborn tactics against Parkin’s wonderful length. Fender was also bowling well. Armstrong hit one high, the ball just falling short of Hendren, and immediately after Kelleway had a narrow escape, hitting one back towards the bowler, the ball falling just out of his reach. The following ball bowled Kelleway, and Fender had his revenge. Carter joined Armstrong, but had a short life, also falling a victim to Fender. Mailey followed. Armstrong, playing for 100, took the last over before lunch and scored 3,4, 2 and 2 off Fender and reached his century amidst great cheering after 183 minutes’ batting. Resuming after lunch Mailey and McDonald were contented to let Armstrong do the scoring, the innings closing for 389. » Armstrong opened the attack with Gregory and McDonald. The batsmen were disposed to take no risks and at none for 32 Mailey replaced Gregory, and got Hobbs leg before with his first ball. Makepeace followed, and Rhodes, who was scoring freely, swept Mailey to the boundary for four. McDonald, whose average was none for 24, -was given a spell, and Gregory changed ends. At the tea adjournment the score was one for 56. After tea Makepeace, who was batting brilliantly, hit Mailey to leg for four. The latter’s average was now one for 17. Play then became slow, but was brightened by occasional flashes by Makepeace. Kelleway replaced Gregory’s attack, but Rhodes refused to take risks in his anxiety to wipe out the deficit. The century was reached in 105 minutes. ARMSTRONG RETIRES UNWELL. Just previously Armstrong had retired unwell. Great disappointment and regret was expressed all round the ground when the news spread that he was compelled by medical advice to proceed home. Armstrong is stated to be suffering from slight malaria, but it is expected he will play to-morrow. His generalship was greatly missed in the field.

The Englishmen wiped out the deficit, the board showing one for 109. Taylor, who was fielding remarkably well, was loudly applauded for downing the W’icket with a boundary return, but too late. The batsmen realising their responsibility through Hobbs’s second failure took no risks. Play for the last half hour was deadly slow. Rhodes was mostly getting singles, walking between the wickets, satisfied with endeavouring to play out time. Makepeace was stubborn in his defence, without forcing efforts. The batsmen played out the time. The attendance was 20,000 and the gate realised £l7OO. Scores?— ENGLAND. First Innings 284 Second Innings. Hobbs, 1.b.w., b Mailey 13 Rhodes, not out 66 Makepeace, not out 40 Extras 4 Total for one wicket 123 AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Collins, c Rhodes, b Woolley 59 Bardsley, b Fender 56 Ryder, 1.b.w., b Fender 7 Gregory, c Dolpin, b Parkin 77 Taylor, hit wicket, b Fender 2 Relle w, b Fender 12 Armstrong, not out 123 Kelleway, b Fender 27 Carter, b Fender , v O Mailey, run out 13 McDonald, b Woolley 0 Extras 13 Total 389 The wickets fell:—One for 117, two •for 123, three for 128, four for 133, five for 153. six for 298, seven for 335, eight for 335, nine for 375, ten for 389. Bowling analysis.—Howell none for 86, Douglas none for for 17, Waddington none for 31, Parkin one for 64, Fender five for 122, Woolley three for 56. EIGHT WICKETS WIN. AUSTRALIA v. WELLINGTON. FIRST MATCH IN NEW ZEALAND. Wellington, Feb. 14. The attendance at the cricket match, Australia v. Wellington, numbered about 1000. Requiring 84 to win, Australia opened with Richardson and Bogle. Hardly had play been resumed after lunch the first wicket fell. Rich ardson being well taken in the slips by Baker, who was fielding substitute for Bruce.

Waddy joined Bogle, and the pair took the total to 51, when Waddy, attempting to cut one from Middleton, played it on to his wicket. Kippax joined Bogle, and a few runs later, Bogle, who had had a 4 4 life” earlier in the innings, was badly missed by Condliffe behind the stumps in jumping out to Middleton. Runs came more slowly now, but Kippax livened things up with a pretty cut by Middleton to the boundary, followed by a nice square cut to the pavilion fence. With the score at 75 Brice took the ball from Hiddlestone, and off his second ball Barclay missed Bogle in the slips. The latter, a few balls later, cut one uppishly through the slips, the ball going dangerously close to Hiddlestone, but reached the boundary, and Australia had won the match by eight wickets. Scores: — WELLINGTON. First Innings 218 Second Innings. Hiddlestone, c Kippax, b Hornibrook 38 Phillips, c Waddy, b Hornibrook .. 0 Lambert, c Hansford, b Ifjrnibrook 13 Warne, b Hornil rook 0 Bruce, b Hornibrook . 28 Burton, 1.b.w., b Hornibroox. . .... 6 Barclay, b Kippax o Condliffe, run out 7 Middleton, b Hornibrook 5 Brice, not out 39 Finlayson, b Ironmonger .. 17 Extras 3 Total 158

Bowling analysis.—Hornibrook seven wickets for 65 runs, Liddicutt none for 33, Ironmonger one for 53, Kippex one for 4, Richardson none for 0. AUSTRALIA. First Innings 293 Second Innings. Richardson, c sub., b Middleton .. 19 Bogle, not out 30 Waddy, b Middleton 9 Kippax, not out 19 Total for two wickets 86 LEADER IN EVERY SENSE. PRESS TRIBUTES TO ARMSTRONG. (Received 15, 11.20 a.m.) Sydney, Feb. 15. The “Herald” says: “Armstrong, by • making his third century in tests this season proved himself a leader m verv sense on each occasion, and at a time . when runs were sorel.s needed. He lias mpietea a thousand runs in first-class matches this season ; also two thou.-- ! and in test cricket. His performance was equalled previously only by Gregory, Hili and Irumper. The Englishmen’s inexplicable stonewal.ing jh a good wicket against slow bowling seemed ridiculous. The “Telegraph” says: “Armstrong’s performance was a triumph. He was a sick man and should have been in bed, and was compelled to retire eventually. A remarkable feature of the match was the absence ot sundries. Dolphin allowed none and Carter only one, which he thought bowled the batsman. Rhodes, though still at the wickets had no right there. A more fluky innings is not imaginable.”—(A. and N.Z.) BRITAIN’S UNSTINTED PRAISE. London, Feb. 14. The British public unstintedly euiogise Armstrong. He seems to have an eleven who are not only inspired by his genius, but willing workers for him to tiie last ounce of stamina. The Manchester Guardian says: “We were doing well, then the old, old story. Just when we were safest there’s an Armstrong touch. What a man he is in moments of trouble and responsibility! The severer the ordeal the mightier he is.” —(United Service.) “INSPIRING GENIUS.” London, Feb. 14. The “Star,” commenting on Armstrong, says: “In our losses lie had the biggest hand. He seems to have the eleven inspired by his genius- History will tell the full story of the unfortunate squabble in Australian cricket management by the Board of Control. Euffice it to say that had certain people prevailed, Armstrong would have been excluded, instead of leading Australia to Victory. The voice of the Australian people would have been heard in no uncertain tone. We may have heard the last of the Armstrong ven-detta.”-~(A. and N.Z.)