CRICKET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXI, Issue 13373, 27 February 1904, Page 11

CRICKET.

ENGLAND v- AUSTRALIA,

THE FOURTH TEST MATCH.

United Press Asuocix'tion— By .Elcctno Telegraph—Copyright. (Received February 26, 8.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 26.

An oppressive day with thunder clouds hanging about greeted the opening of the fourth’ test match. The attendance was very large for an off clay. The spin of the coin favoured Warner, and as the wicket was excellent he elected to bat. Howell and Armstrong were omitted from the Australian. team. A compliment was paid to Cotter, the new howler, by giving him the first over,'Noble following him. The latter’s fifth ball was fatal to Warner, who returned to tho pavilion without having scored—one for four. Play was very tedious. The excellent howling of Trumble and Noble, combined with brilliant fielding, had an effect on tho Englishmen’s total. Tyldes]cy joined Hayward, and they brought eleven on the board for half an hour s hutting. Tyldesley had knocked up 16 when ho lifted Noble to Gregory at mid-off, a fine catch resulting—two for 34. Nobles two wickets had cost 16. Foster, tho newcomer, made some graceful finished .strokes, while Hayward, who was batting stolidly, brought his career to a close by stepping forward to Trumble. Ho just touched the ball, which went off Kelly into Macalieter’s hands in the slips—three for 42. Tho batsmen were playing Trumble very cautiously, his first wicket being obtained for two runs in five overs. Knight joined Foster. The former commenced hard hitting, and played out to the luncheon adjournment. On resuming Foster, -without any addition to the score, drove a hot ono to Mncalister, who made a great catch—four for 66. Noble's three wickets had been obtained for 24. Braund and Knigbt established a good partnership. The former was slow in getting off, but Knigbt scored freely. A double change in the bowling was made at 95, M’Lcod replacing Noble and Cotter going on instead of Trumble. Tho latter had sent down 18 overs, 9 of them maidens., for 17 runs, and taking one wicket. Braund fetched the century up with a fine boundary drive. Two hours and twenty-five minutes had been consumed in achieving that figure. When Knight had 20 to his credit ho was within an ace of being thrown out. Gregory’s unerring throw in shifted the bails. The partners were now well sot. Braund was particularly confident, and scored rapidly, and Knight by fino off driving ami late cutting approached his half century. At the afternoon tea adjournment the partnership had added 76. On resuming Noble replaced Hopkins and Trumble went on instead of Cotter. With four off Trumble Knight notched his 50.' Th© long partnership was terminated by Braund putting one in the slips, Trumble catching it low down. Th© batsman being in doubt appealed, but was given out—five for 155. A smart shower interrupted play for a time. Trumble mif-sed-Knight at 156 off his own howling. Hirefc started fluidly, hut got in some hard boundary strokes, and scored quickly. Knight sjowed down considerably, adding an occasional single. Hirst tried 1 to pull Noble and lost his wicket—six for 185. Noble had taken five wickets for 68. Bosanquet, who was next, had made four when Hopkins dropped a catch, off Nobio. At 205 Cotter, relieved Trumble, who. had bowled splendidly. His and Noble’s performances were the best seen on tho ground for some time. Hopkins replaced Noble, and’ howled Bosanquet just on time, the score when stumps were drawn standing at 207 for seven wickets. . . Th© following are the scores:— ENG HAND. • • Flirt Innings. Warner, b Noble . . . ,0 Hayward, c JXacalister b Trumble IS Tyldesley, o Gregory b Noble . 1(1 Foster, c Macnbrttr ib Noble 19 ■ Knigbt,'not out . , .61 Braund, c Trurobla b Noble 3.1 Hirst, b Noble .' , . ..25 IBosanqiuet, b Hopkins . , . 32 Extras , . , .14 Total for seven wickets 207 (Received February 27, 1.7 a.m.) SYDNEY, February 26. The weather to-night is fine and clear. NORTH v. SOUTH CANTERBURY. The match between the teams representing North and South Canterbury was resumed at Lancaster Park yesterday, the weather being very fine, and the wicket in good order. With the formidable- total of 330 to face, OHivier and Orchard opened the North Canterbury innings, th©.-former taking ;strike to Dalgleish, who bowled from th© north end. The fourth ball of the over clean howled OHivier, tho score reading o—l—o. Orchard and Ridley began to.score rapidly off Harper’s bowling, but with 15 on th© board a fast one from Dalgleish bumped off Orchard’s wrist into Lynch’s hands at fine slip. 15—2 —5. Hammond filled tho vacancy, and both players hatted' vigorously, the score reaching 26 very rapidly; At this point Ridley put his leg in front of one from Dalgleish, and retired, the board showing 26—3—15. Strange came in, and a succession of singles and a four to each batsman brought 40 up. . After half-an-hour’s play 50 appeared, and 60 followed quickly, as the result of more boundary hitting. White took the ball from Harper, and Hammond scored a two and a three off tho over, but in Dalgleish’s next over was clean bowled. 65—4—26. Barry was “ yorked ” by the same bowler first baU. 65—5—0. Howell followed, and gave Dalgleish his “hat trick” by placing his first ball quietly into White’s hands. 65—6—0. Lawrence partnered Strange, and the century appeared a-s tho result. of an hour, and a quarter's play. Three runs later Lawrence succumbed to a bailer from Dalgleish—lo3—7—ll. At this stage Dalgleish had taken, seven wickets for 28 runs. Boxshall, who joined Strange, got into double figures in White’s next over, and at 119 Orr took the hall from White. With 124 on the board, Boxshall mishit Orr into Barron’s hands. 124—8—11. Robson followed, and Lynch replaced Dalgleish. Several sharp singles took tho score to 141, when Robson hit Orr into Barron’s hands at mid-on. 141—9—5. Vernon, the.last man, quickly got into double figures, and 160 appeared. At 167 Harper went on in place- of Orr, and clean bowled Vernon with his second ball, the innings dosing at ono o’clock for 167 runs. Vernon made 20, and Strange was not out with 55 to Iris credit.

After lunch South Canterbury again took the field, Orchard and Strange going out to wipe off the Northerners’ deficit of 163. Dalglckh and Harper were the bowlers. Orchard soon got to work, and after fifteen minutes’ play brought 20 up by hitting Harper clean out of hounds. With 30 showing, a hot chance from Strange was missed at point. With 38 on the board Orchard hit at on© of Harper’s and was finely caught by O'it on the boundary. 37—1—22. Hidley followed, but when five had been added Strang© hit one from Dalgleiah into Barron’s hands. 42—’2—*20. Ollivier joined