CRICKET.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 338, 10 February 1908, Page 5

CRICKET.

' . 4 THE FOURTH TEST. Australia—First innings . .. ■ 214 Second innings, 3 wickets for 41) England—First innings 105. ENGLAND'S BATTING COLLAPSES. ON A BAD WICKET. SAUNDERS AND NOBLE UNPLAYABLE. ENGLAND 1 FOR 58. ALL OUT FOR 105. AUSTRALIA 3 FOR 49. Press Association.—Copyright. Received Feb. 9, 9.45 p.m. Melbourne, Feb. 9. England was exceedingly unfortunate in having the worst of the weather for batting, and general regret was expressed that the match should not have been contested on equal conditions of wicket and weather. It is felt now that Australia must win and that being so the rubber will become Australia's. Rain fell early in the morning, •consequently the wicket became sorldened, the match not being resumed till 2.30 p.m. Hobbs and Gunn continued England's first innings in bright sunshine, but the wicket was all in favor of the bowlers, and Saunders and Noble had a "field day." Hobbs immediately began to hit, and obtained five successive fourers. Gunn was the first to go, being caught and bowled by Saunders. His 13 occupied 55 imnutes. Hardstaff and Hutchings did very little, but the latter saw Hobbs clean bowled by Noble's first ball of the day. Hobbs had batted 71 minutes in highly meritorious style on a bowler's wicket and put on 10 fourers. Braund saw the speedy departure of Rhodes, who was caught in the slips, and Crawford, who was clean bowled. Braund was then joined by Jones, who went in for hitting, the proper game on such a wicket. Braund was then very cleverly outrun. Jones played Noble to mid off and started running. Noble followed up his delivery, and threw down Braund's wicket. The others put on 9 runs between them. The innings, which lasted 125 minutes, closed for 105. Both Saunders and Noble were unplayable. Noble opened the attack with O'Connor and Macartney, bat soon changed them to himself and Saunders, with the best result. Australia's second innings was opened by Noble and Trumper on a much improved wicket, but the spectators were dismayed to see Crawford's fourth ball provide Trumper with a pair of spectacles. Hill and Noble showed a good front, but Noble had the misfortune to play Crawford on to his leg, and thence on to his wicket. Macalister followed, but did not last long. Gregory and Hill, however, got going beautifully. They stole many runs, and rattled the fielding by their daring in this regard and rousing the spectators to enthusiasm. They played out time in good style. Providing no more rain falls, the wicket should roll out perfect on Monday. Present appearances indicate fine weather. The attendance to-day was 19,797, and the takings £757. Scores :— ENGLAND—First Innings. Gunn, c and b Saunders 13 Hobbs, b Noble... ... 5 ? Bardstaff, c Carter, b O'Connor ... 8 Hutchings' b Saunders 8 Khodes, c MacAlister, b Saunders ... 0 Braund, run out * Ciawford, b Saunders 1 Jones, b Noble 3 Barnes, c O'Connor, b Noble 3 Fielder, st Carter, b Saundera ... 1 Humphriep, not out 3 Sundries 4

Total 105 Bowling Analysis. Saunders, 5 for 28 Noble, 3 for 11 O'Connor, 1 for 40 Armstrong, 0 for 4 Macartney, 0 for 18 Wickets fell as follows: 1 for 58, 2 for 69. 3 for 88, 4 for 90, 5 for 90, 6 for 92, 1 for 96, 8 for 100, 9 for 103. AUSTEALIA—2nd Innings. Trumper, b Crawford 0 Noble, b Crawford 10 Hill, not out 18 McAlister, o Humphries, b Fielder ... 4 Gregory, not out 13 Sundries 4 Total for 3 wickets 49 Australia's wickets fell as follows: 1 for 4. 2 for 21, 3 for 28. LOCAL CRICKET. OLD BOYS V. FEDERALS. Old Boys again entered the field on Saturday last with a team of eight. It seems an impossibility for Old Boys to now muster eleven players. The exhibition of cricket on both sides was very weak. Federals had an easy win. Cox for Old Boys, and Bartlett for Federals bowled very well. The following are the scores :— Old Boys, first innings.—Wakelin, b Goldspring, 3; Oakley, lbw Bartlett, 0; Gordon, b Bartlett, 7; Greer G., c Smith b BartMt, 3; Warden, b Goldspring. 0; Stewart,«b Bartlett, 2; Eyre, b Bartlett, 2; Cox, b Bartlett, 5; Tucker, b Bartlett, 0; Greer E. not out 1; extras, 4; total, 27. Bartlett, 7 for 18, Goldspring 2 for 5. Federals.—Gold spring, c Tucker b Cox, G, Anderson, c Tucker b Cox, 0. Coyne, b Greer, 1, Bartlett, c Stewart b Cox, 29. Chesney, b Cox, 0, Smith, b Greer, 1, Downes, not out, 18, Mansfcrd, b Cox, 0, Hunt.b Cox, 1 O'Brieu, b Cox 0, Drew, c Smith b Cox, 4, Extras, 9, total 69. Greer, 2 for 21. Cox 8 for 26. Old Boys, second iunings.— Wakelin, b Bartlett, 9, Oakley, c Bartlett b Goldspring, 0, Gordon, b Bartlett, 3, Tucker, b Bartlett, 0, Warden, b Bartlett. 1, Greer G., c and b Bartlett, 4, Stewart, b Bartlett, 8, Eyre, not out, 9, Greer E., lbw Bartlett, 2. Cox, b Bartlett, 0, extras 11, total 47. Bartlett 7 for 20, Goldspring 2 for 16. Federals required six runs to win.