CRICKET.

Northern Advocate, 21 February 1911, Page 5

CRICKET.

FOURTH TEST MATCH.

AUSTRALIA 600 AHEAD. HILL AND ARMSTRONG MAKE CENTURIES. SHERWELL'S SPLENDID WICKETKEEPING. (Received Feb. 21, 5.5 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Feb. 20. In the fourth cricket test match between Australia and South Africa, which was continued to-day, the home team monopolised the pitch until slumps were drawn, and still had three wickets in hand, with a lead of 598 runs over their opponents. The position of the game is a follows:— Australia, First Innings 328 South Africa, First Innings 205' A.USTRALIA—Second Innings. Kelleway, run out IS Gehrs 55 Bardsley, run out 15 Armstrong 132 Hill 100 Trumper 87 Cotter 0 Hordern, not out 23 Ransford, not out 38 Extras 4 Seven wickets for 475 It was superb weather, and the wicket was perfect" and faster than on Saturday.

Bardsley and Gehrs commenced to Pegler and Schwarz. Both batsmen opened confidently.

Bardsley was run out by Vogler cleverly skittling his wicket from mid-off—2 for 88.

Armstrong came next. Schwarz o appealed at the first two balls for leg before. Armstrong twice beautifully square-cut Sinclair for four and drove lim for a fourer in one over. Schwarz's googlies frequently puzzled Armstrong.

When the total was 10G Faulkner relieved Sinclair, and Gehrs snicked his first ball into the slips fatally—3 for 116.

Hill early narrowly escaped being iun out. It was a foolish attempt, but he was lucky.

Shortly afterwards Schwarz again loudly appealed for leg-before against Armstrong, followed by an appeal for run out just before the luncheon adjournment.

The score of 150 occupied 111 minutes. The morning's play had been full of incident and keenness.

On resumption Hill's score rapidly rose to 40, while Armstrong was getting 16. Armstrong was shaping beautifully against all but Schwarz.

Sherwell was very keen, and magnificent in taking balls on the leg side 1 erfectly. Hill tried to leg-hit Pegler, lifted his foot, missed the ball, and like a flash was stumped. He had batted superbly, and scored all round the wicket—4 for 260. t Trumper was soon busy, and Armstrong kept batting steadily.

When play re-started after the tea adjournment Nourse was applauded for his fine out-fielding.

Zulch strained his leg in the out-? field, and retired, Carter fielding for him until Pearse arrived.

Faulkner was puzzling Armstrong, who punished the others. Trumper jumped out to Faulkner and hit ten in one over.

At 391 Vogler was tried for the first time, eight others having bowled. Llewellyn's injury prevented him tak-r mg the field.

The total of 400 occupied 259 minutes, and three runs later saw Trumper's dismissal. He showed magnificent batting, and was both elegant and enterprising—s for 403.

Armstrong, who scored 123 before being beaten, had batted splendidly for 208 minutes—6 for 418.

Cotter was caught at point off the second ball sent to him—7 for 420.

Hordern was very cautious and watchful. The 450 occupied five hours.

The fielding of the South Africans was keen. Sherwell was superb behind the wickets, and only allowed two balls to pass him.

All the flags were at half-mast and all the players wore mourning out of resoect to the memory of Murdock.

There were 11,200 people present, and the takings aggregated £400.