MATCH AGAINST S.S. WALES.

Northern Advocate, 17 February 1912, Page 5

MATCH AGAINST S.S. WALES.

PITIABLE BATTING.

FOSTER'S DEADLY SWERVERS

SEVEN WICKETS FOR 36

Received Feb. 17, 8.25 a.m.>

SYDNEY, Feb. 16

New South Wales made a paltry showing with the bat in their first innings against the M.C.C. team today, and the erstwhile great exponents could do nothing against the marvellous attack of Foster, who was irresistible. Fine weather prevailed, the wicket was good, and there were 6000 spectators present. Trumper captained the Welshmen, and elected to bat when he won the toss. Bardsley and Collins opened to Foster and Barnes, and with the former's fourth ball Collins' stumps were spread-eagled. Gregory followed. In Foster's next over Bardsley tipped with the shoulder of his bat a ball which was swinging across the wicket, and Gunn made no mistake in the slips. Macartney partnered Gregory. Barnes had five men in the slips. Gregory tipped one from Barnes to second slip, where Foster safely bagged it. Three wickets were then down for 16 runs. When Trumper joined Macartney, Foster was relieved by Douglas. At 38 Woolley took the other end and bowled Trumper for 7 off a curling break. Macartney soon followed Trumper's exit. He stepped out a couple of inches to meet a ball from Douglas, but missed it, and Strudwick had his bails off like a flash of lightning. Half the wickets had then fallen for the paltry compilation of 41 runs. Fifty appeared on the board as the result of 77 minutes' play. After lunch Barbour passed the highest previous score (18 made by Macartney) by mis-hitting Douglas for 4. The next ball he brilliantly put in the same place.

.It was the only bright spot in the whole dull innings.

Kelleway played forward to Foster and lifted an easy catch to Hobbs at mid-off.

Hazlett had scored seven when he rashly hit one of Foster's leg tempters, and the ball went straight to Douglas. i

At that stage Foster's record stood at 4 wickets for 34, and this record he improved by getting Emery caught after two more had been hit off him.

Barbour next joined the recession— yorked by Poster —and the same bowler brought the innings to a close by giving McKew his quietus.

Foster's bowling had been most remarkable, his swervers doing most deadly work. His average worked out at a fraction over five for seven wickets. ■

The English fielding was cleaner and snappier than when they last played in Sydney. N.S. WALES—First Innings. Collins, b Foster 0 Bardsley, c Gunn, b Foster 4 Gregory, c Foster, b Barnes % 5 Trumper, b Woolley 7 Macartney, st. Strudwick, b Douglas 18 Kelleway, c Hobbs, b Foster .. 9 Barbour, b Foster 29 Hazlett, c Douglas, b Foster .. 7 Emery, c Barnes, b Foster .... 4 Scott, not out 13 McKew, b Foster 0 Extras ■.. 10 Total 106 Bowling analysis: Foster took 7 wickets for 36; Barnes, 1 for 20; Douglas 1 for 34; Woolley, 1 for 4. ENGLAND.—First Innings Hobbs, c Hazlett, b Kelleway 38 Rhodes, not cut 88 Gunn, c Kelleway, b Hazlett .. 27 Hearne, not out 16 Extras 14 Two wickets for 183 Hobbs and Rhodes started to imitate their Melbourne tactics. Scott and Hazlett bowled. The home team seemed demoralised, and the fielding was shocking. Then the batsmen started to hit out, and 50 appeared in 33 minutes. At 96, which had been obtained in 68 minutes. Macartney and Emery took on the bowling, but with no better success. Kelleway relieved Macartney, and off his second ball Hazlett, in the slips, brilliantly caught Hobbs. Gunn joined Rhodes, who was playing a slashing innings. His forward play, cuts and drives were very attractive.

Gunn snicked a break ball from Hazlett to second slip, where Kelleway made a good catch. The partnership had yielded 63 runs.

Hearne, who was next man in, gave a chance to Scott at fine slip in the same over, but the ball was badly fumbled.

The batsmen then slowed down urul played out time.