ENGLAND WELL AHEAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14928, 28 February 1912, Page 7

ENGLAND WELL AHEAD.

FIRST INNINGS LEAD OF 148. WET BUT IMPROVING WICKET. HOBBS AND GUNN MAKE RUNS. By Telegraph —Press Association.— (Received February 27, 8.25 p.m.) Sydney, February 27. The fifth test match—-suspended yesterday owing to rainwas continued to-day, when the Australians concluded their first innings for 176, or 148 behind the Englishmen's first innings total. At drawing the stumps the Englishmen had lost nine wicets for 209 in their second innings. The attendance was 5900. The wicket was saturated. Hill was anxious to start on the theory that the bowling would break up the pitch, which would be bad for the English batting. Douglas (English acting-captain) was unwiling to start. The umpires inspected the pitch, and decided that it was playable. A Bad Start. Hansford (29) and Carter resumed Australia's first innings to the bowling of Foster and Barnes. The first ball, sent down by Foster, bumped shoulder high, Ransford struck it with the side of his bat, and Hitch, at third slip, made an easy catch. Macartney joined Carter, with evident instruction to score quickly. The first ball he sent for three, and ho hit at everything, although the balls were bumping badly. Both batsmen repeatedly skied the ball, but it fell out of danger. In the fourth over Carter, who had scored 11, twice played Barnes straight to Foster in the slips, and the chance was dropped each time. The text ball Foster skied to Mead, who was fielding at midoff for Vine, and took ai easy catch. Woolley relieved Foster, und in his second over easily caught and bowled Macartney, who had hit 26 in 25 minutes. Two balls later Woolley bowled Hordem's middle stump. MacLaren joined Hazlitt. but off the first ball they attempted a run, and Hazlitt was unable to get in before Hobbs returned to Smith, who broke the wicket. Australia's innings closed for 176. England Opens Well. Rolling improved the wicket somewhat. ; Hobbs and Rhodes opened England's second innings, and Macartney and Hazlitt were tho bowlers. The batsmen's play was careful till luncheon, when 20 was on the board.

During the interval a bright sun considerably improved the wicket. Upon resuming, Hobbs smacked the bowling, and 50 appeared as the result of 36 minutes' play, Hobbs's contribution being 35. Rhodes then set out to overtake him.

With the total at 76 (to which Hobbs's contribution was 45 and Rhodes's 30) there came a double tragedy for England. Hobbs poked Hordern up to silly short leg, and Hazlitt made a marvellous catch. Running in and diving his full length, he just caught the ball in his extended right hand. Hobbs turned and congratulated him on the catch before returning to the pavilion. Armstrong then bowled, and on his second ball Rhodes was out leg before. Gunn and Hearne filled the.vacant places. Hearne was apparently anxious to hit a sixer, and three times landed the ball within a few feet of the track. The total of 100 came up in 84 minutes. When five more runs were added, Hordern bowled Hearne with a off break, which he knew nothing about. Queensland Fast Bowler Takes a Wicket. In the next over Gunn gave a difficult | chance to Hazlitt in the slips, off McLaren, which was not accepted. In his next over McLaren had his revenge on Foster, knocking his leg stump several yards. At the tea adjournment four wickets were down for 132—Gunn 24 and Douglas 4. The sun was still shining, and the wicket was recovering remarkably. After the adjournment, Armstrong and Hordern attacked, and the former bowled Douglas for eight in his second over. With Woolley as partner, Gunn played steadily : and reached his 50 in 106 minutes. Woolley's batting was slow compared with his effort in the first innings. After he had scored 11 he tipped Hazlitt to Armstrong at fine slip, where the Victorian made a good catch. Six wickets for 178. Vine joined Gunn, and the latter, who Had made 61, was bowled in Hordern's next over. Gunn played back, and was beaten all the way. Vine was in for 22 minutes before he scored. Smith was badly beaten by Hordern three times before he was bowled for 13. Barnes was bowled by Hordern in the last over of the day. Details of the scoring are: — AUSTRALIA.—First Innings. Trumper, c Woolley, b Barnes ... 5 Hill, c Smith, b Hitch 20 Gregory, c Gunn, b Douglas ... ... 34 Minnett, c Douglas, b Hitch 0 Armstrong, lbw, b Barnes 33 Ransford, c Hitch, b Foster „. ... 29 Carter, c sub., b Barnes 11 Macartney, c and b Woolley 26 Hordern, b Woolley ... — ... 0 Hazlitt, run out „. ... 1 McLaren, not out 0 Sundries _ 13 Total ... ... 176 The order of the fall of wickets was as follows: —One for 17 runs, two for 59, threo for 81, four for 82, five for 133, six for 133, seven for 171, eight for 175, nine for 176. Bowling analysis: Foster took one wicket for 33 runs; Barnes, three for 56; Hitch, two for 51; Douglas, one for 14; Woolley, two for 1. ENGLAND. First innings 324 Second Innings. Hobbs, c Hazlitt, b Hordern 45 Rhodes, Ibw, b Armstrong 30 Hearne, b Hordern 18 Foster, b McLaren 4 Douglas, b Armstrong 8 Gunn, b Hordern 61 Woolley, c Armstrong, b Hazlitt ... 11 Vine, not out ... ... ... ... 5 Smith, b Hordern 13 Barnes, b Hordern ... 4 Total for nine wickets... ... 209