FOURTH TEST MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18945, 17 February 1925, Page 9

FOURTH TEST MATCH.

AUSTRALIANS BATTING. FIVE WICKETS FOR 168 RUNS. PLAY STOPPED BY RAIN. SPECTATORS CREATE A SCENE. Rv Telecraph—Preai Association—Cop-right (Received 11.35 p.m.) A. and N.Z. MELBOURNE. Feb. 16. When the fourth test cricket match, England v. Australia was resumed this morning the weather was dull witli rain threatening. The attendance at the commencement was 4000. Australia set out to endeavour to beat England's first innings total of 548. Collins and A. Richardson went in first on a good wicket. Tate and Gilligan opened the bowling. Collins greeted Gilligan by pulling him for four. Then the batsman late cut Tate for five, Whysall's overthrow yielding four. The Australian captain reached 20 in a quarter of an hour. The fielding at this stage was indifferent, Hobbs and WhysaJl being faulty. The crowd was heckling Tate for no apparent reason. In attempting to turn one from Tate to lffj Collins sent the ball to Kilner at mid-on and the fieldsman took a fine catch. 38—1—22. Disastrous Opening Phases. Tate provided another sensation when he completely beat Ryder with his fourth ball. Tate had taken both wickets in the same. over. 38—2—0. Bardsley joined Richardson and twice cut through the slips to the boundary. He also turned Gilligan to fine leg for four. The veteran thrilled the crowd with his risky late cuts. When Hcarne went on to bowl his first over spelt disaster for Australia. Richardson pulled a short one, and Hobbs, with a low return, threw Bardsley's wicket, down. This was unfortunate, for Bardsley had made 24 and appeared to be set. 64-3—24. This disastrous start was similar to t.hat in the last test match played at Melbourne, when three wickets were down for 37 runs. Two More Wickets Fall. The youthful batsman Ponsford received an ovation on going to the wicket, bat he appeared to be uncomfortable with Tate. Richardson took an hour to make 19. Then Hearne beat him with an offbreak. 74—4—19. The retiring batsman's display had been the opposite of his usual style. He had been overcautious and cramped. Taylor filled the vacancy and immedidiately took the offensive. Ponsford remained obviously nervous of Tate's bowling though he hit two "streaky" strokes off that bowler. Drizzling rain was falling at lunch time. After the adjournment Hendren splendidly saved one of Taylor's hits from going to the boundary. Ponsford was still over careful. He reached forward to one of Hearne's deliveries and snicked the' ball into Strudwick's hands behind the stumps. Cramped batting was proving disastrous. Taylor was the only batsman who showed any enterprise. Intervention oi the Weatiier. Light rain was now falling and Andrews, the next man in, evidently thought forcing tactics would be wise. Ho quickly ran into double figures. Taylor v/ts putting power into his strokes, but the results were marred by good fielding. By this time IS,OOO spectators were present. The rain continued, causing au adjournment for 20 minutes. A fresh start was then made but at 3.45 p.m. play was again adjourned, and the crowd became angry. The players took the field again after an interval of 40 minutes, but immediately adjourned owing to the rain. Crowd's Hostile Demonstration, The crowd now became hostile and, two men jumped over the fence to inspect the wicket. This was tho signal for a general stampede of 500 people, across the ground. Others approached the members' stand clamouring for a resumpt ion of play, and calling for Gilligan. They noticed Hobbs in tho stand and shouted for an explanation. The police dealt tactfully with the crowd from whom came an abundance of " booh-ing," heckling and conn tingout. One section played two-up in front of the stand. The demonstration lasted for threequarters of an hour. "The rain proving to be permanent stumps were drawn at 5.30 p.m. Following aro the details of the scores:— ENGLAND. First innings . . . „ ~ .. 548 AUSTRA LI A. —Firs t Inn i n gs. Collins, c Kilner, b Tate -. . . . 22 A. Richardson, b Hearno ,„•« 19 Ryder, b Tato 0 Bardsley, run out . . . . , „ 24 Ponsford, c Stjudwick, b Hearne 21 Taylor, not out .. 42 Andrews, not out ...„ 33 Extras .... 7 Total for five wickets w . ; 168