CRICKET.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3310, 17 December 1897, Page 3

CRICKET.

THE TEST MATCH. By Telegraph.—Press Aaiociatwn. — Copyright. SvCuSt, December 18. Whed stump's tforerdraWn; on Tuesday night a follow-on appeared inevitablo. ’1 he position the Australians then oooupied was little short of desperate,- bnt_ yesterday a fine uphill game once more revived hope. This was exemplified by the attendance of the piiblio. Early id the day tho attendance was poor, but ythbri it ttajftntt noised ttbroad in the city that Trdmb’le . anil. MSLeh'd wore making a stand spectators began to flock ofit. Tho hostile comments of'the previous day changed to warm commendation.; Too much nraise cannot bo given to the two players mentioned and Gregory for stopping the rout. At a meeting of the’Seleetion Committee it was decided to-ask Qiffen to play in the remaining test matches... There is an off ohanoeof his differences with tbs promoters of ,the tour being overcome. He will he asked to go to Melbourne to begin steady, practice. The selectors also’.decided td poatpono the. picking of the’team for the next tost matdh until the last moment. '■ THE AUSTRAL CANS’ SECOND INNINGS. FINE BATTiNgt BT D.iRLI?fG, HILL AND KELLY. ~ PROBABLE EASY WIN FOR THE ENGLISHMEN. Received December 16 9.15 p.m. Stdnet, December 16. dhe match was resumed to-day. There' was d strong wind blowing right along tho wicket; ’ About SIOO people were present,. The" wifikot played very Well, A tegrSttablo idoident was the demonstration made against Storer, who doted quite,Within- the rules; although the decision was rather rough on McLeod, who was'well set. Darling arid Hill flayed a dashing innings.; The latter worked jard for his century, hut fate, was against nm. His partnership with Gregory put on 75:runs iu 55 minutes'. Kelly’s was a sterling 1 iSolfeod and Darling reeumed batting, the former immediately .slipping,Blohardspu to the Boundary, but with the Very next ball Store! missed .a rather .easy chance off tho ViotOriari, . After McLeod had added six,/ Richardson serit down ,a no-ba11,.. McLeod Idispldyed it, land the ball took hid wicket. SidLdod, thinking himdelf bowled,-left tho crease, when Btoror Immediately pulled up a stump. The crowd mado.a strong demonstration against his action. ' ’ , Hill filled the vacancy, arid by smart play knocked up hia first dozen quickly. - Richardson was frequently no-balled for. getting over bis mark. Darling’s fine defensive criokot caused Hearne to give way to'Hirst, in the hope that he might be got rid of.. Hill made some beautifully timed strokes, and the Middlesex bowler relieved ' Richardson, and Hirst was quickly changed for Briggs, but the frequent changes were of little effect, both players having the measure of_ the' English bowling contingent, and punished them severely. Darling’s-boundary hitting was of great force, and he received a treinendous ovation when bo. brought his score, t% a; century with a'fine' hit to the on boundary. Then he immediately- drove ' brie hard and high to the on boundary, and- Dtuoa; secured a good catch.' .... . . : Gregory succeeded him and Richardson went on in place of Hearne, The Surrey express appeared somewhat off at/this stage, and was no-balled several times, and ho .also bowled two wldes in suooessiori. Hill pulled, Briggs to leg for 4, sending up the'seoimd century. He treated brigga similarly with the next ball, ... ■>, After lunch Gregory scored very slowly, while Hill did the bulk of the hitting. The Sydneyite was oyer cautious, and it took him 45 minutes to get into double figures, all by singles. - Ptoref failing to take a return from the field gave Gregory A life." Hearne then succeeded Briggs.,/This escape erased Abe. Sydneyite to liven up, and a few strokes saw 23 to his credit.’ ‘ Ha displayed hia well-known skill in sneaking -singles; Eleven runs-re-sulted from Hearne’a first over,, and Gregory , was then thrown out. He started late, lor ,a: run -owing to Hearne fumbling a drive from Hill. Hearne, at mid-off, threw the ball to the bowler’s .wicket and,, with a^good-,.shot, knocked the stamps down. Trumblo was, next, hut alter hitting a’couple ha was caught in the, slips by Druee, ■, ■■■ ' ' , . • Lyons followed, and Richardson struck mm fair in the riba with; a full toss, whioh.oausod a temporary cessation of play . Lyons smote tho next ball hard to tho fence, and gave early promised' a liyely . -ipn'mgs. , ,He .sent, several outs with' lightning-like; rapidity, tothe fence, which was in'great contrast to his poking play in tho. first ,innings, - The ■ third century was registered, and .there was great cheering, as shortly aftowards tho deficit, had been wiped off.- LybnaV-swith’2s to his credit, mishit Hearne into;Hayward’s;hands. - ■ i.Trott was next, and Hirst relieved Richardson, who had had a further crop of -no-balls placed to his 'credit. ■ Hilij wlisri within sight of tho. century, had iris’ guard beaten by a fine ball. from;Hearne,. Hill,, had played, a remarkably fine innings. ..... .... .... .. Kelly joined his Captain, and Briggs took Hearne’a; end;-; Slow play followed. After tho tea adjournment both, players gradually advanced the score by Careful orioket. Kelly., Cccaasionally made some fine boundary strokes., ■ Biohardsou, again; went on -vice: Hirst arid Hearne,instead of Briggs, but .the, runs continued AC come 'freely."_TrCtt was. somewhat uncomfortable’ to’ ri Richardson s' fast ones The latter,, however,-who had beeri bowling all day, without . luok, disnrfssed. the Australian captain with a ball'Which he playedmn to his i wicket. ■ • ■• ••• Jones followed, buns still; came, Kelly driving tho leather all over tho field in.groat , stylo; Jones got 3, and was then out leg before. • , „ „ MoKibbiu was the last. man., Kelly; soon had the satisfaction, of getting, the. fourth century on tho board. MoKibbin suooumbod shortly, after “to-' Hearne,-and 1 the-innings 1 closed for 408- - . /..u - , Requiring 95 runs to win, McLaren,and. Mason opened for the Englishmen,'and with tho score at ‘5, tho latter gave Trumblo a difficult ohanoe m the slips, win,oh was declined. ; When another single had been added, Kelly nnsnooosaEulljr'appealed for a oatoh off MoLaron,- tho' umpire taking a-, moment to docido. 1 The score slowly- reached ,80, when stumps were drawn, , . , .. Following aro the scores AusTßAPrA.—Second Innings. _ Irodalo, b Briggs . ... . j;., ■ •••• }° MoLood, run out .20 Darling, o Druoe, b Briggs ... ...101.. Hill, b Hearne; ... ... * Gregory, thrown out... , ... ■■■ ..; cl Trumble, o Drnco, b Hearne ... ... 2 Lyons, o Hay ward, b Kearno' 25 Trott, b Richardson 27 Jones, 1.b.w., h Biohardsou : Kolly, not out... ... , ... • ah McKibbin, b Hoarno ... o Sundries- ... . ... ••• ■ Total . ..., " ,‘ . - Total-first inmqga .m . ••• *** Grand total . •>. ... 645 Bowling analysis.--Mason, nil for 10 j Briggs, throe for 86; Hayward, nil for 16; Hirst, nil for 49 j Hoarno, four for .99 j Richardson, two.for 121. . . • •>. <. - • JUkcUjlSHMEn.—Second innings. .McLaren, not out ... 16 Mason, notout r-t . .., .13 Sundries ... . ... ■■■ .1Total for no wickets 4 ■ ... 30 Tho bowling analysis so far is ;: —MoKibbin, 1 nil for 5; Trumblo, nil for, 5; Jones, nil. for 19. _____ _____