FIFTH TEST MATCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6450, 22 February 1908, Page 9

FIFTH TEST MATCH.

DISASTROUS START AUSTRALIA GOTS rC .P-lECHS ON WET PITCH. ENGLAND BATTING STRONGLY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Recoived February 21, 8.15 p.m.) SADNEY, February 21. Tho weather cleared up well to-day, with a strong, 000 l southerly wind. Crawford played in plaee of Fielder, who was unable to appear. Jones won tho toss, but preferred to let Australia bat on a wicket that had practically been under water on the previous day.

-Macartney and Noble oomn'onced cautiously, to tho bowling of Rhodes and Barnes. Macartney made a single, and then tried to pull one from Barnes, but mishit, Crawford getting a simple catch.

Tho wicket was apparently giving a little trouble, although Noble found no difficulty in scoring. O'Connor joined him, and stayed quite a respectable time, although he played somewhat liukily. Ho wisely left the scoring to his partner. Adler he had got 9 he tipped a ball from Crawford into the wicket-keeper’s hand. Gregory joined Noble, but the lattff: was almost immediately bowled by a fine ball from Barnes.

Hill partnered Gregory, and the South Australian got off the mark immediately, having a dozen up in eighteen minutes. Then a really clever catoh by Hutchings dismissed him. Hill got Barnes round to leg and hit iiigh, but a long way clear of Hutchings. The latter, with a groat sprint, managed to nail tho ball with one hand almost on the ground. Armstrong was the next man in, and play was very slow till luncheon, the weather becoming dull. Armstrong was out in the second over after lunch, sending a hall from Crawford back to tho howler in a simple fashion. Gregory was a long time getting into double figures, but when Trumper wont in with him runs came more freely. Trumper, however, had only just got into double figures when he lashed a-.t one from Barnes, and snicked it to Braund in the slips. Crawford and Barnes bore the brunt of the bowling, and the wicket suited them. Tho century was obtained in one hundred and nineteen minutes. Kansford scored 11, and then lifted Barnes high, Gunn effecting a brilliant catoh on tho boundary.

Hartigan followed. Gregory was batting solidly, making many pretty strokes, but the newcomer did not last. After scoring a sfngle he patted one gently back to Crawford. Gregory’s time then came. He skied a ball from Barnes gently,- the bowler effecting a catch. Gregory had batted an hour and forty minutes. Saunders, the last man, joined Cartel', but the Victorian was taken behind the wickets off the first ball. At the adjournment the attendance had reached six thousand.

Tho Englishmen opened their innings with Fane and Hobbs. The latter obtained a single off Noble’s first ball, but the fourth ball clean bowled Fane. One for 1. 1

Hobbs and Gunn, playing steadily,, had 50 on the board in as many min J utes, Both had the bowling well in hand, although Macartney, O’Connor, Armstrong, Noble, and Saunders tried to dislodge them. As the wioket improved Hobbs began to take more liberties, hitting brilliantly. The century was oomfiiled in a hundred minutes, and Gunn scored his half-century in 105 minutes by patient cricket. Noble, who had secured his wicket for 22, oanio on again at 116, and steadied the batsmen up a bit. Tho light failed, and play was stopped at 5.45 o’clock. Following are the scores:— AUSTRALIA.—First Innings.

RAIN AGAIN PALLING.

(Received February 22, 1.3 a.m.) SYDNEY, February 31. A smart shower of rain fell to-night, and the weather is unsettled.

Noble, b Barnes 35 macartney, o Crawford, b Barnes 1 O’Connor, c Young, b Crawford 9 Gregory. c‘-and b Barnes ... 9 4.4 Hill, c Hutchings, b Barnes 12 Armstrong, c and b Crawford 3 Tnimper, c Braund, b Barnes 10 Hansford, c Gunn, b Barnes 11 Hartigan, c and b Crawford 1 Carter, not out 1 Saunders, c Young, b Barnes 0 Extras 10 Total Fall of Wickets. 123456'789 10 10 46 46 64 73 94 124 129 137 137 Rowling Analysis. Crawford 3 for 52 Barnes 7 for 60 Rhodes ... ••• ... 0 foi" 15 ENGLAND. —First Innings. 137 Fane, b Noble 0 Hobbs, not out 65 Uunn, not out 50 tfx-tra .• 1 One wicket for ... '... 116