SECOND TEST MATCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19373, 8 January 1925, Page 7

SECOND TEST MATCH

ENGLAND STILL BATTING. 259 FOR SIX WICKETS. ANOTHER CENTURY BY SUTCLIFFE. 114 NOT OUT. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, January 7. (Received Jan. 7, at 8.10 p.m.) Tho weather Was line, but tho wicket was showing signs of wear when Sutcliffe (12) and Strudwick (15) resumed batting iu tho second innings for England, who still required 318 runs to win. Gregory sent down a maiden, and a little later lie missed Sutcliffe in the slips off Mailey. It was a difficult catch. Sutcliffe was playing defensively to Gregory, who also had Strudwick full of discomfort, and presently got a leg before wicket decision over tho English wicketkeeper. 2—22—75. Hearne came in, but was slow to start. When he did open his account it was with n couple of singles. Then ho late-cut Mailey for four. Oldfield lifted Sutcliffe’s bails, but ■ tho batsman was in. To celebrate tho escape he glanced Gregory for a brace, and reached thirty. A. Richardson took the ball from Gregory at 95, and his first over was a maiden. Then, with Mailey bowling, Collins moved A. Richardson to mid-off and Hartkopf to deep slip. Hartkopf bowled the next over when tho score had reached 101. Three runs later Kollaway wont on to bowl, and play became dead till at length Sutcliffo brightened it up, and drove him to tho fence. At lunch the score was 121 for two wickets. On the resumption of play Hearne put his log hr front of one from Gregory. 3 23-121. Woolley joined Sutcliffo, who notched 50 by snicking on© from Kolleway for a single. He had taken 165 minutes to roach his halfcentury. Kolleway’s bowling was the feature of the game up to this time. Now Sutcliffe opened his shoulders, and drove Gregory to the fence. The play then became much brighter. Woolley cut Mailey to the fence, and then skied one from Gregory high to leg out of Taylor’s reach. Mailey morally bowled Sutcliffe when the latter was 63, and the batsman showed ids appreciation of the “life” by lifting Mailey to the fence, while Woolley drove Kelleway for four, and then cut Gregory past Mailey in tho slips for two. At this time Gregory’© average—two wickets for 60 —was the best. A. Richardson displaced Maijey at 186, and brought the off fieldsmen closer in. Sutcliffe and Woolley put on 70 in 75 minutes. When bo was 39 Woolley changed his bat, and then ho ran a risky single. Had Taylor hit the wicket the man from Kent would have been out. Collins wont on to bowl, amidst cheers, at 195, and there was a lull in tho scoring, the batsmen taking 40 minutes to put ten together. Collins trundled three overs, from which only three runs resulted, while A. Richardson sent down the last six overs for seven runs. At tho tea adjournment tho board showed 200 for three wickets. (Received Jan. 7, at 9.20 pjn.) After the tea adjournment Collins opened the bowling with a maiden. Off his next over Woolley, who had scored 46, drove hard and straight up the pitch, but Collins dropped tho balk Woolley played one from A. Richardson, and Sutcliffe started to run. Victor Richardson threw the wicket down, but Sutcliffe was given the benefit of tho doubt. It was a close thing. However, Sutcliffo raised his telly to 85. Woolley had a life at 49 off an uppish stroke .between silly point and mid-off. Collins and Richardson now quietened the batsmen. Woolley reached 50, and thou was given out leg before wicket to A. Richardson. 4—SO—2IL Tho partnership yielded 90 runs, and Woolley was tho fourth successive victim to a leg before wicket decision. Ho had batted for 127 minutes. When Hendren went in tho attendance was 20,000. Using a now ball, Gregory went on at 224. Sutcliffe was now 92. Kelleway displaced Collins, who had bowled ten overs at a cost of ten runs. Sutcliffo at 95 was missed by Kelleway in tho slips off Gregory, amidst the groans from the crowd. Tho Yorkshiroman made his second century in tho game by driving Gregory to tho fence, and was warmly congratulated by Collins, while the crowd applauded long and lustily. Sutcliffo had now been at the wickets for five and a-half hours, giving a patient and sound display. He was an ideal opening batsman. Mailey went on at 246, and in tho next over Gregory skittled Hendren’s stumps. s—l5 —18—254. Tyldealey was caught by Ponsford before scoring. 60 —255. Donglas joined Sutcliffe, and tho pair carried on till play ceased, with the board showing 259 for six wickets. A keen finish is anticipated, as honours are about oven. The following ore tho scores:— AUSTRALIA. First innings ' Second innings Grand total ~ ENGLAND. First innings Second Innings. Hobbs, Ibw, b Mailey Sutcliffo, not out ... ... 114 Strudwick, Ibw, b Gregory ... 22 Hearne, ibw, b Gregory ... 23 Woolley, Ibw, bA. Richardson ... Hendren, b Gregory - ... Tyldesloy, o Ponsford, b Mailey ... 0 Douglas, not out - 0 Extras ...

Total for six wickets ... _ ... 259 ENGLISH COMMENTS. PRAISE FOR HEARNB AND TATE. LONDON, January 6. Barnes, writing in the Daily Chronicle, says: “Hearne bowled bettor than over in Australian teste, and his success is very opportune. I hope he bowled better than usual, and that it was not a ease of the wicket giving him considerable help; otherwise England’s task is tremendous. 'Tat© accomplished a wonderful perfoixnance in sending down the equivalent of 101 English overs, which cost 241 runs This is groat bowling. Continuing in this form, Tate will cento a now bowling record for tests, which stands at 34 wickets created in 1911 If Tato excels these figures I shall bo the first to congratulate him. I ■believe he will. Douglas and Tyldesley have not covered themselves with glory in this mated:. There is a possibility that Freeman will return for the next match, and that Howell will bo given a ohanoe. I am confident w© have sufficient batting strength ter knock off the runs, especially as the time factor does not outer into consideration.” Colonel Philip Trevor, in an article in the Daily Telegraph, states: “I can advance no technical reason why the Englishmen should not make the required 318. It simply amounts to whether our men have the grit. If we lose, no technical excuses about the wicket will servo, unless it should bo damaged by rain. If we win, wo may congratulate ourselves on gaining about the greatest of all test victories ” AUSTRALIAN PRESS OPINION. TAYLOR’S REPUTATION ENHANCED. SYDNEY, January 7. The Morning Herald, commenting on the nrickct, says: “Hearne bowled almost throughout the innings He hi a very deceptive bowler, and there is much more guile in bis amiable-looking slows than is apparent from a distance. Ho keeps a good length all the time, and bowls with a batsman’s knowledge of things. IBs bowling yesterday was certainly very good, but not good enough, one thinks, to warrant the total exclusion of Tyldesley from the bowling crease. It was the overnight Australian exportation that Tyldesley would bo the chief problem for tiho batsmen, so that the remarkable perseverance with Hearne was as welcome a manceuvro as it was surprising “Taylor’s innings was superb in every respect Ho showed wonderful restraint throughout, and his defence appeared much moro solid and effective than natal, while his stroke play ivas charming in its grace of movement, its ease of execution, and tho surprising pane ho imparted to tie ball It was a first-dnss _ innings which greatly promoted Taylor’s international reputation. it also had tho supremo value of being played when it was sorely needed. Ho assuredly doeorved the ’oontury’ distinction.