AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19802, 29 May 1926, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

SOUTH OF ENGLAND MATCH. A CENTURY TO RYDER. WOODFULL AND ANDREWS SCORE FREELY. (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, May 27. The weather was threatening when play was resumed in the match between Australia and the South of England, and the wicket was soft as the result of overnight rain. The attendance was large. Parker proved expensive in his opening over; then he kept Macartney on the defensive, finally beating him in his third over, when attempting a swing to leg. Taylor soon attacked Parker’s bowling, sending him to leg for four and two in the first over. Woodfull, on the contrary, was unable to do anything with this bowler. He survived an appeal for leg before off him when 31. Parker provided plenty of pitfalls, varying his break and gaining pace from the pitch with every ball. Gibson kept a good length, but was not difficult. Meyer, who replaced Gibson, proved expensive, both Woodfull and Ponsford gathering a number of singles off him. One hundred runs appeared for 105 minutes’ batting. Fender then replaced Parker, and the batting became freer. They hit the bowling a.round strongly, Fender especially suffering. The batsmen gained many quick nins between the wickets. The last ball before lunch Ponsford tried to glance to leg, and Strudwick snapped it up. The board then showed 131 for four wickets. Gibson took up the attack on the resumption of play, and Woodfull, reaching forward, dragged his foot over the crease, and was smartly stumped. Ho gave a chanceless innnings during his 125 minutes at the wickets, in which he showed powerful driving and leg strokes. He hit five fours The total at this time was unaltered from the lunch figures. Gregory did not stay long. In the first over he placed Gibson tc leg for four, straight drove him twice to the boundary, and at the third attempt was superbly taken by Sandham, who, running at top speed, had to jump to make the catch. The score then was 151 for six wickets. Meyer’s bowling improved, but be had little luck. Ryder started with three off Meyer, and proceeded to hit out freely, giving Sandham (in the long field) plenty of work. The latter’s fielding was a feature, and he saved many runs. Stevens was played very easily, his bowling having- no length. Four overs yielded 23 runs, largely to the credit of Ryder, who continued strongly on the leg side. , ■ i Andrews was more careful than his colleague. He timed his shots well on the leg° side, and drove strongly to mid-off. Ryder, when 41, gave a diffcult chance high to Stevens, at short leg, off Gibson. The batsmen celebrated bis reprieve by driving the next ball out of the ground. Ryder, who was in a scoring mood, hit out at everything, but was badly beaten twice by Gibson. Then he nearly cleared the ring. He also hit three fours off Fender. ... When 53 Andrews hit a ball hard into Stevens’s hands, at short leg. but it was dropped. As he approached the century Ryder became quieter, and played more soundly. He made a couple of lucky snicks in the early nineties, mistiming drives off Fender. ' He reached the 100 through an overthrow after being at the crease for 115 minutes. Andrews, when 75. had a lucky escape, Strudwick badly missing a catch and a chance to stump him off; Parker. Rain at the tea adjournment delayed the resumption of r'-- and then after two overs further rain compelled an abandonment of’ play for the day. When stumps were drawn Australia had lost six wickets for 328. Scores : SOUTH OF ENGLAND, First innings ' '2ll AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Collins, b Fender ... ... 9 Woodfull, st Strudwick, b Gibson ... 69 Macartney, b Parker 7 Taylor, c Meyer, b Parker 16 Ponsford, c Strudwick, b Meyer ... 23 Andrews, not out 74 Gregory, c Sandham, b Gibson 13 Ryder, not out 108 Extras 9 Total for six wickets 328 Router. A TIMELY STAND. THE RYDER-AN DREWS PARTNERSHIP. LONDON, May 28. (Received May 28, at 11.40 p.m.) With six batsmen out for 151 the Australians appeared to have lost their grip on the game, but Ryder and Andrews, each playing 'a fine innings, regained the position. The Englishmen were sorely puzzled during the great partnership. Ryder abandoned his previous pottering tactics and using his feet hit hard. He made many fine drives. Andrews gave, his best display of the tour. Their cricket was a treat. Woodfull was also in good form. Runs were added at the rate of 100 an hour, and this came as a shock to the critics who had condemned the visitors’ slow play.—A. and N.Z. Cable.