Cricket

Southland Times, Issue 13966, 3 February 1898, Page 2

Cricket

[United Press Association. —By Eleobtio Telegraph—Copyright. )

FOURTH TEST MATCH Melbourne, Feb. 2. The climatic conditions on tho third day of the test match showed no improvement on the first and second, the heat being again most oppressive and the atmosphere hazy, owing to smoke from bush tires. The attendance was slightly under 12,000. Although their performance was not much to boast of the Englishmen did considerably better yesterday. The play was of a sufficiently interesting character, and tho bowling was probably just a little better than the battiug. The batsmen owed something to missed catches. Six wickets that fell averaged over 40 runs, and as the highest individual score was 55, the batting was, much of it, particularly that of Ranjitsinbji, Hayward, Mason, and Storer, of a stubborn, dogged nature, and few risks were taken. This, it need hardly be said, is not the real game of the Englishmen, and it may be doubted whether they would not have done better by going at the bowling more freely on the good wicket. A good wicket it undoubtedly was; although some balls did keep low, others got up. One feature of the innings was the determined batting of Storer. His broken finger was paining him acutely, yet when he faced Jones, playing virtually with one hand, he scored runs from him. The crowd here do not like Storer—they think he tries to snap decisions —but his gritty stand won him an army of admirers, and applause was fre. quent. The bone of his finger was splintered early on Saturday, but he kept the wicket against Richardson and others for the best part of the day. He made two catches and did not allow a bye ; moreover, he went on to bowl, and broke the Hill-Trumble partnership. His performance was one worth recording. McLaren bitted in his very best style, bub his placing was hardly so good as usual. At the opening Jones sent down two balls of an unfinished over, and off the second the batsman gave Kelly an easy chance behind the stumps. With his score at 33 he was again let off by Trumble in the slips. Briggs batted excellently, and with a commendable absence of circus tricks. In fact the little man just now is doing as well as anyone on his side. Like McLaren, Ranjit began by coolly flicking fast balls away to square leg, but then had a narrow escape of being yorked by Howell, the ball getting under his bat missing the wicket by a fraction of an inch. Howell was bowling splendidly, making his pace, and particularly his pitch, very deceptive. The Prince’s play was sound but slower than usual.

Hayward adopted the recognised Australian method of staying there and waiting for runs te come. These tactics, combined with the excellent bowling and fielding, made the play .at times dreary. One of Trumble’s theory balls nearly proved fatal to Hayward, who went oub to it, and gave Hill a hot low down chance in the slips. Mason was ill ab ease at the commencement, and before he got to work was given a life by Trumble, this generally safe field refusing his second catch for the dav. The chance certainly was a difficult one. With his score at 12 Mason was . again let off, the culprit being Howell. He afterwards made no mistakes, giving a repetition of his excellent form shown tho previous day. With the assistance of the plucky Storer the last hour’s play was invested with great interest. Tbe Australians had a long hot day in the field, and for the last hour and a half, slackened off somewhat in the fielding, which up to that time, despite a couple of misses off McLaren, had been very good indeed. Sultry weather again prevailed for the fourth day of the match ; the smoke, however, prevented the sun’s rays from pouring down.

Mason and Storer resumed to McLeod and Howell. Trumble very badly missed Storer in the slips just after starting but Howell immediately bowled Mason. Hearne followed,but only to see Storer give Darling a catch ab third man which he accepted. Richardson w-as the last man in and the two bowlers just added half a dozen when Richardson gave Trumble a catch off McLeod and the innings ended aft.-r playing 5 hours 18 minutes. ENGLISHMEN—(Second innings) Wainwright, b Jones, c McLeod ~ 2 Briggs, b Howell, e Darling .. .. 23 McLaren, b Trumble, o Iredale .. 45 Ranjitsinhji, b Noble .. .. .. 55 Hayward, o and b Trumble .. .. 25 Druce, b Trott, c Howell .. .. 16 Stoddart, b Jones .. .. ..25 Mason, b Howell .. .. .. 26 Storer b McLeod, o Darling .. .. 29 Richardson, b MoLeod, o Trumble .. 2 Hearne (not out) .. .. .. 4 Extras .. t .. .. .. 14 Total .. .. ..263 Bowling analysis—Trott, 1 for 39; Trumble, 2 for 40; Noble, 1 for 31; Jones, 2 for 70; McLeod,2 for 11; Howell, 2 for 58. Received 2nd, 7 p.m. Ab a quarter to one the Australians, requiring 115 to win, sent in McLeod and Darling to face Hearne and Briggs. Darling opened with four and got eight off Briggs’ first over. The Adelaide man continued his fourers with great vigour, 30 appearing in the first 15 minutes. Briggs three overs produced 21. Storer retired from behind the wickets, Druce taking his place, and Board fielding. Runs came rapidly. Darling being

chiefly responsible, and the half century appeared in 31 minutes. Hayward then replaced Briggs, who had been very expensive. Darling just touched one from the new bowler“ and Druce held it. Hill succeeded, and Wainwright went on instead of Hearne. After lunch Hill, who had not shaped very comfortably, managed to get leg before in trying to drag one across, without scoring, and Gregory followed; Hayward's average being 2 wickets for 3 runs. McLeod was batting splendidly and made many fine strokes. Owing to Druce missing McLeod he obtained six off Hayward and recorded his half century in an hour and sixteen minutes. Gregory, who had left the ) ungetting to McLeod, reached double figures with a fine drive to the boundary off Wainwright. McLeod displayed finer form than he has yet shown during the Englishmen's tour, making clean powerful strokes. At 95 Mason was given the ball in place of Wainwright, Ranjitsinhji taking Hayward’s place, Richardson, who strained his side yesterday, being unable to bowl. The Indian was heartily cheered for sending down a maiden over. The century appeared after an hour and 31 minutes play. McLeod and Gregory gradually pegged the score to the required number, when the Sydneyite pulled Ranjitsinhji for a couple, thus making the winning hit. Australians—(2nd inniogs). Darling, b Hayward, c Drucs .. ..29 Hill,(lbw, Hayward .. -• " Gregory’(not out) — .. - 21 McLeod (not out) .. -- ..64 Sundries .. .. - ..1 Total for 2 wickets .. •• 115 Bowling Analysis—Briggs 0 for 31, Hearne 0 for 19, Hayward 2 for 24, Wainwright 0 for 21, Mason Ofor 10, Ranjitalhji 0 for 9. London, Feb. 1. "Received 2nd, 7.30 p.m. The Daily Telegraph, commenting on the test match, says the Australians show vastly better cricket, and characterises the English score of 174 in the first tinnings as a fiasco.

The match I.C.U. v. Star first eleven was commenced on the former’s ground yesterday. The Star men batted first and totted up the rather respectable score of 117— Lilliorap 30, Davidson 22, Whitaker 21, and Wann 13, there being 15 byes. The 1.0.0. only managed to knock up 33, including six byes, none of the players getting into double figures. Findlay took 5 wickets for 10 and Black 5 for 16 ; Taylor secured 4 for 27, and Purdue 3 for 25 for the 1.0. C. The Star 13 played the [Southern Cross 13 on the former’s ground. The Star boys score was 73 for 11 wickets—Gibson and Thompson 14 each. The Cross team made 65 for 11 wickets—Ferguson 17, Knuckey 11. For the Star Porter took 6 wickets for 19, and for the Cross Grindlay 6 for 29, Anderson taking 3 for 22. The match, Waikiwi v. Winton, played yesterday, resulted in a win for the former by 34 runs on the first innings—Waikiwi 71, Winton 37. For the winners Russel made 21, McLean 14, and Spear 14; and for Winton, Norman 8. For Waikiwi Sims took 5 wickets for 16, Myers 5 for 15. For Winton Hirst took 7 for 33, Baird 2 for 5, Jenkins 1 for 26.

A match between the Park and Cambridge Clubs, played on the Show grounds yesterday, was won by the former by 11 runs on the first innings—Park 39, Cambridge 28. When the Park team went in again D. Wesney made 39 and C. Sloan 13 of a score of 77, and Cambridge had a wicket down for 23 when time was called.