Cricket

Southland Times, Issue 12012, 17 December 1907, Page 3

Cricket

r ENGLAND T. AUSTRALIA. A TEDIOUS INNINGS, 9 WICKETS FOR 298 RUNS. Per United Press Association. By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. SYDNEY, Dec, 16, Received isth. 8 s-m.

pb-.da. and Fane, the two “not outs” of Saturday, resumed batting to the bowling of Cotter) and Armstrong 1 . The widest was in excellent order, but dry, and the weather was oppressive with a hot wind blowing. Fifty appeared as the result of 50 minutes’ play, and than Macartney displaced Cotter. Drizzling rain came OH suddenly, but it did not interfere with play. Rhodes put Macartney up in the slips and McAlister made a smart catch—--1 for 56. Gunn followed, but Armstrong,; who was bowling well, troubled the batsmen a good deal, and he sent down ten overs for seven runs.; Saunders then relieved Armstrong mjd play became moat tedious, runs coming offly by occasional singles. Cotter went tn again in place of Macartney ut 79, and a little later Fane bit Saunders high to point where Noble sprang Into the air and effected a clever single-handed catch —2 lor 82. Hutchings went in, and played out to the luncheon adjournment,; After lunch runs came more freely and the century went up minutes’ play. Hutchings to hit freely and was overhauling Gann’s score, the latter playing more defensively. Armstrong. who had taken Cotter’s end, wfls with Saunders and bowling in excellent ferm. He sent down nine, maidens out Bf fifteen overs. Hutchings’ careen was brief, as he lifted Saunders high to midoff where Armstrong made an easy catch —3 for 105. Hardstaff followed, and at IST Macartney was again tried. Tha game became so slow that it manifestly was the Englishmen’s desire to Up ddjf out rather than to make runs. Cotter cams on again at 134, and both batsman played him with greater confidence than they did the slow bowlers. Though the score was increasing at a more reasonable speed the display on the whole was rather dreary. Gunn .made some showy strokes, while Hardstaff obtained runs somewhat faster than, did his county companion. A double change in the bowling was made. Noble relieving Cotter ajd Hazlitt takinlg Macartney’s end. As showing hew tedious the play was, it may be pointed out that it took an hour and fifty minutes to compile 40 runs. With his score at 47 Gunn was given a life at McAlister’s hands in the slips off Hazlitt, The batsman acknowledged this respite bv hittidjj three (outers of! Hazlitt’a over* The bowling change was acceptable, to®, to Hardstaff who was making some brilliant strokes aras nulled Hazlitt twice for four. At this stage Duff went out in the field in place of Hansford, who was suffering from a slight sunstroke. As Hazlitt was becoming somewhat expensive Saunders replaced him. This brought the gp.m£ up tc> the tea adjournment/ On resuming, Hardstaff increased his total ta fifty as the result of an hour aild a half’s batting- Gotten and Noble were continuing the attack, buff Hardstaff scored freely, rapidly hitting boundary alter boundary. Ho nearly lost his wickets through hesitating in a run. Macartney returned the ball smartly, but Cotter was unable tc' get hold of it and the batsman reached his crease. Then a beautiful ball from Noble scattered Hardstaff’s wickets, the batsman playing forward to it—4 for 218. BranrU fodowed, but soon lost Gunn who was dismissed by a, catch by Ncl)le in the slips, off Cotter. Gunn

h®.d pl.'.yed a crcat innings, sliowin-g 1 cellent timing and only marred by on* chance. He had flatted for two hours 47 mfimtes, and his total included 11 tourers. Young had a brief inn toes, 1 eing beaten by a good ball from Noble after scoring three —6 for 227. Noble bad now secured two wickets for 10. Crawford was uncomfortable from the start and after. addin); 4 was snapped up in the slips by Hazlitt, oft Cotter—7 for 241. Barnes wont in, and Armstrong and Sffunders went cm again. The batsmen were disinclined to trifle with the Victorians, and play became colourless. Eventually Saunders clean bowled Barnes—S for 2))2. The flight became bad as Blythe joined Braund, with only 15 minutes to play rain m e cm- again. Blythe got runs easily oS Cotter, while Braund wns battiag very solidly. Just as time was readied Blythe was caught at point by Noble, oft Satintiers. the score standing, at 9 wickets for 293. It is estimated that 12,000 people were present. As a southerly gale accompanied Ihe rain at the close of play T . the outlook for to-morrow is not promising. Score* ' AUSTRALIA ; First Inning'S 300. ENGLAND. First Inning* 378. (Second Innings.7 Fane, c Noble, b Saunders 33 Rhodes, c McAlister, b Macartney 29 Hutchings, c Armstrong, b Saunders 17 Gunn, c Noble, b Cotter ( 4 Hardstaff. b Noble B3 Braund (not out) 31 Young, b Noble : ... —— ® Crawford, c Hozllitt, b Cotter 5 Bames, b Saunders 11 Blythe, c Noble, !b Saunders 13 Sundries , 13 Total for 9 wickets 293 SYDNEY', Dec. 10. Received 17, 0.57 a.m. There has been very little rain and unless more falls through the night the wycket will not be affected.

THE PLUNKET SHIELD. AUCKLAND NEARLY HAS IT. Per United Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Doc. 16. The weather and the ground were excellent. At 11.30, Hemus (6‘3) and Cummings (31) continued Auckland’s innings. Ofl Dennett’s fourth ball Cummings was caught behind the wickets —171 3—31. Rell joined Hemus and cut Malone sweetly for three. Canterbury’s score was passed after 25 minutes’ play, and the second century was posted two minutes later. Scoring strokes were few, neither batsmen taking tiny chances. Bennett was bowling a good length, with a good deal of pace. Hemus opened out to Malone, and Crawshaw relieved him. At 221 Cuff, at point, missed Hemus off the first ball, an easy chance. The score had reached 237 when Reese went on in place of Crawshaw. Hemus reached his century by driving the new bowler for a single, and 250 appeared. He had beer at the wickets tor three hours and a qtia r ter. With eight added, Cuff replace-' Reese, and Eelf got him away twice to the boundary. Malone relieved Bennett Hemus survived an appeal for l.b.w. and raised his total to 117 with a drive the on boundary. At 279 Lusk was tried Instead of Cuff. Relf reached 50 by cutting him for three. Patrick took Malone’, Place and 290 was hoisted, giving the visitors a lead of 100. The third century appeared after three hours in<t-three-quarters play. Hemus had just doubled his first day’s score of 63, am Eelf had compiled 63. Bennett relieve Patrick -in his second over. Boxshali fe.il ad to hoW what looked like a, chano from Relf. Auckland put up quite a sensational performance by amassing the huge total of 539, and any pretensions that Can terbury hod as to being the premier cricketing province have been unequivocally and igDominiously removed. Though tb match” is not yet finished, the result ie as much beyond doubt as it could welbe. and it Is but bare justice to the Northerners to <say that they have abundantly proved that they are the better team. The scores to date are ; CANTERBURY. 190 First innings ; Second Inning*. H. B. Lusk, not out 2< W. Patrick, b Haddon 1’ X). Reese, 1.b.w., b Relf..., Extras 1 Total lor 2 wickets

1 AUCKLAND—Ist Innings. ;W. Brookamltli, e Boxshall, b Malone S(> jli. G. Hemus, o Boxshall, b Bennett 148 P. B. Mason, c Anthony, b Bennett... 2 >O. Cummings, b Boxahall, c Bennett 21 lA. E. Reif, o Refcse, b Bennett..., 15V A. Hadd/on, c Cuff, b Lusk.... 8n L. Prime, run out 17 1 J. !41. Hussey, c Patrick, b Crawshaw 82 A. E. Howden, c Boxshall, b Bennett 9 W. Robinson, b' Crawshaw 17 A. Kerr, not out 4 Extras i... 33 Total „ 539 The match will be resumed to-morrow. (A little "simple addition l1 ’ will slmw that the individual Auckland scores, as given above, tot up to 43 more than the j telegraphed total.)' I The I.C.C, v. Bluff senior match will be concluded on the I.C.C. ground on Wednesday afternoon.