CRICKET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 45, 17 February 1912, Page 5

CRICKET.

MATCH BETWEEN .ENGLAND AND NEW SOUTH WALES.

COLONIALS SHAPE BADLY

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.)

Sydney, February 16

The weather was fine and bright and the -wicket good. Trumper won the toss and elected to bat. The Englishmen received a great ovation on entering the field. . Bardsley and Collins opened to the bowling of Foster and .Barnes. The fourth, ball from Foster bowled Collins. His dismissal was disappointing to those who advocated giving the colts ,a chance. They were quickly provided with a rejoinder to those who .questioned the judgment of this, however, for in Fosters’ next over, the ball .swung across the 'wicket, Bardsley tipped it with the shoulder of the bat, Gunn, in the slips, taking the catch. 2—4—7.

Gregory and Macartney were then associated. Barnes had five men in the slips, and 'Gregory, jafter (five singles, tipped the ball to Foster ah second slip, who held it. Three for 16.

When Trumper joined Macartney, Douglas relieved Foster. At i3B, Woolley, at the other end, bowled Trumper for 7 iwith an .off break, which the veteran failed to stop. Macartney soon followed. He had looked like a • stayer, but, stepping out ,a couple of inches to Douglas, missed, and Strudwick had his bails off like a flash. It was the smartest piece of stumping seen for a Jong while.

With five wickets down for 41, Now South Wales’ chance looked sick'.' Fifty appeared as the result of 77 minutes’ play. After lunch, Barbour passed Macartney’s score (18) by mishitting Douglas for 4. 'The next ball lie brilliantly put in the same place. This was the only bright spot in a dull innings. Kelloway when 9 played forward to Foster, - and lifted an easy catch to Hobbs at mid-off. The partnership yielded 33.

Hazlitt, when he had scored 7, rashly hit one of Foster's leg balls, ’which went staright to Douglas. Foster’s record at this stage 'stood four for .34. This was improved by getting Emery caught after two more had been hit off him. Barbour next joined the procession, being yorked by Foster. 1 The same bowler ended the innings by taking McKew’s: bails'-with the first ball.

Foster’s bowling had been remarkable,, Jlis swervers doing most deadly 'work.!- 1 He finished up with ah Average of'seven for 36, out of 106 scored by New South Wales. The English fielding was cleaner and snappier than when previously in Sydney. It was a different story with England batting. Hobbs and Rhodes started to emulate their Melbourne tactics, and the crowd settled down to watch a big score. 'Scott and Hazlitt bowled. The home team seemed demoralised, their fielding being shocking, to «*■ ~ : I Before he reached double figures Hobbs should have been run out, but McKew, the wicket-keeper, tripped and let the ball pass. The batsmen; then started to hit out, and 50 appeared after 33 minutes. Macartney and Emery bowled without any better success.

At 96, scored in 68 minutes, Kelleway relieved Macartney, and off his second 'ball, Hazlitt in the slips brilliantly caught Hobbs, who had contributed 38.

Gunn joined Rhodes, who was playing a slashing innings. His forward cuts and drives were .especially ,ittractive. A hundred appeared in 75 minutes. -Gunn scored 27 in 40 jminutes by careful play, and then snicked an off-break from Hazlitt to Kelly way at second slip, who made a good catch. The partnership yielded 63. Hearne gave a chance to Scott at fine slip in the same over, which was badly fumbled.' The batsmen then slowed, seeming determined to play out time, which they did with a total of 183 for two wickets. Scores:— New South Wales. —First In flings. Bardsley c Gunn, b Foster ... 2 Collins, b Foster ... ...• ... 0 Gregory, c Foster, b Barnes ... 5 Macartney, st Strudwick, b Douglas 18 Trumper. b Woolley ... ... 7 Kclleway, c Hobbs, b Foster ... 9 Hazlitt, c Douglas, b Foster ... 7 Barbour, b Foster ... ... 1 ... 29 Emery, c Woolley, b Foster ... 4 Scott, not out ... ... ... 13 McKcw, b Foster ... ... ... 0 .Extras 12 Total ... ... ... ... 106 Fall of wickets:/! —1, 2 —7, 3—16, 4—39, 5—41, 6—74, 7—83, B—B9, 9—106, 10—106. Bowling analysis.—Foster, seven for 36; Barnes, 1 for 20, Douglas 1 for 34; Woolley, 1 for 4. England.—First Innings. Hobbs, c Hazlitt, b Kelleway ... 38 Rhodes, not out ... ... ... 88 Gunn, c Kelleway, b Hazlitt ... 27 Hearne, not eut ... ... ... 16 Extras lo Total for two wickets ... 183 HTLL-McALISTER FRACAS.

[Sydney, February IG. A special meeting of the Board of Control, lasting several hours, discussed the Hill-McAlister fracas. Hill was several times called in. The only information available was the secretary’s statement that the trouble Was satisfactorily settled. Hill would bo invited to go to .England, and it was understood that Hill expressed regret for the- part ho toot: in the occurrence.

THE PLUNKET SHIELD

Christchurch, February 16

The Canterbury Cricket Association to-night decided to challenge Auckland for the Plunket Shield in March, provided the best team can be got away.

AUCKLAND V. OTAGO

Dunedin, February 16,

The cricket match between Auckland and Otago commenced at Carisbrook ground to-day. Heavy rain fell last might, and though the weather was fine to-day, the wicket favoured the bowlers. Auckland won the toss and decided to bat, but made a poor stand, tho whole team being out for 126, Thompson 54, Ellis 15 not out, Jones .13 and Mason 12 being the only batsmen to reach double figures. Downes took five wickets for 48 runs, Torrance two for 43, Eckhoff two for 25, and Ramsden one for 4.

At the close of the day Vplay Otago had lost one wicket for 55 runs, Hopkins 23 not out, McFarlane 22 not out, and Seideberg 4.