CRICKET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6091, 31 January 1898, Page 1

CRICKET.

STODDART'S TEAM v. AUSTRALIA. THE FOURTH TEST MATCH. United Press A sßOciation— By Elee trie Telegraph - Copyright. Received Jan. 29, 0 p.m. MELBOURNE, Jan. 2!\ The great cheer that went .up showed that tossing the fateful coin had given Trott the advantage for the third time. Trott's luck is now in danger of becoming a household word. At the time of starting the weather was as disagreeable as it well , could be, a hot strong wind blowing aloug the wicket. Hirst aud Board did not play for the Englishmen. Richardson opened, Sl'Leod breaking the ioe with a single. Hearne took up the bowling at the southern end, an.d M'Leod played the fifth ball on to the wicket. . This was a bad start, one wicket for a single. ■ Hill" was next. ; Both players were cautious, cccasionalljtgetting a f oarer in. Darling was first into double . figures, but his fellow-colonist just tied hiui at 12, when Darling spooned one to Hearne, which was 1 accepted. Gregory succeeded, but Richardson's first 'clean bowled him. Iredale was next, but Hearne's bhird ball of the next over proved fatal to him, as he just tipped it into Storer'B hands. The first forty-five minutes saw four batsmen succumb, and chilled Australia's supporters. Noble followed/and after getting 4 lifted Hearne back to him. Trotfc was nest, and was nearly run out in trying' a difficult run, by HilL The latter continue)! to add singles to the total, but on the. whole the work was slow and cautious. The English fielding was splendid. Hay ward took Richardeon'a place at 42, Hill greeting him with a drive for 3, the over resulting in six runs, Briggs relieving Hearne. Lunch, then intervened. The Australians when questioned attributed their wretchod display to the fact that one end of the pitch had been excessively watered, resulting in one end being slow and the other very fast. They were quite unable to time the ball. The first ball after lunch gave Trott his quietus. He just touched it and Storer snapped it up. Trumble was next. .Briggs gave way to Hearne, while Richardson took Hay ward's place.,- There were great hopesthat Trmnble avouM repeat his Sydney performance. Hill, with very pretty strokes, steadily lifted his score. Fast and .slow bowling made "little difference to him. Truinble ; was soon hard at work, but. smart fielding prevented what looked like certain lioundaries. A funny" stroke was that of Hill's, which brought his half-century up. He tried to drag it to the on. but notsucceeding, his feet touched the ball, which streaked to the fence. The next ball ho succeeded in getting to the on for sinother 4. The youth's innings to this point had been a downright steady one, at times brilliant. His half -century took him an hour and three-quarters to compile. He then felfc enticed" to take liberties, and he began to lash Richardson all over the field, scoring 10 off the Surrey express in one over. Storer appealed for a catch ofl . Trumble, which caused the crowd to keep

up a running* fire- of ironical comment.' Etichardson_gave way to Briggs. Trumble was a long time getting double figures. L'he century appeared after two hours and a quarter's batting. Hill punished Hearne unmercifully, and Hayward relieved that bowler at 115. The young Adelaidean gradually worked towards his century, while Trumble contented himself with defensives cricket. All Briggs's wiles could 3 not tempt him. Hill continued to do all [( the work, sending up boundaries in quick i" succession, bringing his century in sight , amid great applause. .He had been batting .* two hours and forty-nine minutes for his 0 hundred. Stoddart took the ball from ( Briggs, Richardson displacing Hayward, t but the partnership was nob troubled., e Upon resuming, after the .tea adjouint incut, runs came steadily, and Tcumble - and Hill promised to redeem the dis* e graceful rot of the earlier part of the \ day. Both men had completely collared the bowling. Various changes were ineffectual. Hill judged his strokes beautifully. Hearne 1 took up the bowling at Stotldart's end, Storer taking a turn at Richardson's. Four hours' work sent the second century up, Hill sending a couple of boundaries in succession off Storer. Thw wind changed to a cooler quarter late in s the afternoon. Trumble at 46 lifted s Storer. Mason ran m from the put-field and made a brilliant catch. The Victorian played a chanceless, solid innings of two hours thirty minutes. Kelly joined Hill, and sent Storer once to the fence, repeating the dose immediately. Storer then resumed his position behind the wickets, Briggs taking the ball. Hill wW still playing grandly. A couple of beautiful back cuts off Brigga brought him close on Darling's Adelaide score. Kelly played carefully, giving his. partner an opportunity to score. Almost continuous ap--1 plaus'e greeted the Adelaide boy's brilliant i fours. Wainwright then made his first . appearance as a bowler in a test match, i relieving Briggs. Hill received an ovation f as he put 179 to his credit without a chance. [ Kelly, hitting beautifully, got into twen- 1 • ties in a few minutes, and then stumps ■ were drawn. Scores : — ■ AUSTRALIA. First innings. M'J.eod, b Hearne ... .;. ... ... t T'iirlinir, o Hearne b Kichardson ... *2 ' ' Hill, nntont 182 [ Ur irory, b Kichnrclson ... o fredule. c Storer b Hearne •> 0 JNoble, caodtHenrne 4 TroU, c Storor b Hearno ... 7 . Trimiblo, c Mason b Stpier 4G Kelly, not out .... ... ii . . -Kstras ..;/ i i ,_. Total for seven wickets ... ...275 ! Bowmno Analysis.— Bijgsrs 0 for 33 runs, Wiiimvnglit 0 for ll.Bichurdson 2 for fcJ', Hearne 4 for 71, Hnyward 0 for 24, Stoddart 0 for 22, l Storer I for 'M. The official statement is that 19,600 persons paid for admission. The money , taken amounted to .£902. It was a close thing between Worrall and Jones for eleventh man. It tvas only after practice yesterday that Jones Avas able to say whether his shoulder would permit him to play. Keceived Jan. 30, 5.10 p.m. ADELAIDE, Jan. 30. Playing for "West Adelaide against Torfens, George Giffen made 161 noi; Out. The local competitions were continued in splendid weather on Saturday. In the Senior Cup contests the Lancaster Park Eleven had a fairly easy win in its match with the Lancaster Park Thirteen, while tho Midland Eleven and United Eleven have all the best of their games with the Sydenham and Addlngton Thirteen and United Thirteen respectively.