ENGLAND v. AUSTRALIA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 8942, 17 December 1907, Page 5

ENGLAND v. AUSTRALIA.

FIRST TEST MATCH

Press Association — Electric Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, Last Night. The Englishmen continued their second innings of tho first tost match to-day, aud when stumps were drawn had made 298 runs for the loss of nine wickets. Tho attendance was estimated to be 12,000. Rhodes aud Fane, the two not-outs of Saturday, resumed batting, to the bowling of Cotter and Armstrong. The wicket was in oxcollont order, but dry, and the weather was oppressive, with a hot wind blowing. Fifty appeared as the result of fifty miautos' play, aud thou Macartney displaced Cottor. Drizzling rain came on suddenly, but did not interfere with tho play. Rhodes put a ball ftom Macartiioy up in tho slips, aud Macalistor rnado a smart catch. Ono for Hfi.

Gnnu followed, but Armstroug, who, was bowling well, troubled tho batsmen a good deal, and ho scut down ten overs for 7 runs. Sauudors then relieved Armstrong, aud play became moro tedious, runs comiug by occasional singles. Cottor wont on again in place of Macartney at 7!), and » little later Fauo hit Sauudors high to point, whore Noblo sprang into the air, aud effected a clover single-handed catch. Two for 82. Hutch ings weut iv, and played out time until the luncheon adjournment. After lunch ruus came moro freely, and the century wont up, after two hours' aud two minutes' play. Hutchimjs than began to hit out freely, and was overlumliug Guun's score, the latter playing moro defensively. Armstrong, who "had taken Cotter's end, was, with Sauuders, bowling iv excellent form, the former sending down nine maidens out of fifteen overs. Hutchings career was, however, brief, as ho lifted Sauuders high to mid-off, where Armstrong made an easy catch. Three for 105. Hardstaff followed, and at 127 Macartney was again tried, and the game now became so slow that it was manifest the Englishmen's desire was to be dug out rather than to mako runs. Cotter came on again at 134, aud both batsmen played him with greater confidence than they had the slow bowlers, the score increasing at a more reasonable speed, but the display on the whole was rather dreary. Gunn made some showy strokes, while Hardstaff obtained ruus somewhat faster than his county companion. A double change in the bowling was then made, Noble relieving Cotter and Hazlett going on at Macartney's end. As showing how tedious tho play was, it may be pointed out that it took an hour aud fifty minutes to compile 40 runs. With his score at 47 Guuu was given a life at Macalister's hands iv the slips off Hazlett. The batsman acknowledged his respite by hitting three 4's off Hazlett's over.

The bowling change was acceptable, too, to Hardstaff, who was making some brilliant strokes, and he pulled Hazlett twice for-1. At this stage Duff went out in the field in place of Ransford, who was suffering from a, slight sunstroke. As Hazlett was becoming somewhat expensive,Saunders replaced him, aud this brought the game up to the tea adjournment. On resuming, Jtlardstaff increased his total to the half-ceutury as the result of an hour and a-half of batting. Cotter and Noble were coutriving an attack, but Hardstaff scored freely and rapidly, getting boundary alter boundary. He nearly lost his wicket, however, through hesitating in a run. Macartney returned the ball smartly, but Cotter was unable to get hold of it, and this enabled the batsman to reach his crease. Then a beautiful ball from Noble scattered Hardstaff's stumps, the batsman playing forward to it. Four for 218.

Brauncl followed, but soon lost Gunn, who was dismissed by a catch in the slips, off Cotter. Guuu had played a great innings, showing excellent timing, aud only marred by one chance. He had batted for two hours forty-seven minutes, and his total included eleven 4's.

Young had a brief innings, being beaten by a good ball from Noble after scoring 3. Six for 227. Noble had now secured two wickets for 10 runs. Crawford was uncomfortable from the start, aud after adding 5 was snapped up in the slips by Hazlett off Cotter. Seven for 241.

Barnes was next man in, and Armstrong and Saunders went on again. The batsmen were disinclined to trifle with the Victorians, and play became colourless. Eventually Saunders clean bowled Barnes. Eight for 262. The light became bad as Blythe joined Braund, and with only fifteen minutes to play, rain came on again. Blythe got runs easily off Cotter, while his partner, Braund, was batting very solidly. Just as time was reached, Blythe was caught at point by Noble, off Sauuders. Scores:— ENGLAND. First Innings .. 273 Second Innings. Fane, c Noble, b Saunders .. 33 Rhodes, c Macalister, b Macartney 29 Guun, c Noble, b Cotter .. 74 Hutch ings, c Armstrong, b Saunders • ■ 17 Hardstatf, b Noble .. <>3 Braund, not out . . 31 Young, b Noble .. 3 Crawford, c Hazlett, b Cotter . 5 Barnes, b Saunders .. 11 Blythe, c Noble, b Saunders .. 15 Extras . . 12 Total for nine wickets .. 293 AUSTRALIA. First Innings .. 300