CAN VICTORIA WIN?

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1292, 22 November 1911, Page 7

CAN VICTORIA WIN?

AGAINST M.C.C. TWO WICKETS TO GET 08 RUNS. MATCH TO GO ON, By TcliMrraph—PrcßS Associalion-CoßirielX (I!cc. Novcinlwr 21, 8„"i p.m.) Melbourne, November 21. Perfect wonlher prevailed, and there was a. good wicket lor the fourth day of the match M.C.C. v. Victoria. Armstrong and Kyle look up the fowling for Victoria, Iho English balsmen being Rhodes and Hitch, ami tho English scoro then reading 373 for threo wickets, llobhs, Kinncar, nnd Smith had been out on the previous afternoon. Hitch at ouco drovo Armstrong to tho boundary, but in endeavouring to repeat tho 6troko ho played tho bill on to his wicket. Four for 177. Mead succeeded him, but quickly lost Rhodes, -who got his leg in front to Armstrong. Ho had batted solidly for three hours, his total including only two fourers. Hoarne was next man in, but played extra cautiously, and soon succumbed to Laver, who had relieved Kyle with the ball. Mead showed some, freedom, but was eventually bowled neck and crop by a beauty. Foster and Douglas were not a longlived partnership, Armstrong dismissing Foster, tho second ball completely nonplussing the batsman. In to-day's bowling, Armstrong captured threo wickets for twenty runs, and Laver, at one stage, had two for nil. Woolley shaped uncomfortably, and the end came quickly, Macrow taking the last two wickets. Iremonger played the bowler on to his wicket. Altogether tho innings lasted 277 minutes. England's display was again disappointing. The collapse is attributed to tho deceptive pace of the wicket. During tho day it was arranged, if the match was not over to-night, to play tomorrow from. 11 to 2.30. Warner eailed by the mail boat for Sydney to-day, and left instructions to force tho game, in the bopo of winning, but the batsmen observed defensive tactics all through. Seitz and Kortl.ing opened Victoria's second venture, and wero opposed to Foster and Douglas. The latter in his third over clean bowled Seitz.

Ransford began with a four off Foster, but a period of dullness followed. Kortland at length hit Foster hard to Hobbs and attempted a hopeless run. He was unable to recover his ground before Hobbs threw down the wicket.

Smith followed, and jaw Ransford find tho boundary off Douglas twice in succession with a snick and a drive. Both men tatted brightly, Ransford scoring well on the leg side, and Smith cutting and driving.

Tho first fifty occupied fifty-six minutes, and then Ransford made a mishit and was caught at slip. Ho had batted sixty-five minutes.

Armstrong joined Smith, who thrice off-drovo Hearne uppishly, securing eight off one ovs". Armstrong, with a lovely leg hit, found the boundary, eff Hearne. Smith followed with a brilliant squarecut for four, and tho century .«'as hoisted after ninety-nine minutes' play. On resuming after tho tea adjournment Armstrong was dismissed by tho fifth ball, which ho played on. Matthews saw Smith reach his fifty, which occupied 09 minutes. When ho was 55, Smith gave a hard chance of, .being caught and bowled by Tremongor. Four runs later Smith was missed at slip by Rhodes, off Hitch. He then drove and snicked nitch for two fourers, thjc passi lg his. first innings' score. .'.'. ; .'.:;■" .

At this stage Hobbs, fielding at mid-off, in returning a toll smartly, fell, and his right arm was slightly injured. He retired temporarily. Smith- was cheered for a magnificent straight drive, and for snicking Hitch for two fourers in succession. One hundred and fifty was registered in 132 minutes, and Matthews and Smith had compiled fifty in 28 minutes—the fastest scoring during the match. Smith presently attempted a foolish run when Matthews called, and a smart return by Rhodes from cover-point saw him run out. Ho had played a brilliant innings, lasting 95 minutes, and his scoro included ten fourers. Brown began busily, and Matthews pulled Douglas for four, leaving Victoria with a hundred to get to win. Two balls later ho played tho ball on. Ho had been in 18 minutes, and had shown graceful cricket and beautiful timing. He hit four fourers. With Laver and Kyle in, two hundred were registered in 186 minutes, and then Kyle foolishly ran himself out in going for an impossible third run off a stroko by Laver. Smith was disappointed in an -unsuccessful appeal for stumping Carkeek off tho last ball of tho day. England.—First Innlnn*. Hobbs, c. Laver, b. Matthews 21 Kinnear, c. Kyle, b. Macrow _ 32 Rhodes, 1.b.w., b. Laver ..,.. 28 Mead, c. Carkeek, b Kyle 31 Hearne. b. Matthews 6 Foster, c. Armstrong, b. Laver 101 Douglas, not out 33 Smith, b. Laver 00 Woollcy, c. and b. Matthews 5 Iremonger, run out 14 Hitch, run out _ 15 Extras 7 Total "^ ■ How tho Wickets Fell. 123i56 7 8 0 10 32 SI SO 113 130 216 271 2SO 302 318 Bowling Analysis. Macrow took 0110 wicket for 51 runs; Laver, three for 88; Matthews, three for 65; Kyle, one for 51); Brown, lwne for 17; I Armstrong, none for 31.

Victoria.—First Innings. Kortlang, b. Hitch 7( Seitz, b. Foster U Ransford, b. Hearno 34 Smith, b. Douglas 68 Laver, c. Hitch, b. Douglas 11 Armstrong, c. Smith, b. Douglas 0 Matthews, b. Hitch g Brown, c. Smith, b. Douglas 21 Macrow, c. Rhodes, b. Hitch 2 Carkeek, b. Hitch , n Kyle, not out 7 Extras ;.{ Total 274 How the Wickets Fell. 1 2 3 i 5 6 7 8 !) 10 27 76 189 210 2(0 210 251 251 261 271 Howling Analysis. Foster took one wieket for 65 runs; Douglas, four for 11: Hitch, four for st; Jlcnrne, one for 39; Woolley, none for 15; Iremonger, none for 29. England.—Second Innings, nobbs, c. Mid I hews, b. Armstrong ... f.B Kinnear, 1.b.w., b. Laver 12 Rhodes, 1.b.w., b. Armstrong 66 Smith, b. Kyle. 1 Hitch, by Armstrong 13 Mead, b. Laver 22 Hearne, c. and b. Laver .„.,„. 0 Foster, La Armstrong .„...„..,..... 0

Douglas, not out .._..«.—._ 5 Wool Icy, b. Macrow IS Ircniongcr, I). Alaciw ...... 0 Kxtrns - 12 Total .». „~ _ 234 How tho Wickets Ml. I 2 3 1 5 (5 7 8 1) JO 41 164 10 181 100 201 213 213 231 231 Bowl inn Analysis. Lavcr took thrcn wickets for 23 runs; Mncrow, two Tor 30; Miillhnivii, nono lor 25; Kyle, onn for liO; Brown, nono for 13; Armstrong, four for M. Victoria.—Second Innings, Scilz, li. Douglan ;| Kortlang, run out 7 Itanrfonl, c. Foster, li. Ircmougor 31 Smith, run oul , „,. m Armstrong, b.' Irenionger !l Matthews, b. Douglas ;( Brown, b. Foster 2G La,vcr, lint out !!_ Kyle, run'but g Carkoek, not out D Extras B Total for eight wickets 210