BAP PITCH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1375, 28 February 1912, Page 5

BAP PITCH.

THIRD DAY OF FIFTH TEST.

EFFORTS TO HIT.

THE SCORING NOT BRILLIANT,

England, 324 and 203 for nine. Australia, first innings, 176.

Br Telceroph—l'resa AESocia'.ion-G'op.VTlEnl ( (lice. February 27, 5.3 p.m.) Sydney, February 27. Hill was anxious to start the third day's play in the Fifth Test matr.h—Australia v. M.C.C.—as the wicket was saturated. His theory was that the lKiwling would break up tho pitch, and bo bad for the English" batting later in the- day. Douglas, on the other hand, was unwilling to begin, and the umpires thereupon inspected the wicket, and declared it playable. The attendance was 5900. On the second day of the match, Australia had five wickets down for 131, and Hansford (29 not out) and Carter resumed to the bowling of Foster and Barnes. The first ball bumped shoulder high, and Ranstord just touched it with the side of liis bat, Hitch, third Slip, taking an easy catch. Macartney joined Carter with evident instructions to score quickly. Tho first ball he sent for three, and he hit at everything, although some of the English deliveries were bumping badly. Both batsmen repeatedly skied tho ball, but it always fell out of danger. In tho fourth over of the day, Carter twice, played Barnes straight to Foster in tho slips, but was dropped. The next ball he skied to Mead, who was fielding at mid-off for Vine, an easy catch resulting. ■• ;•• Woolley now relieved Foster, and in bis second over, easily caught and bowled Macartney, who had hit up 20 in twentyfivo minutes. Two balls later Woolley bowled down Hordcrn's middle stump. M'Laren now joined Hnzlitt, anil cut his first ball and ran, but Hazlitt was unable to get in before Hobbs returned to Smith, who broke the wicket. Australia's innings thus closed for 170—MS runs behind England.

Rolling improved tho wicket 'somewhat, and Hobbs nnd Rhodes opened England's second innings. Macartney and Hazli'tt were- the bowlers. Play was of tho enrcful order till luncheon, at which tiuio 20 runs wcro on th© board. During tho interval a bright sun considerably improved tho wicket. Upon Tesuming Hobbs isnincked the bowling, and 50 appeared as tho result of thirty-six minutes' play. Hobbs's contribution was then 35. Rhodes then apparently set out to overtake his partner's total, and, at 70, Hobbs's tally was 15, while Rhodes had put on 30.

Then came a double tragedy for England. Hobbs poked Hordern up at silly short-leg, and Hazlitt brought off a marvellous eatcli, running in and diving full length for the ball, which ho just lield up with an extended right hand. Hoblis turned, and congratulated Hazlitt on tho catch before returning to tho pavilion. Armstrong then got Miotics out leg before. Gunn and Hearno filled tho places. Tho latter was apparently anxious to Lit. Ho got n sixer three times, tho ball landing a few feet over tho track, and 100 went up in 84 minutes. When 5 more had been added to tho total, however,. Hordern .bowled nearno with an offbreak, which tho batsman knew nothing about. Gunn next gave a difficult chanco to nazlitt in tho slips, off'3t'J;arcn, but this was not accepted. Kext over, however, M'T.aren had his revenge on Poster, knocking his leg slump several yards away. At the tea adjournment England hail four wickets down for 132-Gumi, 24; Douglas, I. The sun was still sinning, and tho wicket was recovering remarkably. After the adjournment, Armstrong and Hordern attacked, and the former bowled Douglas for eight in his second over. With Woolley for partner, Gunn played steadily, and Tenched 50 after 100 minutes. Woolley was 6low, as compared with bis previous effort. When ho had scored 11, he tipped Hazlitt to Armstrong at fine slip—a good catch. G for 178. Vine joined Gunn, but tho latter was bowled in Hordorn's next over. Ho played back, and was beaten all tho way. Vino was in 22 minutes before scoring. Smith was badly beaten by Hordern three times before he was bowled for 13. Barnes was bowled by Hordern in tho last over of tho day, tho English total then being 9 for 200.

England.—First Innings. Rhodes, b. Macartney 8 Hobbs, c. Ransford, b. Hordern 33 Hearne, c. Macartney, b. Armstrong -1 Gunn, st. Carter, b. Hordcrn 52 Foster, st. Carter, b. Hazlitt 15 Douglas, c. Ransford, b. Hordern ... IS Woolley, not out 133 Vine, b. Hordern • 30 Smith, b. Hordern 0 Barnes, c. llordern, b. Hazlitt 5 Hitch, c. Hill, b. Hazlitt 4 . Sundries 1" Total 324 Bowling Analysis. M'Laren, no wickets for 47 runs; Macartney, ono for 20; Hordern, Dvo for 95; Hazlitt, three for 75; Armstrong,-ono for 42; Miunctt, none for 22. How tho Wickets Fell. 12345G789 10 15 09 83 lit 125 162 305 305 312 324 Australia.—First Innings. Trumper, c. Woolley, b. Barnes t Hill, c. Smith, b. Hitch 2D Gregory, c. Gunn, b. Douglas 31 Minuet't, c. Douglas, b. Hitch I) Armstrong, 1.b.w., b. Barnes '33 Ransford, c. Hitch, b. Foster 211 Carter, c. sub., b. Barnos U Macartney, c. and b. Woolley 21! Hordern, b. Woolley 0 Hazlitt, run out 1 M'Lnron, not out 0 Sundries 15 Total 170 Bowling Analysis. Foster took ono wicket for 55 runs; Barnes, three for 50; Hitch, two for 31; Douglas, ono for 11; Woolley, two for 1. How the Wickets Fell. 123456789 10 17 59 81 82 133 133 171 175 170 178 England.—Second Innings. Hobbs, c. Hazlitt, b. Hordcrn 45 Rhode?, 1.b.w., V. Armstrong 30 Hearne, b. Hordern .: 18 Foster, b. M'Laren 4 Douglas, b. Armstrong 5 Gunn, b. Hordern 01 Woolley, c. Armstrong, b. Hazlitt u Vine, not out 5 Smith, b. Hordern 13 Barnes, b. Hordern 4 Sundries , , It) Total for nine wickets 2011