CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 120, 14 February 1921, Page 6

CRICKET

AUSTRALIA AT THE WICKETS SECOND DAY OF BIG MATCH : RECORD CROWD AT THE BASIN RESERVE WELLINGTON’S FEEBLE SECOND EFFORT. Saturday was the second day of the big cricket match, Australia v. Wellington. and the scene on the Basin Reserve was a memorable one. The day was brilliantly fine, and by 2.30 a densely packed crowd was distributed around the oval. By three o’clock over 10,000 persons were in attendance —a record for Wellington cricket. Tho wicket was again in good order, but the game after the luncheon adjournment was not anything like as spectacular- as Friday’s Play. The Australians, who, when stumps were drawn over-night, had one wicket down for 85 runs, continued their first innings, and they looked set for the whole day. They started out to accumulate runs at the rate of two per minute, but this average soon dropped, till, with the dismissal of Liddicutt, the best of their effort that dav was spent. Certainly, Bogle got' within striking distance of a century, but he had several "lives.” The visitors’ innings closed about 3.30 for 293. leaving Wellington with a deficit of 75 runs.

Wellington’s second effort was disappointing. Hiddleston was again tho "king-pin” of the team, and he stood up to Hornibrook for an appreciably long spell, but he was unable to take liberties with the bowling. Bruce was the only other Wellingtonian who made any stand, the remainder—Lambert excepted—not reaching double figures. AVith seven of the local wickets down for the meagre total of 91 it looks as if the visitors have a fairly easy task ahead of them. To-day’s play will commence at noon. Brice, Middleton, Finlayson, and Condliffe are the AA’ellington batsmen who have still to be disposed of.

In event of there being an early dee.i.sion of the match to-day, the Australians will continue their innings, and plan will go on till 5.30 n.m. Play resumed at noon with Bogle (not out 30) and Liddicutt (not out 1G) at tho wickets. Finlayson opened the tSßwhnc at the north end, Liddicutt sneaking one off his first ball, and a leg boundary off' the eighth. Hiddleston came on at the south end, and Bogle swung his first to fine leg for four, the field being slack. In all, nine runs were scored off tho over. Finlayson’s second over saw “100 up,” reached with a single off the first, ball, and five more runs came the way of the Australians largely through tho local men being asleep in the field. Scoring continued to be brisk, Bogle getting in some more fine leg glides—his favourite stroke—but his forward drives were at times inclined to bo uppish. Liddicut was batting very effectively, and in Finlayson’s third oyer his hits included two boundaries—a pull and a hard drive. In all, ten runs were got off this over, scoring up to this stage having been at the rate of two tuns a minute. Bogle was appealed against for l.b.w. in one of Hiddleston's overs, but nothing came of it. Brice replaced Finlayson at the north end, and Bogle, after a. couple of touch-and-go misses, hit tho fifth for four. He netted another boundary off Hiddleston on change-over, and with a tally of eight runs for two overs, the bowlers had succeeded in putting a slight crimp in the scoring. Seven runs were knocked off Brice, however, in the succeeding over, bringing the score up to 139 —54 runs had been secured in 35 minutes. Hiddleston followed with a maiden over—the first to come the way of the AVellington trundlers. Six runs were knocked off Brice, nnd then Hiddleston. who was bowling steadily, just missed accounting for Bogle. The batsman sent up a “balloon," and there was an appreciable suspense while Middleton waited for the hall. His hands closed on it, but he dropped it. Bogle had 62 runs to his credit, and this was?his third life, he having been twice missed on Friday in tho early stages of the innings. At this juncture the partnership had realised 160 runs. The batsmen then got Hiddleston’s measure, thirteen being hit off one over, including a brace of boundaries by Bogle. Brice was still bowling at the north end, and presently his persistence was rewarded. Liddicutt cut one to leg, and in endeavouring to get home on his second • run he was beaten by a fast throw in bv Lambert. The leather lobbee’ into Condliffe’s hands at the wickets, and it was all over with tho Australian. 169—2—50.* The partnership had secured US runs, and of the total score of 169 Bogle hael contributed 75 runs. Brice’s average, at this singe was one wicket for 51 runs. Kippax came in nt the fall- of the second wicket nnd knocked a two off the AVellington captain. Middleton then took another turn with the leather in place of Hiddleston, and a "two nnd a brace of singles were knocked off his opening over. Brice retired in favour of Finlayson, whose opening ball Kipnax pasted for four. In the same over Condliffe missed yet another chance of stumping Bogle. Tty this time the lucky Australian’s tally v-as well on the way to a century. On the change-over, however, he met his fate, being caught by Burton at mid-off, -iff Middleton' It was a. fairly high ball. 1£5_3_84. Fellow,. the youthful South Australian, followed, and ho broke his duck with a two before the over concluded. At 1.15 Kipnax rounded the 201) mark for Australia, the result of 135 minutes’ actual playing time. Only 111 more runs were required in order to pass AVellington’s total. Pellew had just reached double figures when he. lost his partner, Kippax, who was given out leg-before-wicket to Brice, in the latter's thirteenth over. 211—4 —18. AVaddy was the next man in, and in meeting Brice’s first ball he stepped right out of his crease, but the man behind the stumps was not equal to the occasion. In the few minutes preceding the luncheon adjournment the runs came slowly, eleven singles being pencilled in succession. The state of play at 1.30 p.m. was four wickets down for 216 runs, with Pellew (not out 14), and AVaddy (not out 2). Play reopened staidly with a few singles, and before the batsmen had hau time to get settled down to business, Pellew was given out l.b.w. to Middleton. 223—5—17. Ratcliffe, the wicketkeeper, who is a left-hander, came in at the fall of the fifth wicket, and he stroked his first ball for one. In the ensuing over AVaddy started out to punish Brico. He opened with a four, followed by a two and then a single. Perhaps this made him over-confident, foi on the fifth ball he was caught ana bowled by the AVellington captain. The AVellington supporters were. cla.’ied —two wickets 'had fallen in 17 minutes. 233—G —l2. Lampard then appeared on the scene, and he took no c'hanccs with the remainder of Brice's over. The next over was a costly one to AVellington, Ratcliffe bagging a couple of superb carpet drives and a single off Middleton. With 260 on the board, Lampard gave a hard chance to Bruce at fairly close quarters, which the AVellington man diu not accept. In the seventh ball of the same over—Middleton was bowling—Ratcliffe was prettily caught at long leg bj AVarne, and the partnership closed foi 28 runs. 261—7—21. Ransford, the Australian captain, went in to bat nlnnil 3 o’clock, and when the new partnership had netted' 11 runs. Lampard was caught by Middleton. off Barclay, win, had just replaced Brice. 275-B—l3. Hornibrook came in at the fall of the

eighth wicket, but Barclay, who 'hnd developed a. nice twist, scattered his bails before the score had been materially increased. 283—9—5. Ironmonger was the last man in, and after a further speL of mediocre cricket Ransford was stump ed by Condliffe off Barclay. 293—10—13. Wellington commenced their second innings nt twenty minutes to four, Hiddleston and Phillips again opening. Hiddleston faced Hornibrook. and he broke his duck with a single o' r the thira delivery. No more runs e got on 'the opening over. Liddicutt’came on a, the south end, and his second ball was played by Hiddleston for two. In the same over the latter gulled a boundary to fine leg, and square-legged a two—a total of eight, for the over. Phillips, who wont in with instructions to 'hole, the wicket up, .commenced to block, but Hornibrook dismissed him with the fifth ball of his second over, the batsman nitting a short pitcher into the 'hands oi Waddv in the slips. History had repeated itself. Phillips had twice failed to break his duck. 9 1 0 I amliert followed, and 'he coon ‘broke into double figures. The last ball of the final over before the tea adjournment was taken nearly proved Lambert’s undoing. It was a short-pitcher, and the batsman foolishly hit it sending it to the slips, where it was missed. AVhen play was suspended the sedre was 24. Play resumed at 4.20. and the runs came' slowly. Hornibrook had the batsmen thinking, and in a few minutes he captured Lambert’s wicket, Ransford taking a neat catch in the slips. 29—2— 15 Warne followed, and Hornibrook sent down a "yorker,” which beat the newcomer badly, and sent him back to the pavilion. 29—3—0. Bruce camo in at the fall of the third wicket, and stopped the "rot,” the half-century being rounded at five m inutes to 5. The ball had now a tendency to rise, and this development was responsible for some of Hiddleston’s strokes being of "uppish" character. AVith 60 up, Ironmonger replaced Liddicutt at the south end." Bruce commenced to lay tho wood on, and with a fine drive to the leg boundary he brought the score to 75. AVellington had now wiped off the deficit on account of the first innings. With tho score at. 80, Hornibrook, who at one stage of the game had three wickets for eight, had had 42 runs knocked off him. Immediately afterwards ho justified his long spell with the leather by clean bowling Bruce. The partnership had put 52 runs on io Wellington's score. 81—4—28. In their first innings, Wellington’s fourth wicket fell at 89. Burton came in at the fall of the fourth wicket, and his first hit was a four oft Ironmonger. He then faced Hornibrook, hit one for two, but was given out l.b.w. on.-, the eighth ball. 89—5—6. Condliffe was the next man in, joining Hiddleston (38), and he survived one of Ironmonger’s maidens. Up to this stage the Australian had bowled six overs, three including maidens, at. a cost of only eight runs. AVith ten minutes to go, Hiddleston was caught in the slips by Kippax, off Hornibrook. 90—G—38. Barclay followed, and Kippax replaced Ironmonger, while Richardsson succeeded Hornibrook. On the stroke of six, Barclay was bowled by Kippax, leaving AVellington with seven wickets down for 91 runs.

AUSTRALIA. FIRST INNINGS. Richardson, b. Middleton 81 Bogle, c. Burton, b. Middleton 81 Liddicut, run out Kippax, 1.b.w., b. Brice lb Pellew, 1.b.w., b. Middleton I,< AVaddy, c. and b. Brice 12 Ratcliffe, c. AA’arne, b. Middleton ... 21 Lampard, c. Middleton, b. Barclay... It Ransford, st. Condliffe, b. Barclay ... It Hornibrook, b. Barclay 5 Ironmonger, not out Extras 21 Total 293

WELLINGTON. FIRST INNINGS—2IB. SECOND INNINGS. Hiddleston, c. Kippax, b. Hornibrook 38 Phillips, c. Waddy, b. Hornibrook ... 0 Lambert, c. Ransford, b. Hornibrook 15 AVarne, b. Hornibrook 0 Bruce, b. Hornibrook 28 Burton, 1.b.w., b. Hornibrook 6 Condliffe, not out 2 Barclay, b. Kippax 0 Extras ; ‘ - Total for seven wickets 91 Bowling Analysis.—Hornibrook took six wickets for 47 runs; Liddicutt, none foi 43; Ironmonger, none for 8: Kippax. one for 1; Richardson, none for 0. VISITING CRICKETERS ENTERTAINED. The Australian cricketers and members of the AVellington team, togethei with officials, were the guests of the AVellington Cricket Association yesterday. In the morning the party was motored to Titahi Bay, Where Air. AV. AVitt placed his bungalow at their disposal, and luncheon and afternoon iea were served on the lawn. At the conclusion of the day’s outing Mr. T. Howara (manager) and Air V. 4. Ransford (captain) returned thanks on behalf of till. Aust-alians to those responsible for then entertainment. Mr. C. G. AVilson (chair man of t'he AVellington Association) also snoke in appreciation of the efforts oi the ladies, who provided the refreshments, and the AVellington residents who placed their cars at the. disposal of the association. AVAIRARAPA DEFEATS BUSH. Bv Teleeranh-Sneeiil Corresnondent. Masterton, February 12. AVairarapa defeated Bush representatives to-day by 238 runs. AVairarapa made 322 (Napper 83 F Hoar 69, h recman 57), and Bush 81- (Dundedale 30).

BOWLING ANALYSIS. 0. M. R. W. Brice 18 0 81 2 Hiddleston 7 1 36 0 Finlayson 7 0 40 0 Barclay 4.2 0 18 3 Lambert 1 0 2 0 Middleton 17 0 92 4