CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 343, 18 February 1902, Page 3

CRICKET.

ENGLAND v, AUSTRALIA. THE FOURTH TEST MATCH. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, Feb. 16. There was beautiful weather to-day, and the wicket was playing excellently. About fifteen thousand people were present. Noble and Armstrong resumed batting, Braund and Jessop bowling. The former bowler was punished by both, but Noble, who added five, got leg before. Though there was some doubt the umpire decided against him. He was two and threequarters of an hour at the wickets, and gave ono chance. The partnership added forty-one. Six wickets for 160. Hopkins filled the vacancy. He left the worn to Armstrong, contenting himself with defensive tactics. The Victorian played with the greatest confidence. Jessop, who rattled down a lot of fast stuff, was replaced by Blytbo at 164. The change brought about a long interval of tedious play, Braund sending down six maidens in succession. Blythe

had three overs for a single. The batsmen added one for twenty-one ininutos’ play. Armstrong then opened out and became aggressive at Braund’s expense. Tho Victorian gave a dashing display, although the excellent fielding rendered tho bulk of tho hard strokes abortive. Armstrong made a magnificent drive for four. He repeated tho next stroke high in tho same direction. Tyldesley got under it and caught it, but having inadvertently got one foot on the cyelo track. A consultation botwoen Tyldesley and tho umpires led to Armstrong remaining at tho wickets. The incident eausod a lot of excitement among the spectators. Armstrong colobrated his deliverance by punishing tho bowlers impartially with fine off-drives, reaching half-a-century in an hour and a-half, the second century appearing simultaneously. When he had another three, he gave a chance to Quaife, who, whilo running, tried to take it with his left hand. With 204 up, Blythe gave way to Gunn; but Braund, in the next over, with a beautifnl ball which broke from tho off, dismissed Armstrong, who batted an hour and three-quarters. He hit seven fourers. Seven wickets for 205. Hopkins had maintained a stonewall while Armstrong did the batting. He had only put up nine for seventy minutes at tho wickets. After lunch, Blythe and Braund were bowling, the latter having bowled fifty overs, of which twenty-three were maidens. Hopkins became aggressive, giving a fine display of fourers in rapid succession, Kelly keeping his end up, and allowing his companion to score. Kelly slowly piled up double figures. Then Hopkins played Braund to Lilley. His score included six fourers. Eight wickets for 252. Howell’s arrival was the signal for the fieldsmen to be placed on the boundaries. Braund’s second ball went into the grandstand for five.

Howell raiaad the ' enthusiasm to a tremendous pitch. His fourth stroke saw 15 to his credit. He hit out all over the field, getting 18 off Gunn’s over. Such a display was too good to last. Jessop took Gunn’s place, anl Howell treated him cavalierly. Gunn took Braund’s end, and Howell skied his second to Maclaren. The Windsor bat had knocked up 35 in fifteen minutes, six being fourers. He received a great ovation.

• Nine wickets for 288. Saunders, the last man, played feebly, but held up his wicket sufficiently long to let Kelly add 11; then Braund dismissed the Victorian. The following are the scores : Australia —lst innings. Trumble, c Maclaren, b Jessop ... 6 Trumper, c Braund, b Jessop ... 7 Hill, c Jones, b Jessop 21 Gregory, c Braund, b Jessop 5 Noble, lbw, b Braund 56 Duff, c Lilley, b Blythe 39 Armstrong, b Braund ... ... 55 Hopkins, c Lilley, b Braund ... 43 Kelly, not out 24 •Howell, c Maclaren, b Gunn... ... 35 Saunders, b Braund 0 Extras 8 Total 299 Blythe took one wicket for 57 runs. Gunn, one for 48. Jessop, four for 68. Braund, four for 118. ENGLISHMEN’S SECOND INNINGSA REMARKABLE DOWNFALL. SEVEN WICKETS FOR 77

By Telegraph—Preag Assooiation—Copyright Sydney, Feb. 17. At four o’clock Hayward and Maclaren commenced the second innings of the Englishmen, Noble and Saunders opening the attack. The Sydney bowler’s second over proved fatal, and Maclaren, who had just scored 5, placed one into Kelly’s hands. One wicket for 5. Tyldesley filled the vacancy. Play was slow, Hayward batting for twenty minutes before he broke his duck. The Lancashire professional had double figures in the first few minutes, but he had just attained that position when he played Saunders up in the slips, Trumble effecting ' a catch. Two for 24. Quaife followed,' Jones running for Hayward, whose leg was troubling him. With a dozen in the latter’s favor, Noble i sent down a magnificent ball, it breaking < • in from the off and scattering his stumps. ’ Three for 36. ■ j Jessop came next, and the demon hitter ■ opened with a cut for 4. Then he be- 1 came exceedingly careful, both bowlers * keeping splendid length. : Jessop had quite usurped Quaife’s position as a stonewaller, but he played for- 1 ward to a fine ball from Saunders, which displaced his stumps. Four for 67. Braund joined Quaife, but without an addition to the score being effected Quaife was dismissed leg before. Five for 57. McGahey came next, but the oollapse continued. Braund tried' to pull Saunders across the wicket, but was clean bowled. Six for 57 ‘. -., , , ■ • Halley partnered McGahey. Noble had now secured three [for 84, and Saunders three for 23. The-fielding was splendid. Lilley recorded another duck, putting Noble up in the slips to Trumble. Seven for 60. Jones succeeded McGahey, and „ got into double figures, chiefly by singles. He played out time. The down-fall was remarkable, as the wicket is still excel- >-■ lent. The following are the scores : England. —Second Innings. Hayward, b Noble ... ... ••• I‘l Maclaren, c Kelly, b Noble ® •Tyldesley, c Trumble, b Saunders ... 10 Quaife, lbw, b Noble ... 15 Jessop, b Saunders ... ... ••• 15 Braund, b Saunders ••• 0 McGahey, not out 1^ Lilley, o Trumble, b Noble ... ■— 0 . Jones, not out b Sundries * Total for 7 wickets 77 By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, last night. Mr Onlson, selector of the North Island team, has chosen E. Mills (Auckland), Connell and Waters (Wellington) to take the place of Trott, Dent, and Midlane, who cannot play.