CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1921, Page 3

CRICKET.

ARMSTRONG’S MATCH. UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS. - (Received this day at 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 10 This was Armstrong’s match. The burly Australian was in great heart. He worked like a Trojan and bowled tirelessly throughout Surrey’s two innings, except while attending the Board of Control meeting. During his absence Surrey made their best stand. Hitch and Fender, usually hard hitters of the hit or miss variety, played for a draw, batting cautiously and only attempting to hit loose balls which could be sent to the boundary. As evidence of Armstrong’s popularity even amongst Surrey’s partisans, he was cheered on returning to the field, and resuming the attack. During his absence the team conveyed the appearance of a school without the master. The methods by which Armstrong captured several wickets evoked tlie highest admiration amongst the experts. He trapped his victims by bowling a length leg break, varied with a ball in which he appeared to employ wrist work for a similar break, but the ball kept straight. The batsmen were frequently taken unawares and were out leg before wicket. On these occasions, Armstrong’s shout appealing to the umpire was heard all over the ground. He seldom appealed in vain. McDonald created a fine impression by the ease and vigour of his delivery and pace of pitch. The batsmen took no liberties with him. Armstrong nursed Gregory whose wonderful slip catches charmed the crowd. LONDON, May 10. Play was resumed in cloudy weather. The attendance which yesterday was twelve thousand, was only twenty-five hundred. The wicket was slow and easy. Armstrong’s howling was again a feature of the day. He captured 6 for 39, Mailey, taking the remaining four at a cost of 88. Armstrong and MacDonald were the first bowlers. The batsmen commenced carefully. With the score at 25 Sandhnni stopped one from Armstrong with his leg. .Five minutes later Knight made a similar mistake. His third victim was Naumann, whom Hendry had previously missed off McDonald. Armstrong was bowling a better length than the previous day. Fifty was hoisted for sixty three minutes. The fielding was exceptionally keen. Gregory dismissed Ducat brilliantly at short slip.

At this stage Armstrong had bowled seven overs for three runs and four wickets. At fifty-four Mailey displaced McDopald. Abel lifted Armstrong for four and then drove one back to the bowler. 5 for 72. Fender who partnered Peach was missed off Mailey’s first bowl. The pair immediately mad? things lively, and the century appeared in 105 minutes. The spirited attractive partnership was ended by Peach -placing an easy catch into Gregory’s hands. Hitch who came next, had a narrow escape oUbeing run out, Gregory failing to pick up quickly. A spell of fine, confident batting followed. Armstrong left the 'field to attend a conference with the English Board of Control and MacDonald bowled in his place. At 23 Hitch was missed by Ryder (who was fielding for Macartney, who was absent suffering from gastritis), off MacDonald. The score continued to mount, sexenty-one being added in an hour after lunch and two hundred were hoisted after three hours batting. Hitch’s fifty took seventy minutes. At 199 Collins re placed McDonald. Fender went at 206, caught in the long field, and Hitch followed a run later. Mailey accounted for the remaining wickets for an additional six teen runs.