CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1924, Page 3

CRICKET.

FIRST TEST.MATCH. tUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAULS ASSOCIATION S) DXKY, December 21. Wintry conditions ruled for the fifth day of the first test match, England v Australia. A strong south-west wind, accompanied by showers of cold rain, made things most unpleasant for the spectators and players alike. Plav was adjourned for periods of twenty and twenty five minutes before lunch. The attendance was small. The wicket was beginning to wear, and the outfield was slow. Collins, after adding two singles to his overnight score, snicked a ball from Tate to Chapman at fine slip. Ho had hatted 101 minutes, and hit three fours. Hendry gave a pleasing display. Although lie could do nothing with Tale, he pulled Freeman nicely to leg. Taylor was suffering from a boil on a leg, which proved a handicap in running between the wickets.

The slightly wet wicket just suited Tate, who prior to Inn<*li, had taken two wickets for two runs, and howled five maidens. As in the first innings he proved a tower of strength to his side. Taylor, usually a fast scorer, could not at Ill'st got going, hut livened up after lunch, his partnerships with Oldfield and Alailey proving the brightest parts of to-day’s innings. Most of his score came from nicely placed cuts and glances. He displayed much skill in pulling I lea me to leg, and made many vigorous drives, some of which reached the fence*, hut most were stopped by smart fielding.

As in the first innings, Australia proved it had a most useful tail, which could be depended upon to add considerably to the score. Oldfield and Alailey stepped out to llearne anil hit him hard. Struilwick proved himself a versatile fieldsman. Occasionally he made a dash of fifty yards into the field in pursuit of the ball. Three hundred appeared on the board for 121 minutes’ play. The rain cleared during the afternoon, and the sun shone out fitfully. The outstanding feature of the play to dale is the remarkable last wicket stand of Taylor and Alailey, which added 127 runs. Taylor's exhibition was absolutely superb, lie played carefully yet vigorously. placing bis strokes with great precision and toree. Hi* hatted for ll! I ii’.imites, anil hit eight fours. His century took 119 minutes. The partnership scored quickly, and put oil Kill in !>1 minutes. Alailev also played foreelully, and showed good judgment in placing the ball, lie oeeunieil the crease lor i 9 minutes, and hit four fours. Gilligan made frequent changes in the bowling in an attempt to separate the pair. At last Tate broke through Taylor’s defence "till a straight ball which he tried to pull. Both players were accorded a great ovation oil leaving the field. The innings lasted for 123 minutes. The attendance grew to SOOO. With an hour remaining. England went to the wickets, lacing the tremendous task of making <>o.> to win. Hobbs. accompanied by Sutcliffe, opened brightly, though Hobbs appeared to be not too comfortable, facing Gregory, who was bowling with a strong wind at bis back and rocking them in very quickly. W hen the boa id showed 21 llobbs survived an appeal for leg before.' Collins put Mailev on against the wind in all endeavour to catch Sutcliffe.

Australia can learn a Int ol points from the Englishmen in running between the wickets. The visitors lose very few. runs. Neither batsman took any risk's, and the rims came slowly. Wiien the total was 17. Hobbs was nearly stumped, lie was scoring very slowly, and reached double figures in singles, an unusual thing lor him. Scores:— \USTR.VLI A 2nd. Inning-. f larilsb'v h. I a t«■ A. Billiards., ! and I. Freeman ... Kelleway. h. Gilligan Collins, e Chapman, h Tate ( >_ Ponsford. c. Woolley, h. Freeman 2i v'. Richardson, e I lendren. bTnte lsj Hendry, e Struilwick, b Tate ... Tavlur, h Tate Gregory, e Woolley, b Freeman Oldfield, e Strudwiek. h Gilligan H Alailey (not out) ‘ l ' { 'Extras Total |r ’ 2 Bowling: Gilligan two for HI. I»tc five for 98, Freeman three for HE llearne none for 88. Chapman none for 10. Fall of wickets: One for 10. two for 11,1, three for I OS. four for 210. live for 211. six for 200, seven for 281. eight for 280, nine for 12J, ten lor 1.72. ENGLAND—Second Innings. ENGLAND —2nd. Timings. |folds, e. Hendry, h. Alailey ... m Sutcliffe, e. Gregory, b. Alailey ... IL> llearne b. Gregory 0 Chapman, e. Oldfield b. Ileuilic ... Heiidrcil.c. Gregory, b. Hendry ... Woolley (not out) Saiullinin, o. ()l<llic.'l<l. I>. Jiiloy ... - Tate. e. Ponsford. b. Kelleway ... » Gilligan b. Kelleway KroemniL (not out) Kxtra.s 1 Total for eight wickets ‘HERALD” COAIAIEXT. SYDNEY, Deeenilier 21. The ‘'Herald”, commenting on the cricket, says that A. Richardson's innings was in many ways a memorable one. characterised mainly by its power and precision in the making of orthodox strikes and in that respect "'as comparable with anything of its kind i.reviouslv seen on the Sydney cricket ground. The ball was not poked away in unnatural directions, but it was made to travel to all parts of the arena u illi marvellous speed. From the outset Richardson showed no inclination to temporise and in addition to the power <>f his stroke really he "as surprisingly versatile. There was vim in every stroke and if they "ere not all '.scoring strokes it was only because the fieldsmen cut them nil. His iud' r inent in running between the wickets, especially the short singles, was not exemplary. On more than one occasion he was nearly run, out.