CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1925, Page 3

CRICKET.

IUHTKALIAN AND N. 7.. OAIIOK ASSOCIATION. SECOND TEST MATCH. GREAT STAND BY lIOBBS AND SUTCLII'T iv. MELBOURNE, January 4. England faced a difficult proposition when the second tost match was resumed on .Saturday morning. There was was fine, cool weather, and the wicket was in good order. Hobbs and Sutcliffe opened to the howling, of Gregory and Kellewav. Hobbs glanced Gregory’s first hall for two. Kellewav sent down two maidens to Hobbs, and Gregory sent a maiden to Sutcliffe, hut in the next over Sut eliffe pulled Gregory for the first boundary. Mailoy relieved Kellewav at fourteen. Hobbs got into double figures kv driving Gregory lor three. When Hobbs was sixteen, lie snicked Mai ley into the slips*. Gregory dived for it. hut he missed the difficult chance. A . Richardson’s fielding was a feature of the game at this stage. Kellewav replaced Gregory at thirty-four and Sutcliffe drove him to the fence. Quiet cricket followed for a time, due to Kelleway’s length. An hour’s plav saw forty-four on the hoard and Sutcliffe called for a new hat. Hold s glamed Mailer to leg, three successive halls yielding six.

At . i.xty. TTartknnh replaced Mailey. Kellewav had howled three successive maidens. Sutcliffe made a short, uppish stroke off ITnrtkopf. hut the hall fell safely. A. Richardson then relieved Kellewav, and the luncheon adjournment came almost immediately with a score of 70. When piny was resumed the crowd was immense. The stands and ground were packed. Sutcliffe, with thirty-three on. attempted to run a short one. and V. Richardson threw in smartly, the batsman iust scraping home. Hobbs cut ITnrtkopf to the fence, and this brought, his fifty up in TIO minutes. Smart fielding was saving runs. A. Richardson was particularly noticeable. Gregory appeared for a leg before when Hobbs was fiftv-five. hut the appeal was disal-

lowed. Sutcliffe banged a full pitcher from Hartkopf on to his pads. The hundred was posted for 120 minutes ■ play, Sutcliffe took 124 minutes to reach fifty, which he did by square cutting Gregory to tiie fence. He passed Hobbs, who was fifty-eight, by cutting A. Richardson to the fence. Hobbs played defensively to Hnrtkoff. Gregory was doing splendid fielding in the siips. When the score reached 0 for 140. Collins persevered with Hartkopf. and the scoring went on slowly Hobbs being ironeall.v cheered when ho snicked a single off Hartkopf, who nearly yorked Sutcliffe when the latter was sixty-eight. At 143 Mniley relieved Hartkopf, whose average was 0 for 40. Hobbs twice drove the slow howler to the fence. Kellewny trundled at the other end, and Hobbs reached eighty by glancing him for two. Sutcliffe was close handy, a,ml they were still together at the tea adjournment when tiie score was 0 for 181. Hobbs was then 90. and Sutcliffe 82. On rosin'’ ng. Hartkopf opened the bowling. Hobbs reached a century in 205 minutes, amidst great applause. Sutcliffe was then eighty-five. Gregory replaced A. Richardson at 203. The cricket was devoid of thrills, being ill striking contrast to Friday’s exhibition. Kelleway sent down a maiden to Sutcliffe from the grandstand end. and in the next over he grazed Ilolih’s off-stump, having completely beaten tiie batsman. Then Sutcliffe square-cut Gregory for three and reached a hundred. The crowd accorded a wonderful ovation to Sutcliffe. His ta.sk in getting 100 had taken 231 minutes. A. Richardson (0 for 10) had now the host average, the others being heavy. Hobbs and Sutcliffe each called for a new hat at 240. The bowlers were getting no assistance from the dead wicket, and Gregory’s bowling a.s a. result lacked its usual sting Hobbs pulled Mniley for three. Roth batsmen completely mastered the bowling, and when stumps were drawn with the score at 0 for 283. England was

in a good position, due to tiie magnificent. stand of Hobbs and Sutcliffe. 1 lie scorers are a.s follows: Australia -First Innings (500. EX G LAN 1) First Inn Lugs. Hobbs (not out) L 54 Sutcliffe (not out) 123 Extras *>

Total for mi wickets 283 The attendance readied 48.510 and (lie gate totalled £.4.80(5. '.Mniley commenting on tiie llnlibsSutelifle parlnedsbip, in tiie ‘Sydney Sun,” says the wicket was playing easier than on tiie first two days. I lie batsmen bad everything in their favour. Tile wicket was so beautifully easy that, the ball made no pace off it. Although both llarikoft and himself turned the ball they could get no help from the wickel. Thor- was no fire or nip in it and as the wind was blowing across tin* ground the slow bowlers were unable to flight tiie ball. ENGLISH COMMENT. LONDON, January 1. Sid Barnes, tiie .Lancashire a,ml English veteran bowler, writing in flic “Daily Chronicle”, says:—“Those who have no experience ol Australia',n wickets have not tiie faintest idea of hmv perfect they can he. A perfect wicket on a perfect Australian day is a tremendous advantage, hilt there is no reason why England should lie downhearted. AYe have seen the usual tactics of the Australians digging themselves in. Gillignn seems to have captained the side intelligently, and not to have overworked his best howlers. Remembering, the final innings at Sydney.' I am hopeful the Australian total will not be beyond English powers.” ].; yj. ‘Wilson. writing in the “Daily Express” says: “It was generous of Giliigan to give Douglas the new ball, but Douglas's swerve, except in sultry weather, is seldom effective in Australia.” A GREAT PERFORMANCE. LONDON. January I. 'Pile '■ 11 era Id" emiiineiil ing on the cricket says that anticipations were entirely exceeded and not a little confused by the results of the day’s play. It was a magnificent triumph for English cricket, not only in resuscitating its prestige, lint also in giving it a chance of success in this mutch, where previously none seemed to exist. For the two batsmen to defy the howling and stay ill all day is a new record gained bv Hobbs and Sutcliffe. As it is also a record to make three opening partnerships Tunning into three figures in test cricket in succession Hobbs lias now almost completed his century of three figure partnership for the first wicket in big cricket. KILLED WHILE EIKLDTXG. SYDNEY. Jan 5. In a cricket match at Tenterfield. lightning instauly killed Thomas Ross, one of the players, while fielding. CRICK ET. AUCKLAND, Jan. _3. The final match lor the Walter Shield between Auckland and Christeliureli suburban teams, was won by the homo team. Auckland made 223 and 303 (Martin 137) and Christchurch ITS and 211 for 8 wicket declared (Armstrong not out 60). THE ENGLISH BOWLING. LONDON. January 2. Wilson in the “ Daily Express ” says the unpleasant truth is being brought home to us that the Australians can deal comfortably witlicmr howlers, except Tate. It is discouraging to our men to have to make mure than four hundred to save following on. MATCH AT THE CAPE. CAPETOWN. January 2. For the second unofficial test match, South Africa lost seven for 200. Nourse made 19. Deane 10. Xester 2, Xupen 17. Francis nil. Taylor 109. Duff nil. Rain stopped play for the day. CAPETOAYN, January 3. South Africa made 211- Taylor 11.2. Duff nil. Goory nil. Extras li. The outstanding feature of the game was the fine bowling of Astcl who took 5 for 8.2. England made 17-1 —Rowley 12, Holmes 81. Tyldesley -1. Russell V2, Aleßrvan 12. Tennyson 4. Astill 3. Kennedy 17, Geary B), Bartley nil. Thicker (not out) 3. Extras 19. Holmes -avc no chances and hatted 210 minutes. Xupen was in excellent form and took , for 40. OTAGO BEAT AUCKLAND. The cricket match Otago v. Auckland concluded to-day in splendid v.e :l .