CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1925, Page 2

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION FOURTH TEST. A USTR A LIA NS B ATT I NO. RAIN STOPS PLAY. MELBOURNE, February IG. When play was resumed this morning, the third day of the tost match, the weather was dull, and suggestive of rain. Four thousand people were present at the commencement.

Australia’s first innings was opened by Collins and A. Richardson -on a good wicket, facing Tate and Gilligan. Collins greeted Gilligan by pulling him for four. Then he late cut Tate for five, Whysall’s overthrow yielding 4. The Australian skipper reached 20 in a quarter of an hour. The fielding at this stage was indifferent. Hobbs and Whysall being faulty, and the crowd was heckling Tate for no apparent rea-

son. In attempting to turn Tate to leg. Collins sent the ball to Kilner at midon, and the fieldsman took a line catch. 1—22—38. Tate provided another sensation when he completely heat Ryder with his fourth ball, with the result that the batsmen ” dragged on.” Tate took both wickets in the same over. 2—o—Bardslev joined Richardson, and he twice cut Tate through the slips to the boundary. He also turned Gilligim to fine leg for four. The veteran was thrilling the crowd with his risky late cuts, when Hearne went on to bowl. His first over spelt disaster for Australia. Richardson pulled a short one. and then the deadly Hobbs, with a low return, threw Bardsley’s wicket down. This was unfortunate, for Bardsloy had 24 on, and he appeared to be set. 3—24—64. This set hack was similar to the disastrous start in the last test match played here, when three wickets went down for 117 runs. The youthful Ponsford was ovationed on going to the wicket, but he appealed to he uncomfortable in front of Tate. Richardson took an hour to make 19 runs. Then llearne beat him with an off break. -I—l9—i-L Th ritiroing man’s display was the opposite of his usual style, he being over cautious and cramped. Johnny Taylor filjed the vacancy, and lie immediately look the offensive, while Ponsford remained obviously nervous before Tale, though ho got a couple <_f streakv strokes off that howler. ' RAIN COMES ON.* Diizzling rain was falling at i.ineli lime. Tfendren splendidly saved one of " nylor’s hits from going to the boundary. Ponsford, being still over careful, reached forward to one of Hearne’s deliveries -and snicked the ball into Strudwiek’s hands. Cramped flatting was proving disastrous. Taylor was the only batsman showing enterprise. Light rain was now falling. Andrews was the next man in. Evidently lie thought that forcing tactics were wise, and he quickly ran to double figures. _ . Taylor was putting power into ms strokes, hut the results were marred by good fielding. By this time 18,001) people wore piesent. The rain continued, causing an adjournment for 20 minutes. A iicsli start was made, but at 3.45 play Lad again to he adjourned, and the crowd became angry. MELBOURNE, Fob. 10. The players took the field again after -10 minutes, but they immediately adjourned owing to further rain. The crowd were now hostile, and -i couple of daring spectators jumped Hie fence to see the wicket. This was the signal for a general stampede of live hundred across the ground. A crowd approached the member’s stand, clamouring for play, and calling for Gilligan. They noticed Hobbs in the stand, and they shouted for an explanation. 'the police dealt tactfully with the crowd, from' whom there came an abundance of booliooing. heckling and counting mil. while one section started to ploy two-up ju front of the stand. Th... demonstration lasted three-quar-Icrs of an hour. The rain, however. ( roved permanent, and stumps were drawn at, 5.31). England Ist. Innings 548 AUSTRALIA —Ist. Innings. Collins, c. Kilner. b. Tate 22 A. Richardson'; b. Hearne 19 Ryder. !>. Tate Bardslev (run out) 94 Ponsford. e. Strmlwick, b. Hearne 21 Taylor (not out) L-’ Andrews (not out) 33 Extras ‘

Total for o wickets IbS The .Melbourne Cricket Ground can .claim its fair share of notable performances in test matches. Some of the principal deeds of giants of the past in tests on the Melbourne ground are as follow : Charles Hannerman made the first Australian century in the first test match. He got to Rio when he was hit on the hand and had to retire. Duff 001) in 1002 is the only other ease of a batsman making a century there at his first appearance. In 1882-83 the late Alee Hannerman took 100 minutes to score seventeen. \Y. L. .Murdoch hatted 142 minutes for 10 not out in 3882-83. Hobbs (178) and Rhodes (170) hold the first wicket record for either side of 323. It was made in the fourth test of 1911-12. Rhodes in that memorable partnership hatted on three days. scoring twenty-three, 134 and twenty-two. Australians have made two wicket records there. Syd George ('.seventy) and Darling ('seventy-four) put on 1 12 for the fifth wicket in Is!) 1-5. Three years later Hill (188) and Trumhle (fortysix) got HV) for the seventh wicket. Australia had lost six for iil'ty-sevon when Hill and Trumhle got together. The total reached 32.

England's third wicket record was also made at Melbourne. Albert Ward (ninety-tilroe) and J. T. Brown (110) scoring 210 in 18!)l-o.

11 \WKE CFP MATCH. NELSON. Fob. 10. AYct weather delayed the resumption of the Hawke Cup match to-day until 3.-10 when, after a little over an hour’s play, the game was stopped on account of rain. Nelson in the second innings 1 uve one wicket down for (10. Neale made 23. while Saxon 's L> (not out) and Fletcher ID (not out), the extras being nine.