CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1926, Page 3

CRICKET.

[Reuter Telegrams.] MIDDLESEX MaiCH. LONDON. June 1. The weather was warm and overcast. The wicket was hard ami nearing well. Haig did not wait to play himself in. Ho touched a. rising hall from Gregory to the boundary over the heads of the slips, then he off drove Gregory, the stroke being misfielded by Alaoartnev, yielding four. He followed up by getting Ryder to the off and on boundary in the same over. Mis-tim-ing Gregory in the next over he was troll taken low at 2nd. slip. MIDDLESEX—First Innings.

Stevens, h. Collins pig bee, 1). Gregory 13 Hear no, b. Gregory ,qp Hendnsn, e. AA’oodful, l>. Everett .. 19 Bruce, b. Everett (j Allen, c. and h. Orimmott 1] Mann, c. Andrews, h. Everett ... 5 Haig, c. AT nod I ul, !>. Gregory ... 21 1 aimer, c. .Andrews, b. Gregory ... 2 -Murrell, l>. Grim met t ’ 54 Dnrston, (not out) ;i Extras 7 Total ;j.|9 Bowling: Gregory 4 for 79. Mnrnrtney 0 for 34, Grimmett 2 for 92. Everett 3 for 75, Ryder 0 for 47, Collins. I for 21. AUSTRALIA—2nd. Innings. Woodlul. e. Murrell, b. f.oe 100 Taylor, b. Allen 28 Andrews, e. Allen, b. Ik.'arue ... IS C (dliiis. 1). Durtson, e. Tanner ... 2 Ryder, b. Tlearne 12 Oldfield (not out) |3 Gregory (not out) 28 Extras g Total for 5 nickels 239 Bowling: Dnrston 0 for 37. Haig 0 fm- 10. Tanner I for 27, Allen 1 for 23, Ilea rue 2 for 74, Lee 1 for 48. Ileiidren 0 for 4. The match was drawn. the PLAY DESCRIBED. [Reuter Telegrams.] (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, June 1. The attendance at Lords to-day was 4000. AVliile Maig did not refuse to take risks, Stevens was content with occasional singles to Bardsley at long leg, or to Taylor at third man. (iregorv started with a. good length, hut later 101 l off. With the board showing 8 lor 265 Murrell joined Stevens mid with a fair slice of luck gathered in

a number of fours through the slips, 110 was rather unhappy when lacing Ryder, his strokes being to the off, late. After the third century was passed Stevens, while not abandoning his caution, scored some excellent boundaries off Collins and Grimmett, .Murrell following suit. This partnership was most valuable, and arrived just in time to save a follow on. Stevens, after being 312 minutes at the crease, was unlucky in going out to a ball which previously lie had played with ease. His exhibition wa.s very solid throughout. He never gave the semblance of a chance, '.mil hit twelve fours. The score was then 311. Alur-

01l continued vigourously. but after sixty-live minutes of bright punishing cricket he was howled by a half volley from Grimmett. He was most courageous where a. majority of the batsmen wood have been, cautious, owing to the spite of the game. His score included ten fours.

Dnrston and Haig were the opening howlers in Australia’s second' strike. Taylor was soon off the mark, cutting and sending Dnrston to leg in an attractive manner. The first over produced four, two. four, Woodful assisting by taking two fours from Haig, with on drives all run. AYoodful wa.s putting force into his drives. Tanner and Allen then took up the attack, and the change of howling led to a diminution of runs, both batsmen treating Allen most respectfully. In-his second over this howler completely heat Taylor, rooting his off stump. The first wicket had yicdtfl seventy runs. Allen was variable, hut sometimes magnificent, calling on all of AAoodful s powers of defence. At other times lie was pitching short, the batsmen scoring behind the wicket without an effort. AA r oo<Jful, when sixty-two, sent a very hard return to Tanner, who was unabo to do more than get a linger to it. Ryder vfis getting into his stride when he misjudged an off break from Hearne, who relied mainly on the leg turn. AA'oodftil continued freely and delightfully. He pulled Hearne in excellent fashion. AYlien seventy-one lie survived an anpeal for leg-before from Lee. Oldfield, when four, gave Lee a warm hut apparently easy ieturn, which was dropped. Both batsmen proceeded to drive vigourously, Woodful especially bringing off some forceful drives to the: on. llenrn© and Leo were both inclined to over pitch the ball, and gave the batsmen plenty of opportunities to hit out, hut the strokes were all along the carpet. AYoodful reached his century with a magnificent off drive from Lee, having been at the wicket 150 minutes. Next ball ho was caught at- the wicket. He had hit nine fours. The, total was then IS9. The closing stages of the innings were mostly in the nature of practice. Oldfield did the major portion of the batting, and made attractive log strokes and off drives. Gregory also hit. out powerfully.