CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1926, Page 3

CRICKET.

FIFTH TEST. AUSTRALIAN DEBACLE. ALL OUT FOR 125! ENGLAND WIN BY 289 RUNS. FOURTH DAY’S PLAY. [by TEI.F.GRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. LONDON, Aug. IS. ENGLAND.—First Innings 280 AUSTRALIA—First Innings 302 ENGLAND —Second Innings. Hobbs, Ij. Gregory |OO Sutcliffe, b. .Mailev if;] Woolley, l.b.w. Richardson 27 Hendreii, c Oldfield, b Griminott .. 15 Chapman, b. Richardson 19 : Stevens, c. Mailey l>. Griminott ... 22 Geary, e Oldfield, b Gregory .... I Rhodes, 1.b.w., b Grimmett 1-1 Tate (not out) 33 Larwood, b .Mailcv 5 Strudwick, c Andrews, b Mailey ... 2 Extras 37 Tota I 436 Bowling.—Gregory, 2 for 68, Grimmett. 2 for 108; .Mailey. 3 for 128; .Macartney. 0 for 21 ; Richardson, 2 for 81. The fall of the wickets was L for 72, 2 for 220, 3 for 227, 1 for 236, 5 for 373, 6 for 375, 7 for 382, 8 for 425. 9 for 130.

ACJSTHALfA.—Second Ttmiiigs. Wooclful, c Geary. 1> Larwood 0 Ronsford, c Larwood, b Rhodes ... 12 Macartney, <• Geary, I) Larwood ... 10 Bardsley. o Woolley, b Rhodes .... 21 Collins, c Woolley, b Rhodes 4 Andrews, o Tate, b Larwood 15 Gregory, e Sutcliffe, b Tate 9 Richardson, h Rhodes 4 Oldfield, b Stevens 23 Grimmett (not oui) 8 Mailey, b Gearv 0 Extras 7 1 Total 12.: GRAND TOTALS. England 716 Australia 127 England’s advantage ... 289 Howling.—Larwood. 3 for 31; Tate, 1 for 12; Rhodes, 4 for 44; Geary, 1 for 15; Stevens, 1 for 13. The fall of the wickets was 1 for 1, 2 for 31, 3 for 31, I for 35. 5 for 63, 3 for 83, 7 for 83, 8 for 87, 9 for 114. No rain fell overnight, but half an hour before the resumption rain started and promised a downpour, but suddenly censed. It did not affect the wicket, nevertheless the start was belated. The weatlier is still dull and the wicket is beginning to wear. j

THE PLAY DESCRIBED. LONDON', Aug. 18. Tlio iittoiulanco was twenty-two thousand. l’la.y started at 12.15, the forenoon shower having caused a delay. The weather was still dull. Hailey and Gregory opened the bowling. .Rhodes was uneasy owing to Gregory’s pace and frequently mistimed liis hits. Geary was also mibpppy and made little attempt to play Gregory. Mailey was difficult and sent down four overs before ho yielded a single to Tate who got going without delay turning Gregory to leg and driving Mailey attractively. Rhodes when 12, pjivo a chance to Gregory the ball hitting tHo latter oil the wrist. Tate was bright. He followed Grimmett’s break round to leg and played soundly. The wieket appeared to be more to Grimmett’s liking than on the previous day, lie obtaining assistance from the crumbling surface, but remembering three full days play it v4is wearing remarkably well. Rhodes was always uncomfortable and went right across ihe wicket turning Grimmett who obtained a decision on a, leg appeal. The partnership had put on forty-three in 34 minutes, the total being 125 for 8. Tfite going forward to Mailey’s breaks repeatedly missed but any overpitched ball lie dealt with vigorously. Larwood was successful in driving Mailey to the boundary through cover, before lie was hopelessly beaten. Rain which had been threatening for half an hour caused an interruption and lunch was taken.

On the resumption Strudwick played the bowling with ease and struck the popular imagination, every stroke being applauded. However when the total was 436 lie went forward to one from Mililey and played the ball into the hands of the overwatclifn! Andrews at silly point. Tate was sound, confident and forceful in front of the wicket.

Shortly after 3.30 n.m. Australia commenced their second strike against Larwood anil Tate. From the outset the wicket was tricky and needed attention from the bvtsmen. Ponsford opened the score with a single off Larwood, just wide of Geary at third slip. In the second ever Larwood added Rhodes as fourth slip and the first ball after altering the he'd Woodful! edged straight into tiie hands of Geary. Macartney when twelve called for u quick single and just managed to race home as Hobbs threw down the wicket. Larwood was kicking somewhat but Ponsford playing confidently avoided tine trap into which Wrtodfinll fell. Playing Larwood in front of the wicket he obtained the first four of the innings by pulling Lsirwood magnificently to an unprotected spot on tne leg side.

Macartney soon got going with superb leg strokes. He fell to an unnecessary stroke, when lie attempted to cut a shoulder high ball from Larwood, which he only succeeded in deflecting into the hands of third slip. The score was now 31 for 2. Ponsford succumbed to the first ball in the. next over without increasing the total, snicking Larwood into the hands of second slip, who wa.s fielding close in.

C'ollins opened with a three to fine leg off Rhodes, and went on to give every evidence of repeating ibis performance of the first innings. Bardsley. on the contrary, was decidedly uncomfortable at the start, mistiming Geary. Collins was dismissed tamely by poking quite an ordinary ball from Rhodes to first slip, the Board reading 35 for 4.

Andrews showed signs of forcing the pace. He went out to Rhodes and opened his score at midoff with a single. Bardsley hit a Hall to the leg boundary. His partner had two narrow escapes of falling into the same trap as Collins, by misjudging Rhodes break, but in the same over he pulled the left-hander twice to the ropes. Bardsley was more at home against Rhodes. He recived the benefit of a doubt in a leg before appeal when seven. Larwood continued to kick dangerously but lacked the sting characterising his earlier boa ling.

Tbe crowd was tense, and watched every ball in silence, but any good stroke or smart piece of fielding evoked instant applause. Andrews fell in attempting to turn Larwood to leg. and was brilliantly held bv Tate, fielding nt square leg. *5 f° r 63.

Gregory was lucky in that before he scored" he bit out at Rhodes and snicked him just wide of Strudwjok. Bardsley was now more confident and batted soundly during an hour for 19. A spell of quiet play followed, Rhodes and Tate hemming the batsmen in with accurate; length. The former made

three unsuccessful leg appeals against Bardsley before he induced the vicecaptain to attempt a leg hit which he skied, the ball going to the hands of fine leg, after a sterling display lasting seventy-two minutes. The Board showed 82 for 6. Jn the next over Gregory decided to have a hit at Tate and drove the ball straight into the hands of Sutcliffe at inidoff. 'Hie English success roused the crowd to a frenzy of excitement, and the dismissal of Gregory was greeted with tumultous cheering. A bright sun and drying wind were handmaidens to the howlers who obtained great work on the ball. It must also lie admitted that the Australians displayed some unprecedented poor play. Richardson only lasted three balls from Rhodes. He stopped the first, the second was sent to log wild-

ly for four (run out) and the third the batsman missed and was clean howled. Oldfield then joined Grimmett and the pair again opened cautiously.. After several maidens Oldfield streakily cut Larwood in the direction of Geary, the ball falling just in front of the fieldsman. Both, however, exhibited superb confidence and played the game which ought to have characterised the earlier wickets. Oldfield, who had begun to monopolise the howling, eventually fell to a break-back from Stevens. The total was then 114 for t), the partnership, having added 27. Mailey was equally unperturbed, but alter a couple of spectacular drives the end came, when lie pulled Geary on to the wicket, leaving England the victors by 289 runs.

The scene following the drawing of stumps beggars description. The excitement of the crowd had been growing as ■ wicket followed v. iekol, and when Mailoy’s fell, twenty thousand people pushed to the pavilion. The men on the field made a dash and all got in before the crowd except Grimmett who got through with great difli-

cully. , The appearance of Chapman on the verandah was the signal for tremendous cheering. Iho crowd then chanted in unison, I'oi' Hobbs and Sutcliffe. Eventually those players appeared and the crowd roared congratulations, waving hats, sticks and anything handy. They retused to he satisfied until the heroes of the game appeared again. The crowd vociferously and persistently called for Collins and when he eventually gratified them, tie met with a tremendous ovation. AMAZING SCENES. AT CONCLUSION OF'PLAY. LONDON, Aug. IS. Amazing, unprecedented scenes marked tne conclusion of me mutch, it was apparent there would he no holding too crowd tuck when stlie last wicket fell. A huge detachment ot tho ground’s stalf waited inside the ground with irons to rope the pitch off, hut tho instant Maiiey s wicitet was broken there was tho wildest sprint towards the pitch lrom every quarter. Tho see no was reminiscent of me first football cup final at Wembley. Players sittr tho mad rush earning and uwo belter skelter lor the pavilion, to oscapo tho embraces oi their admirers. For a second bolero tuo stampede llendreii, Chapman and Maiiey scrambled for possession oi me hall. Mai ley won, and then joined in the Dice for tho pavilion. Tho police were helpless despite the largely nugiimented force, and had no chance to check tiie mail rush. Most

of the players were nearer the pavilion ami heal the oncoming mob by a short head. Ilohhs, however was not so fortunate and he was surrounded by a wild throng. It was well that a band of stalwarts pressed through to shepherd him, otherwise he would have been endangered by kindness. Oneo in the pavilion the teams sought shelter in the dressing rooms but a crowd of eight .thousand gathered in front of the building, shouting ‘‘We want Hobbs and Sutcliffe, where’s CWipman, bring them out.” Chapman soon appeared with Collins and the crowd gave defeaning cheers as they shook hands. Tile cheers lasted for ten minutes.

After this Hobbs and SutelilFe appeared on the balcony and this was the siginl for another wild outburst, together with shouted demands for the remainder of the English team to show themselves.

Later the Australians were npplauddod just as wholeheartedly. The demonstration lasted an hour.

CO LLIXS TXT EH VIF/W ED.

LONDON, Aug. 18,

Collins interviewed, said at first lie hesitated to comment on the collapse. Then he said it was a pity the rain came on when it did. and that afterwards the sun came out. ” But these tilings are all in the game, and we were beaten.” After a moment’s pause he proceeded: “I think we were beaten by a better side. It was a fine game to have played in. The spirit was good throughout. England owes a lot to Hobbs for his splendid innings, particularly before lunch on Tuesday when tile wicket was difficult. Tt was the finest innings I have seen.”