CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1929, Page 6

CRICKET.

VICTORIA BAT FIRST. AGAINST ENGLAND. 346 ON FOR FOUR, (Australian Press Association). MELBOURNE, March 1, Play in the match, England versus Victoria, commenced to-day in perfect weather, on an excellent wicket. Ryder won the toss. Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Duckworth and White were omitted from the English team, Mead being twelfth man. Victoria, batted. The opening stages were very dull, only seven runs coming in 22 minutes. Then Onyons was splendidly caught, at short stop h,t Ames, off Larwood. Hendry, when 19, went out to a bad stroke off Freeman, and he was easily stumped. Ryder, the captain, had a. particularly fine reception, which was a great tribute to his test performances. Half a century was reached in 68 minutes. Chapman was frequently under notice for his splendid fielding at short leg. Ryder was very enterprising in his play after lunch, adding twenty runs in sixteen minutes with grand drives and pulls. Wood full then got a move on, and lie brought up the century after 416 minutes’ play. Ames then sustained an injured finger, and retired, Jardine taking the glioves, and Mead fielding. Wood full reached fifty runs after hatting for two hours. Ryder, however, got a similar number of ions in 69 minutes. When he was 51, Ryder was hadlv missed iby Larwood at midon, off Freeman. Then, in the same over. Ryder hit a grand sixer. He was then caught left hand by Mead, acting as substitute, near the boundary. Ryder had hatted for 72 minutes for sixty runs, including one sixer and six fours, and lie again gave a fine display. Darling, a young loft hander, hatted neatly, and he made vigorous strokes, but Woodfull was content to plav quietly. LATER. After the tea interval, Darling batted very confidently and neatly. He reached 50 in 79 minutes.- Woodfull shortly after reached the century, after hatting solidly for 222 minutes. There was then some very free batting, 50 being added in 100 minutes. Darling, playing brilliantly, made the bowling look cheap. The third century was brought up in 249 minutes. Seventeen runs were scored off one of Levland’s overs. ■•When 140, Woodful! had made the highest score for W'tena in any game against England, the previous record, by Mac A lister having stood for 25 years. Darling gave a great display. He batted for 116 minutes,, and hit eight fours. The partnership realised 189 A'Beckett. was confident, hut Woodfull was very tired. He had hatted all day. or 281 minutes, hitting thirteen fours. The attendance was six thousand, and the gate £686. VICTORIA—First Innings. Woodfull, (not out) 158 Onyons. c Ames, b Larwood ... ... 1 Hendry, st Amos, b Freeman . . 19 Ryder, c Mend (sub), b Freeman 60 Darling, b Tate 87 A’Beckett. [not out) 14 Extras ... .. 7 Total for four wickets 346