FOURTH TEST MATCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 62

FOURTH TEST MATCH.

VICTORY FOR THE HOME TEAM. AUSTRALIA WINS THE RUBBER. MELBOURNE, February 11. The fourth test match was' concluded to-day, resuming in a win for Australia by 308 runs. The wicket was in excellent condition. Australia's second innings was not carried much further than the stage at which it stood last night. O'Connor was caught at the wicket 6 after a nicely-made contribution. Saunders and Armstrong finessed nicely go that Armstrong might get the strike. The Englishmen also finessed so that Saundere should be captured. However, Saunders -was easily caught at point. The innings lasted for 317 minutes. Armstrong batted for 289 minutes, and hit 14 4'e and two 6'e. This score brings hi& aggregate ior test matches aip to ICO9. The Englishmen, who were left with the formidable task of making 494 to win, entered upon their second innings in a ieeble-heai-ted manner. Gunn and Hobbs were the opening batsmen, but the Britishers were dismayed to see Hobbs caught and bowled by Saunders without scoring. Gunn and Hardstaff made a moderate stand, Hardstaff batting briskly, while Gunn was exceedingly patient, slow, and correct. Hardstaff was the first to go. After an hour's batting he was caught by Carter. Hutchinge was bowled neck and crop. Braund was weak, and was also clean bowled. Rhodes was caught at the wickete, and Crawford was also caught with the succeeding ball. Jones played an innings which might be characterised as desperate Tather than finished. He saw Gunn bowled by Saunders after batting for 157 minutes, during which time he only made two boundary bite. Of the remainder Barnes and Fielder showed the best defence. The game should have been won by a bigger majority if Saunders had not missed Fielder off hi 6 own bowling when the batsman had scored 8. He next missed Barnes at mid-on off O'Connor when the batsman was 7. England's innings lasted for 203 minutes, but the batting was poor and slow, and the players made the bowling more difficult than it leally was. The fielding generally Mas good, although it was a tame ending to a, test match. Subsequent to tlte match the teams were addressed by Mr Mackinnon (president of the Cricket Association), who 6aid that the Englishmen' 6 visit meant a strong revival of cricket in Victoria. The aggregate attendance at the match was 52,761, and the takings were £2005. Humphries will remain in Melbourne to undergo a 6urgical operation. The following are the scores : — Australia. First Innings 21* Second Innings. Trumper, b Crawford 0 Noble, b Crawford 10 Hill, run out 36 M'Alister, c Humphries, b Fielder 4 Gregory, Ibw, b Fielder . . . 29 Hansford, c Humphries, b Rhodes 54 Armstrong, not out 133 Macartney, c Gunn, b Crawford . 29 Carter c Braund, b Fielder ... 66 O'Connor, c Humphries, b Barnes 18 Saunders, c Jones, b Fielder 2 Extras 15 Total 385 Bowling Analysis Fielder, four wickets for 90 mns. Barnes one for 69 Crawfoid, three for 72Rhodes, one for 66. Braund, nil for 48 Hutchings, nil for 24 EXGLAXD. First Innings 105 Second Innings. Hobbb, c and b Saunders . 0 Gunn, b Saunders ... 43 Hardstaff, c Carter, b Saunders 39 Hu tellings, b Noble * Braund, b Macartney ... 10 Crawford, c Carter, b O'Connor 0 Rhcdes, c Carter, b O'Connor . 2 Jones, c Saunders, b O'Connor 31 Humphries, o Carter, b Saunders 11 Fielder, b Armstrong 20 Barnes, not out 22 Extras 6 Total 186 Bowling Anaxtsis. Saunders, four wickets for 76 runs. O'Connor, three fox 58. Noble, one for 14. , Arrrstrong, one for 18. Macartney, one for 15. The wickets fell as Wows in Austi aim's second innings: — On© for 4. two for

21, three for 2S, four for 65, five for 77, six for 162, seven for 217, eight for 329, nine for 374. In England's second innings the wickets fell m the following order — One for 0, two for 61, three for 64, four for 79, five for 68, six for 88, seven for 128, eight for 132, nine for 146. Up to t lie present 80 test matches have been pia\e<] between England and Australia, diul of that number England has won 35 and Australia. 31, while 14 have been drawn. The matches have extended over a period of 30 years, the first test having been played in Melbourne in 1877. when Australia secured a victory by 45 runs. The first test match during the present tour of the English team was won by Australia by two wickets, and the second by England by one wicket. The third resulted in a, victory for Australia by 245 runs. ENGLISH PRESS COMMENT. LONDON, February 11. The Westminster Gazette «iys: ''Bad luck and bad cricket caused England's defeat. The best cricketers won. E\erything suggests that the Australians arc superior by virtue of their greater experience in test cricket." The Pall Mall Gazette saye : "It is disappointing that the Englishmen failed to make a better fight, even though the conditions were unfavourable. The brilliance of some of the Australian youngsters is the outstanding feature of the test matches."