CRICKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 53

CRICKET.

THE FIFTH TEST MATCH.

j Gt)OD RECOVERY BY AUSTRALIA. SPLENDID SCORE BY TRUMPER. Press Association — By Telegraph — Copyright. SYDNEY, February 25 (Received Feb. 25, at 9.5 p.m.) The weather >va& beautifully fine and cool to-day for the continuation^ of the fifth tsst match between England and Australia. There "were 7500 people present. The wicket was tricky at the start, but it rapidly dried into good condition. » Rhodes and Barnes opened the bowling, the farmer getting up dangerously, at times. Noble opened vigorously, and played a . good innings. He lost O'Connor early in the gam.3, Barnes clean bowling that player. One for 25. Trumper was slow in moving— a proceeding contrary to his usual forcing play, but his previous failures made him cautious. It looked like a- good partner- - ship- till Noble got in front of a> straight on©, from Rhodes while trying to place it to leg. He had batted for 77 minutes. Two for 52. Gregory joined Trumper, and set about punishing the bowling, outstripping Trumper's score in a few strokes. The latter then opened out, and both the - Sydneyites began scoring, keeping for a long time on level teTms. Trumper' showed some of his old brilliancy, while Gregory's strokes were of the kind that * reminded one of his' old-time ability. Changes in the bowling were rung on in quick, succession in order to dissolve the partnership, which looked dangerous after the first" half-hour. Crawford, Rhodes, Barnes, and BTaund^ were tried, but the batsmen treated the various styles *of bowling with impartiality up to lunch. The century was recorded for 113 minutes' play. On resuming, runs came merrily, and it became a race between tlje two batsmen for the half-century. Trumper reached it first after 94 minutes' battifig, i the deficit on. th© first innings being then 1 wiped off. Gregory's half-century occui pied him 72 minutes. •' • • The Englishmen were fielding brilliantly, but the batsmen were treating the bowliifg A double change fronv Barnes" and Rhodes .at 160 proved! ' fatal to Gregory, Crawford getting him' with his second ball. Three for, 166. • j Macartney followed, and an interval .of . slow play ensued. The -new-comer- nad. ( just obtained double figures when Jones caught him. Four for 192. , Hill came next, but he shaped uncomfortably to Braund, who was bowling extremely well. The (second century was notched yin three hours 25 minutes. Trumper continued his ..brilliant display, ( hitting three 4'e off Crawford's over. | The posting of the news of Webb's victory on the scoring board elicited applause. x After tea Trumper brought his hundred up by a beautiful drive right down the ground.. The making 'of the century j occupied two houre and 54 minutes. pßardßtaff, who was suffering from a strained leg, was replaced in the field by Biythe. Bofob. batsmen were now vigorously pasting the bowling, which became demoralised. Boundaries' came with fre-_ quency, the batsmen scoring off everything. Hill was hitting with tremendous power. He sent Crawford hard to the fence, and then got him for a couple, but Crawford sent the third ball down fast. Hill lashed ouf at it, but ju6t touched it, and Young grabbed it. Five for 300. The third century wa6 made in four houre 20 minutes. Armstrong came next. TrumpeT received cheers for having wiped the deficit off by himself. It was the Trumper of old who batted to-day. • With, the exception, of a. possible chance when he had scored a, single his innings was flawless. The English quartet of bowlers were so tired that Hobbs went on in place of Crawford. Trumper'6 time then arrived. He lifted Rhodes high over the bowler's, head, but Gunn got up and caught 'him. He was at the wickets for four hours, and tit 18 4's. Six for 342. Ransford joined Armstrong, and played out time. The following are the scores: — ■ England. -First Innings^ .. ..- .. «. 281 I *~ • Austraxja. . First Innings .. 137 Second Innings. Noble, lbw, b Rhodes .. ... .. 34 O'Connor, b Barnes ..'.., . » 6 * Trumper, o Gunn, b Bhocles .. .. 166 Gregory, b Crawford, 56 Hill, c Young, b Crawford .. 44 Macartney, c Jones, b Crawford . r . 10 Armstrong, not out .. .. . . . . 19 Ransford, not out ..; 4 Extras 18 Totnl for six wickets ». 337

The Collector of Customs has received a letter from Albany, United States, requesting him to inform the writer whether Mr John Davis,, son of Mr David Davis, of Marylebone, lane, London,, and brother of the late Mr-Bernard Davis, of Euston road, London, is resident in Dunedin. The^John Davis in question is said .to have kept a hotel in Otago at one time. The Collector of Customs has no' means at his .disposal, however, whereby he may institute inquiries on »\rch * matter. ' [