CRICKET.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9028, 16 December 1907, Page 2

CRICKET.

ENGLAND V. AUSTRALIA. THE FIRST TEST. England, Ist Innings 273And ho wickets for —l9 xlustralia, Ist Innings 300 Press Association—Copyright. Received Dec 14, 8.30 p.m. "With 1 wicket down for 50, Trum- \ per and Hill, the not outs, resumed batting to Barnes and Fielder. Both batsmen played cautiously at the opening. Afterwards Trnmper got in some flue strokes; when 22 were added to tho score ho played forward to Fieldor and lost his wicket—2 for 72. "With Trumper away, Hill forced the scoring, Noble contenting himself by defending and getting runs occasionally. The first century appeared tor 8b

minutes' batting. Tho fielding of tho Englishmen was faultless and helped to keep Hill's tally down, for he was setting to work vigorously, and Blythe and Braund replaced the opening bowlers when the century was reached. The Adolaide man raised his halfcentury in !>0 minutes. Crawford relieved Blytlie when tho score was 110, but tho bowling completely collapsed. During the lunchoon adjournment clouds banked up, and a thunderstorm threatened and a iiglit drizzle began. Barnes and Fielder resumed bowling, the light being very bad Noble put up one from 1 lelder m tho slips, Braund taking a beautiful catch.—3 for 1(U. Armstrong went in and just about this time the drizzle stopped and the light began to improve. Hill, who had played a brilliant innings without giving a chance, then hit one of Fielder's off balls into tho slips, where Gunn snapped

it up—4 for 177. Ransford partnered Armstrong and at 181 Braund tried again to effect a separation. It was soon effected. *-,.,, Armstrong could not leave 1' iolder's off stuff alono and paid the penalty, Braund getting him in the slips. McArtney tho next Sydneyite, was soon in double, figures, passing Ransford before the second ceuturv appeared. The Victorian then opened out and began to punish the bowling. Barnes relieved Braund and for the first time in the jjfitch Rhodes went on, taking Fielder's end. The change was effectual. Ransford chopped down on to one from Rhodes and the ball glided into Braund's hands in the slips—6 for 222. Carter was next and play was very slow after the tea adjournment, when Fielder and Blythe bowled and tho light was growing bad again. McArtnev was playing solidly and Fielder sent down a couple of wides in succession and 250 went up. A few minutes later McArtney put Fielder into the wicket keepor's hands. Tho retiring batsman had batted 71 minutes for his 35—7 for

253. Hazlett followed. Fielder, who was bowling splendidly had now the line average of o for 66. Hazlett shaped indifferently beforo the fast bowler, but Carter showed good cricket and raised tho score, to the level of England's first innings amid cheers. The superb fielding of the Britishers kept Australia's score from assuming large dimension. Braund eventually clean bowled Carter—B for 277. Cotter took up the vacancy and the Englishmen spread themselves on the boundary for him, but this procaution proved unnecessary, as after Cotter had scored a couple, Braund clean bowled him—9 for 281. Saunders, the last man in, unexpectedly helped Hazlett to lift the total to 300, before ho gave Braunii his chance. Tho Englishmen began their second innings with only half an hour to play. Fane and Rhodes opened. Rhodes was given a life, being missed by Carter off Cotter. Each batsman played cautiously and they were still at the wickets

when stumps were drawn. Scores : AUSTRALIA.—First lunings. McAlister, c Hutchings b Barnes 3 Trumper, b Fielder ... 43 Hill, c Gunn b Fielder 87 Noble, c Braund b Fielder 37 Armstrong, c Braund b Fielder 7 Hansford, c Braund b Rhodes 24 McArtney, c Young b Fielder 35 Carter, b Braund 25 Hazlett, not out .... 18 Cotter, b Braund .... 2 Saunders, c Braund b Fielder 9 Sundries 10 Total 300 Bowling Analysis.—Rhodes 1 for 13, Crawford 0 for 14, Braund 2 for 14, Blythe 0 for 33, Barnes 1 for 74, Fielder 6 for 82. ENGLAND.—Second Innings. Fane, not out 8 Rhodes, not out 1 Sundries 12 Total no wickets for 19 THE PLUNKET SHIELD. CANTERBURY V. AUCKLAND. Per Press Association. Christchurch, Dec. 14. The first match for possession of the Plunket Shield was commenced between Canterbury and Auckland on Saturday. Scores : Cater bury, First Innings.—H. B. Lusk, c Robinson bßelf, 66; W. Patrick, l.b.w. b Relf, 26; D. Reese, c Relf b Kerr, 26; A. Anthony, b Howden, 7 ; H.- B. Whitta c Hussey bßelf, 6; S.bA., Orchard, c Brook Smith, b Haddon, "19; C. A. Cuff, l.b.w. b Haddon, 6; C. Boxshall, c, and b Relf, 16; J. H. Brett, c and b Relf, 1; E. E. Crawshaw, o Robinson b Relf, 3; T. J. Malone, not out, 4; extras, 10; total, 190. Auckland, First Innings.—L. G. Hemus, not out, 63 ; W. Brook Smith, b Boxshall, b Malone, 53; F. R. Mason, c Anthony b Bennett, 2; G. Cummings, not out, 31; byes, 20; leg byes, 1—21; total for 2 wickets, 170.