CRICKET.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9071, 11 February 1908, Page 5

CRICKET.

THE FOURTH TEST. Australia—First inniugs .... .214 Do. second inniugs 8 wickets for 358 Total .... .... 572 England, Ist inniugs ....105 Press Association —Copyright. Received Feb. 10, 10 p.m. Melbourne, Last Night. The weather was beautiful, and the wicket rolled out splendidly, being slow and easy. The day’s work on the whole placed Australia in an excellent position and, though for the greater part play was dull and of a stubborn patient character, the last half hour was tremendously lively and enthusiastic. Hill and Gregory played cautiously. The former was the first to go, through the magnificent work and machinelike precision of Barnes at cover. With one hand he fielded Hill’s stroke and returned to Humphries, and Hill fell in endeavouring to regain his crease. An unusual thing in Hill’s score was that it contained no boundary hits. Gregory was joined by Armstrong, but the Sydneyite soon departed. Armstrong and Ransford became associated and the latter quickly got going. A hundred was scored in 185 minutes. Rhodes bowled well, keeping a beautiful length. After lunch, Fielder and Rhodes took the bowling, and Ransford, when 36, gave a chance to Crawford in the slips off Fielder. Ransford was batting in high class fashion when he was caught at the wicket, after an innings of 103 minutes in which there were only three boundary strokes. Macartney and Armstrong proved a fast partnership which scored 54 in 33 minutes , of which Macartney mdae 39. In the first over after tea Macartney was dismissed. Play, so far, had"been dullish, but Carter enlivened the proceedings, scoring five successive fourers, Armstrong gained 88, which constituted his highest test score, amidst cheers. The partnership yielded 112 runs, and when Carter was caught in the slips, he received an ovation from the spectators. He hit 11 fourers.

O’Connor and Armstrong outplayed time. The concluding half hour was full of excitement, and enthusiasm. Armstrong, up to the fifties, had played completely defensive and wearisome cricket, but afterwards he opened out into dash and brilliancy, and there was the wildest enthusiasm when he twice successfully drove Brauud for a sixer. It was a magnificent and thrilling termination of the day’s play, completely lifting it from practical dullness. Armstrong received an ovation on returning to the pavilion. He had batted 355 minutes, and hit twelve fourers and two sixers.

The -wicket is lasting well. The attendance was 12,000. Crawford consulted the doctors, as he was feeling unwell, having strained his right side and his heart. The doctors recommend him to see a London specialist. If England loses. Crawford will not play again in Australia ; otherwise, he plays only in the last test. To-day’s fielding was superb. Australia fought for every run and many couples were made into singles by the brilliancy of the Englishmen. The bowling was good. Scores:— AUSTRALIA—2nd innings. Trumpet, b Crawford ... 0 Noble, b Crawford ... ... 1° Hill, run out ... 25 Mac Alister, c Humphries, b Feilder... 4 Gregory, lbw. Fielder ... ... ... 29 Ransford, c Humphries, b Rhodes ... 54 Armstrong, not out ... •••_ ...114 MacArtney, c Gnnn, b Crawford ... 29 Carter, c Braund, b Fielder ... ... 66 O’Connor, not out ... ••• ••• Sundries .. •• ... ••• 15 Total for 8 wickets ... ...358 The wickets fell as follows: —4 for 65 5 for 77, 6 for 162, 7 for 217, 8 for 329. Sandon played Himahangi at Oroua Downs. Sandon won by an innings and 36 runs. Scores, Himatangi, Ist innings 30, 2nd innings 23, total 53. Sandon. 89. Afternoon tea was provided by the ladies. The cricket match between Marton and Cosmopolitan teams has been postponed indefinitely. The Cosmopolitans will play a match among the club members on the Park tomorrow.