FOURTH TEST MATCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 42, 8 February 1908, Page 3

FOURTH TEST MATCH.

0 . ! AUSTRALIANS' FIRST INM.Vis. I REALISED «.-\|.', _'l|. MXL.MJII) i;«.ml.[\i; AND I FIELUINi;. I Receive.] Feb. 7, In.;, |,.,„. : Melbourne, Febiuary '. Uh- lourtb te-i mutch ua- commenced (today, .loue* captained tin- English [team. Fane, lilythe, \<>ung, and Hayes | did nut play. Noble »<m Ike toss, and } with Traui|KT opened Australia's iu- ; iiings on a good wicket. I Tlk- bat-men began very gingerly, a'id j treated with respe.t the Iwwliiig of | Fielder and Baruc. Noble ha<l a life J very early in the proceedings, but the , partnership .Ji,| not last bin-. a ->Trumper »a> taken in the third -lip bj Crawf'orl. to the great disappointment of the croud. Trumpet had shown indifferent form in ie,t crkket tliw reason. Ihe disappointment »a, accentuated shortly after when Hill was dean bowled. Noble and Mac-Alister made a fair ►land, though MacAuMer gave a chain c when 13 lo -(ones at ypiare-ieg o.T Braund. It wa» a hot. lull. which tin- Engti-limaii met with his left hand. At the lunch hour both were not out—Xoble 37, MacAlister 21). After lunch the dullness of the morning's play continued. Noble was first

to go, Crawford skittling him. Noble had batted stolidly for 113 minute*, but his rnns included onlv four boundary hit*.

Gregory was cordially greeted on his reappearance in te<tt cricket, and, with MicAlUter, brought up the century in 135 minute*. Three runs later Afa..Alister was well caught, after batting lbi" minute*, during which lie hit thr-e fours. Gregory was a disappointment. He wa* caught at point. Armstrong and Hansford placed beau, tiiul cricket, and the partnership added til runs liefore Hansford, who was in for a hundred minutes, hitting six fourcs. was caajht in the slips by Braund. Armstrong wa* immediately afterward* bowled by Crawford. The remaining batemen did little, an 1 the innings, which lasted 274 minute, closed at 214. Gunn and Hobb- were associated for the few minutes remaining to the dra.ving*of stumns. The day's play wa« dull, relieved on')' by the brightness of Ransford and Armstrong. The former was excellent from the time of entering until his dismissal, but appeared tired. His cutting was superb and his timing perfect. Armstrong via more useful than brilliant, one clipping sixer off Braund evoking enthusiasm.

The bowling was magnificent. Crawford'* especially. He mixed his pace, disguising it well. The fielding was capital. The attenj. ance was nearly ten thousand, and thi wicket was good. Scores: —

AUSTRALIA.—First Inning;. Trumper, c Crawford, 1> Fielder .. 0 Noble, b Crawford 48 Hill, b Barnes 7 MacAlister, e nones, b Crawford .. 37 Gregory, c Fielder, b Crawford ... 10 Ransford. • Braund, b Fielder .. 51 Armstrong, b Crawford .. 32 McArtney, c Hardstaff, b Fielder .. 12 Carter, c and b Crawford 2

0 Connor, c Fielder, b Crawford .. 2 Saunders, not out 1 Sundries a

Total ... .'. m The wickets fell as follows:—One for 1, two for 14, three for 89, four for 10, fire for 105, sii for 196, seven for 19C. eight for 198, nine for 212—Fielder fo;ir for 51, Barnes one for 37, Braund none for 42, Crawford five for 48, Rhodes none for 21. EXULAND.-First Innings. Cunn, not out .. „ 0 Hobbs, not out 9 FINANCING THE BRITISH TOUR. Melbourne, February 7. In regard to the predicted shortage in connection with the tour of the English cricket team, it is explained that the so-called shortage will not mean an actual loss to the association, bat merely a loss of anticipated profit. As a matter of fact, the guarantee of £IO.OOO had been secured.

WAT.F.A v. ~EW PLYMOUTH WEST. A team from the New Plymouth West End journeyed to Warea on Thursday and played the Warea Cricket Club, suffering defeat on the first inning* by 71 run*. The visitors were hospitably entertained by the local folk. Score*:— Wares.—E. Jenkins, not out, 21; U. Anderson, c Webster, h Muldoon, 8; C. H. King, b Williams, n : J. U-i-dom, c Whittle, b Muldooc, 4: X. Watt, 1) Wes> ton, 17; E. Urking. I. Whittle, 12: 11. lVlliaoi. b Whittle. U; C. Corliett, c llartigan, I> Muldoon, 7: 11. Layman, b Jlaldooo, £; P. Julian, b Weaton, 12: 11. Pierson, c and b Whittle, 0: extras. 17; total, 100. Howling analysis—Williams one for 14, Muldoon four for 27. Weston two for 11. Dixon none for 11. llartigan none for 7, Whittle three for 1». Harry Ward none for 4. New Plymouth.—W. (.: Weston, run out, 2: Whittle, b Anderson. I: Williams, e Larking, b Anderson, ■>: Muldoon, .b Jenkins, 13: Dixon, !> Jenkins, I; McAllum, 1.b.w., b Anderson, 0: L. W. Webster, b Anderson, 0; llartigan. h Anderson, 0; Brereton, run out. 0: Harry Ward, a«t oat, 0: Little. <• Anderson, I Jenkins, 1; extras, 5; total, in. Bowling analysis—Jenkins three for 10, Anderson five for 1.1.

At aatham on Thursday the local team beat Kaponga in a one-innings game by 97 to 18. Baker, of Elt ham. took sewn wiekets for 8 runs.