CRICKET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9011, 21 December 1907, Page 6

CRICKET.

BY TELEGHArU —rRKSS AS3OCIATIOX. Received December 20, 10.21 a.m. SYDNEY, December 20. The Fijian cricketers defeated Victoria Barracks by 140 to 72.

FIRST TEST MATCH

PRESS COMMENTS. r.v 'j'Er.i'.dii.vi'ii—riress association. Received December 20, 0.20 a.m. SYDNEY, December 20. The Herald says:—"There have b :en a i'ew exciting finishes on the Sydney ground, but none were quite up to yesterday's, for anything might hiwe happened up to the last ball. Had Hrszlett lost: his wicket, there wa3 only Saunders to come, and though he batted well in the matches between the- Englishmen and Victorians in Melbourne it was almost as reasonable to expect lightning to strike twice in one spot as to :<ef a second though moderate score from him. Everything at' the finish Jepended upon Hazl a tt and Cotter. Tha latter batted as though a veteran. There was nothing terrible about i he bowling, though the wicket favoured a lot of work being got on to 1 the ball. After Armstrong and Mac- . A lister were dismissed the excitement of the spectators gradually increased until it reached fever height. The wicket was getting easier and easier, and the Englishmen were looking anxious, as they saw Carter 'ind Cotter piling on the runs. Then with Carter out for the finest innings : ;3 far as it went, for the match, 56 runs were required and two wickets '.o fall. These were got under most

exciting conditions, on a record for the ground. The scene at the finish was one that will live long in the memories of those who witnessed it, the cheers lasted for a long time. The total takings at the match were £3,000." The Daily Telegraph says: "The rule to be deducted from experience that English cricketers play a better pinch game than the Australians, owing, more than anything else, to a considerable proportion of well-seas-oned professionals in their teams, found its exception yesterday. The best guide, after all, is the performances, regarding which the Australians must be admitted to be deservedly the better team, since they led on the first innings, and in the second saved the match in spite of the strain that such a situation must subject the nerves to, and the disadvantage of the pitch, both ends of which" were miniature lakes the day before."