CRICKET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9051, 10 February 1908, Page 5

CRICKET.

THE FOURTH TEST MATCH

A SODDEN WICKET.

COLLAPSE OF ENGLAND.

Received February 9, 9.45 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 8. The fourth test match was continued to-day. England have been exceedingly unfortunate in having the worst of the weather, and general regret was expressed that the match should not have been contested on equal conditions of wicket and weather. It is felt now that Australia must win, and that being so the rubber becomes Australia's. Rain fell in the early morning. Consequently the wicket was soddened, and the match not started till 2.30 o'clock. Hobbs and Gunn continued theninnings in bright sunshine, but the wicket was all in favour of the bowlers, and Saunders and Noble had a feast day. Hobbs immediately began to hit, and obtained five successive fourers. Gunn was first to go, being caught and bowled by Saunders. His 13 occupied 55 minutes in compiling. Hardst*aff and Hutchings did very little, but the latter saw Hobbs e'ean bowled by Noble's first ball of the day. He had batted 71 minutes in a highly meritorious style on a bowler's wicket, and put up ten fourers. Braund saw the speedy departure of Rhodes, who was' caught in the slips, and Crawford was clean bowled. Braund was then joined by Jones, who went in for hitting—the proper game on such a wicket. Braund was very cleverly run out. Jones played Noble to mid-off, and started running. Noble followed up the delivery and threw down Brauncl's wicket. Then the innings, which lasted 125 trinutes, closed for 105. Both Saunders and Noble were unplayable. Noble opened with O'Connor and MacArtney, but he soon, changed them to himself and Saunders with the best result. Australia's r.eco"d innings was opened by Noble and Trumper on a much-improved wicket, but the spectators were dismayed to see Crawford's fourth ball provide Trumper with a pair-of spectacles.

Hill and Noble showed good front to the bowling, but Noble had the misfortune to play Crawford on to his leg and thence on to his wicket. MacAlister did not last long, but Gregory and Hill got going beautifully. They stole many runs and "flurried" the fielding by their daring. This had the effect of rousing the spectators to enthusiasm. They played out time in good style. Providing no more rain falls the wicket should roll out perfect on Monday. By present appearances there will be fine weather. The attendance numbered 19,797, and the takings amounted to £757. Scores: - ENGLAND. N Firifc. Innings. Gunn, c and b Saunders 13 Hobbs. b Noble . 57 H?.rdstaff. c Carter, b O'Connor 8 Hu'.chings, b Saunders 8 Rhodes, c Ma-'Alister, b Saunders 0 Braund, run out 4 Crawford; b Sauniers 1 Jones, b Noble 3 Barnes, c o'Connor,b Noble • 3 Fielder, st. Carter, b Saunders 1 Humphries, not out 3 Extras 4 Total 105 Bowling analysis.—Saunders, 5 for 28; Noble. 3 for 11; O'Connor, 1 for 40;' Armstrong, 0 for 4; MacArtney, 0 for 18. AUSTRALIA. First innings 214 Second Innings. Trumper, b Crawford 0 Noble, b Crawford 10 Hill, not out 18 MacAlister, c Humphries, b Fielder 4 Gregory, not out 13 Extras 4 Total for three wickets 49 The visitors' wickets fell as fol-lows:-One for 58, 2 for 69, 3 for 88, 4 for 90, fi for 90, 6 for 92, 7 for 96, 8 for 100, 9 for 103. Australia's wicket fell as follows: —One for 4, 2 for 21, 3 for 28.