CRICKET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9034, 27 February 1908, Page 6

CRICKET.

• THE FIFTH TEST MATCH. AUSTRALIA ALL OUT FOR 422. ENGLAND 6 FOR 117. IK TELEORArH—rRESS ASSOCIATION Received February 26, 4.57 p.m. SYDNEY, February 26. The rain during last night and this morning did not improve the already impaired wicket, and prevented the resumption of the game till 1.15. Hayes fieldel for Barnes, and Blythe for Hardstaff. At the start the bowlers found it difficult to maintain a footing. Arm&trcng commenced HITTING VIGOROUSLY, but after adding 13 to his score put a hall simply into Gunn's hands at point. Seven for 373. Hartigan was the next man, and added a fourer and a single to the score. Then he played Crawford on. Ransford was playing a sound game. Eight for 387. Carter partnered Ransford, and the FOURTH HUNDRED APPEARED for 4 huurs 58. minutes work. The Sydneyite quickly put up double figures, and passed his Victorian partner, knocking up 22 in 13 He then put one up into Hobbs' hands at third man. Nine for 422. II h snore included four f jurers. Saunders was the last man. and fended off the first ball from Rhodes. He put the second one up near the wickets, Young getting to it. With 271 to get Fane and Hobbs commenced England's second innings. The former was missed by Trumper off Noble's first ball before any score had been made. A GOOD CATCH. Runs came slowly, Hobbs doing most of the scoring till he lifted one hard from Saunders, Gregory making a good catch. One for 21. Gunn filled the vacancy, but before he could score A BEAUTIFUL BALL from MacArtney dug his leg stump out. Two for 26. Hutrhings made a couple, and MacArtney in the next over lifted the off stump out of the ground. Three for 30. MacArtney's average now stood at two for six. Hardstaff followed, Hobbs running for him. PLAY BECAME SLOW and careful after tea. The score crept into the fifties, and then Hardstaff pulled Saunders on to his wicket. Four for 51. Fane was playing the bowling with some confidence. Braund joined him. Braund was a quarter of an hour without getting off the mark. He then hit one fast, and Noble effected a smart catch at point. Five for 57. Rhodes joined Fane, and play brightened up. The latter made some vigorous strokes. Rhodes reached double figures in a patient manner. Under the drying wind the WICKET GREATLY IMPROVED, and losing much of its sting various changes were tried. Noble displaced MacArtney at 87, and his second ball shifted Fane's stumps. He had batted 2 hours 14 minutes. Six for 87. Young followed. The century was hoisted for 2 hours 27 minutes' play. The attendance was 8,600. Scores: — AUSTRALIA. First innings 137 Second innings. Noble, Ibw, b Rhodes 34 O'Connor, b Barnes 6 Trumper, c Gunn, b Rhodes 166 Gregory, b Crawford 56 Hill, c Young, b Crawford 44 MacArtney, c Jones, b Crawford 12 Armstrong, c Gunn, b Crawford 32 Ransford, not out 21 Hartigan, b Crawford 5 Carter, c Hobbs, b Rhodes 22 Saunders, c Young, b Rhodes 0 Extras 24 Bowling analysis.— Barnes 1 for 78, Crawford 5 for 141, Rhodes 4 for 102, Braund nil for 64, Hobbs nil for 13. ENGLAND. First innings 231 Second Innings. Fane, b Noble 46 Hobbs, c Gregory, b Saunders 13 Gunn, b MacArtney 0 Hutchings, b MacArtney 2 Hardstaff, b Saunders 8 Braund, c Noble, b Saunders 0 Rhodes, not out ' 32 Young, not out 9 Extras 7 Total for six wickets 117 The Secretary of the Wairarapa ; Cricket Association states that the Masterton A team have not forfeited their match to Carterton. If necessary the match will be played out after the present fixtures are completed. The number of contributors of the "duck's egg" in first grade matches in Dunedin oi Saturday was remarkable. There were no less than twenty "blobs" out of sixty batsmen.