CRICKET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9577, 25 August 1909, Page 5

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIANS AT HOME. MATCH AGAINST MIDDLESEX. United Pressi Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. Received August 24, 8.55 am. LONDON, August 23.

To-day the Australians began a mat eh a t Lords ground against Middlesex. The wicket was easy, but frequent delays were caused by rain. The teams were composed as follow: Australia.—M'Alister, Trumper, Noble, Gregory, Armstrong, Bardsley, Ransford, Cotter, Whitty, Carkeek, and Hopkins. Middlesex. Warner, Douglas, Hebden, Tarrant, Robertson, Hendren, Murrell, Trott. Wells, Mineron, ar-d Hearne. It was raining up till lunch time, and a start was made at 1.20. The Middlesex captain won the toss, and Douglas and Warner opened the county inni n?s. The'former, after an excellent innin«a of forty-five minutes, during which he hit four fourers, was caught by Cotter off Hopkins. One for 62. Hendren joined Warner, and got some good hits off Hopkins. The century was reeled off in eighty minutes. Hendren fell to a catch by Cotter off Ransford, after scoring 29. Two for 118. Warner played flawless cricket, and was still at the wickets when at 5.40, owing to a further fall of rain, it was decided to cease play for the day. Armstrong bowled with wonderful steadiness, only three runs being got off nine overs, but Whitty was freely punished. Scores:—

MIDDLESEX. First Innings. Douglas, c Cotter, b Hopkins 41 Warner, not out 77 Hendren, c Cotter, b Ransford 29 Tarrant, not out 21 Extras 9 Total for two wickets 177 IHE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP. Recived August 24, 8.30 a m. LONDON, August 23. The winning of the county championship by Kent is practically assured.