FIRST TEST MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 71, 29 March 1921, Page 5

FIRST TEST MATCH.

VISITORS SCORE 273, N.Z. AT THE WICKETS. ALL OUT FOR 204. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The first test match between New Zealand and Australia was continued after luncheon to-day, the score at the adjournment being 250 for seven wickets. On resuming only 5 runs had been added when Brice. got an extra fast straight ball past Ratcliff. 2Ul—B—2B. Ironmonger was next to go in. He hit a sixer, but a few balls later lost Asher, who fell a victim to a remarkably fine left-handed catch by Smith at second slip off Brice. 273—0 —22. Hornibrook was last man in, but only survived a couple of balls before being bowled by Brice. The innings closed with a score of 273. Hiddleston and Blunt opened New Zealand's innings to the bowling of Hornibrook and Liddicut. Hiddleston lute cut the second ball for 4, but with the next ball Hornibrook clean-bowled him with an off break. 4—l—4. Snedden followed, but with only 0 runs added fell a victim to Hornibrook. 10 —2—l. Smith followed, and he opened his account with a single off Hornibrook, and then took a maiden from Liddicut. Twenty was hoisted after 25 minutes' play. Then Smith drove Hornibrook beautifully to the fence. The bowling was keen and the fielding good, and runs came very slowly. With the total at 27 Blunt reached out to one from Hornibrook and touched it into Richardson's hands in second slip. 27 —3 —B. Shepherd joined Smith, and the latter again | beautifully on-drove Hornibrook to the fence, a stroke which he repeated the following over off the same bowler. With the total at 30 Smith had scored exactly half, batting confidently. Shepherd opened his score by driving Liddicut for 3. At 41 Ironmonger replaced Liddicut, off whom only i> runs had been hit, and bowled a 'maiden to Smith. A maiden from Hornibrook to Shepherd followed, and with a few runs added, Hornibrook, who had bowled nine overs for 27 runs for three wickets, was replaced by Asher, whose first ball Shepherd pulled round to square leg and hit the fence. At the tea adjournment the total was 50 for three wickets. Smith opened after ihe adjournment with a 3 to leg. off ironmonger. Shepherd got a single or two. At 55 Smith was taken by Ransford at deep mid-on. 55— 1 —25. Dacre joined Shepherd, and Hornibrook replaced Asher. Each batsman was aggressive, but the placing of the field was admirable, and made runs difficult to get. Two nice late cuts and square-cuts to the fence saw Dacre run into double ligures, and the next ball he drove Hornibrook high to the off boundary. Off the succeeding ball Dacre gave a difficult chance to Waddy in the slips, but it was not accepted. Runs were now coming more freely, Dacre scoring 3 and Shepherd 4 off successive balls from Ironmonger. The pair were also running smartly between the wickets, and the score mounted by bright cricket, fours being comparatively frequent. The century was hoisted, amid applause, by Shepherd, who linally off-drove Hornibrook forward of cover-point to the boundary. The century had occupied 105 minutes in the making. The end of lan interesting partnership came soon, ■ Dacre hitting out at Ironmonger, being ' taken by Ransford at deep mid-off. 105 I — 5—27. Middleton joined Shepherd, but after scoring 1 was clean bowled by Hornibrook. 10C—6—1. Sandman was next and made a lucky smack to the ■ boundary just past the wickets. The I pair were batting when failing light I caused an adjournment of the play at 5.15. r TO-DAY'S PIAY. SHEPHERD" CONTRIBUTE? 81. (By Teleprnpb.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The test cricket match was resumed to-day in cold, dull weather. Shepherd (45), and Sandman (10) faced Ironmonger and Hornibrook on a heavy wicket after rain overnight. One leg bye came off Ironmonger's opening over, and his second was also a maiden. Hornibrook's firot delivery was sent by Sandman to the boundary, otherwise scoring was slow. A soft wicket was troubling the batsmen, but Shepherd managed to place si nice boundary off Ironmonger, after which he gave a chance to Hornibrook ill the slips that was not accepted. vShepherd reached 00 by a big hit to the boundary. Adapting themselves better to the'eonditions the batsmen increased the total to 107 in half an hour. When the score, stood at 174, Ransford bowled'one over to change round Hormtirook and Ironmonger. Sandman, however, sent Hornibrook to the boundary, but Ironmonger, now bowling with the advantage of the wind, succeeded in terminating a fine partnership which rea-lised 7fi. Sandman being t-aught in the slips by Richardson. He contributed a we-11-played 35. Shepherd's total being 72. 182—7—35. Brico filled the vacancy, commencing cautiously, but Shepherd opened out, scoring two boundaries in quick succession. Shortly afterwards n, Ibw decision finished Shepherd's splendid innings. His total of 81 contained nine fours. He gave • a bright all-round display, for which" he received a gTeat ovation. 193—S—81. Brice did not last long, being run out after scoring 2. Mcßeth. last man, obtained one three and two singles, bringing up the second century. Rountree, who had survived two. chances to Waddy in the outfield, hit a boundary, and was then bowled by Hornibrook, the inninge closing for 204. The luncheqn adjornment was then talien. Scores: — AUSTRALIA.—First Inninge. Richardson, c Rowntree, b Briee ..... 1 Bogle, run out 0 Liddicut, b Mcßeth 83 Ransford. c Smith, b Briee 4 Lampard, b Brice 53 Waddy, b Mcßeth .:... 48 Kippax, b Brice .".. t 8 Ratcliffe, b Brice „ 28 Asher, c Smith, b Brice 22 Ironmonger, not out 10 Hornibrook, b Brice 0 Extras 16 Total 273 Bowling: Brice took seven wickets for 80 runs, Mcßeth tiro for 51, Sandman nine for 61, Middle£om none for 3§,fimith none, for 30. '""■ ■ • **".....

XEW ZEALAND.—First Innings. ' Hiddleston, b Hornibrook 4 Blunt, c Richardson, b Hornibrook S Snedden, b Hornibrook 1 Smith, c Ransford, b Ironmonger .. 25 Dacre, c Ransford. b Ironmonger..-. 27 Middletorij b Hornibrook, 1 I Sandman, c Richardson, i> Ironmonger 35 Shepherd, Ibw, l> Ironmonger ...... SL Brice, run out . : - Rountree, not out •> b 'Hornibrook >-..:.. ...« u: ..« 5 Extras ....... ........ .*,->»:.;. ... '■> Total 204 Bowling: Hornibrook five for 98, Liddicut none lor 14, Ironmonger four for 74, Asher none for 7, Ransford none for _'. THE SECOND TEST. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! \ CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Patrick (Christehuri-h) replaces Middleton in the second test inatci> Player (Auckland) is twelfth man. VATiUE OF THE TOUR. (By Telegraph.— Press Association.) ( WELLINGTON', Monday. During the luncheon adjournment afs the test cricket match to-day Mr. Hcathcote Williams, president of the New Zealand Cricket Council, congratulated the Australians on their splendid record in the Dominion, not a single match having been lost- The. tour had been of great advantage to New Zealand cricket, he said, and much educational value to the Dominion cricketers. The council aimed at securing a visit of English amateurs, say every ten years, and it vas suggested that the Englishmen should play matches in the Dominion on the way to Australia while the Australians could do the same when journeying to England. Messrs. Howard, manager, Ransford, captain, and Waddy, vice-captain, responded, and said there would be no difficulty in getting the best Australian cricketers to visit New Zealand.