ARMSTRONG'S MEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 31, 7 February 1927, Page 9

ARMSTRONG'S MEN.

'visitors at the wicket. RAXSJORD GETS A HUNDRED. AUCKLAND SECOND INNINGS 171. FRATER TOP SCORE WITH 46. The cricket match Between Warwick Armstrong's Melbourne Club team and the Auckland rep. team attracted an attendance of 5000 spectators to Eden Park on Saturday afternoon. At lunch--1 eon the score was 111 for four wickets, but immediately afterwards two wickets fell quickly, and the next one carried the score to 165. Then Ransford and Rodgerson made a stubborn ninthwicket stand which put on 113 runs, making the score one less than the AuckI land score of 254, which was passed with Warwick Armstrong, the last man, at the wicket. The innings closed when Ransford, having just completed his century by fine cricket, was bowled with the visitors' total at 308. Auckland had lost one wicket for 21 runs when stumps were drawn. In consequence of Bowley's injury there was a deal of interest this morning in how the young players in the Auckland side would rise to the occasion. Gillespie and Postles opened promisingly, but with the score at 44 both of them went. Anthony and Frater added 50 runs brightly before the latter was dismissed, and at lunch time five wickets were down for 119 runs. At this stage it was obvious that a good late partnership was required to save the game for Auckland. Saturday's Play. I In the second over after lunch, AIII cott clean bowled Sandford. who had J made his 2'J runs in 36 minutes—the fastest scoring of the game. In the next over Auckland had a further success, in that Player had Onyons caught at extra cover, the substitute Monteith being the fieldsman. 126—6—51. Onyons had I played an invaluable innings, having I been two hours at the crease. Ransford and Johnstone were then , the batsmen and the cricket became j slower, neither being comfortable to j Allcott, who was bowling well at this j stage. So long we?e the batsmen in j getting- into their stride that the crowd I started to cheer ironically when runs j were made. It was a case of stubborn I batting, and the score was 16.5 when Player bowled Johnstone. Then came the best stand of the day between Ransford. who was now batting beautifully and scoring freely, and Rodgerson, a batsman with an ungainly style but a solid defence. Despite bowling changes they put on runs steadily, and had added 113. making the score 253 before Rodgerson was caught at extra cover off Butler. | Amid cheers Armstrong appeared as last man, and he stayed with Ransford till the latter got his century and then was bowled by Allcott with the total at 30S. In the final quarter of an hour Auckland lost one wicket (Dacre) for 21 runs, the Auckland skipper getting out leg before to the fast bowler. The spectators indulged in some barracking of Ebeling for appealing for another leg decision when the ballwent moje than stumps high, and of Croipbell for appealing for a catch at the wicket, apparently unnecessary.