ARMSTRONG'S TEAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 43, 21 February 1927, Page 13

ARMSTRONG'S TEAM.

A DRAW WITH TARANAKL EVEN* SCORING THROUGHOUT. (By Te!«-r»pb — Pr««* Asso.-latinn > NTEW PLYMOUTH. Sunday. The match between the Melbourne touring cricket team and Taranaki concluded in good weather yesterday, the result being a draw. To Taranaki's first innings score of 259 Melbourne replied with 250. a feature of the innings being the display by Wood, who scored 75 in less than half-an-hour. His total included eight sixes—five of which were scored off successive balls—and five boundaries. Taranaki's second innings began disastrously, four wickets falling for 19 runs. However, the home side made a good recovery and the score waa carried to 132 for nine wickets when the innings was declared closed. Melbourne had only 20 minutes left for play and lost two wickets cheaply. When the visitors resumed their first innings yesterday morning with the total at 67 for one wicket. Onyons carried his overnight score of -in to 4,5, and was then splendidly caught by Dykes in the outfield. Jewell had increased his total of 11 to 21. when KingI ston brilliantly stumped him. Wickets fell quickly, the comparatively slow pitch puzzling the visitors, and the sixth wicket fell with the total at 94. T. Armstrong and Wood then became associated in a partnership that added 101 runs. Armstrong gave an exhibition of steady but powerful driving, while Wood gave as bright a display of clean hittins and rapid scoring as has been seen herp for many years. The onlv ! other batsman to make a stand was | Warwick Armstrong, who played de- | lichtful cricket, forcing to leg with nice precision and driving and cutting crisply. Against the bowling of Ebeling, Tom Armstrong and Ransford. Taranaki fared badly on the return to the wickets until Cheevers and Kingston stopped the rot. The former played a good, steady innings and took no risks.

Bottrill and Cole both batted confidently, opening out as the time for declaring the innings closed drew near. Contrary to expectations, although only a brief time was left, Armstrong sent defensive batsmen in first. Sandford was caught off the first ball of the innings and Rodgerson went early. Details are: — TABAVAKT First innings 259 Second Innings. Lash, Ibw, b Ebeling 2 Naismith, b Ebeling 2 Monaghan, b T. Armstrong 8 Haughton. b T. Armstrong 5 Cheevers, b Ransford 41 Grayson, b Ebeling 7 Kingston, c T. Armstrong, b Rodgerson 16 Bottrill. c Ebeling, b Ransford .. 26 Dykes, c Sandford, b Ransford .. 1 Cole, not out 19 Extras 5 Total for nine wkts. (declaredl 132 Bowling Analysis.—Ebeling took three wickets for 33 runs, Armstrong two for 47, Rodgerson one for 20. Ransford three for 20. MELBOURNE.—First innings. Onyons. c Dykes, b Bottrill 4< Sandford. c Kingston, b Ccle 9 Jewell. «t Kingston, b Bottrill 21 Rodgerson. st Kingston, b Cole 5 Johnston, c and b Cole 2 Hansford, c Haughton. c Cole .... .1 T. Armstrong, c Grayson, b Cole .. 41 Wood, b Cole 7-i \V. Armstrong. Ibw, b Cole 3:? Dakin. not out G libeling, c sub. b Bottrill 1 Extras 4 Total 230 Bowling Analysis.—Cole took seven wickets lor f>6 runs. Bottrill three for 07, Haughton none for 63. Dykes none for 24, Monaghan none for 7. Second innings. Sandford. c Cole, b Bottrill 0 Rodgerson. c Haughton, b Dykes .. 3 Dakin. not out * 26 Extras 2 Total for two wickets 31