FEATURES OF THE PLAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 11

FEATURES OF THE PLAY.

BOWLERS UP AGAINST IT. HONOURS TO LOWRY* (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. With their usual lack of good fortune in Wellington, the Aucklanders once more lost tho toss and tho opportunity of batting on a wicket which was perfect and under conditions that made things easy for scoring. It is 20 years sine© Auckland has won the loss in Wellington. Worker was very steady but slow, and it was chiefly on account of Dempster's crisp all-round cricket, by which he monopolised the scoring, that Wellington got tho very excellent start of 85 before the first breach was made. Foley failed to get going and Dempster almost immediately followed Worker, giving Anthony a good bowling average, and Auckland the encouragement of getting three wickets for 160. It was at this stage that the Auckland prospects were given a decided setback, for Badcock and Lowry put up a record fourth wicket partnership of 207 runs, which is 27 runs better than the previous best made by N. C. Snedden and C. C. Dacre in the Auckland-Welling-ton match of 1920 at Wellington. Badcock was the enterprising member of the partnership and scored freely, though he took chances with uppish shots, and on one occasion was lucky in not being run out. Lowry brightened up after lunch, when the Auckland bowling tired, and then began to force the pace. It was a good ball from Mills that completely bowled Badcock, ending the partnership with the score at 377 for four wickets. Lowry and James put on the run 3 at the rate of two a minute for almost a couple of hours, the former getting the bulk of his runs from a strong square cut, varied by on-drives and pulls. At no time did he give a chance, and Auckland was lucky when, with 180 runs to his credit, he chopped onto his wicket a ball from Matheson that made pace off the pitch. James made his century in good style and J. S. Taylor created an excellent impression by fine timing and the ease of his batting. A high wind, which prevailed throughout the day, made the task of the bowlers a difficult one, and in view of the fact that Player and Anthony each seat down more than 30 overs and Matheson 25, their averages at the end of the day were fairly good. None of the batsmen could score much off Bowley, and spectators were surprised that he was not used more. The Auckland fielding generally was good, while Rowntree put up a brilliant wicket' keeping performance. The score is the highest yet made by .a Wellington team against Auckland. The highest first innings score to date in the Plunket Shield games is 643, put up by Auckland against Canterbury at Auckland in 1920. when S. G. Smith made 256. Wellington has made higher scores against Otago when on different occasions they totalled ,579 and 560.