A FIGHTING FINISH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 3

A FIGHTING FINISH.

AUCKLAND DIES HARD. A MERRY LAST KNOCK. DACRE AT HIS BEST. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. The sky was overcast with a cool southerly breeze, making conditions ideal, when Bowley and Mills opened Auckland's second innings. By clustering the field round the batsmen, Massey and Badcock endeavoured to cramp their style, but Bowley refused to be intimidated, and the first half century went up in thirty-three minutes. McGirr's eight overs after Massey had failed to make any impression, cost 26 runs, and then Brice had a try to effect a separation. Both batsmen kept scon 0 briskly. Mills, driving and leg hitting strongly, while Bowley scored frequently with his powerful square cut. At times the ball got up dangerously, indicating that the wicket was wearing. The score was 104 when Lambert was given a trial, and ten runs later he beat and bowled Mills with a leg break. Anthony was unlucky in being run out ag the result of Lambert throwing his wicket down when the batsman was backing up a shot which went behind the bowler.

Cooper batted so lie 1 y and rather more crisply than usual, and while he was with Bowley runs came fast, despite frequent changes of bowling, which included Lowrv, Taylor and Foley. The last named got Cooper stumped when the score was 190, just before the lunch adjournment. After lunch Player •banged nine off Foley's first over, but was stumped in reaching forward to Brice. Hendy settled down quietly and saw Bowley bring the total to 220 before the Sussex man finished his fine innings of 120 by popping an easy catch off Brice into Massey's hands at silly mid on.

Dacre livened the proceedi:igs by hitting a four and a six off Massey immediately he went to the wicket, and following up with auother six in Massey's next over. Hendy also brightened up. Massey made the* ball kick a good deal, and play was halted for a while owing to James getting a nasty body blow from a jumping ball. Dacre continued to force the pace, despite changes of bowling, but when 260 runs were on. Hendy ricked himself in running between the wickets and had to retire with his score at 18. A. Weir was trapped on the leg side by Brice befo/e he had scored and gave place to his brother. Dacre continued to score freely, and 300 runs were up for 237 minutes' play. Dacre reached his century in 78 minutes, and at the tea adjournament was 368. the Auckland skipper then having 109 to his credit. Weir, who had played a useful innings, gave a catch to long on with the score at 400.

Hendv returned with Matheson to run for him. and was still there when Dacre's innings closed at 145 as the result of a catch in the outfield. When Rowntree joined him Hendy opened out, and there was some merry scoring till Hendy put up to long off, with the'total at 457. The last man. Matheson, met a similar fate with only a run added, and the Auckland innings closed for 458.