SECOND TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1928, Page 11

SECOND TEST.

NEW ZEALAND BATTING. OPENING PAIR BEATEN. grimmett destructive. OUTFIELD VERY HEAVY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUN EDIN, this day. Lowry won the toss this morning in the second Test against the Australians, and sent Dempster' and Mills in to bat.

The weather was fine, but dull overflff/' t to recent rain the outKnlr the Cansbrook ground was heavy. T F ' wicket was so good that to bat y W ° n the tOSB he elected

Both batsmen opened their accounts • y ,' P ! aCe< L sin " les on either side of the wicket, off McNamee, and they also shaped confidently against Blackie f ho on became evident that the wet ball did not suit the bowlers, and Dempster got several loose ones sweetly away to leg. Oxenham relieved McNamee, and in the last ball of the over he missed Dempster's off stump by a whisker. McNamee took Blackie's place at the top end. Mills became conspicuous for his cut- .. was con sistent brilliance, but the ball was not travelling fast over moist turf, and the fieldsmen had ample time to save boundaries. Mills also disby P laein S Oxenham to leg with well-timed strokes, and McNamee was punished by Dempster, who pulled a full-toss strongly to the pickets. Iwenty appeared at the end of 27 w»« U 9| B /T. play '. and at 1220 the score ( D ® m pster 11, Mills 11, extras 6). Mills adopted Trumper tactics when he pulled Oxenham for a pretty two from the off stump, but the scoring generally became, careful and slow. Oxenham was bowling with good length and kept the batsmen subdued. He had several maidens, but he was relieved by Grimmett, whose first ball, a full-toss, Dempster introduced to the leg bounnfnT +T v- after ~ the expert made the New Zealanders treat him with more respect, although the danger at his hands lay chiefly in deceptive flight rather than break. Oldfield was not letting much go past.

Mills Smartly Caught. Oxenham was changed over to McSamee'a end. The Grimmett-Oxenham combination seemed to be the most successful of the day so far and the scoring became still slower, especially when Grimmett's breaks, both off and le«, became more pronounced. The first stir of the morninsr arrived when Mills, in attempting to pull Oxenham, was smartly taken by Blackie at square leg. 50—1—17. Foley stepped out to replace him and was all at sea facing Grimmett. Dempster released a magnificent stoke when he pulled the South Australian in lightning fashion to the grandstand fence, an effort which stood out as an oasis 'in a desert of singles and maiden overs. Shortly afterwards he got his Jeg before to the same bowler and was out. 56—2—30. i; Blunt, who followed, did not know 'Mj»uch about)' Grimmett for a start, and VXenhara also was swinging in a dis- [ concerting way. The score at the luncheon adjournment was 58 for two wickets. The score at 2.30 p.m. was 71 for two wickets (Foley not out 4, Blunt I not out 11, extras 9). NEW ZEALAND.—First Innings. Mills, c Blackie, b Oxenham 17 Dempster, lbw, b Grimmett 30 Blunt, not out j 1 Foley, not out 1 Extras 9 Totol for two wickets 58

HAWKE CUP MATCH. CHALLENGERS OVERWHELMED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., this day. Manawatu defeated Southern Hawke's Bay by an innings and 137 runs in the Hawke Cup match. The challengers scored 87 in their first innings, and Manawatu replied with 293 (Norres 84, McKenzie 51, O'Keefe 33 not out, Pegden 20). Southern Hawke's Bay's second innings yielded 69, and occupied only an hour and a-quarter. Wilder, Smith and Armistead, with 10 each, were the top scorers. McVicar took four wickets for 30. Diederich four for 18 and McDonald two for 12. The Manawatu bowling and fielding were exceptionally good.