THE CRICKET TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 78, 2 April 1928, Page 14

THE CRICKET TEST.

A TRICKY WICKET. HOME TEAM OUT FOR 162. AUSTRALIA 57 FOR FOUR. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Saturday, riie second and final Test match between Australia and New Zealand was commenced at C'arisbrook this morning. At tlie end of the day's play New Zealnnd had been dismissed for 162 runs, when the Australians had Jost four of their best batsincn for 57.

The rain had cleared during the night, but a little fell again this morning. Last night's rain did not affcct the wicket, which had been covered, but the outfield was wet and slow. A cold, bleak wind made conditions unpleasant at the commencement of play, but later in the day the weather grow warmer. The bowlers held the upper hand throughout the day. After Dempster and Mills had given New Zealand a good start Blunt was the only batsman to take advantage of the opening and he made a fine 50. The bowling of Oxenliam and Grimmett proved too good for the majority of the batsmen, who suffered a real collapse.

Australia fared badly, and might have lost more wickets if Dickinson had not strained himself after capturing such a fine pair of batsmen as Ponsford and Kippax. Blunt Pleases Spectators.

After tlie resumption the sun shone brightly, and the outfield was drying fast, though it was still a trifle dead. Oxenliam nnd Grimmett continued the attack against Blunt and Foley, who was still appearing uncomfortable. Blunt quickly opened his shoulders to Grimmett, and scored 4 and 3 in one over beautiful leg strokes. The spectators, who 1 were rolling up in force, were mightily pleased. Blunt contjnued to bat in exhilarating Style,'frequently sending: the ball careering to all points of the boundary.

Foley began to look more at home, and off-drove Oxenliam for a 2, which was nearly a 4.

The Australian fielding was crisp and clean, Merfamee relieved Oxenham, and shortly afterwards the total reached 100, afte£ 2;,Jl6urs and 5 minutes' play. Blunt' 3 perfect driving and well-judged leg glances were proving a source of delight to the -spectators. The score mounted gradually, Jbofh batsmen maintaining a confident 1 front. Blunt, when 45, gave a difficult chance to Wood full at second slip, but he just failed to reach the rising ball. He reached his 50 in 79 minutes. A* few minutes after his first "life" he trifed to get Blackie away to square-leg and succumbed to a good catch by Richardson. 141 —3—50. Last Seven Out For 31 Runf.

Badcock came in, but soon lost Foley, who was "yorked" by Oxenham. 141—4 —24. In making 24 Foley took 102 minutes. Events were moving rapidly and disastrously for New Zealand. Hamilton partnered Badcock, but the Englishman did not last long, being bowled by Grimmett with the last ball of a maiden over. Lowry came in, and Hamilton opened his account with a sweet cut to the boundary. Lowry batted very carefully against Grimmett, and showed a similar demeanour when opposed to Oxenham. Lowry was beaten by the third ball of Grimmett's next over, the ball just missing his off stump after twisting awkwardly from leg. Then Oldfield dropped the New Zealand skipper, off Grimmett, but Lowry lost his wicket shortly afterwards when attempting to drive Grimmett. McNamee, at mid-011, took a splendid low catch. 151—6—3.

James, who followed, had'hard luck in hitting his wicket ity?jfuCU)g the South Australian. 151—7—2 A little later Haimiltoif -Was caught and bowled by Oxenham. 161-^B-—lO. McGirr opened 5 confidently, but before he had -scored Kippax took a welljudged catch from his bat off Grimmett's bowling. 161—0—0. Grimmett's average at this stage was five for 47.

Dickinson and Read were the last pair in, and ftfed was bowled by Grimmett before either , had scored, so that the whole side was out before the tea adjournment. The Australians Begin. After the tea adournment Australia took strike, the opening batsmen being Ponsford and Woodfull. Dickinson and Badcock bowled first for New Zealand. Although Woodfull left some of Badcock's leg stuff severely alone, the first ten<went up in as many minutes. Just when the famous opening pair seemed well set Dickinson created a sensation by spread-eagling Ponsford's stumps when ho had scored 13. 19—1—13.

Kippax, the incoming batsman, was puzzled by the last two balls of the Otago express bowler's over. In marked contrast to Dickinson's placing of the field, Badcock had only three men on the off, Foley being the only slip fieldsman.

When stumps were drawn Australia had lost four wickets for 57 rune. Australia Finds It Hard. Woodfull and Pons ford opened Australia's innings, Dickinson and Badcock taking up the attack. Dickinson was bowling too short and 10 went up in five minutes. Badcock's first two overs were maidens. With the total at 19, all u ®' c^'nson i' the fast bowler created cheers by clean bowling Ponsford. —I—l 3.

Woodfull ran into double figures rn?.t an l at 20 Bh,nt replaced BadtWn J- tgo P uWic Wttß wildly enMX' ? w en 4 ckin9on secured KipJx£*j ti? St "fix" T With liis Bf ore nt 43, Schncider w n » dr«„n a"? J? total by Dempster off Mr.Gjrrthe"finiu" 1 juggling with the liaH but iimi hold it Road, whose SIJl g t0 for' three, w n , , t «k«n "ff fa, Zt ° ne . Blunt, who cojuptetoiv Wt In his first over, t' „ H?*, * Imrd \ the ball with liiS-Xg.-'?

In McGirr's next over Schneider lost his wicket by playing the bowler on. 47—4—7. Alexander was missed by James off McGirr before opening his account. An appeal against the light at 5.30 was disallowed. Fifty went up in just under an hour. Lowry was ringing on the bowling changes and Read cams back again in place of Blunt. Another appeal at 5.35 was upheld, the board reading 57 for four wickets. Following are the scores:— NEW ZEALAND.—First Innings. Mills, c Blackie, b Oxenliam 17 Dempster, lbw, b Grimmett 30 Blunt, c Richardson, b Blackie 50 Foley, b Oxenham 24 Lowry, c McNamee, b Grimmett .... 3 Badcock, b Grimmett 0 James, hit wicket, b Grimmett .... 2 Hamilton, c and b Oxenham 12 McGirr, c Kippax, b Grimmett .... 0 Dickinson, not out 0 Read, b Grimmett 0 Extras 24 Total 162 Bowling.—Grimmett took six wickets for 47, Blackie one for 13, Oxenham three for 36, McNamee none for 42. AUSTRALIA.—First Innings. Ponsford, b Dickinson 13 Woodfull, b Read 15 Kippax, c Blunt, b Dickinson 5 Schneider, b McGirr 7 Richardson, not out 12 Alexander, not out 2 Extras 3 Total for four wickets 57