FIRST MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 7

FIRST MATCH.

BRIGHT BEGINNING. Australian Cricketers Dismiss Worcester Cheap. VISITORS SCORE WELL. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 30. The Australian cricketers commenced the first match of their tour this morning against Worcestershire at Worcester. The weather was fine and the wicket soft. A stiff breeze was blowing across the pitch. Jewell captained the local side owing to the indisposition of the Hon. J. B. Coventry, who was to have done so. Jewell won the toss and elected to bat. Woodfull led the Australians on to the field punctually at noon, in the face of a battery of newspaper and cinema cameras. The wicket was true and the ball did not rise high. The batsmen appeared to be comfortablo against A'Beckett, who was pitching the ball outside the stumps. Wall also caused them no anxiety. Grimmett displaced Wall and dismissed Jewell with his third ball, a full toss being hit hard and straight _ to Fairfax, who took the hall kneeling. All the Australians played in sweaters, the bowlers even replacing them between the overs, owing to a keen breeze. Grimmett and Hornibrook made an effective combination, keeping down the runs, but Nichol hit the first four of the match off the Queenslander after forty-five minutes. A splendid running pick-up by Woodfull at mid-off dismissed Nichol, Grimmett whipping off the bails in the nick of time. An hour's play produced 45 runs. Gibbons, a young professional, who headed the Worcestershire averages last year was shaky against Grimmett, but faced Hornibrook with confidence, bringing up 50. Grimmett, after an hour's bowling, got Wright and Fox off successive balls, leg before. After lunch Walters and Gibbons improved the rate of scoring. Wall was taken off, after another brief ineffectual spell, in favour of Fairfax. The handled appeared for 130 minutes' play. Two smart pieces of work by Oldfield dismissed Walters and R>oV After "a period of slow, shaky bating, fax teat Brooks, shattering his wicket. Grimmett, desvite two and a quarter hours' bowling, was and periston t Oldfield gained his third victim when Styler attempted a foolish run. Fairfax rooted up the middle stump again when lie dismissed Gilbert, and two balls later he got Jackson. The innings had lasted 165 minutes, and the Australians did not miss a chance. Woodfull and Jackson opened the visitors' uinings at 3.50 p.m., both batsmen refusing to nibble at leg theory bowling. Twenty runs were scored in as many minutes, the batsmen repeatedly sending Root and Jackson to the boundary. Woodfull's batting was full of confidence. There was little venom in the Worcester attack, and when Root was taken off the scoring rate was one per minute. Jackson was well caught at square leg by Walters. Woodfull and Bradman were cautious after tea against accurate bowling by Root and Brooks. Woodfull reached 50 in ninety minutes. The Worcester fielding was poor. Bradman, gathering .confidence, hit harder and obtained 50 in an hour When stumps were drawn Woodfull had been at the crease 145 minutes, having scored seven boundaries. Bradman had batted ninety minutes, securing eight fours. Scores:— WORCESTER—First Innings. Jewell, c Fairfax, b. Grimmett .... 7 Nichol, run out 8 Wright, lbw, b Grimmett 28 Fox, lbw, b Grimmett 0 Gibbons, not out 31 Walters, st Oldfield, b Grimmett .. 21 Root, st Oldfield, b Fairfax 9 Brook, b Fairfax 2 Styler, run out 13 Gilbert, b Fairfax 0 Jackson, lbw, b Fairfax ........... 0 Extras 12 Total 131 Bowling: Wall, no wickets for 21; A'Beckett none for 2, Grimmett four for 38, Hornibrook none for 22, Fairfax four for 30. AUSTRALIA—First Innings. Woodfull, not out 95 Jackson, c Walters, b Brook 24 Bradman, not out 75 Extras . r 5 Total for one wicket 199