CRICKET.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17104, 28 March 1921, Page 10

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIA t. NEW ZEALAND.

FERST TEST MATCH.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, March 26.

The first test cricket match between Australia and New Zealand was commenced today in fine weather and in the presence o: SOTO spectators. Tho attendance grew to -1600 before the luncheon adjnurnmant. Australia won the io-i, and Richardson and Bogle opened to the bowling of Brice and Sandman.

The start was sensational. Richardson made a single off the first ball o: the match, sent down by Brice. Two byes followed. Bogle touchi<i one into the flips, and Richardson called and ran right up to Bogle's wicket before the latter started lor the other end. Shepherd returned tmartiy 10 Rou.it.-ee, who sent the ball back to Brice, with a result that Bogle was run out. I—3—o. Liddicut foilowed. After four byes had been added Brice changed his pace and sent down it, short ball on the log-siae. Richardson just touched it, and was brilliantly caught by Hountree behind the wicketa. 7—2—l. . .

The Australian skipper, Ranst'ord, was tho next batsman, and he received an ovation. He scored a, single off Sandman's first over (the second over of the match), and Liddicut brought 20 up by lifting one from Brice to the northern boundary. When the score stood at 25 Brice sent down a fast one to Ransford, which tho batsman cut to Shepherd at second slip. The latter fumbled the catch, and Smith, who was standing close by, snapped up the ball before it reached the ground. It was a • brilliant effort.

' The board now showed 25 —3—4. Price's average at thi9 stage was two wickets for 5 runs.

Laulpard partnered Liddicut Rnd brought 30 up by glancing one from Brice to the notthern boundary. Then Liddicut opened his shoulders and drove the last ball of tho over to the Caledonian end. Tho over cost 9 runs.

Sandman Bent down a maiden over. Brice's next over cfcat 7 runs. Runs came freely, and tho total was raised to 52 for 48 minutes' play. At this stage Middleton took the ball from Brice, whose average was two for 22. Liddicut (23) gave a chance to Smith at first slip oil the second ball from Jlicidleton, but it was not accepted. The batsman showed his appreciation bv displaying even more enterprise, and together with Lampard carried the total to 74. "

They appeared to be getting well set, and the New Zealand skipper endeavoured to cause a dissolution by a change of bowlers. The new trundler was he relieved Sandman. After he hacT sent down one over with the wind ilcßeth was transferred to the other end. Middleton, who was bowling much below form, and whose three overs had cost 22 runs, was taken off, and Smith, the slow-break bowler, want on at the north end. The change very nearly bore fruit straight pway, as Lampard, at 49, gave Shepherd, at point, a chance off. Mcßeth's second ball. The fieldsman took the ball,, but dropped it.

Just before the luncheon adjournment 101 appeared on the board (Lampard 49 not out, Liddicut 40 not out)... The game had been in progress 78 minutes. When play was resumed, Liddicut opened to Smith, and Brice took the ball from Mcßeth. The batsmen had onljr added 10 runs to the total when Brice sent down a short one to Lampard, which the batsman tried to hook. 'He missed the ball Mid was clean bowled. 111—4—53.

The partnership yielded 86 runs. The retiring batßman played a really fine inninp for his .contribution, which included eight fours, several the result of masterly strokes. Waddy joined Liddicut, and signalled his •arrival by cutting the second ball from Brice to the leg boundary. At 2.15 p.m. a driving rain set in from the nor"-west, and stump® were drawn at 2'22 ■p.m., when the total was 183 Tuna for four wickets (Liddicut 52 not out, Wad3y 16 not out). , Scores:—

SOS'S* LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE ' MATCH. The annual representative matoh. between the Wellington" and Canterbury Boys' Cricket Leagues was commenced on Saturday at Hagley Park. The junior match is being played at Wellington. , The weather conditions were perfect, and an exoellerit wicket had been prepared for the match. Wellington won the tosa, and batting first, compiled the respectable total of Ml. G'. Nioholls 52 and M. Turner 48 not out, garre fine exhibitions of batting. Nicholls was pemhaps over cautious, but batted solidly newrtheless. Turner got his runa by forceful cricket, and displayed a number of fine strokes. The fielding of the looal boys was very fair, although in one or two instances a ldttle more energy, would 'have saved runs. Canterbury's innings commenced poorly, and two wickets were down for three runs. Brosnahan and Don being disposed of very cheaply, Don being emsLttly taken, by Nicholls at point. Jones was caught in the deep field by Bennett, who .took a splendid catch, and three wickets were, down for nine runs. R. Norrie and H. England are batting confidently, and 64 are on without any further loss, eo that to-day's portion of the match should bo worth watching. The game will be resumed at TO a.m. Following are the Bcmes;—

WELLINGTON. First Innings. G. Kent, b McAlistor -v.' E. Burbridg<\ run out .. .. 1G W.' Rogers, b Norrie .. .. 18 J. Burke, o McAlister, b Dowling .. 23 G. Nicholle, b McAlister ... ..■•62 A. Martin, b Jones .. ■ >. 5 M. Turner, not out .. .. i.. 48 A. Bennett, o and b Narrie ■ .. ..11 E. Edwards, Ibw, b Norrie ... ... 0 L. Clark, lbw, b McAliateT .r ... 14 A. Stevenson, b -Norrie .. ..4 Extras .. . .. . •••• .. 7 Total •• 201 Bowling—K. Norrie, four ( wickets for 98 runs; J. MaAlister, three for 48 1 H. Dowling, one for 14; J. Jones, one for 18; E. Currie, n/i-pA for 8; F. Chappie, none for . 10. CANTERBURY. First Innings. N. Brosnahan, b Turner ' 1 H. Dowling, o Nioholb, b Buribridge .. 2 J. Jones, o Bennett, b Burbridge , .. 4 B. Norrie, not out ... .. 35 H. England, not out .« 37 Extras .. •• •• 5 Total for three wickets .. 64 RKXARTON v. GERAXJDINE. A match between Biccarton and Gemldino was played at Gearaldine on Friday and Saturday. Riccarton made 170 (Moor 49, Holland 31, Evans 31, Martin 23) and 205 (Fuller 51, Martin 43, Evans 28, Luttrell 24, Caygill 16). Geraldine made M and 167. Evans, Page and Luttrell bowled best for the winners. RANGIOBA v. WAIATJ. A match wae played at the Rangiora Domain on Saturday, between the Eangiora and Waian clubs, the home players winning by an innings and 86 runs. The scores were: Kangiora 250 (Green 43, Cockroft 33, Lockhart 33,'Hanna 30, and Fisher 30, all retired, Adams 25, Blain 24, and Smith 21); Waiau 86 and 12S (Rogers 40, Griffith 29, Jl. Buchanan 18). Bowling for Rangiora, Lockhart got 5 wickets for 7 runs. Turnpenny 3 for 5, Fieher 3 for 5, Cockroft 6 for 50, and Hanna 2 for 25. For Waiau Erickson got 2 wickets for S3, Rutherford 2 for 72, and Griffith 1 for 19.

AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Richardson, o Rountree, b Brice .. 1 Bogle, run out . ... .. 0 Liddicut, not out .v.. 52 Hansford, c Smith, b Brice .. 4 Lampard, b Brice .. .. 51 Waddy, not out ... .. 16 Extras 8 Total for four wickets .. .. 132