BIG CRICKET.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18569, 19 December 1925, Page 17

BIG CRICKET.

NEW ZEALAND V. VICTORIA. ALLCOTT BRILLIANT. (BT CABLE— TRtSS AgSOCUTIOB—COrTM&HT.) (AUST&ALIAJf JJ.-0 X.I. GABLX AJSOCJA-IOH.) (Reeeived December 18th, 8.4."> p.m.) MELBOURNE, December 18. A match between the New Zealand touring team and a Victorian eleven was commenced to-day. Gillespie, James, and Mcßeth were omitted from the New Zealand team. The weather was hot and threatening, with a strong wind, the wicket being perfect. Mayne won the toss and took the field. The New Zenlanders madr a bad Start, two wickets being down for 23. Worker and AUcott were comfortable from the outset. The former scored freely from leg glances, and AUcott made many strong shots past point. Half a century was scored in sixty-three minutes. Worker in one over scored three boundaries off Lansdown, a slow bowler. He then was very quiet, taking twenty minutes to score a single. AUcott hit hard at anything loose, and overhauled his partner, being first to reach 50, having then batted 83 minutes. He scored 20 whilst his partner added one.

Worker completed his 50 in 123 minutes. The batsmen were confident, and showed great defence. The bowling was well varied, but the batsmen made it appear second-rate. In the first hour after lunch 73 runs were added. The batsmen cleverly stole singles. The crowd cheered heartily when AUcott reached his century after 149 minutes at the crease. He was then batting very attractively, dispatching many delightful cover drives. His full time at the crease was 157 minutes. He hit seven boundaries. The partnership, which yielded 193, was a chanceless display. Worker batted 199 minutes, and hit five boundaries. He played a great defensive game. Dacre opened confidently. Wilkinson, a left-hander, at one stage had 3 wickets for 19. He sent down a swinging-in delivery.

A cool change during the adjournment made conditions much more pleasant. Dacre was uncertain, but he hit two boundaries. Two hundred and fifty was hoisted after two hundred and twenty minutes' play. Oliver gavo a fine display of all-round-tho wicket bright batting. Thirty runs were added in twenty minutes, Oliver monopolising the scoring. Patrick was content to play "rock." Oliver played a ball to the off and ran, but his partner sent him back. In turning Oliver fell yards outside of the crease. Oliver gavo a grand display in tho 45 minutes he was batting. In addition to throe boundaries ho made many forceful drives, and was timing excellently. Crawford went out in a peculiar manner. He trod on his wicket in making a good leg stroke. After Oliver's departure tho scoring was slow. Patrick when eight gave a difficult chance to Mayne at point off Hendry. Only three runs -were scored in five overs, the batsmen being strictly on the defensive. Patrick was at the wickets for fifty minutes beforo he reached doublo figures. AllOo played Hendry on. Three hundred were scored in 285 minutes. Patrick scored oho boundary. The attendance was 1500, and the gate £sl. Qcores: — '

NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Worker, b Wilkinson .. .. 89 Blunt, c Hendry, b Wilkinson ~., 5 Lowry, b Ebelling .. .. 9 Allcott, e Liddicut, b Wilkinson .. 107 Dacre, lbw> b Ebeling ~, .. 19 Oliver, run out .. .. 36 Patrick, c Hansford, b Lansdown 'g2 Crawford, hit wicket, b Henry «. 0 Alloc, b Hendry .. ..3 Cunningham, not out .. ..., 5, >Hope, run out .. „. .. 5 Extras .. .. .. 14 Total .... , .. 314 Bowling Ebeling, two for 58, Wilkinson three for 40, Lansdown one for 60, Gamble none for 65, Liddicut none for 28, Hendry two for 49. S. AUSTRALIA V. N.S.W. GREGORY AND MAILEY PLAY HAVOC. • (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION) (Beceived December 18th, 11.30 p.m.) ADELAIDE, December 18. The Sheffield Shield match between South Australia -and New South Wales was commenced in bright sunshine under a cloudless sky. The, wicket was good, and the outfield fast. South Australia opened sensationally, losing three good'batsmen, A. Bichardson, Gun, and Pritehard, when only thirty-one runs had been scored. V. Bichardson, and Bymillcame to the rescue and stopped the rot, buijf when the latter was caught, another collapse commenced. Gregory and Mailey were in excellent form, and the fielding of the New South Wales team was excellent. The South Australian first innings score was 185. Individual scores were: A Bichardson 0, Gun 11, Pritehard 9, V. Bichardson 59, Bymill 26,- Murray 4, Bundell not out 37, Grimniett o, Scott 20, Whitty 5, Ambler 0, extras 9.