CRICKET.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18918, 5 February 1927, Page 16

CRICKET.

MELBOURNE C.C. V. AUCKLAND. BCnVLr.Y'3 FINE INNINGS. [trlsj a;3ouv.-ion TS'.rjr—js.j AUCKLAND. February I. Auckland !>.it ted first by uiutiKii arrangement when ;iic match against the Melbourne Cricket Club team v.-as rorumrnccd to-day. There were 2000 spectators. The weather was fine, and the. wicket in good order. Lowiey and Anthony faced Ebcling and W. Armstrong with every degree of confidence. Neither tool: risks, and scoring was slow, hut Bowley was quick to take advantage of anything. Anthony was ■\ery steady, waiting for chances to use his square cut and cover drive against Armstrong. An occasional ball from the fast bowler Ebcling came up very high, but Bowley shone in forcing him to leg. With the score at thirty Armstrong relieved Ebcling and Itodgerson came on at the other end. The double change troubled neither Bowlcy nor Anthony. The half century was raised in even time. Bowley Nearly Caught. With his score at 49, Bowley made a somewhat weak shot at a ball from Armstrong, but the bowler, diving, just failed to get the catch. The pair were now well set, and Bowley played Ebcling confidently when he came on again in place of Rodgerson. Anthony was playing his usual correct game very stylishly, but a well-placed field robbed him of boundary after boundary. He played Hansford well when the Australian veteran relieved T. Armstrong, getting right over on top of the ball to bring off his characteristic shot past cover. Few liberties could be taken with the bowling, but it seemed to lack sting. The score was 108 at the luncheon adjournment. Partnership Broken. Tho fino partnership was broken in the first over after lunch. Anthony was still playing cautiously, but tho seventh delivery from Ebcling, a good length ball, came up to take off the bails, the batsman being completely beaten by it. Ho had played very souudlv. 108—1— 39. The next man, Fratcr, after a quiet opening, commenced to brighten up with shots on the off, but he, too, found the field placed to block his scoring shots. He altered his tactics and tried to glance Ebeling to leg, but missed, and was out leg before wicket. joo 7. Out First Ball. The next ball caused the sensational dismissal of Gillespie. It was a good length ball, apparently outside the off stump, and Gillespie raised his bat, but made no attempt to play it. The ball whipped in and. shattered his wicket. 122—3—0. At this stage Ebcling was very dangerous. Allcott joined Bowley, and the score mounted slowly. Armstrong used Onyons as his seventh bowler, and went on' himself at tho other end. Bowley was exploiting his powerful leg shot to advantage, chiefly at the expense of Onyons. Allcott was also in form, going forward to drive both bowlers gracefully along the carpet. Bowley *> Century. Bowley was drawing near his century when he sent a ball from Armstrong round the pavilion railing. The next ball he repeated the shot for a single and the crowd roared its applause. Bowley had made his century in three hours. Allcott Missed Twice. - Steady batting continued, till twice, in rapid succession Allcott might have been dismissed. Ho put one up to deep mid on. but the fieldsman failed to hold it, and then Ebeling missed a hot one when ho was fielding close in at fine leg. A forcing shot to the leg boundary brought 200 tip. Dismissal of Bowley. With the score at 207, Bowley mado the mistake o'f plnying at a rising ball on the off from Ebeling. He snicked it and Campbell behind the wickets took an excellent catch. 207—4—130. Then disaster came. Tho crowd looked for some bright batting when Dncrc enmo in, but just as he was beginning to shape confidently, he was clean bowled by Woods. The ball was pitched a little short, and Dacre went across to hook it. It nipped back and completely beat tho- Auckland captain. When Postles opened brightly there seemed every possibility of tho realisation of the promise of a good score made by the fine opening. Ho scored well with both glance and cut, and the total had reached 539 when the tea adjournment was taken. Allcott Reaches 50. After tea bright scoring continued. Allcott soon passed 50, but then Postles' strongest shot proved his downfall. Ho went across to glanco Ebeling, missed, and made the second.victim of a leg before wicket decision. The scoring slowed down when Matheson joined .Allcott. Tho field was marvellously placed. Every scoring shot seemed to be blocked, and Allcott, remembering his two early lives, was disinclined to lift the ball. Ho hit out once at the new bowler, Johnstone, getting tho ball over the bowler's head to the boundary. Matheson then tried to force tho pace by getting a ball on his wicket round to leg, but was bowled. A Procession. A proeession then started, for Allcott, who hac 1 batted beautifully for CO, snicked one from Johnstone and was smartly caught by Campbell. Butler, who was joined by Player, was careful for a while, but then threw eaution to the winds, went for a big hit off Johnstone, and was clean bowled. Four wickets had fallen cheaply Since the tea adjournment, and there seemed little chance of Player and Scott retrieving matters. Player was unwontedly cautious, but he soon livened up. He was careful to keep the ball on the ground. The well placed .field onee again kept the scoring down. The total crept upwards towards the 300 mark, but Player threw away Auckland's slight chance of reaching it when he made, a weak shot at a rising ball from Ebeling, and was caught by Onyons. The innings closed for 284. Melbourne Batting. With a quarter of an hour fo play Campbell and Jewell opened Melbourne's

first innings. They were together when stumps were drawn with twenty on the board. Following are the scores:— AUCKLAND. First Innings. Bjwlct, o Campbell, b Ebcling .. .. 130 Anthony, b EboUn? .. •• •• 33 Frator, lbw, b Ebcling .. 7 GiMcpie, !> Ebcling .. 0 AUeott, c Campbell, b Johnstone .. 6(> Dacrc, b Wood Postles, lbw, b Kbelin- .. •• 1* Matheson, b John«tone •• " J ,' Butler, b Johnstone " , Player, c Onyon?, b Kbeun? ■• •• 1 Scott, not out .. •• •• ; Extra* _[[ Total ■■, .• -J> 1 B-)wling--KLoliiC' t-wk six wickets :or r,3, Johnstone three fo- 2!, \\ o:d one for 1MELBUI'KNE. Fir?'. Inning. •U'lve'.".. not out •■ •• J '- Campbell, not out ' Extras •• " " Total .'or r.c v,.UU ■■ - 20

OTAGO V. CANTERBURY. PAGE .MAKES "■',. (J'itESi ASSOCUMCS TKLWRAM.) I) I'NED I.N', February -1. 'liie l'limk-'t Shioh! match, Otugo v. Canterbury, wiu commenced at the Carisbrook lirouiul to-day in perfect weather. Canterbury won the toss and batted iir,;. Play was not of air exciting nature. Tho vicktt was easy and the outfield fust. Caiitcrijurv niiule a weak beginning, both Nixon ami Craw lord going cheaply. Page and Talbot brought about a change, for 73. With nino t\<-wn lor 10-, due to A. W. Alloo\s excellent howling, it .seemed that Canterbury's total might not reach 200, but Head and Cunningham mado a last-wicket stand ami added 50. Rend played a bright innings for 30. Both batsmen wero dropped off Dickinson, and the lost chances cost 30 runs. Blunt and Knight opened Otngo's innings in good stvlo. The latter went for 18. Blunt batted brilliantly, and when stumps were, drawn had miide 73 of the total of 107 for four wickets. •Scores:— CANTERBURY. First Innings. Nixon, Ibw. I, Dickinson .. .. I Talbot, b Blunt .. .. .. 20 Crawford, <• Blair, l> Torrance . . li Page, b Alloo . . . . .. 7n Oliver, c Blunt. I) Dickinson .. .. 1!) Hamilton, b Torrunro .. .. s Boon, b Alloo . . . . . . 18 Evan*, b Shcplurd .. .. . . 0 Merritt, 1> Alloo .. . . .. "> Head, not out ■ ■ ■. .. :>5 Cunningham, b Torrance .. .. 1-1 Extras .. .. -5 Total .. 2« Bowling—Dickinson, two wickcls for 75 runs; "Torrance, three for -lti; Blunt, ouc for 47; A. W. Alloo, Ihreo for :»7. OTAUO. First Innings. Blunt, not out .. .. 7U Knight, c Nixon, b Uoail .. ..18 McMuMan, i: Page, b Head .., .. o Duncan, c and b Jlcrrilt .. .. 8 A. AV. Alloo, lbw, b Nixon .. ..4 Blnmlrcs, not out .. .. .. 1 Extras .. .. .. b" Total for four wickets .. 107 Bowling—Rend, two wickets for 4'J rune; Nixon, one for 11; Merritt, ono for 18.

CLARKE'S CLUB. The following will represent Clarke's Cricket Club to-day: Junior A team against Greens, at No. 1 wicket Sydenham Park—Cade, Swallow, Meeohara, Coe, Flanagan, Burnett, fiobbs, Dodd, Harris, Hammott, J. Lane. Junior B' team against Tcmpleton, at Tcmpleton. (Bus leaves Casfael street bridge at 1.80 p.m.)—Clarke, Burgoyne, Gillnrd, Harrison, Lawßon, Morrison, Swallow, Richards, Geary, Price, L. H. V. Wilson. Third grade team against Harowood, at Harewood—Spiers, Lane, Webb, Noble, Lane, Hulmc,. Boyle, Brookes, McKcndry, Bowen, Pascoe, Bowen. HAWKE CUP MATCH. (raiss associinoa telsobah.) NEW PLYMOUTH, February 4. In the Hawke Cup cricket match, Taranoki beat Poverty Bay by seven wickets, scoring in the second innings 04 for three wickots (Naismith in 17, -Kingston in 59). "* HENDREN AS COACH. AUSTRALIAN ENGAGEMENT. (BT CASH—PRESS ABSOCIATIOH—COPVBIOHT.) (AUSTBALIAS AKD K.S. CABT.B ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, February 3. Hcndrcn is definitely finishing his Association football career so ns to be freo to coach South Australian cricket in tho English winter. While still representing Middlesex at cricket, • Hendren has accepted a three years' contract as conch to tho South Australian Cricket Association.