AUSTRALIANS OPEN WELL

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24814, 2 March 1946, Page 8

AUSTRALIANS OPEN WELL

MATCH AGAINST AUCKLAND

366 RUNS FOR LOSS OF THREE WICKETS (P.A.) AUCKLAND. March Batting first in the match against Auckland at Eden Park to-day, the Australian cricketers made an auspicious opening of their tour by scoring 366 runs for the loss of three wickets. The batting of the visitors delighted the crowd of about 9000. A fine century went to the credit of S G. Barnes, while K. Miller was one run short e of this mark and still unbeaten at stumps. The opening-partnership between W. A. Brown, the captain, who made 68, and K. Meuleman (53) yielded 96 Yuns before the latter was run out. Brown and Barnes added 81 for the second wicket, while Barnes and Miller put on 105 for the third. Miller and Hassett, who were still associated at stumps, added 84 runs. The Australians’ batting was generally very free, but in spite of the large score, the Auckland bowlers deserve credit for the manner in which they held to their task. There were times when the visiting batsmen were kept quiet by a steady attack, and good fielding. Kerr took one wicket for 76 runs in 30 overs with four maidens. Burke took the other wicket at a cost of 84 runs in 21 overs with two maidens. Cowie bowled 32 overs and three maidens for 101 runs. Australia won the toss, Brown ana Meuleman being the opening pair. The former faced an attack by Cowie and opened with a nice four past square leg off the fourth delivery, and a single oil the last. Emery bowled at the other .end and sent down a maiden to Brown. Meuleman scored a brace past mid-on at the expense of Cowie, but cracked his : bat in the same over and had to change it. The batsmen proceeded confidently. Emery sending down another maiden to Brown. Cowie gave way to Cleverley after he bowled two overs, and Meuleman brought up double figures with a four through the covers. After 12 minutes

play Cowie came on at the other end with the advantage of a slight breeze. Brown, with nice on shots, ran into double figures while Meuleman snicked one of Cowie’s deliveries to Pearson in the slips, the Aucklander fielding splendidly. Cowie was bowling better at this stage, but Cleverley was inclined to over-pitch his deliveries. The first 20 was hoisted after play had been in progress 22 minutes. Brown continued to score mostly or the on-s.de with good placements, wnile Meuleman executed some welltimed cover drives and twice found the boundary. Burke was given a trial with the ball with the total at 42, Cowie being spelled. Both batsmen used their feet freely to the new bowler and 50 appeared in as many minutes of play Meuleman especially was driving the slow bowler hard on either side of the wicket. A * 6 J’ everle y gave way to Burke. The batsmen were running many welljudged singles, but the Auckland fielding was generally good. Meuleman took two fours and a single off one over from fi i? e place ment= past the boAler. The batsmen reached 50 in 81 and shortly afterwards was run out. Brown played a ball to leg and Meuleman went for a run. On being sent back the batsman slipped and Pearson rer»Vt e i baU Kerr ’ Meuleman being given out in a close decision at 96-1-53 Barnes joined his captain, and the century appeared after 92 minutes. The score at the luncheon adjournment was 108 for not out) k6t <Brown 45 not out - Barnes 6

and Kerr took up the attack on the resumption. The batsmen »-ar>

_ , i- j, “ ran some splendidly-judged singles, and Brown 4u aC w ed ? IS 50 with a straight drive to £tt^ Un S ary Off Kerr After 117 mirSitS batting Barnes was, free, and on one oc“si°n Ke F r through the covers for A ran into the twenties. A little later he hooked Cowie to the fence, but. failed to get on to the shot Brown and Barnes. like Meuleman, had to change their bats Barnes at 29 snicked a delivery from Cowie just short of Whitelaw at first , Th t « tead .y attack of Cowie and Cleverley had quietened the batsman, and tiie well-placed field was stopping them 50 many short singles. A score of 150 was hoisted after 145 minutes. Barnes began to be more free, square Md back cutting Cleverley for two fours. -* 1 - lost Brown, however, who walked out to Play Burke, missed, and was clean bowled, with the score: 177—2—68. Brown batted for 157 minutes. Barnes was joined by Miller, and ran to 50 in 79 minutes with an off drive for two at Burke’s expense. He was batting very freely, while Miller also opened confidently. strong driving being a feature of his batting. The second century was hoisted after 174 minutes. This brought Cowie on again with a new ball, and Emery was given his second spell at bowling. Barnes continued to play excellent all-round Strokes, and ran into the seventies; but again he had to change his bat. making the fourth bat changed in the innings so

tax. The scoring rate slackened, Cowie sending down a maiden to Barnes. In attempting to hit Emery, Miller broke the edge of his bat. and was the fourth player to have to make a change. Half an hour before the tea adjournment saw the batsmen much more subdued, until Barnes pulled Burke to the boundary. The score at the adjournment was 245 for two wickets (Barnes 85 not out. Miller 28 not out).

On resumption. Kerr and Cowie took up the attack, Kerr bowling a maiden ’o Barnes. The Australian straight drove Cowie to th'e fence to bring 250 up in 232 minutes. Miller was losing no chances to score. A no-ball from Kerr with a good call by the umpire (Mr O. R. Montgomery) was promptly sent to the boundary by Barnes, who ran to 98. Cowie, bowling well, then sent a maiden to the batsman. Barnes received an ovation on reaching 100 after batting for 166 minutes. Shortly afterwards, the batsman hit out at Kerr and was bowled. 282—3—107. Thirteen fours were included in Barnes’s total.

Hassett followed, and Miller reached ms 50 in 105 minutes. The latter was batting very freely and opening out to Burke. He was dropped by Whitelaw on the off boundary off the slow bowler with his total at 54 Hassett opened quietly out confidently, and the third century went up after 271 minutes. Playing freely. Miller took two fours off Kerr with good strokes and approached the eighties Hassett was at the wickets for 33 minutes m reaching double figures. Miller sent Cleverley twice to the fence in one over and again in the next. A score of 350 appeared in 300 minutes. Miller was I much more quiet in the nineties. The •core at stumps was 366 for three wickets |

(Miller 99 not out. Hassett 28 not out). Scores:— AUSTRALIA First Innings W. A. Brown, b Burke .. ..68 K. Meuleman. run out .. ..53 S. G. Barnes, b Kerr .. .. 107 K. Miller, not out .. .. ..99 A. L. Hassett, not out .. .. 28 Extras .. .. .. ..11 Total for three wickets .. 366