TEST CRICKET. SECOND MATCH AGAINST AUSTRALIA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 71, 26 March 1910, Page 6

TEST CRICKET. SECOND MATCH AGAINST AUSTRALIA.

VISITORS BAT FIRST. For a wonder Easter Saturday (at time of writing) is fine, with a promise of behaving itsetf for the remainder of the day. Wssther conditions for the Second Test — Australia v. New Zealand — are mostly satisfactory. A lumpy north wind bl&w across the ground, and jthis should assist materially the bowlers from the north end. The light may prove shifty hUer on. The wicket had the appearance of being a good one, and, for Wellington, fast enough to suit even jthe Australians, who have had a good 'deal to say concerning various New Zealand pitches. The caretaker appears to have wrought well, and provided .what is eminently a batsman's wicket. rThe outfield, too, is in nice travelling fl>rder. .The teams are as follow :—: — AUSTRALIA. .W. W. Armstrong, captain (Vie). A. J. Hopkins (N.S.W.). A. C. Facy (Tasmania). C. R. Gorry (N.S.W.). C. Kelleway (N.S.W.). S. Emery (N.S.W.). T. Warne (Vie). W. Bardsley (N.S.W.). W. J. Whitty (N.S.W.). D. Smith (Vie). E. R. Mayne (S.A.). NEW ZEALAND. D. Reese, captain (Canterbury. E. Sale (Auckland). A. Haddon (Auckland). L. Hemus (Auckland). S. Brice (Wellington). H. D. Siedeberg (Otago). S. Sandman (Canterbury). C. Boxshall (Canterbury). J. H. Bennett (Canterbury). A. Sims (Canterbury). H. B. Lusk (Canterbury). Dodds and Simpson are standing 'down. Messrs. J. Varnham and D. M'Kenzie are the officiating umpires, and Messrs. Clemeutson and Hood the official scorers. Armstrong won tbe toss, and at 12.5 D. Reese led his men iuto the field. ,There was a fair number of spectators. MAYNE AND WARNE. Brice, the Petone fast bowler, opened against the wind to Edgar Mayne, the South Australian, who cut a short one to the riuk — the first score in the second Test Match. T. Warne^ the Carlton professional, was at the otner end. The Itco men represented solidity and dash, Warne, on his day, taking a lot of digging out. J. Bennett opened with the wind, and Warne drove him straight for three with a forward stroke. Boxshall appealed f reitlessly for a ran out. Mayne faced Bennett, and back-cut him twice, Hemus, on the ropes, saving the runs. The* sun came out at this stage, as Brice bowled again to Mayne, who was swinging vigorously and cutting beautifully—with tbe forward drive, his best stroke. The Petooe bowler's second over yielded a single. Reese had his two fast bowlers going, Bennett mixing them somewhat, mustering a lot of pace with the wind. His second ball Mayne chopped him through the slips, well clear, to the ropes; past double figures. The South Australian vras shining on the off-theory, his timing and placing so far being splendid. The wind was making itself somewhat •f a nuisance, and occasionally brought •Jong clouds of dust, which did not assist the batsmen. Bennett, adhering to the off-theoiy, sent down a maiden, Warne watching the fast stuff go past. Then Brice, with the opening ball of his next over, sent Majoe's iraddb stump flying, clean beating tits batsman, who played forward, but. coeld not stop it. 18 — I—l 3.1 — 13. Brice one for seven. It was a dangerous .wicket gone, Kelteway, the lengthy colt, joined Warne, stopped some of the remaining baits of the over, and missed the others. Warne late-cut Bennett through tbe slips, and Brice earned applause for a neat stop. Haddon mulled | tile next chop, and the batsmen ran a j single. The Dating had sobered down considerably, now that the effervescing ■Maype had gone. Nineteen runs went up as the result of half an hour's play. WARNE TEMPTED. j At 20, Warne, throwing cautions to {he wind, lashed viciously at Bennett, and Boxshall snapped up a brilliant catch, the unanimous appeal going against the batsman. Bennett had coaxed him effectually, and the Victorian had bitten. Score: 20—2 — 7. Bennett, on© for 12. The wicket was playing as a respectable wicket -should, but it was encouraging the bowlers. Kelleway turned one from Brice. down to short-leg nicely, following it with, another to the on. Sandman's return was yards wide of the wicket. Off the last stroke three were rnu. Smith, the Richmond colt, who got a century in tbe country, who had joined Kelleway, opened bis account by pushing one down the off, the batsmen running between the wickets with good understanding. Boxshail, behind the •ticks, was doing clean and crisp work .with the gloves, and the effort that sent Warne back was in his best form. The scoring continued slow, the bowling from both ends being accurate, if i not deadly. Brice clean beat Smith, the batsman lunging forward, but not touching the ball. It was a pretty dose thing. The next ball Smith punched past mid-on to the boundary — a free and uninterrupted run. This brought 30 up. Smith followed this up with another in the same direction, but round a bit squarer, giving himself double figures. Again the batsmen sneaked a clever run, and 40 went up on the board. Another short one — Sandman, at mid-off, overran, and a single was added. Smith, playing steadily, was making the most of iis reach, smothering the fast stuff safely. Brice was losing his paco and his length. It was not much, but still noticeable. The fielding was bright generally, and Sale at cover dived for a hot one which bounced opportunely. Smith slashed one hot and strong to the oS boundary — at beautiful stroke. The opening ball of Brice" s next -over "beat the field," and went to the ropes — four byes. Then Smith, becoming more belligerent, opened his shoulders and drove Brice to the on boundary — 50 up, and Smith 25. Bennet still slammed them down outside the •ff stump, and had a cordon of five dips, •ne on the rink, to assist him. FIRST BOWLING CHAXGE. At 59 Reese and a dust storm came on together, the New Zealand skipper relieving Brice, who had tired against the strong wind. Off the left-liander's first •ver three runs were got. Smith cut Bennett and Haddon let the ball run Sst him badly. Hemus saved tbe four, ill putting the wood on, Smith back «ut Bennett nicely for a couple. KELLEWAY THROWN OUT. Then Kelleway, taking chances with 4fce field, was thrown, out. The ball was played to mid-on, but Bennett, picking op cleanly, efaot borne a deadly return .which just pipped the batsatan on the post. 72—3 — 14. All rocad, it .was good ■work. ARMSTRONG IN. The Australian skipper came in to the gccotnxmßHieob oi chews, and Sandman,

took np tim attack at the North end. Acmstsong drove the colt down to tbe rope past cover, Re*se making a weakattempt to intercept. Siwkh drove arj-r-otber straight for three, and altogether ten came off tbe over. At 115 the adjournment was held. fThe score was 89, Smith 44 not out, l Armstrong 5 not out.