AUSTRALIA V. NEW ZEALAND

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 56, 7 March 1914, Page 14

AUSTRALIA V. NEW ZEALAND

*HOME ,TEAM BATTING. (II TELKOItAPHI— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, 6th March. The match between the Australians and New Zealand — the first test match which>has ever been played In Dunedin — ' commenced, at noon, to-day on Carisbrook ground. I'he wicket was soft and easy after the heavy rain of the previous day, but the outfield was fast and .yielded its full 'quota 1 of runs. The winning of the toss by Reese gave the New Zealanders the first choice, and the New Zealand captain decided to send his team in." The start was not auspicious, the first' wicket falling for 18, but the next partnership earned the score . to . the halfcentury mark, and, with three wickets down' for 111, New Zealand may be said to have been in a good position at that particular stage. Armstrong bowled the off theory, with an occasional straight one, while Crawford was sending them down with rare pace. The wicket played well, but tho bowling was good, and the batsmen found it difficult to score. Three wickets fell quickly after the -luncheon adjournment, and five of the best of the, New Zealand batsmen were out for. 126. Patrick, Sandman, and Condliffe, however, compiled runs steadily, and 'the second century was brought up after 155 minutes' play. ' Heavy rain, which*' fell half an hour after the tea adjournment, brought abomb » cessation of- play, and, as there was no prospect of continuing, stumps were drawn at 4.46 p.m. New Zealand then had nine wickets down for 218 runs. The batting was strictly orthodox, being marked by careful play against good bowling. - One feature of the New Zealand innings was the batting of Tuckwell, who compiled his half : century in solid style, obtaining the majority of his runs with back-cuts and good leg shots.' Patrick played soundly for 68, including one big hit, for 6 off Armstrong, which tho spectators applauded to the echo. Reese got' out through losing sight of a ball Irom Crawford, which came back' and took his u'icket. Sandman played a free innings while it lasted, and, in one shot, lifted Armstrong over the rails for 6.' Condliffe played to feel a. break by Armstrong, and was . unprepared for the straight one which" got, him legbefore. The Australian ground fielding was fair, and their throwing-in accurate, but Armstrong missed two chances in the slips. Noble rang the changes on his bowling, but Crawford and Armstrong, who .bore the brunt of the attack, were the most successful. New Zealand. — First Innings. Wlritta. c M'Gregor, b Armstrong 1 ... 12 Hickmott, c Cody, b Armstrong ... 26 Tuckwell, b Armstrong 50 Horspool, c Cody, b Crawford ... 20 Reese, b Crawford • 4 Patrick, b Crawford ... ■ 38 Sandman, c Armstrong, b Noble ... 20 Condliffe. lbw, b Armstrong ... 25 Robinson, b Armstrong ■ „. ' ... 5 Wilson, > not out ■ 4 Bennott, uot out ... ... • ... I Extras ... . . 13, Total for nine \ykkeU .., 213 Bowling AualjMfc = Crajsitod took

three wickets for 64 runs; Armstrong, five for 76; CoLlins, none for 17; Cody, none for 9; Mai ley, none, for 12; Noble, one for 23; M'Kenzie, none for 4. How the' Wickets Fell. 123456789 18 50 111 120 126 157 205 209 214 NOTES. Armstrong took the limit of the crease when bowling. He was no-balled on several occasions, and cut matters very fine on others. Hickmott got out by jumping in to drive Armstrong. He swished the ball to Cody, who took an easy catch in the slips. Hickmott was never quite confident to Armstrong. At one stage Tuckwell swung Mailey to the grandstand for 6, repeating the stroke tnree balls later for 4, and notching a couple of! the laat ball, scoring 12 off the over. Tuckwell had then run to 41, of which 34 were made with boundary shots. The field was quaintly placed for Crawford, being arranged in V shape. ' When the score was 111, Tuckwell played back to a straight ball from Armstrong, and was clean bowled. He had played fine cricket, scoring chiefly with the back cut and swinging strokes to leg. On one occasion Sandman lifted Armstrong over the rails for 6, and Patrick also lifted the same bowler high over : the rails with a big hit, which the spectators applauded. Rain fell in the afternoon, and the j bowlers were handicapped with a greasy ball, and sawdust had to be resorted to. The second century was raised after 155 minutes' play. Patrick batted for eighty-two minutes for a score of 38.