TEST CRICKET AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 74, 28 March 1914, Page 9

TEST CRICKET AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

LATTER MAKE WEAK START GOOD RECOVERY. (II TELEGRAPH.— TRESS ASbOCHTION.) AUCKLAND, 27th March. Beautiful weather was experienced for the uptiiing day's play in the final test match between Austialia and New Zealaad, and the cricket conditions generally were perfect. A wind and sun on the previous day had almost completely dried the wicket, uhich was in good •order, though, if anything, a little slow. There was a good attendance. Layer and M'Gregor stood out of the Australian eleven. New Zealand made a disastrous start, for, with only 13 runs on the board, three wickets had fallen, including Hemus, who went in first. While these three wickets were falling not v single run was scored. Patrick and Snedden stayed together until 40 appeared on the board, and Sale helped Snedden to take the total to 71 before the latter left. Then ensued the partnership of the -day — that between Sale and BrookeSmith. After the latter had settled down, he played a most attractive innings, and, with Sale also scoring well at the other end, the outlook became more hopeful. Ninety-seven runs were returned to the pavilion. Holland gave Sale valuable assistance, and as the total gradually rose, so did Sale (who was batting splendidly) get nearer his century. He succeeded in reaching three figures with the last man in, and he received a great ovation for his fine innings against odds. The last wicket fell at 269, aud aiumps were then drawn for the day. The feature of the Australians' performance was the fine bowling of Armstrong, who troubled all the batsmen, and got the good figures of six for 47. The Australian fielding was, on the whole, poor, though it was redeemed to some extent by the v -eplendid catches of Waddy and Collins. Scores: — NEW ZEALAND. Condliffe, b Armstrong 11 Hemus, c Waddy, b Crawford ... 2 M'Mahon, b Armstrong 0 Patrick, c Collins, b Armstrong ... 16 Snedden, c and b Armstrong ... 21 Sale, not out 109 Brooke-Smith, b Noble 46 Holland, b Mailey 12 Robinson, c M'Kenzie, b Noble ... 1 Bennett, b Armstrong 14 Saunders, b Armstrong 10 Extras 27 j Total 269 Bowling Analysis. — Armstrong took six wickete for 47 runs; Crawford, one for 37; Noble, two for 08; M'Kenzie, none for 6 ; Mailey, one for 54. How the Wickets Fell. 123456789 10 13 13 13 40 71 168 219 224 249 269 NOTES. It was one of Armstrong's fast ones which seat down M'Mahon's wicket. Condliffe survived an appeal for lbw off the first ball of Armstrong's second over, but four balls later he wa6 clean bowled ,in attempting, a bjg t hit. The first three wickete fell in fifteen minutee. When Patrick and Snedden were joined play became very slow. Both Armstrong and Crawford were bowling very steadily, and Armstrong in particular permitted no liberties. Patrick eventually opened out, however, and lifted Armstrong over the off boundary for 6, sending 30 up as the result of 35 minutes' play. , Both .batsmen then settled down again to stonewalling. Eventually Patrick waa brilliantly taken by Collins at cover-point. He was in for 35 minutes. Sale came in next. The half-century was raised as the result of 65 minutes' play. At the luncheon adjournment Sale was 17. Snedden looked like, making a big stand, but with the total at 71 he returned one to Armstrong, who took a hasty one-handed catch. Snedden played a stylish innings, marked by clean hitting and good placing. Brooke-Smith was very unhappy during his first over from Armstrong, who was getting a tremendous amount of work on the ball. After very slow play, 90 was hoisted, and Armstrong was given a spell for the first time in the innings, Mailey taking the ball from Mm. The big Victorian had then taken four wickets for 26 runs. New Zealand's first 100 occupied an hcur and fifty minutes, but both Sale and Brooke-Smith were more at home after Armstrong had been taken off, though Noble did not permit of many liberties. Mailey bowled leg theory, with a field well placed, and powerful hits only resulted in singles. As the result of 140 minutes' play, 150 appeared on the board, the last 50 having been put on in just under half an hour. At 168 Noble again bowled in place of Crawford, and with his fourth ball clean-bowled Prooke-Smith. Although very scratchy at the start, the Eden man gave a fine display when once he got going, and his crisp, well-played strokes were a -treat to watch. He received a great ovation on returning. When Holland joined Sale four overs went by without a mn being scored, and at 176 Armstrong was brought on again. New Zealand's second century came after play had been in progress for three hours and a-half. Sale was then 75. At 219 Holland was beaten all the way by a good one from Maitey. Robinson chopped one into second slip's hands. Sale was now 90, and the crowd began to wonder whether the two last men would stay in long enough to enable him to get his century. After other good strokes Bennett opened out and got Armstrong twice to the- fence. That was his finish, however, as he went half-way up the pitch to a slow one, missed it, and was clean bowled. '> s When Saunders, the last mail, came in he left the last ball of the over alone, giving Sale the bowling. Sale j was then 99, and the first ball of Noble's next over the -North Shore man cut for a single, and loud cheering announced that he had reached his wellearned hundred, after having been three hours and ten minutes at the wickets. Sale carried his bat for 109, made by clean, hard strokes all round the wicket. He was in for just on three hours and a-half, and his score included sixteen boundary hits.