MELBOURNE TEAM

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1927, Page 11

MELBOURNE TEAM

MATCH AGAINST AUCKLAND

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day

The Melbourne cricket team began its first match of the New Zealand tour this morning in bright weather and on a fast wicket. Bowntree and Cooper were not available for Auckland, and were replaced by Scott and Butler, while Dakin stood out of the Melbourne eleven.

Auckland batted first, and opened with Bowley and Anthony to tne bowling of Ebeling and W. Armstrong. Bowley soon reached double figures, his score including two fours off Ebeling. Armstrong's length was as perfect as ever, and the batsmen were content to play him. At times Ebeling kicked dangerously. At 17 Anthony survived a confident appeal for lbw by Armstrong. He drove the next ball crisply through the covers for three, and also hooked the visiting captain for three, bringing 30 up in half an hour. Both, batsmen were playing freely and confidently. Anthony survived another lbw appeal, this time from Ebeling, and drove Armstrong for a single. T. Armstrong, a slow right-hander, replaced Ebeling, and Anthony scored a single off the first delivery. The next was a no-ball, which Bowley lifted high to the fine leg fence. Anthony miss-hit last ball of the over and narrowly escaped being caught at short-leg. It was the second nine-ball over. Bod-, gerson, a medium fast righthander, succeeded Warwick Armstrong,- and Bowley brilliantly square cut him to the line and, with a lifting shot, got him again to the fence on the leg-side. The Melbourne fielding was clean, and the stopping of crisp ground shots frequently evoked applause. Forty-five minutes' play saw 50 up at noon. Both Bowley and Anthony were then shaping confidently.

Bowley drove Eodgerson hard to the fence, and in "the next over sent the same bowler straight for four. Buns came freely at this stage. Bowley's placing was exceptionally clever. Anthony's contribution was ten successive singles. Auckland had 66 on for an hour's play. Bowley swung T. Armstrong to fine-leg boundary, sending 70 up. He patted the next ball gently back to the bowler, who dropped a sitter. The Englishman reached his halfcentury in 70 minutes. On the Victorian side Wood stood out for brilliancy at extra cover. Armstrong rang on another change, Bbeling going on in place of Eodgerson. He bowled threequarter pace, with an occasional ball rising head-high. Bowley came down hard on an, off ball, which flashed through the covers to the line. Anthony took 80 minutes to reach 20, and Bowley topped 60 in only five minj utes longer. After scoring fourteen successive singles, Anthony fluked Ebeling for four, bringing 90 up in the same number of minutes. Eansford took up T. Armstrong's role, after he had sent down nine overs for 28. Anthony opened out at the left-hander, and chipped him to the boundary. Facing Ebeling, he pulled a bumped one for a brace. Two leg-byes brought 100 up for 97 minutes. Jewell, a slow right-hander, was tried in place of Ebeling. Anthony hooked him to the fence. ' Eansford' sent down a maiden to' Bowley, and at the luncheon the partnership was unbroken. '•'■ Details:— ■■":•' AUCKLAND. i. First Innings. Bowley, not out 05 Anthony, not out 39 Extras 4. Total for no wickets 108