A CENTURY TO BOWLEY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1927, Page 23

A CENTURY TO BOWLEY

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, 4th February

Auckland batted first by mutual arrangement when the match against the Melbourne Cricket Club commenced today. There were two thousand spectators present. The weather was fine, and the wicket in good order.

A good opening could almost be sensed when Bowley apd Anthony faced Ebeling and W. Armstrong with, every degree of confidence. Neither took risks, and scoring was slow, but Bowley was quick to take advantage of anything. Anthony was very steady. The score was 108 at the luncheon adjournment, but the fine partnership was broken in the first over on resumption. Anthony was still playing cautiously, but the seventh ball from Ebeling might havt beaten* many better batsmen. It was of good length, and it came up to take off the bails. The batsman was conpletely beaten by it. 'He bad played very soundly. 108—1—39. The next man was Prater, but he too found the field placed to block his scoring 6hots; He tried to glance Kbeling to leg. He missed and was out leg before wicket. 122—2—7. The nest ball | caused the sensational dismissal of Gillespie. It was sent down a good length and apparently outside the off stump. Gillespie raised his bat and made, no attempt to play it, but the ball whipped in and shattered his wicket. 122—3—0. At this stage Ebeling was very dangerous. AJlcott joined Bowley, and the score mounted slowly. Bowley was exploiting his powerful leg shot to advantage, chiefly at the expense of Onyons. He was drawing near his century when he sent a ball from Armstrong round to the pavilion railing. Next ball he repeated the shot for a single, and the crowd roared its applause. Bowley had made his century in three hours. With the score at 207 Jbowley made the mistake of playing at a rising ball on the off from Ebeling; he snicked it, and Campbell, behind the wickets, took an excellent catch, ana a brilliant innings closed. 207 i 130 Then disaster came. The crowd looked for some bright batting when Dacre came m, but just as he was beginning to shape confidently he was clean bowled by Woods.

When Postles opened brightly there seemed every possibility of a realisation ot the promise of a good score made by the fine opening. He scored well with a fiance and cut, and the total had reached 239 when the tea adjournment was taken. Aftsr tea bright scoring continued. Allcott soon passed 50, but then Postles s strongest shot proved his 'downfall; he went across to glance Ebeling missed, and made the second victim of a leg-bef ore-wicket decision. The scoring slowed down when Matheson joined Allcott. The field was marvellously plnced. Every scoring shot seemed to be blocked. Matheson then tried to force the pace by getting a ball on liis wicket round to leg, but he was bowled.

A procession started, for Allcott, who had batted beautifully for 60, snicked one from Johnstone, and was smartly caught by Campbell. Butler, who was joined by Player, was careful for a while, but went for a big hit off Johnstone, and was clean bowled.

Pour wickets had fallen cheaply since the tea adjournment, Und there seemed little chance of" Player and Scott retrieving matters. Player was careful to keep the ball on the ground, but the wellplaced field once again kept the scoring down. The total crept upwards towards the 300 mark, but Player threw away Auckland's slight chance of reaching it when he made a weak shot at a rising ball from Ebeling, and was caught by Onyons. The innings closed for 284. With a quarter of an hour to play, Campbell and Jewell opened Melbourne's first innings. They were together, with

20 on the board, for twenty minutesplay. Following are the scores:. AUCKLAND. First Innings. Bowley, c Campbell, b-Ebeling ....130 Anthony, b EbeTing 39 1 rater, lbw, b Ebeh'ug ...". 7 Gillespie, b Ebeling "'"' 0 Allcott, c Campbell, b Johnstone' !!'. CO Dacre, b Wood j> Postles, lbw, b Ebeling ...,' 12 Matheson, b Johnstone ..!.!!!!! 20 Butler, b Johnstone . 1 Player, c Onyons, b Ebeling ..,'..'..' 1 Scott, not out . . 2 - Extras -..III!!!!" 10 Total 284 Bowling Analysis.—Ebeling took six wickets for 63 runs; Johnstone, three for 21; Wood, one for 13. "MELBOURNE. First Innings. Jewell, not out 12 Campbell, not out !!!'!!!!!!! 4 Extras !.!!'.'.!! 4 Total for no wickets „.... 20