MELBOURNE TEAM'S TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 31, 7 February 1927, Page 11

MELBOURNE TEAM'S TOUR

[AUCKLAND AT THE WICKETS

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Bay.

The Auckland-Melbourne match was iontinued this morning in. bright, sul;ry weather, with a fast wicket wearng well. Postles and Gillespie resumed Auckland's second innings to the bowing of W. Armstrong and Ebeling. The r'ormer struck a good length immediitely with, a lot of leg spin and the >atsmen watched.him warily. Postles iwung one neatly to the fine leg boundiry, Ebeling disclosed a lot of pace in he first couple of overs, and most of ds balls went past the off stump to Campbell at short stop. Gillespie sent ip 30 runs by driving Armstrong for l single and a square cut off Ebeling )roduced two. Postles got Armstrong iway for two more to fine leg. Arm;trong had-his field well placed. "With he score at 35 Jbhnstone replaced Ebeing. Postles got a few haTd ground ihots away on the off, but they were ileverly intercepted by Eansford at ixtra cover. Gillespie survived an ap)eal for caught at the wicket and Ibw iff: consecutive balls. The iirst halflour's play produced 17 runs. Picking heir way cautiously the batsmen added ■ix successive singles. Then Gillospie ried to pull Johnston, but the' ball vent off his pads on to the wicket. 41 — 1—22.

Anthony was the incoming batsman, md saw Postles survive an early Ibw ippeal by Armstrong. Postles cut him lor a single, and drove the next itraight back to .the bowler, who held, a varm shot. 43—3—15.

Frater opened with a boundary through the covers oS Armstrong. The bafsiuen gave a brighter touch to foe game by free play and a disposition ;o crack the slow bowlers,'who, up to '.his stage, had the upper hand. Anthony vas quickly in double figures, which iniluded two boundaries off Johnstone to eg. The score was quickly carried to '0, when Bodgerson. took a turn with ;he ball, and Ebeling, who still main;ained his pace, was tried at the other md. "With three neat ■ leg glances SVater ran into double figures. Pacing itodgerson, he slipped one into the gully !or a couple and drove the next for mother brace. In half an hour the pairidded 40. After a quiet spell Anthony ;urned Eodgerson to leg for two. T. Irmstrong replaced Ebeling. The ihange wa3 effective, Anthony sending me back to the new bowler. 94—£—33. Alleott came in and Bansford sueieeded Bodgerson. Frater hit the lef tlander's fourth ball to the fence, and i three to extra fine leg sent the een;ury up after two hours' play. Alleott started by cutting Eansford for a jouple, but after adding a single he niss-hit one from T. Armstrong high ;o Bodgerson at mid-on and was held. 104—5—3. <■•

Butler opened confidently, turning Etansford to ■ leg for three. Prater jwung the following ball hard to the 'ence. At lunch the score was 119 for Ive wickets. Bowley is not expected to bat, as its hand is still bad. Details:— MELBOUENE. Pirst innings 308 * AUCKLAND. First innings .........' 284 ' Second Innings. jillespie, b. lohnstone . k 22 Dacre, lbw, b Ebeling ' 2 Postles, c and bW. Armstrong .. 15 Anthony, c and bT. Armstrong ... 33 Prater, not out * 33 AJlcott, c Bodgerson, b- T. Armstrong 3 Butler, not out '. 7 Extras 4 Total for five wickets 119