EIGHT FOR 576

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 17

EIGHT FOR 576

WELLINGTON BAT. ALL DAY LOWRY BRILLIANT . Taking full advantage of the ideal batting conditions, Wellington, in their match with Auckland at the Basin Reserve yesterday, stayed at the crease all day and compiled the huge total of. 576 runs for the loss of eight wickets. The innings was marked by several brilliant performances, with that of T. C. Lowry, -who captained the New Zealand side in England, towering above the others. In compiling 181 runs Lowry gave one of the best displays that has been seen at the Basin Reserve for a long time. He played soundly, taking no undue risks, but at 'the same time he lost no opportunity of scoring, anything at all loose being dispatched to the boundary with great force. During his stay of 166 minutes, Lowry found the boundary oh twenty-four occasions. During the greater part of his innings he had the company of F. T. Badcock, the Wellington coach, and together the pair put on 207, this constituting a new Plunket Shield record for the fourth, wicket. Badcock's contribution to the total was 01, scored in brilliant fashion. Another outstanding performance was that of K. C. James, the Wellington and New Zealand wicket-keeper, who played delightful cricket for his 108. He reached that total without giving a chance. J. S. Taylor, the Nelson coach, batted soundly for 61, and earlier in the day C. S. Dempster made a valuable contribution of 71. Tho Auckland attack was weak, but in spite of the trouncing they received the eight bowlers stood up to their task manfully. The fielding was also good throughout the long day. Eowntree gave a finished display behind the wickets, there being only five extras registered during the innings. Details of the play after "The Post" went to press yesterday follow. LOWRY'S CENTURY. Anthony went on in place of Mathesou, who had proved expensive, and Lowry hooked the second ball he received to the boundary. Lowry was getting most of the bowling, and he made the most of his opportunities, everything at all_ loose being sent to the boundary. Twice in one over he dispatched Anthony to the boundary. Badcock was also doing his share of the scoring, and twice in succession he sent Weir to the boundary. Lowry also scored freely off Weir, and 15 runs came off one over. Dacre decided to have a turn with the ball when the total had reached 267, bowling in place of Weir (none for 43 off eight overs), but the change had no effect on the scoring rate, Badcock driving the Auckland captain to tho boundary. A little later Lowry reached his century, scored in 101 minutes. The total had reached 291 when Mills was brought on in place of Dacre (none for 28 in six overs), and Badcock sent his first ball to the boundary—a lovely drive. Cooper replaced Anthony, who had bowled nineteen overs for 73 runs and two wickets. The change had no effect, and a couple of productive shots by Lowry—one a boundary—brought the total to 300. Badcock's innings came to an encl soon afterwards, Mills beating him with a good ball. 30S-4-81. Badcock had played a fine innings, his tally including fourteen boundary shots. He batted for 121 minutes. With Lowry he had put on 207 for the fourth wicket, a record for Plunket Shield cricket. Snedden and Dacve held the previous record of 180. FAST SCORING. „ James was the next to go to the crease, and Lowry continued on his way aggressively. James also opened well. With the total at 326 Anthony came on in place of Cooper (none for 21 off three overs), and Lowry drove his third hard to the fencei . James scored his first boundary shot at the expense of Mills, sending the boy ler to the fence at square-leg. A 3 off the same bowler gave him double figures. Facing Anthony, he hooked one to the square-leg boundary, and in Mills's next over he reached 20 with a delightful square-cut. Player replaced Anthony' at 356, and Bowley took over from Mills, who had taken one for 32 off seven overs. The double change slowed down the rate of scoring for a while, and the total was advanced mainly by singles. Lowry reached his 150, put together in 149 minutes. At tea the score was four for 377 (Lowry 153, James 35). After tea Matheson took up the attack from the northern end, and Player bowled from the south. Lowry dispatched a full toss off the latter bowler to the ropes, and followed up with a couple—one from an overthrow. The next he square-tut to the fence. James got Matheson away to fine leg for 4, bringing 'his tally past 40. Lowry continued to punish the bowling, ;i drive olf Player giving him 4. Another 4 off Matheson to Lowry brought the total to 400, the innings having been in progress for 262 minutes. A new ball was given to Matheson, but Lowry welcomed it by scoring two 4's in succession. He was not allowed to proceed much further, however, a ball from Matheson finding his sticks. 411—5—181. Lowry had been at the crease for 166 minutes, and had scored twenty-four boundary shots. With James, he had put on 103 for the fifth wicket. M'Girr was next, and James signalised his appearance by sending Player to the ropes. M'Girr, who had opened his account with a single, drove Matheson nicely to the ropes, and James, driving Player, reached tho 50 mark, having been at the crease for 88 minutes. He lost M'Girr soon afterwards, however, G. L. Weir accepting a smart catch in the slips off Matheson. 425—6—5. ANOTHER PARTNERSHIP. Taylor, the Nelson coach, filled 'the vacancy, and opened with a couple through the slips. Anthony went on in place of Player, who had bowled 29 overs for 90 runs, and one wicket, and with Matheson bowling more accurately the rate of scoring became much ilower. Eventually, Taylor square-cut Matheson nicely for ,j - Mills was brought on in place of Miitheson, and Taylor got him away for a couple, James following it up a little later with a couple of boundary shots. Taylor reached double figures by hooking Mills to the fence. James opened out to Anthony, and drove him nicely to the fence at longon. Bowley was brought on in place ot Mills, but the batsmen were not disturbed. Dacre replaced Anthony, and James got his first ball away for 4, following up with another to square-leg, and a third to the fence, a pretty square-cut. Taylor

reached 20 with a shot through the slips off Daere, and celebrated it by squarecutting Dacre to the fence and then driving lnm past the sight-screen. Another fine drive gave him 3. With the total at 486, Weir was given another trial with the ball, but James pulled him twice to the ropes, bringing the total to 500. Player was brought on again in an effort to quieten the scoring, but James waß not disturbed, on-driving the bowler for 4 (all run out). This stroke gave him his century, scored in 113" minutes. Taylor was also advancing his score with good shots, but it was not long before he lost the company of James, who was snapped up behind the wickets off Player. 526— 1 — 108. James had hit eighteen 4's. Lambert was next, and opened brightly, scoring two boundaries and a couple off Weir. Anthony was brought on again, but the scoring continued at a good pace. Off Player, Taylor secured a couple of 4's, and brought his total to 50. He had been at the wickets for 70 minutes. Mill was given another trial with the ball, but Taylor hooked his third ball to the fence. It was his last scoring shot, Anthony accepting a smart catch in the slips of Mills. 567—8-61. Massey was next, and was still associated with Lambert when stumps were drawn, the total being eight for 576. WELLINGTON. First Innings. R. de R. Worker, c Matheson, b Anthony 23 C. S. Dempster, b Player 71 H. Foley, Ibw, b Anthony 0 F. T. Badcock, b Mills 91 T. C. Lowry, b Matheson 181 K. C. James, c Rowntree, b Player .. 108 H. M. M'Girr, c G. L. Weir, b Matheson , 5 J. S. Taylor, c Anthony, b Mills 61 H. M. LamberC, not out 27 H. B. Masesy, not out 4 Extras 5 Total (for eight wickets) 576 Fall of wickets: One for 85, two for 91, three for 101, four for 308, five for 411, six for 425, seven for 526, eight for 567. BOWLING ANALYSIS. O. M. R. W. Matheson .... 25 1 07 2 Player 34 6 123 2 Anthony .... 32 7 109 2 G. L. Weir .. 12 1 77 — Dacre ... 8 — 54 — Bowley 10 — 34 — Mills 13 — 57 2 Cooper 3 — 20 —