AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

Evening Star, Issue 19795, 20 February 1928, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

WELLINGTON FAILS WITH THE BAT BOWLING TOO GOOD THE CONSISTENT DEMPSTER [Per United Press Association.] I WELLINGTON, February IS. The match Wellington versus Australia was continued to-day in hot, muggy weather. The visitors, who had scored 375 on Friday, dismissed Wel- | lington lor 206. The local men fared more disastrously in the follow on, four men scoring one run between them in the second innings. At the drawing of stumps Wellington had six wickets down for 02 runs. Dempster (27) and Foley (6; resinned Wellington’s first innings with no wickets down for *l2 runs. Oxenham opened the bowling against a northerly breeze, sending down a maiden to Foley. Blackic took up the attack at the other end, Dempster cutting his first delivery past point to the ropes. Grimmctt then relieved Oxenham, Foley getting a single oil' the second delivery. Blackie was flighting the hall in the air in a puzzling fashion, and sent down two good maidens in succession. Fifty came up in us many minutes, Dempster having scored 33 and Foley 9. After being at the wickets for sixty-three minutes Foley reached doubles with a 4 off Blackie. In Grimmett’s eighth over Dempstei cut one square for 2, and placed the next delivery to third man for 3, running into Uic forties, and making the score 61). Blackic had now sent' down fourteen overs, eight of which were maidens, for 17 runs. Dempster was going well, Foley evoked applause by off driving Grimmclt for 4, placing himself in the twenties. After sending down fifteen overs for 10 runs, Blackie gave way to Morton, in whom Oldfield stood well back. Blackie then came on against the breeze. Dempster raised applause by tapping the Victorian’s second ball past point for 3. Dempster reached his half-century alter batting eighty-seven minutes. An off drive by Foley was fumbled by Kippax at cover, and 3 resulted at Blaekio’s expense. The first wicket fell at 87. Dempster, who had been at the wickets for 100 minutes, lot out at one from Blackic, and was brilliantly caught by Grimmett close in at fine leg. Dempster had shaped very soundly, flitting six 4’s.

Lowry joined Foley, who was 26. At 90 Oxenham took the ball from Morton. Lowry hooked the last ball of the Queenslander’s over to mid-on for a couple. In Oxenham’s third over Lowry powerfully hit one past cover to the ropes. The next ball he nearly placed into Richardson’s hands at extra cover, but the next whipped in from leg, and clean bowled him for 9. The Queenslander had taken one wicket for 6 runs.

Badcock got going right away by oif driving Blaekie for 4, causing 100 to appear for 125 minutes’ play. The Englishman slammed one from Oxenham past Alexander for a couple, and was shaping very confidently. At 108 Grimmett relieved Blaekie. To show the quality of the Australian bowling it need only bo stated that Oxenham had bowled seven overs for 9 runs and one wicket.

After a spell of quiet play Badcock flicked Oxenham to leg for 3. _ Alter being at the wickets lor 155 minutes, Foley reached 30 by hitting Oxenham to long leg for 4. At the luncheon adjournment the board showed two wickets down for 119, Foley being 32 and Badcock 15. The innings had then been in progress 160 minutes. On resuming the ground was ringed with spectators, the attendance being in the vicinity of B,oolb Grimmett took up the bowling against the wind, a single to Badcock coming from the over. Oxenham resumed with the breeze. After batting for 171 minutes Foley’s innings came to an end, Oldfield snapping him up behind the wickets oil Grimmett. His 36 included five boundaries.

James partnered Badcock, and arrived to sec the Englishman crisply cut Oxenham past point to the ropes, placing him in the twenties. James got Grimmett through the slips lor a couple, and the score was 130. Ponsford was applauded for brilliantly picking up a hot drive by Badcock at mid-on off Oxenham. At 135 Badcock, who had reached 23, was smartly caught and bonded by Grimmett. M‘Leod, the left-hander, came next, to sec James fall Ibw.

M'Girr opened well by banging the first ball he received from Oxenham to the pickets at mid-on. At 147 Morton relieved Oxenham, who had falcon two wickets for 28 runs off eighteen overs, seven of which were maidens. One hundred and fifty came up after 211 minutes’ batting. Blackic hero took over from Grimmott, whose twenty-six overs had resulted in two wickets for 58 runs. M'Girr heartened the big crowd by lifting Blackic. over the squareleg boundary for 4. M'Lcod then cut Morton square for d, and M'Girr placed the express bowler twice to log for 2’s. M'Girr then lifted one Irom Blackie high to Oxenham on the boundary at square leg, but the fieldsman had the sun in his eyes, and dropped the catch. He made amends immediately afterwards by catching M'Lcod off Morton. The partnership had added 65 in half an hour.

Lamason now' partnered M'Girr, who was 22, but without a run being added the latter lifted Blackic high to Alexander at deep long-on, and the South Australian took the catch.

Lambert, who came next, arrived to see Blackic adopt a pronounced leg theory. He bad only one man on the off, and I’onsford at mid-off. Lamason got Grimmett, who bad relieved Morton, away to leg for J, bringing 180 up. Lambert aroused applause by banging Blackic to long leg for .4. At 185 Oxenham took the ball from Grimmett, and got Lambert caught behind (be wickets by Oldfield right away. Brice ftlie Wellington captain) came out to stem the tide of disaster, but only lasted two minnfes, Richardson snapping him up at silly mid-olf off Oxenham.

Massey, tbe last man, joined Lamason. Interest centred in whether the total would reach 200. Lamason banged one Irom Oxenham up against the fence at square leg, which brought 190 in sight. Massey then lifted Blackie high to long-on for a couple, and to long leg for a similar number. At 198 Grimmett took Blackie’s end, and sent down a maiden to Lamason. Two hundred came up for 260 minutes’ play. _ The end came a little later, Lamason lifting Grimmett to Kippax on the boundary at square leg. The innings lasted 261 minutes, and closed for 206—169 behind the Australian total.

The Australian howling was wonderfully accurate throughout the innings. Oxenhani came out with the best figures, securing four wickets for 39 oft' twenty-two overs, seven of which were maidens. Griramelt and Blackio also howled very ably, giving the batsmen lots of trouble. Morton also was very steady. The Australian fielding was clean and smart. Oldfield did outstanding work behind the wickets. HMCME TEAM FOLLOWS ON The crowd was in hopes of seeing Ponsford bat again, and was a bit disappointed when it found Wellington were to follow on. Dempster and Foley opened Wellington’s second innings to the bowling of Morton and Bhickic. Dempster started in brilliant fashion, scoring 4 and 2 off Morton’s first two balls, and getting 4’s off the first and second balls of Blackie’s first over. With the total at 20 Foley, who had scored a single, stepped in front to turn Morton to leg, and fell Ibw. Lowry followed, hut was bowled with the fifth ball of Morton’s second over.

Morton had now taken two wickets tor 11. Badcock came in to stop the rot, but was clean bowled by Blackic without scoring. Lamason arrived to sec Dempster tap Morton through the slips for 4, Oldfield making a futile grab at the flying leather. The Australian bowlers were 1 cloins; us they liked. Before he was I able'to open his account Lamason was skittled by Blackie with a ball identical to that which had put Badcock out. Lambert came in, and a gasp went up when Blackie grazed his sticks with the very first ball he received. Lambert was applauded for hitting Blackie to the long field for 2,4, and a single, bringing 30 up. He then lifted one from the same bowler to the ropes at long leg. At 39 Oxenham took the bail from Morton, who had secured two for 18 off six overs. Dempster was going well, and reached 30 by sweeping a full toss from Blackie to the ropes at long leg. Lambert emulated his examp e by off-driving Oxenham to the track at long leg, which brought 50 up. At o 4 Grimmett relieved Blackie. In Oxcnham’s third over Lambert reached -U by banging one past cover to the ropes, and repeated the stroke in the following over. Facing Grimmett, Lambert rut one square to the fence, reaching the thirties. Lambert had ™> w "|t seven 4’s. both batsmen being 34. Hus was the end of a bright innings, as Lambert jumped out to hit Grimmett, missed, and was brilliantly stumped by Oldfield. James arrived to sec Schneider come on in Oxenhara’s place. Schneider sent down slow right-hand leg breaks, keeping them well up to the batsmen. Three came from the first oyer, Dempster placed one from Grimmett between mid-off and cover, and they lan 4. The next ball be brilliantly turned to (be ropes at long log, 9 coming from the over. James bit Schneider to mid-on for 4, and Dempster placed Grimmett to fine leg for 4. With the total at 92 Dempster, who had reached 49, was bowled round bis legs by Gnmnielt. Ho gave a sparkling display, hitting eight 4’s. M'Leod joined James, and at 5.45 an appeal was successfully made against the light. The score was then 92 for six wickets, which means that Wellington still requires 77 runs to save an innings defeat, and there are only four wickets in hand. The explanation of the collapse is that the Australian bowling was too good. The fielding was also first class, the men being placed so well that it was vorv difficult to get runs against the accurate bowling'. The sum of £o6o was taken at the gates. | Details: — AUSTRALIA. First innings' 3<o WELLINGTON. First Innings. G. S. Dempster c Grimmett b Blackie 52 H. Foley c Oldfield b Grimmett ... 36 T. C. Lowrv b Oxenham p F. T. Badcock e and b Grimmett ... 23 K. V. James Ibw b Oxenham .... 4 E. M’Lcod c Oxenham b Mnum ... 11 H. M'Girr e Alexander b Bla.-k" 22 H, M. Lambert c Oldfield b Oxenbam 1 W. 8. Brice c Richardson b Oxenham ■ J. R. Lamason c Kippax b GumH. B. Massey not out .p Extras - . | Total 206 Bowling Analysis.—Mo'ifrv < im lor Blackie, two for 53; Grimmett, throe for 65; Omnium, four for Second Innings (’. S. Dempster b Grimmett Ip If. holey Ibw I) Morton T. G. Dowry b Moil on ... .. B F. T. .Badcock 6 Blackie. 11 R. Lamason h Black,e ,J H. M. Lambert st Oldfield b Urnnniott Bo K. C. .lames not out ” E. M'Leod not out 11 Extra Tola! tor six wickets 92 Bowling Analysis'!—Morton, two lor 111; Blackie, two for 24; Oxonhain, none for 22; Grimmett, two for 19; Schneider, none, for S.