AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

Evening Star, Issue 19795, 20 February 1928, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

WELLINGTON SAVES INNINGS DEFEAT A FIGHTING LAST WICKET STAHD [Peb United Press Association.! WELLINGTON, February 20. Ideal cricketing weather greeted the Australians as they took the field this morning. Wellington, with six wickets down, required 78 runs to avert an innings defeat. James and M'Leod faced Blackie and Grimmett. James punched Grimmett through the covers for 4, and ran into double figures. M'Leod broko his duck, and then popped one from Blackie into Oldfield’s hands. 97—7—1. M'Girr was next, and the new partner saw the century up. M'Girr skied one from Grimmett just out of reach of the field, and in Blackie’s next over was dropped by Alexander at deep square leg. He soon ran into double figures. M'Girr snicked a ball from Grimmett, but Oldfield missed a difficult chance, • and 4 resulted, giving the batsman 20. M'Girr was bowled by Grimmett round the batsman’s legs with a similar ball that got Dempster, 126—8—26. Brice snicked the first ball he received from Grimmett into Blackie’s hands in the slips. 126—9 —0. Massey was the last man. James drove Blackie for 3, and Massey had a narrow escape against the same bowler. However, he lifted Blackie to the fence for 4 and late cut Grimmett also for 4, which were run out. Both batsmen x'an into the twenties and brought 150 up. At 159 Oxenham replaced Blackie, and Massey had a close call running a short one. Groat enthusiasm prevailed when the innings defeat was averted. Massey reached 30 with good cricket. At 180 Blackie came on again in place of Oxenham. Richardson dropped a hot one from Massey off Grimmett. The batsmen ran into the forties amidst applause, and there was further enthusiasm when Massey drove Blackie for 4 and brought 200 up. Both bowlers were tossing up occasional slow ones to tempt the batsmen. One of these slows from Blackie Massey clouted to the boundary. At 219 Oxenham spelled Blackie (two for 64), and after a maiden came the luncheon. Details: — AUSTRALIA. First innings 3 ‘ 5 WELLINGTON. First innings Second Innings. Dempster b Grimmett 49 Foley Ibw b Morton 1 Lowry b Morton 9 Badcock b Blackie ” Lamason b Blackie ... 9 Lambert st Oldfield b Grimmett ... 35 James not out ... ... ... 41 M'Leod c Oldfield b Blackie I M'Girr b Grimmett 26 Brice e Blackie b Grimmett Massey not out 69 Extras 9

Total for nine wickets ... 219