FIRST TEST

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 March 1928, Page 9

FIRST TEST

AUSTRALIA v. NEW ZEALAND

VISITpRS BATTING. GOOD OPENING STAND.

[BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, March 24.

The first test, Australia v. New Zealand opened at Eden Park to-day. The Dominion side was as previously published, with Alexander as twelfth man, and Oxenham stood out from the visitor's team.

Richardson won the toss from Lowry. The Australians are batting in the following order: Woodfull, Fonsford, Kippax, Schneider, Richardson, Jlacfcson, Oldfield, Grimmett, Morton, Blackie, McNamee. A stiffish breeze was blowing when Badeock and MflGirr opened the attack. The professioiWil started with the off theory, with four men also close in on the leg side and the batsmen had to carefully pick occasional singles. In MeiGirr \s second over Woodfull hit the first boundary to leg. PoDsford brought up 20 by driving Badeock to the fence. Merritt replaced McGiTr at this stage, P’onsford getting into double figures by a high pull off the third ball. He Was quickly followed by Woodfull, who glanced the Englishman to the pickets. Pansford cracked a short one of Merritt’s to the boundary, bringing 30 utp for 40 minutes’ play, repeating the shot in the : next over. Both batsimen were comfortably set when Woodfull brought 50 up after 49 minutes’ play. At 56 Read relieved Badeock, who had bowled a dozen overs for 20 runs.

Read’s .second over was 'a maiden to Ponsford. Merritt began to improve his control and Wo'odfull had to meet every ball carefully. Fonsford was playing snappy all round shots and placed Read smartly to leg for a brace. He cut Merritt carefully palst- the third man for another pair and off drove the slow bowler strongly to the boundary. Finitayson, however, replaced Merritt at 76, each batsman notching a single off his first- oveT. At one o’clock the score was 82; Woodfull 31 and Ponsford 48.

Finlayson bowled a maiden .to Woodfull while Fonsford was held down by Road and the last ten of his half century was slow in earning. At 98- Merritt, came back, replacing Finlayson and a single to each batsmen brought the century up for 95 minutes’ play. Badeock took the bail from Relad and m Merritt’s next over Woodfull reached his 50. Mills tried to break the partnership in the last over before lunch.

At the luncheon adjournment Australia had slcored 120 runs for no wickets, Fonsford 60, Woodfull 57, and extras 3.