LEATHER HUNTING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 March 1928, Page 3

LEATHER HUNTING

TEST CRICKET MATCH AUSTRALIANS AT AUCKLAND. TWO WICKETS FOR 416. I . [by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, March 24. The first test match -between the Australians and the New Zealand representatives commenced at Eden Park to-daj under excellent conditions. Winning the toss the visitors occupied the* batting crease all day for the fine total of 416 runs! for two wickets. A feature of the play was the excellent display given by Woodful], who went in first with Ponsford and was unbeaten at the drawing of stumps, with 250 to his credit. . , Ponsford and Woodfull, by solid batting, gave the side an excellent start, and .184 appeared on the board before a separation was made. Kippax failed to get going properly, but Schneider and Woodfull played out time. Woodfull gave a. great and chanceless exhibition. Commencing rather slowly he- was not seen at his best until after registering his first century. Afterwards he scored freely with masterly placed shots. ' .

Pons-ford was a little more aggresisve than Woodfull, and, as. usual, showed a liking for a powerful on drive. Lowry had a trying time with the .bowlers, but managed .the attack well. Finlayson bowled with remarkable accuracy the first .time he went to the crease, while the other trundlers all bowled steadily, although Merritt failed to get any nip off the pitch. Woodfull was the real thorn to the New Zealand attack. , There- was an attendance of about 13,000, and the spectators were treated to some very fine cricket. Richardson .had no hesitation in sending Woodfull and Ponsford to the wickets.' McGirr and Badcock were the opening bowlers. Buns came slowly against the steady bowling. Badcock was bowling for a well-placed leg field, neither batsman being able to get the Englishman away. A succession of maiden overs was broken when Woodfull placed Badcock for a single. Ponsford then survived an appeal for l.b.w. against the same bowler. Buns continued to conic slowly in singles, 20 going up after half an hour's play. MERRITT HAS NO TERRORS. Badcock changed his leg theory and Merritt took over from McGirr. The scoring was brightened by both batsmen getting good boundary shots. Ponsford was first into the twenties by severely punishing a couple of short deliveries from Merritt. The batsman was scoring more quickly than his partner and reached 30 with a lucky snick through the slips, .off Merritt. I" iftj. was registered in 55 minutes, when Read took over from Badcock, who had bawled very steadily. The batsmen were new well, set, Woodfull Teaching 20 by nicely plaeed singles. Ponsford, using his feet well, was scoring freely facing Merritt, who was relieved by Pinlayson with the total at iG. Meiritt's figures were none for 3G. A period of quieter play. followed. Ponsford, who. was for some time in the forties, reached 50 with a nicely placed three. He had -been at the wickets for 90 minutes. Woodfull, by good placements and with occasional boundaries, immediately ran into the forties. Merritt came on again in place -of Pinlayson when the board read 9S, the century being hoisted after 95 minutes. Badcock then took over‘from Read. Woodfull brought 50 against liis name just before the luncheon adjournment. Mills was given the last, over, making the sixth bowling change in, an effort to break the partnership. Woodfull made his first bad strope by lifting one dangerously near second slip, but the ball fell safely. The score was then 121 (Ponsford 61, Woodfull 57). Pinlavson and Badcock resumed the attack, but both batsmen scored freely off the latter, who was relieved by Read after a couple of overs. Pinlayson, who had bowled well before Inneli, was applaunded for sending down, two maiden overs. Bright batting carried the score to 150 a quarter of an hour after the interval. Ponsford was first into the eighties, but Woodfull was- following closely with 7S: The pair were giving a good exhibition of running between the. wickets, some smart singles being registered. Pinlayson was bowling rcallv well, the batsmen .having to play him all the way, but the ball just went over the top of the* wickets. rONSFORD’S NARROW ESCAPE. In. the next over a misunderstanding between the batsmen saw Ponsford run right up to Woodfull's end. Merritt fielded the ball quickly and attempted to -return to Lowry. In running back Ponsford, with his back turned, stopped the ball and an easy chance was lost. However, Lowry caught Ponsford behind the wickets in the same over. . It was a fine catch <m the leg side. 184 —I—SO.1 —SO. Ponsford was at the wickets for two hours and twenty minutes. I-’inlayson. was maintaining an excellent length and was keeping Woodfull, now in the nineties, very quiet. Head was also bowling well and even the aggressive Kippax was kept on the defensive. Merritt relieved Read with the total at 197 and McGirr took over from Pinlayson, who had bowled 21 overs for 39 runs. Read had sent down 22 overs for Hi runs. Two hundred went up after 2 hours and 35 minutes’ play. Badcock replaced Merritt, who had bowled only one- over. Woodfull scored a three and a four in succession, reaching the century after 2 hours. 40 minutes. Kippax was in half an hour be tore reaching double figures. Read came on a.'gci'iiL in ipTticc of Badcock nt 221. "Woodfull continued to score- with freedom, but once -he hit the new -bowler dangerously near to Merritt at short square I leg. McGirr received the next wicket by disposing of Kippax, Lowry taking his l second catch behind the wickets. 230—2—16. Read was spelled in favour of Merrit with the total at 244. Schneider did not take long to reach double figures, while Woodfull, still batting splendidly, approached 140. Merritt was again taken -off after bonding one over, Badcock relieving him. Two hundred and. fifty went, up in 3 hours 15 minutes. Woodfull set 150 against his name by hitting Badcock twice to the boundary and scoring eleven off the over. Merritt came back to the crease instead of McGirr, but Woodfull, opening out, was not troubled by the bowling changes. At- the afternoon tea adjournment the score was 282 for two wickets (Woodfull 100, Schneider 10). Merritt and Badcock bowled on resuming. Woodfull continued in merry style and sent 300 up for just over 3$ hours’ play. Pinlayson then took over I from Merritt. Attacking Badcock with I the greatest confidence, Woodfull drove

the Englishman beautifully to the boundary twice in succession, running to 190. He quickly notched another ten to register his second century without, giving a chance. He had been at the wickets four hours and five minutes. Schneider took some time to reach the twenties, and was barracked by the crowd, but this did not affect him in the least. The midget left-hander displayed plenty of confidence, while ho executed some fine drives.. Dempster was given a trial with the ball at .142 instead of Finlayson. Woodfull again neared the fifties with some splendid cuts and drives. The batsmen were still unbeaten w T hen stumps were drawn, the board reading 416 for two wickets, Woodifull being 250 and Schneider 50. The scores are:— * AUSTRALIA. First Innings. P. Ponsford, c Lowry, b Finlayson <S6 W. M. Weodfull, not out 250 A. F. Ivippax, c Lowry, b McGirr 16 X. .T. Schneider, not out 50 Extras 34 Total (for two wickets) 416 Bowling analysis.—McGirr took one wicket for 48 runs; Finlayson, one for 72; Badcock, none for 96; Merritt, none for 86; Read, none for 80; Dempster, none for 16; Mills, none for 6.