CRICKET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16493, 7 March 1914, Page 14

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIA v. NEW ZEALAND THE FIRST TEST MATCH.

YESTERDAY’S PLAY AT DUNEDIN. [Per Press Association.'! DUNEDIN, March 6. Tho first test match between tho Australian team and Now Zealand was

commenced at noon to-day on tho Carisbrook ground. Tho wicket was soft and easy after tlio heavy rain of tho previous day, but tlio outfield was fast and yielded Its full quota of runs. Reeso won the toss and tho New Zealand captain decided to send his team in to bat. Tho start was not very auspicious, the first wicket, falling for 18, but the next partnership carried the score to the half-century mark, and with three wickets down for 111 New Zealand may be said to havo been in a good position. Armstrong was bowling the off theory with an occasional straight one by way Sf variation, while Crawford was sending them down with a rare pace. Tho wicket was playing well, but tho bowling was good and the batsmen found it difficult to scoro freely. Throe wickets fell quickly after tho luncheon adjournment and five of the best New Zealand batsmen were out for 126. Patrick, Sandman and Condliffe, however, compiled runs steadily and the second century was brought up after 155 minutes' play. Heavy rain, which fell half an hour after the tea adjournment, brought about the cessation of play, and as thero was no prospect of continuing, stumps were drawn at 4.45 p:m. for tho day, with nine wickets down for 218. The batting was strictly orthodox, being marked by careful play against good bowling by Armstrong and Crawford. _ One feature of tho New Zealand innings was the solid batting of Tuckwell, who compiled Iris half-cen-tury in fine stj’le, obtaining the majority of his runs with a back cut and a good scoring leg shot. Patrick played soundly for 38, including a big hit for six off Armstrong, which the spectators applauded to tho echo. Tho s(ew Zealand captain, Reese, lost sight of a ball from Crawford, which came hack aud took his wicket. Sandman played a free innings while it .lasted. He lifted Armstrong over tlio rails for six. Condliifo played patiently, but was inclined to feel for Armstrong’s offtheory and was unprepared for a straight one, which got him leg before. The Australian ground fielding was fair and tho throwing in was accurate. Armstrong missed two chances in tho slips, otherwise there wore no serious lapses. Noble was not afraid to ring on the changes and Crawford and Armstrong, who boro tho brunt of the attack, were tho most successful bowlers. The pioneer batsmen for New Zealand were Hickinott and AYhitta. Crawford bowled from the southern end to Vfhitta, who opened by snicking the fifth ball to the rails. Thi6 brought Hickmott in . front of Armstrong, whose third was hit for two and the next driven for a single. The fifth ball from Armstrong Wliit-ta drove past point to the boundary, bringing up 10. Both bowlers were keeping a good length and keeping tho batsmen quiet. AYit h tlio scoro at 18 Whitt a was ■smartly caught at the wicket by M’Gregor off ■ Armstrong. Tuckwell joined Hickmott 1 and brought 20 up with a single off Crawford. . Then Hickmott inis-hit Armstrong over mid-on’s head, tho ball dropping safely. Tuckwell was cheered for a nice back cut to the rails off the last ball of Crawford’s over. Armstrong was taking the limit of tho crease. Ho was no balled on occasions and was perilously nearly being so on others. At 38 Collins took the ball from Crawford and bowled from tho southern end. After a period of slow play Hickmott drove Collins along the carpet to (lie rails and Tuckwell turned the same bowler to the boundary, bringing up 50 for thirty-eight minutes’ play. Without alteration in the score Hickmott went out to drive Armstrong and swished the ball to Cody, wlio took an easy catch in tho slips." Hickmott batted nicely for 26. but was inclined to inis-hit Armstrong, who had taken two wickets for 17. Horspool came in to see Tuckwell swing Collins to the rails, and opened by off-driving Armstrong for a single. Tuckwell brought up 70 by square-cut-ting Armstrong to tho rails. At this stage Cody relieved Collins, whose four overs had cost 17 runs, and bowled from tho southern, end. Horspool ran to double figures by driving tho new bowler straight along the carpet and back-cut him to the rails. With the score at 28 Tuckwell gave a chance to Armstrong off Cody at fino slip, and at S 3 Mai ley bowled from the pavilion end rice Armstrong. Tho new bowler’s first ball, a full toss, Tuckwell swung to the new grand stand for 6, the Carisbrook batsman repeating the stroke off the fourth for 4 and notching a couple off the last ball, scoring 12 off the over. Tuckwell had rim to 41 (of which 3-1 were made with boundary shots). Cr awford then bowled from the southern end, relieving Cody, whose two overs had cost nine runs. Tuckwell survived an appeal for leg before off Crawford. Tuckwell raised 100 after 70 minutes’ play. The field was quaintly placed for Crawford in V shape. Tuckwell ran to 50 after an hour’s batting. With tho score at 111 Tuckwell played' back to a straight ball from Armstrong, and was clean bowled. Tlio retiring batsman had played fino Cricket, scoring chiefly with hack cut and swinging strokes to leg. Three wickets were down for 111 when Reeso took tho crease and got four with .an uppish stroke off Crawford. Then came his end, tho howler having his revenge by clean bowling tho Now Zealand captain, who had gone out to make a stroke, the hall coming back quickly and taking tlie wicket. Two wickets had fallen in fifteen minutes after luncheon and four of the best bats on tho New Zealand side wore out for 120. Patrick joined Horspool, who was playing steadily, taking no risks and leaving Armstrong’s off theory alone. Runs were coming very slowly, the bowling permitting of no undue liberties. A short pitched ball from Crawford proved fatal to Horspool, who went to pull it and was caught by Cody at square leg. Tho last three wickets had fallen for 26 runs and tho scoro was five for 126 when Sandman joined Patrick and got his first hv square cutting Armstrong for a single. Sandman cut loose on the first ball of Armstrong’s next over; lifting it over the rails for six. Patrick lifted Armstrong high over, the rails, a big hit which the spectators applauded. 150 was raised after 113 minutes’ play and Noblo made his first appearance at file bowling crease, relieving Armstrong, who had bowled 20 overs with four maidens and 69 runs for three wickets. The Australian captain’s fourth proved fatal to Sandman who played it to Armstrong in the slips. Sandman ran to 20 in quick time, scoring 6, two 4's and six singles. Rain which had been threatening since luncheon now fell steadily and the players retired. After an interval of eighteen minutes the l’hin cased off and play was resumed. Wth six wickets down for 157 Condliffe took the crease. Tho Dunedin batsman put his first ball froni Noblo dangerously near Armstrong in the slips, three being run for the stroke. Patrick back-cut Crawford’s first, to tho rails, raising 160. The bowlers were handicapped with a ■ greasy ball and sawdust had to bo resorted to. Patrick brought up 170 with a fino off drive off Noblo past

cover to the boundary, but tho Australian captain had Condliffe feeling for him on tho off. Condliffe ran into doubles by pulling the South Australian’s last ball under the rails, Di'inging 180 up. After a period of slow play Condliffe back-cut Crawford through a cordon of fieldsmen for four and Patrick lifted Noblo to the rails, raising his score to 30. With his score at 17 Condliffe gave Armstrong a onelmnd chance off Noble in the slips, the Victorian moving a fraction of a second too lato for tlio catch. Noblo was bowling about a foot outside the off stump and ono of those Condliffe got well over, sending it clean to the rails. At 194 M’Kenzie bad his first turn at tho bowling crease, taking tlio ball from Crawford. Patrick back-cut tho new bowler’s second to tlio pickets and facing Noble brought up 200 with a straight drivo for a single. The second century wns raised after 155 minutes’ play. The sky again looked threatening hut rain held off for a little. Crawford was given a turn nt tho pavilion end. Patrick got a single and Condliffo turned Crawford to square for a couple. This brought Armstrong on at the top end. Tho second hr,ll of Crawford’s next over proved too good for Patrick, who was clean bowled. He had been batting cighty-two minutes for a scoro of 38. With seven down for 205 Robinson camo in to cut loose on Crawford, whom lie drove over the bowler’s head to tlio members’ stand. Then came Condliffo’s downfall, the Dunedin batsman placing his legs in front to a straight one from Armstrong. Eight wickets for 209 was tho state of the game when Wilson joined Robinson. With five runs added Armstrong got a good one past Robinson. Bennett, last man, came in to sooro a single, but at 4.45, with the score at 218 rain fell in torrents and stumps were drawn for the day. The following are the scores:— NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Whitta, c M’Gregor b Armstrong 12 Hickmott, *c Cody b Armstrong . 26 Tuckwell, b Armstrong . . .50 Horspool, c Cody b Crawford . 20 Reese, b Crawford ... 4 Patrick, b Crawford . . .38 Sandman, c Armstrong b Noble . 20 Condliffe, Ibw b Armstrong . , 25 Robinson, b Armstrong . . .5 Wilson, not out 1 Bennett, not out . . . . 1 Extras 13 Total for nine wickets . 218 Bowling Analysis.—Crawford, 144 balls, 7 maidens, 64 runs, 3 wickets; Armstrong, 138 balls, 3 maidens, 76 runs, 5 wickets; Collins, 24 balls, 17 runs; Cody, 18 halls, 1 maiden, 9 runs; Mniloy, G balls, 12 runs; Noble, JS balls, 2 maidens, 23 runs, 1 wicket; M’licnzio, 12 balls, 1 maiden, 4 runs. ST ALBANS CLUB. The following will represent tho St Albar.s Club in their match at Hagley Park against East Christchurch —Atkinson, Barrett, Bishop, Brunton, Bradmore, Gordon, Ford, Hinoksmanu, Lamb, Reese and another. EAST CHRISTCHURCH CLUB. First Grade v. St Albans, at Hagley Park— Beal, Crichton, Carlton, Monaghan, Blank, Ward, Dwyer, North, Shand, Armstrong and Greenlees. Fourth Oracle —Armitage, Brown, Heslip, Kirton. Thompson (2), Lord, Moody (2), Boaley and Davies. CANTERBURY DRUIDS’ CLUB. Tho following players will represent tho Juniors against Seniors at Sydenham Park to-day—Hales (2), Gydcs, Britten, Steinman, ■Cotton, Warrington, Bowley, Bowden, Goom, Barker, Watson, Vcruall aud Gray. WHOLESALE v. RETAIL CHEMISTS. Tho annual cricket match between the members of the wholesale and retail chemists of Christchurch will be played this afternoon, on the Y.M.C.A. ground, Hagley Park, commencing at 2.15 p.m. Tho following aro the teams: Wholesale—G. Bonnin-ton, A. Borrows, J. D. Lawreneo, Rnnfurly Smith, W. Smith, S. T. Horsnell, W. Stevens, L. Stevens, L. Hopkins, A. Komer and H. Nicholson. Retail—A. Steeds, E. C. Smith, W. I. Gillies. N. C. Kirk, Glnnville. C. M. Brooke, W. Wilson, S. Lahman, F. I. Ballinger, T. J. Bottle and C. W. Bettlo. Tho Riccarton Fourth Grade team will play Sydenham at Linwood Park.