AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19892, 10 March 1928, Page 13

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

MATCH AGAINST AUCKLAND. ' VISITORS BAT ALL DAY. •418 RUNS FOR SIX WICKETS. ' RICHARDSON SCORES A CENTURY. The Australian cricket team commenced » three days' match against the Auckland representative team at Edcu Park yesterday and having first use of the wicket. compiled <3lB for the loss of six wickets. A feature of the innings was a prolific partnership between Richardson and Alexander, which added 201 runs for the fourth wicket. Both batsmen gave chances in the twenties, but after that settled down to some bright, free batting. Richardson eventually carried his score past the century mark and Alexander was in the nineties before being dismissed. Ponsford and Woodfull gave the side a good start by registering §6 before a separation was effected. • Losing the toss on a perfect wicket under ideal playing conditions, it was expected the Auckland bowling would be severely tried and such proved the case. Altogether nine trundlers had a "turn at the crease. Bowley and G. L. Weir each secured two wickets. Player was unfortunate in that both Richardson and Alexander were missed off his bowlwg. Schneider and Oxenham stood out of the Australian eleven. About 5000 spectators watched the play. These included about two thousand schoolboys who were given the afternoon off. A Good Commencement. Richardson sent Woodfull and Ponsford to open the innings. Player and Langridge were the opening bowlers. A four to Woodfull and two on-drives to the boundary to Ponsford quickly sent 1U up. Pousiord survived an appeal for l.b.w. in Player's second over, the ball keeping low. The attack did not trouble the batsmen and runs came freely. Ponsford, who was on-driving splendidly, was first into the twenties, the total being 36 after twenty minutes' play. Sneddon then made his first bowling change, Bowley taking over from Langridge. Two overs later G. L. Weir relieved Player. The changes slackened the scoring rate for a short space, but 50 went up in 35 minutes. Smartly run singles interspersed with boundary shots oil any short deliveries, carried both batsmen toward the forties. Snedden was making frequent bowling changes in an endeavour to break the pacnership. With the total at 81 he cook up the attack himself, making the sixth bowler tried. Five runs later Ponsford failed to get. properly out to Anthony and drove him high to mid-off, where Bowley took a brilliant overhead catch. 86—1— 45. Jackson commenced freely, tha century appearing after 73 minutes' play, while Woodfull reached 50 two minutes later. Sneddon then gave way to Player. Woodfull and Jackson were still together at the luncheon adjournment, the score being 119 Woodfull 58. Jackson 16). The Victorian captain had batted freely, scoring well all round the wicket. Woodfull Bowied.

Player and Anthony opened the bowling on resuming. Jackson snicked Player twice in succession to the. boundary, the first time rather luckily through the slips, ,In the next over the first byes of the innings were registered againsfc Kowntree. Twemv-seven runs were quickly added before * Wood full attempted to play one from Plavcr to the leg and was clean bowled. Woodi'nll had taken 108 minutes ' to compile his runs, 1462—68. Meanwhile Jackson, batting very freely, had reached the thirties. A four to Kippax iinniedißtely sent 150 on the board. Jackcon a«id Kippax were adding runs quickly and at 171 Bowiev relieved Anthony. The change was successful, Kippax mis hitting the bowler in an effort to find the squareleg boundary. The ball went straight up and Kowntree took an easy catch. 171 5-11. Chiefly by splendidly-timed off drives, Jackson carried his score to 46. when he was clean bowled by an off break from G. L. Weir, who had relieved Player. 181—4—46. Costly Chances. Seven runs later a misunderstanding between Alexander and Richardson should have resulted in a run out. Player fielded a ball well, but threw a bad return, Scoring sackened at this stage, the second century appearing in 165 minutes. Bowley then gave way to Cooper. Two boundaries to fine leg to Alexander carried him into the twenties before his captain, who soon followed suit. Richardson, at 24, gave a stumping chance off Player, but Rowntreo lost the ball in his pads. A double bowling change had been made, Langridge and Player being the trundlers. The Australian captain showed his appreciation of the letoff by two beautiful drives through the covers. Alexander was next missed in the slips by Langridge, Player again being the unfortunate bowler.

Two hundred and fifty went up after 187 minutes. In spite of frequent bowling changes runs came freely, Richardson registering more boundaries all round and placing 50 against his name after he hud been at the wickets for 65 minutes. Alexander was now-' in the forties, the pair having added 100 runs in 61 minutes. Alexander reached his half-century just before the afternoon tea interval, when the board read 290 for four wickets (Richardson 55, Alexander 54). •

Postles was given a turn with the ball on resuming, making the ninth bowler who had had a trial at the crease. Neither batsmen was troubled and continued with the greatest confidence, adding 50 runs in half an hour. Richardson was particularly aggressive and reachec' the nineties, while Alexander was in the seventies. Then Alexander was nearly tun out in running a dangerous single. Partnership Broken.

The Australian captain reached his century after batting for just over two hours. Alexander's total at this stage was 83. A prolific partnership, which had added two hundred and one runs in two hours ten minutes, was broken when Richardson stepped out to Bowley, missed, and vras easily stumped. 3825 —107. Alexander followed almost immediately, caught, behind the wickets. The retiring batsman -was fire short of his century and had taken two hours and eleven minutes to make his runs. 382—6—95. Oilfield and Grimmctt hoisted the fourth centuy after four hours forty-three minutes. The pair were still together at stumps, the score being 418 for six wickets (Grimmett' 30, Oldfield 17). Details are:—

AUSTRALIA.—First Innings. W. H. Ponsfovd. c Bowlev. b Anthony 45 W. M. Wood full, b Plaver .. ..69 A. Jackson, b G. L. Weir .. .... 46 A. F. Kippax, c Rowniree, b Bowley 11 V. Y. Richardson, stpd Rowntree, b Bowlev • • • • • • • • 107 W. 0. Alexander, c Rowntree, b G. L. Weir .. .. .. .. 95 W. A. Oldfield, not out .« . 17 C. V. Grimmett, not out -.-.i r .. 30 Extras .. .. r.. 8 Total for six wirksts .. .. 418 Player took one wicket- for 89 runs; Bowley, two for 67: G. L. Weir, two for 53; Anthony, one for 67.

Records.—Howie's clearing out stocks ef Parlophone and Imperial records at 2s each. iou'll miss "George! Court's" Saie when It's over; come Monday, the last "cleanup" day: bargains will be simply wonderful.—Karangahape Road. IIK A if scial train from Frankton Junction Pukekohe will be run on Monday, the •ecoad day of the Franklin races.