SECOND CRICKET TEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20472, 25 January 1930, Page 13

SECOND CRICKET TEST.

iNEW ZEALAND'S GREAT DAY.

339 FOR THREE WICKETS. /

! A RECORD PARTNERSHIP.

DEMPSTER AND MILLS IN FORM

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Friday.

New Zealand made a great start to--day in the second cricket test, with the M.C.C. team, scoring 339 runs for the loss of only three wickets. Tho first wicket fell nt 276. Dnmpstei made 136 and Mills 117.

Tho weather was ideal, with brilliant Funshine and a light, northerly breeze, and the wicket looked a, picture. Lowry won the toss and had no hesitation in batting. Bow ley camo into the English ■team for the first time on the New Zealand lour, I urnball and Benson standing down and Earle acting as 12th man. Play started at 11.50 a.m.

Ihe opening batsmen were Dempster and Mills. Nichols bowled with the breeze behind him and was making tho 'ball fly. The last ball of the opening over rose and struck Dempster on tho head, the bat flying out. of his hands and the ball going for a bye. Allorn, the Surrey amateur, who had played such havoc in the first test, bowled against the breeze, but after one over was replaced by Barratt, the Notts professional.

Mills Starts to Hit. / Both batsmen shaped wel. and 20 came Tip in a quarter of an hour. Dempster reached 20 with a late cut off Nichols, the bat again flying out of his hands as he made the stroke. .After having been at the pickets for 55 minutes Mills reached doyblc figures by turning Allom prettily to the track at long leg. Mills warmed up and hit Allom again to the ropes at square leg and raised applause by flashing the next delivery past cover to the pickets. The batsmen were -- now going well. Mills reached the / forties hy hooking a short ball from Nichols to the ropes at square leg and brought 100 up by getting the next delivery in the same direction for 2. The batsmen were together with 49 each and Dempster won the race for the half-centurv by placing Barratt through the slips for two. With a single off Worthington's, next over Mills also

reached his half-centurv. bringing another salvo of applause from the spectators, who were delighted with tlie spiendid stand the batsmen were making. The luncheon adjournment was taken at 1.15 with the score 113, Dempster 53 and Mills 51. . Two Centuries Reached.

Upon resuming the batsmen scored iteadilv in spit.} of bowling changes. Dempster reached 70 with a lucky four through the slips off Barratt. When 65 Mills gave a sharp chance to Nichols at third slip. At 151 Gilligan brought a flow bowler on for (he first time_in the innings, Bowley relieving Barratt. Dempster reached the eighties by / square cutting (he Sussex professional s first, ball for four. Tho batsmen appreciated Bowlev's slow deliveries', 14 coming off his first two overs. Dempster ran into the nineties at Bowley's expense. There was a brief adjournment, while the batsmen had a drink, which they had well earned. Applause broke out from all round the ground when the pair brought 200 up in 139 minutes, Dempster being 96. and Mills S3. There was a great burst of cheering .when Dempstpr reached 100 by turning Allom to leg for 2. He had been at the wickets for 203 minutes. The Englishmen were beginning to tire and slack ground fielding gave the batsmen a few singles. They also stole a few short ones. • Interest now centred upon Mills .getting his century, but Barratt and Allom were keeping a good length and runs were hard to get. At 223 Woollev had a try for the first time in the innings, taking Allom's end. Mills raised a perfect storm of applause by reaching his century with a single past point off Barratt. The graceful Aucklander had been at the wickets for 219 minutes. At the tea adjournment the score stood at 227, made in 224 minutes, Dempster being 106 and Mills 100.

Gilligan Misses Chances. Soriri after resuming'Cilligan lost a good chance of running Mills out when ho mis fielded a'ball at cover. Off the next ball Mills mistimed a delivery from Worthington and spooned the easiest, of catches straight to the English captain at mid rn. The bright, sun was in Gillian's eyes and he completely lost sight of the ball which fell softly just over his head. It -Was New Zealand's day. The runs continued to come at a steady rate. A crisp hook by Mills off Worthington was beautifully timed and went, hard to the ropes at square leg. This brought 270 in sight. At five o'clock, after the partnership had lasted for 258 minutes,/the record stand came to an end. Mills hit out at; Woolley and was clean bowled. The Auckland left-hander had given a sterling display for his 117, which included a. dozen fours. The partnership had realised 276, a. record for a test match in New Zealand. Lowrv joined Dempster, who was 123, find was nearly bowled by Woolley right iiway. With the total at 283 Dempster, ■who had been at the wickets for 274 minutes, jumped out to a. delivery from Woolley and was smartly stumped by Cornford. The Wellington man had batted very'soundly for his 136. in which only night fours figured. His defence Was of the soundest.

Dismissal of Lowry. Tage, the Canterbury captain, came Tipxt. and 200 soon appeared. Lowry got a lucicy two from a ball, which he spooned over Duleepsinhji's head in the flips. The fieldsman took a brilliant onehanded catch at slip (iff the next ball, which disposed of the New Zealand captain. 295—3—6- When Blunt arrived Page opened out and brought. 300 up after ♦ lie innings had been in progress for 238 minutes. When stumps were drawn at, Fix o'clock the score stood at 330 for three wickets, Page being 33 and Dluiit 15,

Wool ley, who runic nn as fifth change, •was the only bowler to meet with success. lii ;ill he sent down 19 overs, five tif which were maidens, and took three wickets for 48 runs. Barratt, Worthington, Allom and Nichols had long spells at tlie crease, and all pegged away with great heart. The English fielding was not as good as on their opening appearance. It was not their day. However, Duleepshinji was as smart and active as ever and Nichols did some smart work in the gully

close in. Details ate:—

NEW ZEALAND.—First Inning 3. C. S. Dempster, c Cornford, b Wool lev . • 136 •I E. Mills, b Wool ley . . . . 117 T. 0. Dowry, c Duleepsinhji, b Woolloy . . . . . . . . 6 M. L. Page, not out . . . * j. 33 RG. Blunt, not out . < ■ *.15 Extras . . * • » * * > 32

Total for three wickets

Bowling.—Nichols took no wickets for runs; Allom, none for 48; Barratt, none for 69; Worthington, none for 55; 'Bowley, none for 32; Woollev, three for /