CONFIDENT BATTING

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12075, 28 February 1925, Page 6

CONFIDENT BATTING

CANTERBURY 6 FOR 351 PATRICK CAUGHT WHEN CLOSE TO THE CENTURY. DETAILS OF PLAY. . Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, February 27. The third match of the Victorians tour was begun on Lancaster Park today in fine weather, and on a fast wicket. Canterbury won the toss and opened with Blunt and Gregory. Wallace, Victoria's fast bowler, clean bowled Blunt with his third delivery. Crawford was the incomer and Liddicutt took the next over. Gregory played his third ball to fine leg for a boundary, and square cut his next one for four. Wallace was off the wickets with his first two balls, and Crawford blocked the rest, the over being a maiden. A nice cut through the slips to the boundary made Gregory 17. Gregory was confident against the fast deliveries of Wallace. After half an hour's play the total was 27. LiddicutUs third ball hit Crawford on the knee, but he resumed after a spell. The over was a maiden. Millar replaced Wallace at the north end, and Gregory got into double figures with a cut through the slips for a single. Both batsmen scored singles off Liddicutt, and Crawford earned applause for. a square cut to the boundary. Forty appeared after three-quarters of an hour. GREGORY TEAPPE-p. Hartkoff, the slow break bowler, took the southern end, and broke off the wicket for tho first four balls. Gregory snicked the fifth one into the wicketkeeper's hands. 432 —28. Ho had been in 50 minutes. Talbot was the next man and he ployed the last balls steadily. Hartkoff had one wicket for no' runs. Talbot 'lifted Millar to Liddicutt at mid-off. 51 —3—2. COX'S FIRST RHP. GAME. Cox took Talbot’s place and began his first knock in a representative match. He treated Hartkoff’s tricky balls with respect, but he scored three with a leg glide, and then drove tho bowler for a single. In Millar's next over Cox got into double figures with a single and Crawford put a straight drive to the boundary. Ransford replaced Millar. Crawford drove him past cover for four, and put his next ball to square leg for three, bringing 80 up at the luncheon adjournment. The score was three for 86. After the adjournment Wallace bowled, Hartkoff taking the other end. Two ; overs produced 11 runs and three leg byes off Wallace brought 100 up, after 95 minutes' play. Crawford reached his half century with a single that good fielding saved from.being, a boundary. With a splendid late cut he added three to his total, and then gavo a chance to the bowler, which was just missed. Eleven runs later he patted one back to the bowler. 151—4-—7 O. The partnership had put on. 100 runa. PATRICK OPENS BRIGHTLY.

Patrick, the new-comer, drove his second ball to the. boundary, and pulled Austin to leg for four. Cox's half century went up. After .blocking six balls, Patrick -lifted Austin to the pickets bringing 170 up. 'Ransford bowled from the north end, and Patrick square cut his second for four and with a single reached J'O. Cox notched a single. Patrick drove Ransford for four and cut him for two. Cox drove Austin for four and a single; and 194 went up. Pans ford's over brought a couple of runs, and Liddicutt, who replaced. Austin, was driven for a single by Patrick. Wallace, whq replaced Ransford, ‘sent;up a maiden. A single to each batsmen off Liddicutt brought 200 up after three lours' play. runs came to Patrick of* Wallace s over, including a four aod two twos. Willis replaced Liddicutt and Patrick lifted him to the boundary, where Woodfull missed an easy catch. BOWLING NOT FEARED. At the tea adjournment the score was 220, Cox having made 00. The pair had added another 47 runs when Cox cut one from Wallace to Mayno at point, who held it. 267—5—52. the next 2nan ’ fiMed Wallace's to leg for: four. Both batted 1 brightly and confidently, the bowling having no terrors for them. When four short of his century Patrick gave a chance to Austin, which was accepted. 520—6—90. Boon was the incomer, and he plaved out time. Scores : J CANTERBURY.-—First .Innings. Blunt, b Wallace 0 Gregory, c Ellis, b Hartkoff 28 Crawford, c and b Austin 70 ; Talbot, c Liddicutt, b Millar " 3 Cox, c Mayne, b Wallace 82 Patrick, c Susten, b Hartkpf .... 96 Olliver, not out ’* 43 Boon, not out . & Extras 1 19 Total for six wickets 351 GENEROUS ACTION . HAWKE'S BAY’S INVITATION TU ; NELSON. NAPIER, February 27. In -view- of the fact that Nelson, the premier miner association, lias not •been given a game against the Victorian cricketers, the Hawke’s Bay Association has generously denuded to invite three Nelson players to .join the Hawke s Bay team to meet the visitors.