BIG CRICKET IN AUSTRALIA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 19 December 1925, Page 9

BIG CRICKET IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand v. Victoria. VISIfORG' GOOD OPENING. By Cable —Px-ess Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received December 18, 8.45 p.m.) MELBOURNE, December 18. The weather was hot and threatening, with a strong wind, for the opening of the match, New Zealand v. Victoria. The wicket was perfect. Following are the teams: VICTORIA. E. R. Mayne (captain). Gamble, A. E. Liddicut, F. Tarrant, H. Ebeling, A. E. V. Hartkopf, Mitchell, Cosgrave, Baring, V. S. Hansford, Wootton, and Wilkinson twelfth man. NEW ZEALAND. W. R. Patrick (captain), R. C. Blunt, R. Worker, T. C. Lowry, C. C. Dacre, C. Oliver, C. F. W. Allcott, C. G. Crawford, A. W. Alloo, W- Cunningham, and R. W. Hope. Tha Play.

Mayne won the toss, and sent New Zealand to bat. A bad start was made, two wickets being down for 23. Worketand Allcott were comfortable from the outset. The former scored freely from leg glances, and Allcott was strong past point. Tho half century was scored in 63 minutes. Worker in one over scored three- boundaries off Landsdown (the slow bowler). Then the batsman was' very quiet, taking twenty minutes to score a single. Allcott hit hard at anything loose, and overhauled his partner, being first to reach fifty, having then batted 83 minutes. Ho scored twenty whilst his partner added one. Worker completed his fifty in 123 minutes. The batsmen were confident and showed great defence. The bowling was well - varied, hut the men made it appear second rate. In the first hour after lupch seventythree runs were added. The batsmen cleverly stole singles. Tho crowd cheered heartily when Allcott reached his century after 149 minutes at the crease. He was then batting very attractively, despatching many. delightful cover drives. His full time at- the crease was 157 minutes. He hit seven boundaries. The partnership, which yielded 193 runs, was a chanoeless display. Worker batted 199 minutes, and hit five boundaries. He played a great defensive game. Dacre opened confidently. Wilkinson (left hander), at one stage had threo wickets for 19 runs. He sent down a swinging-in delivery. New Zealand All Out. The cool change during the adjournment made conditions much more pleasant. Dacre was uncertain, btit hit two boundaries. Two hundred and fifty was _ hoisted after 220 minutes’ play. Oliver gave a fine display of all round the wicket bright batting. Thirty runs were added in twenty minutes, Oliver monopolising the scoring. Patrick was content to play the “rock.” Oliver played a ball to the off and ran, but his partner sent him back. In turning Oliver fell yards outside the crease. Oliver gave a grand display in the forty-five minutes he was batting. In addition to threo boundaries, he made many forceful drives and was timing excellently. Crawford went out in a peculiar manner. He trod on the wicket in making a good leg stroke. After Oliver s departure the scoring was slow. Patrick, when eight, gave a difficult chance, to Mayne at point off' Hendry!‘ 'Only three runs were scored in five overs, thei batsmen being strictly on the defensive.. Patrick was at the wickets nfty minutes before he reached- double figures. Alloo played Hendry on, lhree hundred were scored ,'in 285 minutes. Patrick scored one boundary. The attendance was fifteen hundred, and the gate £sl. Following are the scores:

NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Worker, b Wilkinson 89 Blunt, 0 Hendry, b Wilkinson . 5 Lowryq b Ebelling ’ 9 Hlr-ott. c Liddicut, b Wilkinson 107 Dacre( Ibw, b Ebeling |q Oliver, run out ... ’ ..." 3 q Patrick, c Ransford, b 'Landsown 22 Crawford, hit wkt, b Heridry 0 Alloo, b Hendry g Cunningham, not out 5 Hope, run out 5 Extras ...

Total g-j^ Bowlimr analysis.—Ebeling took 2 for 08 Wdkmson 8 for 40, Landsown } for 60 Gamble 0 for 65, Liddicut 0 for 24 5 Hendry 2 for 49.