THE FIRST TEST.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 22 March 1927, Page 11

THE FIRST TEST.

NEW ZEALAND’S GREAT RECOVERY. BLUNT'S RECORD INNINGS. By ToJograph—Press Association CiiiilSTCll URCiI, March 21. By a very lino oatcuig display to-uay, Nun Z/cu»uud. tunica a seemingly hopeleas position into line that has pussion;;Ues in it.'. They are now 201 runs on, with, live weights m hand. 11 rlie i fiiiainiiig hail oi the lea in uw reason • ably noli tu-ctay,. tlio Victorians should lie leit with a lair totai to get. it nus a very line recovery, and the stand between Blunt and. Rage, which a tided hbi, u.iJl rault witn tub finest partnerships ever seen in Christchurch, i do u earner couUiuons. wore lar iroin goud, a westerly wind in the morning smiled round to the south, aud it was bitterly eokl ail uay. To add to the unpleasantness, a couple oi heavy biiowers sLopped play, Lie second downpour soaking everything. • The ram of the previous night appeared to have improved the wicket, and it played really weil all day.

Blunt lias many hue butting performances to ins credit, but this innings wiil lank with lies bust. It was a per. iormauce that should leave! little doubt as to who is the best batsman in New Zealand. Until he passed the J.uU mark, he played sound, masterly and chaucclcss cricket. Tie hatted foe l. hours hi’ minutes, and gave only one chance, and that when no was 1/6. Blunt (11) and Aiills (5J opened to libeling and Ranslord. Aiills stopped a straight one from Ebelmg with Jus pails. 21 —I—s.1 —5. Rage filled the gap, and both men baiteil confidently. Eifty went up for •U 5 minutes’ play. Ebeling, who did nut appear to be- quite so last as usual, made way lor Wood. Blunt went to -10, aud sent 70 up with a nice square cut for lour. Three to leg off Hansford touk him to 50. , J ust before the total was ninety, Rage survived a confident appeal for l.b.w. The 100 came up for SO minutes play. Johnston replaced Wood at 114. Rage touched a lasll oue to the wiekel keeper, standing back, and a loud appeal went up.. The catch, however, was dropped. A lovely cover drive lor lour gave Blunt his century, and 160 wont up soon after. At 171 the luncheon adjournment was taken. . Wood bowied from the north end on resuming, and Rage reached 50, with a single oil a ninth ball i:n the over. Rain came on just as Rage put Ebchng to the hue leg boundary, and the players scampered lor shelter.. They were back in a low minutes, and Blunt readied 120, aud sent 200 up, with a inettv four between seeotid slip <-nh thndman. it had taken 2 hours 20 W At*222 Rogcrsou replaced Wood, and four fives came in his second cvei. Soon alter another shower came on, and iB U 266 Warwick Armstrong truii.m. and eight came oil his hist “Su his' second over,, however, he got a l.b.w. decision against lage. James joined Blunt, and at 285 Hendry bowled in place of Rogerson. Heavy rain agam drove the players in, with the total at 201. Aierhail an hour's adjournment, sumed, Armstrong and HenWy btdl having charge oi the bowling. Ihrie hundred came up lor houi s play. At 009 Ebeling replaced and m Hendry’s next over, Eluntgavo a possible, but very hard chance to >\. Armstrong at slip. B unt had a swing at Hendry, and flicked a catchto N • Armstrom' at hrst slip, 000 o iol. Oliver was next, and should have been run out through hesitating lor a single, but the wicket-keeper tai ed to take a return. James lilted one to the fence—practically the hrst gallery hit ‘Yt I ** Wood replaced Hendry, and in His hrst over, beat James with a fane ball. 605—4—49. Dacre followed. He gave- a chance at the wicket, which was dropped. Oliver got four for a late cut, and a fine four to the on fence sent 400 up amid great applause, It taken just, over hvc hours. At 40/ 1. Atm ‘strong had his hrst turn with tne ball, replacing Wood. Applause greeted the raising of 410, as this passed the visitors’ first innings total. Ebelmg renlaced W. Armstrong, and. the last ball of the over Dacre cut into Onyons s bands. 41/' —5—29. \lloo was next, and got T. Armstrong through the slips for three. With the total at 423, stumps were drawn. Scores : MELBOURNE. First Innings 409 NEW ZEALAND. First Innings 190 Second Innings. Blunt, c Armstrong, b Ebeling ... 18i Aiills, 1.b.w., b Ebeling a Rage, 1.b.w., b Armstrong 89 James, b Yvood 49 Oliver, not out Dacre, c Onyons, b, Ebeling 2J Alloo. not out ’ Extras Total for five wickets 423