SENSATIONAL CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 126, 25 February 1928, Page 10

SENSATIONAL CRICKET

AUSTRALIA v. OTAGO VISITORS MAKE 393 FOR SEVEN DICKINSON TAKES ALL WICKETS BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Dunedin, February 24. The Australian cricket team opened its match against Otago to-day in perfect weather. The wicket was good though a trifle slow. Pcnsford and Woodfull opened the batting for Australia, Woodfull taking strike to Dickinson, whose first ball produced a single and Ponsford opened ’ his account with a single of the third ball of the over. Torrance took the ball at the other end and Ponsford pulled his third ball into Shepherd’s hand at square leg, but he could not hold it. The over was a maiden. Dickinson’s next over produced one for Woodfull. Scoring was very slow and 10 went up after 16 minutes. Ponsford got the first four when he sent a loose one from Torrance to the boundary. He reached double figures by sending Dickinson to fine leg for two. At 18 Douglas replaced Dickinson. Woodfull reached double figures after an hour’s batting and was then missed by Zimmerman in the slips and Woodfull reached 20 by pulling Douglas to the fence. With the total at 43, Shepherd replaced Torrance, the over producing 6. The half-century was reached after 38 minutes. Woodfull had gqt to 30 when 60 came up. Dickinson replaced Shepherd and Torrance took the ball at the other end, and with the score at 70 Ponsford mis-hit Dickinson badly and played the ball dangerously on _to his pads. Fie reached 30 bv driving Torrance to the boundary, Woodful’s score being 39. With 80 up Blunt took the ball from Dickinson and sent up a maiden to Ponsford. Both batsmen were playing carefully and seemed to be well set when 100 came. When 53 Woodfull played Alloo into the slips where Douglas failed to hold the ball. Seven bowlers bad been tried out, but the great opening pair kept steadily on. Alloo was commanding most respect, only 11 runs coming from his seven overs. Ponsford reached 50 after batting for 98 minutes. .Alloo’s eighth and ninth overs were ma'dens, and the only score of the 10th was . a four to Ponsford. The morning passed with the batsmen scoring slowly and becoming more set. The luncheon adjournment was taken with the score at 146 for no wickets (Woodfull 72. Ponsford 62). Woodfull faced Torrance on the resumption, and Ponsford had to make a great effort to save his wicket from a smart throw-in by Douglas. A powerful drive past tho bowler to the fence by Woodfull brought up 150, and a score of 80 f<< Woodfull. The batsmen added runs quickly with a long run of singles, and 200 came up after 2 hours 37 minutes. Woodfull being 99 and Ponsford 90. The former got his century by putting Zimmerman short of point. Tho score had reached 214 when Woodfull, with 107 to his credit, tried a big hit off Dickinson, but skied the ball into Alloo’s hands. He had batted for 2 hours 52 minutes in fine style. 214—1—107. Kippax joined Ponsford, who was now 91 and almost played the first ball on to his wicket. Shepherd was again tried with the ball, but both were lively, ana 250 appeared very quickly. Blunt was fielding magnificently, and got a lot of well-deserved applause. All the bowlers were still being treated carefully, and at no stage were the trundlers made to appear easy. However, Ponsford began to open his shoulders, and boundaries were many. He reached 160 after 3 hours 10 minutes batting. Kippax, too. was scoring fairly freely, and at the tea adjournment the total was 308 for one (Ponsford 14S, Kippax 37), and Kippax looked like following their lead. Kippax opened much more breezily, and on resumption it was anticipated that the two would make a good stand. Up till the afternoon tea interval there had been nothing very startling about the play. The two Victorians had played carefully and scored consistently. However, the crowd was soon given ample cause for excitement. Dickinson, whoso bowling throughout had been much more reliable than his lato form would indicate, suddenly got his eye in. and things happened quickly. He opened the bowling after tea, and, to tho joyful surprise of everyone, Ponsford lifted his first ball into Alloo’s hands at mid-off. Ho had been at the wickets for 3 hours 50 wickets for 148 runs. Dickinson now had two wickets to his credit for 55 runs. SOS—7—l4B. Richardson, tho newcomer, collected a single, the only score of the over, and Torrance followed with a maiden to Kippax, and in his third over after tea Dickinson secured his third wicket, Kippax trying to pull a ball off his leg stump, and being clean bowled. 3H—B—3B. Schneider joined the captain, Torrance sending him a maiden. The partnership was a short one, Richardson stepping right in front of his wicket to play Dickinson, and being given out l.b.w. 315—4—2. Dickinson has secured four - tickets for 57 runs. There was a,roar of delight from the crowd when Oxenham was then bowled by tho first ball from Dickinson, who had now taken five wickets for 57. 315— s—o. Jackson was tho next man. Dickinson was bowling in great form, and the game became sensational when in his next over he took Schneider’s wicket, l.b.w. 320—6—3. Excitement became intense when Oldfield, the newcomer snicked the fast bowler into Galland’s hands behind the sticks. Dickinson had taken seven wickets for 58. 320—7—0. Grimmett joined Jackson, and was most uncomfortable, facing Dickinson, who bowled him a maiden. Grimmett took Torrance’s trundling much more confidently, and drove him to the boundary for four, following it up with several singles, a few of which Jackson got also. Dickinson was given a spell, Shepherd taking his place. Grimmett gave Douglas a good chance off Shepherd, but the fieldsman was caught unawares. Torrance was keeping the score down, but the total slowly rose to 350. Grimmett reached 20 with a single, ami Dickinson took the hall again. The exNew Zealander was batting freely, and notched several singles and a boundary, which brought his total to 30. Jackson being 20, the result of several singles and an occasional boundary, and Jackson looked to be firmly set. Dickinson’s heavy day’s bowling was beginning to tell on him. and with the total score at 370 his howling average was about 11, he having taken seven wickets for 78. Jackson reached 30 when 370 was hoisted, and both btasmen secured several singles and n boundary off Blunt, who had taken the ball in place of Alloo, and Dougins wns given the ball at tho other end. relieving Dickinson. Two singles resulted from tho over. Blunt’s next over produced four singles and a boundary, and when it closed time wns called, with the score nt seven wickets for 393. Jackson (39) and Grimmett (35) carried their bats. AUSTRALIA. First innings. Woodfull, c. Alloo, b. Dickinson 10* Ponsford. c. Alloo. b. Dickinson ... 148 Kippax, b. Dickinson 38 Richardson, l b w., b. Dickinson 2 Schneider, 1.b.w., b. Dickinson 3 Oxenham, b. Dickinson 6 Oldfield. e. Gnllnnd, b. Dickinson .... 9 Jackson, not out • 39 Grimmett, not out 35 Extras -1

Total, for seven wickets 393 Fall of wickets: Ono for 311; two for

308; three for 314; four for 315; five for 315; six for 320; seven for 320. Bowling Alaysis.—Dickinson took seven wickets for 78 runs; Shepherd, none for 53; Blunt, none for 60; Torrance, none for 66; Zimmerman, none for 28; Douglas, none for 41; Alloo, none for 46. HONOURS FOR GRIMJ’iZTT. Dunedin, February 24. C. V. Grimmett, the international cricketer, should have pleasant memories of his visit to his native town. To mark the occasion the cricketers of Dunedin have purchased for him a handsome souvenir, which will be handed to him at the Carisbrook Ground to-morrow. The souvenir is of unique character. On a greenstone base three stumps, nil being knocked hack, are shown with the bails lying on the ground, and on a stretch of stiver wicket aro inscribed the words: “Well bowled.” The coat of arms of Dunedin and a silver fern are also displayed on the souvenir, the fern hearing the inscription: “To C. V. Grimmett, from the cricketers of his native city.” COUNTY CRICKET RULES A MENDM ENT A FFF.CTING DOMINIONS. London, February 22. Official: The County Cricket Advisory Committee has adopted an addition to rule 11 of tho county rules, which reads: “A British Dominioi or State shall, for the purposes of this rule, ho regarded as a county.” The addition is to bo made after obtaining the consent of the overseas governing bodies.— A.l’.A. and “Sun.”