AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

Evening Star, Issue 19793, 17 February 1928, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

SEGOfiD GAME Of THE TOUR MATCH AGAINST WELLINGTON VISITORS BATTING. [Pbr United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 17. The cricket match betweeen Wellington and Australia opened on the Basin Reserve to-day in perfect weather. Jackson and M'Namee stood down irom the Australian team. Richardson won the toss and decided to bat, Wooclrull and Romford opening to the howling of M'Girr and Massey. A single came off M ( Girr s first over. Ponsford scored the first boundary by off-driving Massey to the lence. M'Girr’s next was a maiden to Woodfull, and a couple more to Ponsford came off Massey’s next. Ponsford reached 10 with a boundary hit oft M'Girr, and soon afterwards Woodfull had a narrow escape, spooning one from Massey just over the bowler’s head. , , „ , M'Girr continued to bowl well, and Ponsford credited him with a maidem At noon the score was none for 25 (Ponsford 15, Woodfull 10). Badcock here replaced Massey (none for 17), and his first three overs were maidens. M'Girr also kept a good length, and runs came slowly. In Badcock’s third over Woodfull lifted one dangerously near Dempster at cover. Ponsford reached 20 with a delightful snick to tine leg for 4. A full toss from the same bowler was also despatched to the boundary. Badcock bowled his fourth maiden, and was heartily applauded. In the next over, however, Ponsford pulled him for 4 and reached 30.

At 46 M'Leod replaced M'Girr (none for 23), and 3 came off his first over. A 4 to Woodfull brought 50 up in forty-eight minutes. M'Leod kept a good length, and the score mounted mainly by singles. At length Woodfull got him away to square lep for 4. Badcock delighted the crowd with a fine exhibition of fielding. Woodfull was now scoring with greater freedom, and reached 30 after an hour and ten minutes.

With the total at 80 M'Girr went on again in place of M'Leod, but the change did not affect the batsmen, who appeared well set. Roodfull reached his half-century by snicking M'Girr through the slips for 4, and this also brought the total to 100, scored in eighty-five minutes. Brice replaced-Badcock (none for 27), Ponsford reached 50 by driving a slow one from Brice to the fence. He had been at the crease for ninety-five minutes. He did not remain much longer; Brice bowling him with an off-break; 122-I—sß.

Kippax was next, and opened by offdriving Brice to the boundary. Badrock replaced M'Girr, bowling with the wind for the first time. Woodfull welcomed the change by square-cutting the bowler to the fence. Brice wa skeeping the batsmen .fairly quiet, and he had Kippax puzzled once or twice. Massey dropped Kippax in the slips off Badcock. At lunch the score was one for 153. Details:— Ponsford b Brice 58 Woodfull not out 70 Kippax not out ... 11 Extras 5 Total for one wicket 15.1