AUSTRALIA V. OTAGO

Evening Star, Issue 19799, 24 February 1928, Page 8

AUSTRALIA V. OTAGO

MATCH OPENS IN FINE WEATHER AUSTRALIANS BATTING PON'S FORl) AND WOODFULL DOTH MISSED. Tlie long expected match between the Australian eleven and Otago began this morning. The weather was perfect, a bright sun shining and a light, cool broezo blow ironr 11 u_> south, ine ground looked in tine condition and the wiqket promised to play well, though the Australians considered it would be a bit on the slow side. Richardson won tho toss from Alien and decided to bat. JVEXaniec and Alexander stood Clown. The attendance was not large at tho outset, but improved as the morning wore on. Dickinson opened from the pavilion end to Ponslord, w ho was accompanied to the wickets by ANoodfull. Hie first ball was played to cover for a single, and AA'oodfnll scored similarly from the third. Dickinson was a little erratic, but nothing more came from tho over. FONSFORD MISSED. Torrance took the ball at the other end. The third ball Fonsfortl hit hard to square leg and Shepherd got it into his hands but dropped it. This was bad luck lor Otago, and lor Torrance. The over was a maiden. Dickinson bowled a better length in his next over, Woodfnll playing him prettily to lino leg for a single, which was the only score trom that over. Woodfnll placed Torrance lor inc in the next over, and played Dickinson's first, “down the gully” for another. Still another single, Fonsfortl placing Dickinson wide to mid-on. One or two leg-balls were missed by the batsmen and were well taken by Gailaiicl. standing back. Both batsmen were watching the ball carefully, and a single to each was the result of Torrance’s third over, A sn art bit of fielding by M'Mulian sent Woodfnll scampering back, but two more singles wore, added. Ten came up after sixteen minutes’ play. THE FIRST FOUIE Torrance was keeping a good length, as usual, and his first short one was pulled by Fonsford to the fence at Irrg-on—the. first boundary of the match. Dickinson’s fourth ball in the next-ov£r w as short and Woodtnll placed it for a single. Fonsford played tho fifth to leg for 2. making him double figures A single to third man was the next scoring stroke by Woodtnll off Torrance. The famous pair were obviously playing themselves in and taking no risks. Torrance’s last ball got up a bit. DOUGLAS OX. At 18, Douglas took the ball from Dickinson, Knight going into the country at long-on. Woodtnll missed the first, which was slightly to leg. the fifth he played quietly to the one for a single. This made Fonsford 9, all singles. A leg-bye brought up fid. A characteristic pat down the slips off Torrance’s first brought one more, and a leg-byo finished tho fiver. Woodfnll dug up a piece of turf in trying to hit Douglas, but he made to eiror in timing him two halls later, a short one which wont through the covers to the fence. .WOODFULL HAS A LIFE. Next ball went to Zimmerman’s light hand in the slips, and another possible chance went wrong. A 4 past point to the same batsman, Torance’s last of the next over went very closa to Ponsford’s off stick and four byes resulted. Flay livened up, another 4 coming to WoodfulE A wild return by Alloo gave Woodfnll a single. At 48 Shepherd went on at the top end, Fonsford getting his second to leg for 1, and AA’oodfnil notching another. Knight chased the last to the boundary at deep third man, but just failed to stop the 4. A nice drive by AVoodfnll brought 2, good fielding by Blunt saving tho 4. This brought up 50 in thirty-eight minutes. Douglas was howling very well at this stage, and Shepherd also kept a good length. Singles to each, and 4 mere byes came from Shepherd’s last. Fonsford lifted more turf in hitting Douglas, but U came from the over, a full-t-oss giving AVoodfnll an easy 4 to the leg fence. A DOUBLE CHANGE. At G 7, Dickinson was brought on again vice Shepherd, eaeli batsman placing him to leg for a single. A double change was effected when Torrance replaced Douglas. He sent down a maiden to AA'oudfnll. Fonsford pulled

Dickinson past Torrance for 4, and had a narrow escape from pulling the fifth ball on to Ids wicket, his leg saving him. At J2..30 the score was 74. AVoodlull 30, Ponsford ‘-'7, extras ](). A pretty turn to leg oil’ Dickinson brought a couple more. This bowler had tiow sent down eight overs for 18 runs. Ponsford otf-drovc Torranec to tiic fence, 80 coining up in an hour. At 81 Blunt took Ihe hall from Dickinson, and P.onsford was not too sure with the first over, which was a maiden. Singles to each, and Woodfnll straight drove Torrance lor I, Alloo overtaking the hall, but missing it with the grab. Ponsford elf-drove Blunt, a single resulting. A single to Moodtnil also came from the over, and Alloo then came on at the pavilion end vice lorrancc, who had howled eleven overs for 2(5 runs, A smartly-nm single to Woodfnll brought 00 on the hoard and spoiled Alioo’s maiden. HUNDRED IT. Blunt's next wars a maiden. Dickinson was fielding smartly at cover. Alloo was putting them clown well on the off,' ami one was a wide. Ponsford put Blunt to the leg fence, and made himself 40 by straight driving the same bowler for a single. Two to Woodfnll tone for an overthrow) and a single brought 1(11) up in seventy-two minutes. Woodfnll readied 50 immediately after with a cover hit for 1 off Alloo. Five came from Blunt’s next, the batsmen finding no difficulty in placing the ball between the field. Woodfnll put an uppish one to Douglas at slip, but what looked like a chance went hogging, ZIMMERMAN OX. At 10!) Zimmerman replaced Blunt. Re swung them a bit from the off, and live singles came from his opening over, all on the leg side. Alloo bowled a maiden to Ponsford. and a single was the only result of Zimmerman’s next. A similar result came from Alloo’s following six. Woodfnll readied 60 by playing Zimmerman down the slips. AM,OO BOWLING WELL. After a long interval another 4 came, Woodfnll on-driving Alloo. Zimmerman’s next was n maiden, as was also Alloo’s. The latter had howled eight overs for 11 runs, and had steadied the scoring considerably. Dickinson replaced Zimmerman at 122, and Ponsford readied 50 with a snick in the slips which went through Douglas’s legs. Alloo sent down still another maiden, and a single came from Dickinson, whoso figures wore now ten overs for 2d runs. Ponsford at last got a 4 off Alloo. to square leg. Torrance was brought on at the pavilion end at 133, with ten minutes to go to the interval. Single to each. Blunt fielding a straight drive by Woodfnll well. Blunt replaced Dickinson. Three singles, aml_ then Ponsford off-drovc one for 3, Knight stopping and returning well, shattering the wicket from near the fence._ Two to Woodfnll off Torrance made him 70. At lunch time the score was none for 146 After luncheon Torranec took up the bowling to Woodfnll. The over was a maiden, the fielding being good. Dickinson’s first over produced one run, and Torrance sent down another maiden. Woodfnll glanced Dickinson prettily to fine leg for a single. At 2.30 the score was:— AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Woodfnll not out 73 Ponsford not out 63 Extras ... 12 Total 148