CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1931, Page 3

CRICKET

-SECOND TEST

AUSTRALIANS SCORE WELL

(A mtralian Press Association.)

SYDNEY, Jan. 1

Ideal cricketing weather prevailed for the second test against West Indies. About fifteen thousand were present when Woodfull won the toss and elected to bat. Sealey was made twelfth man of the Indies team. A quarter of an hour’s play saw only three runs on the. hoard. Then Jackson, after earning a-pplauso for several artistic glances, was brilliantly caught in the slips. One for 12. Bradman and Ponsford both had narrow escapes from being run out. The visitors’ fielding was very keen. Bradman scored the first four of the day when life swept Constantine to leg. Then, facing the same bowler, Bradman survived a confident leg-before appeal. Two boundaries by Bradman, and one by Ponsford raised 52 in 62 minutes. Thrill followed thrill, for, after being missed in the slips, Bradman was caught ,behind the wickets. Two for 52. Kippax notched two from the first ball he. received. Next over the fieldsmen appealed for caught and bowled against Kippax. The captain, Grant, ran up to congratulate the bowler, Francis, but the umpire said “No!” The visitors appeared dumbfounded. Sensations continued after lunch, Kippax übeing brilliantly caught at mid-on in the first over. Ponsford snicking one dangerously through the slips to the fence, and surviving an appeal for leg before, hoisted the century. The hundred appeared after 136 ir.inutff;, Ponsford’s fifty taking 145 minutes. McCabe and Ponsford added seventy-one by slow cricket, before the former fell a victim to Scott. Four for 140. Thunderous applause greeted Australia’s victorious captain. After the tea adjournment the scoring livented, a total of 200 taking 201 minutes. Ponsford reached his century in the same time. The next item of injterest was a hundred partnership, made in eighty-one minutes. With the howlers tiring, the batsmen lined the long handle. Wood full reached fifty in 114 minutes, and Ponsford 150 in 271 minutes. Both were uneonquered at stumps, Ponsford having played a sterling innings, which included twelve fours. There was an innovation at the cricket match when loud speakers were installed round the ground and music was broadcast during the day.' From the same source it wap announced that Bartlett, who left the field alter catching Kippax, had broken his finger, and would take no further part in the match. The. attendance was 22.058, the takings amounting to £1914. Scores:— ' ’ 'AUSTRALIA—Ist Innings. Ponsford, (not out) 174 Jackson, c Francis, b Griffiths ... .- Bradman, c Barrow, b Francis ... , 25 Kipnax, c Bartlett, b Griffiths. ..... ,10 McCaibe, 1.b.w., b Scott ... ... 31 Wood full, mot o-ut) ... Extras ... 17 Total for four wickets 323 ■ Yet to bat are Fairfax, Oldfield, Grimmett, Hurwood, and Ironmonger. The West Indies team is.—Grant, Birkett-,, Roach. Bartlett, Constantine, Headley, Martin, Scott, Era-new, Barrow, Griffiths, and St. Hill or Sealey.

PLUNKKT SHIELD.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, dan. 1. * The Plunket Shield match between Wellington and Canterbury began today at Lancaster Park. The weather was beautifully fine and the ground ih excellent order. Canterbury scored an indifferent total of 214 and Wellington have 194 runs on for the ioss of three wickets. Canterbury bowling was weakened by the absence of R. Read, who injured his ankle yesterday. Cunningham replaced him in the team. Scores:—

CANTERBORY—Ist Innings. J L Kerr, b Blundell 3 M. Hamilton, c James, b Massey 5 A. W. Roberts, b J. Newm'an ... 14 R. 0. Talbot, b McLeod 42 M. L. Page, e James, b Blundell 28 J. Jacobis, b J. Newman 0 I B. Cromb, c McGirr, b J. Newman 58 S. G. Lester, b J. Newman ... 4 W. E. Merritt, c James, b Crook 33 N. Dorreen, c James, b McLeod 8 W. H. R. Cunningham, not out) 0 Extras 19 Total 214 Bowling analysis: Blundell 2 for 94, Massey 1 for 21, Crook 1 for 17, J. Newman 4 for 36, McLeod 2 for 17, A. Newman 0 for 10. < WELLINGTON—Ist Innings. C. S. Dempster, 1.b.w., b Talbot ... 41 A. Newman, c Dorreen, b Cunningham 4 K. C. James, o Dorreen, b Merritt 32 H. M. McGirr, (not out) 57 T. 0. Lowry, (not out) 48 Extras 12 Total for three wickets 194 AUCKLAND V. OTAGO.

DUNEDIN, Jan. 1 i The Plunket Shield match between Otago and Auckland, commenced today in ideal cricket weather, although the wicket was very dead. The visitors won the toss and batted, making 331, of which Postleis contributed 100, and All cot t 114 not out. Both played good innings’ the latter giving his only chance after he passed the century. The feature of. the game was the bowling of, Blunt, who took eight out of 10 wickets, for 99" runs. Otago

opened their innings about 45 minutes before the drawing of stumps, and bad scored 22 runs "for the loss of one wicket, when stumps were drawn. Scores:— AUCKLAND—Ist Innings. Hills, 1.b.w., b Blunt 25 Postles, run out 100 Vivian, c Moloney, b Blunt ... 4 Weir, 1.b.w., b Blunt 12 Thakaban, b Blunt . . 7 Alleott, ("not Out) 114 Wensley, b Blunt 40 Mathieson, l.b.w , b Blunt .. ... 8 McCoy, st. Hawksworth, b Blunt 0 Cleverley, 1.b.w.. b Blunt 0 Hunt, b Alloo 1 Extras ... : 2< Total 331 Fall of wiekehs-1 for 75, 2 for 8-5 3 for 125, 4 for 134, 5 for 186, 6 foi 296 , 7 for 316, 8 for 320, 9 for 322, 10 for 331. Bowling analysis:—Dickinson 0 wickets for 54 runs, Badeock 0 for 42. Lem in 0 for 65, Blunt 8 for 99, EJrne 6 0 for 39. Alloo 1 for 12. OTAGO-—lst Innings. Cavanngah, (not out) 9 Cherry, b Cleverley 1 Dickinson, (not out) ■> Extras

Total for one wicket

THE AUCKLAND MATCH

PRAISE FOR VICTORIOUS SIDE. AUCKLAND, Dec. 30. In an editorial to-day’s “-Star” says: ‘ ‘"Those ivho" ffoltow cricket (records closely will not need to -be told what a very remarkable victory it wan that Canterbury -won. over Auckland yesterday. to obtain more than 300 runs in the fourth innings is a good performance; to score more than 400 is something rarely done. Canterbury actually made the 473 necessary for victory, with -four wickets in hand.

‘‘The greatness of this achievement is-best shown by •reference to ‘Wisden.’ This authority lists only six fourth in nings scores higher than yesterday’s total in. first-claSs cricket, and of these six three were for a completed innings, one for seven wickets and one for eight 'wickets, arid only onc-e before bird a higher total been made for six wickets.

“The Canterbury side "’ill receive the congratulations of cricketers in Auckland on their really wonderful success. With its fluctuations in fortunes, its long struggle in exceptionally hot weather and the fight against numbers and time on the last day this wa« a very memorable match. “It is dear that there is plenty of sound batting in New Zealand, and the success of the young players in this match was particularly pleasing.”

AUBTR.ALTAN BOARD

UNDER CRITICISM

SYDNEY, Dec. 31

Arthur Mailey, writing to the “Sun,” says: lb is hard to understand why the Board of Cricket Control turned down the invitation to send an Australian team to New Zealand. A good number of younger players had signified their willingness to make the trip, and the New Zea-. land Council was prepared to pay all the expenses. No official reason has so far been furnished by the Board. Mailey, commenting on the Bradman incident, says: Don Bradman has returned to Sydney from Melbourne with a grin on his face, but minus £SO. He adds: “There is a strong feeling among cricketers that Bradman either broke his agreement, or lie did not, and that, therefore, he should have (been fined £l5O or nothing. The general opinion is that the Board’s decision is a most astounding one.

Don Bradman has declined to comment on the decision, beyond saying that his offence was no worse than Grinunett’s. Both of them odd the serial rights of their cricket experiences. LONDON, Dec. 31. The “Daily Telegraph” states: One can only sympathise with the officials charged with the duty of disciplining Bradman. The 1912 Board of Control made itself extremely unpopular when Trumper, Hill, Armstrong, Cotter and Ransford objected to ite conditions. The present Board had to face the problem of finding a punishment which would save the authority’s face without infuriating the public, so it tact-

fully, but not very courageously, decided to compromise. As Bradman must have made ten times as much out of his 'book, it is not surprising that lie emerged from the judgment hah with a broad smile. His friends argue that Bradman had jiifd as much right to publish the story of his life as .Grimmett had to publish his hook on howling.

THE N.Z. TOUR. MELBOURNE, .Lm. 1. New Zealanders resident here are disappointed that no Australian cricket team is going to New Zealand. It is stated a New Zealand representative had personally interviewed most of the leading players, and he believed this action had a great deal to do with causing the Board of Control to withhold its (sanction. It is felt that the proper course was first to obtain the permission of the Board.