STAGE FRIGHT PASSES OFF.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17164, 22 March 1927, Page 5

STAGE FRIGHT PASSES OFF.

Pi'bSi Aa-aaeiitiCD.y

NEW ZEALANDERS HAYE A CHANCE. BLUNT'S GREAT KNOCK.

; CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. By fine batting to-day New Zealand, in the match with the Melbourne eleven turned a seerningly hopeless position into One with possibilities in it of xxltimate Victory. They have now 204 runs on with five wickets in hand. It was a fine recovery. due almost wholly to a magnificent innings by Blunt, who with Page added 257 runs for the second wicket. Page, howevex% while batting with determination, was never bi'illiaxxt or very confident. In all the long day at the wi|ckets never did the batsxnen get hold of the bowling which was of a high standard till stuxnps were drawn. Ebeling was again the most dangerous agent on attack, keepiixg a good length even when the ball was greasy after occasional showers. The rain did not stop play, except on two occasions, once for five minutes and once it lengthened the tea adjoux-nment to 25 minutes. The wicket was improved rather than otherwise by the showers. ScoresMELBOURNE. First Innings .. t.5., 409 NEW ZEALAND. First Innings . . 190 Second Innihgs. Blunt, c W. Axunstrong, b Ebeling . . 187 Mills, Ibw, b Ebeling . . .. . 5 Page, lbw, b W. Arxnstrong 89 iTames, b Wood . . ........ .. ., 49 Oliver, not out . . .. 30 Dacre, c. Onyons, b Ebeling . ... 29 Alloo, xxot out 4 Extras 30 Total fov five wickuls 423 j