FIRST TEST DRAWN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 1, 23 March 1927, Page 23

FIRST TEST DRAWN

N.Z.’s GREAT INNINGS 602 RUNS; DACRE DECLARES MELBOURNE SEVEN FOR 148 (Special to THE SUN.) After a sensational stand by the New Zealand batsmen, who lost nine wickets for the great total of 602 runs, Dacre, the captain, declared the innings closed. Mel bourne, going to the wickets, lost seven for 148. The match was d rawn. It was played in fine weather, but a cold westerly win d blew all day. The wicket wore wonderfully well, and played true to the end.

CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. The New Zealand batting, which suffered a temporary loss of prestige from the poor display in the first innings against Melbourne, has been rehabilitated by the great score of 602 for nine wickets, declared, in the second innings, a performance which stands as a record for a New Zealand team in a test match But, as events proved, the action in delaying a declaration with the idea of piling up a safety margin of runs cost New Zealand a victory. After being badly shaken by a heartened attack Melbourne settled down to an uncompromising defence. Time and not runs becafhe the objective, and it finally emerged with seven wickets down for 148; but with the satisfaction that it had staved off a decision and made a draw of the game. PLAY DESCRIBED A WONDERFUL INNINGS The match, owing to the presence of Alloo and Gallichan, who are not in the touring team, did not provide a true indication of the calibre of the side which will sail away next week; but the team which played at Lancaster Park under normal circumstances should score not less than 400 in any innings against Melbourne. When New Zealand resumed its second innings yesterday the wicket was easy, the rain of the day before having bound it. C. J. Oliver carried his score from 30 to 62, his late cutting being crisp and yielding him many runs. His cover drives produced singles mostly, the placing being fine and the running between the wickets, while A. W. Alloo partnered him, being entertaining. When he hit to square leg he did so powerfully. Perkiness was the feature of Alloo’s display. He lacks the qualities of a New Zealand batsman, but he has lashings of confidence. Merritt and Gallichan Neither R. Read nor W. Cunningham, promoted on the batting list, was disposed to aggression, for the stage of the game then did not justify many risks, and when they did decide to open they fell by the wayside. Merritt and Gallichan batted quietly up to the luncheon adjournment. As a bowler, Gallichan has not the goods to offer, his

trundling being innocuous. As a batsman he has possibilities; but he is cramped as yet by the two-eyed stance. He has a beautiful hook shot, and he can drive off the back foot with power; but he is weak on the off, having little driving power. His pet shots he exploited with fine effect in that hectic 25 minutes after lunch. Merritt has been so much in the limelight as a bowler that it will come as a distinct surprise to many to find that he is a batsman of great promise. Batting for his school last season he made 340 runs in one innings, and he has a great record in other innings with his school. His strokes yesterday were daisy cutters. He has a slashing cover drive, a good late cut, and a pretty shot or so on the leg; and he scored very much faster than did GallichanMelbourne’sJßrisk Start. Melbourne started off as though determined to catch the 384 runs necessary for a win; but in W. Cunningham’s first over he got Melbourne’s star batsman, H. L. Hendry, out leg-before. The two craftsmen, Vernon Ransford and B. A. Onyons, held the attack up for a goodly space, while runs came in a steady stream. Merritt seemed ineffective against them; for the extensive footwork of the batsmen, especially by Onyons, made many balls he sent down look simple. Onyons batted in very sound fashion, and Ransford showed much more vigour in front of the wicket tl. c.n hitherto in Christchurch. At 82 Ransford was dismissed by a catch at point off Read. After that came a series of disasters for Melbourne. Scores were: NEW ZEALAND First Innings Second Tunings. R. C. Blunt, c Armstrong, b Hendry 187 J. E. Mills, lbw, b Ebeling o M. L. Page, lbw, b W. Armstrong .. 89 KL. C. James, b Wood .. • • C. J. Oliver, st Rogerson, b W- Armstrong ••••••*• jjC. C. Dacre, c Onyons, b Ebeling . . 29 A. W. Alloo, c Robertson, b Ebeling 22 W. Cunningham, c Ransford, b W. Armstrong •• •• R. J. Read, c Onyons, b Wood .... 22 N. Gallichan, not out • W. E. Merritt, not out Total for nine wickets (declared) 602 Bowling Analysis.—Ebeling took three wickets for 46 runs, Wood two for 126, Ransford none for 41, W. W. Armstrong three for 131, Hendry one for 40, Johnstone none for 34, Rogerson none for 30, T. Armstrong none for 9. MELBOURNE First Innings - 100 Second Innings. H. L. Hendry, lbw, b Cunningham .. 4 B. A. Onyons, c and b Read 43 V. S. Ransford, c Merritt, b Read . . 42 H. C. A. Sandford, st James, b Blunt 2 T. Armstrong, lbw, b Blunt 0 R. G. Johnston, not out 19 W. W. Armstrong, b Alloo 6 P. B. Wood, lbw, b Merritt ...... 25 R. T. S. Rogerson, not ou£ 0 Extras ” Total for seven wickets . . .. 148 Bowling Analysis.—Read took two wickets for 43 runs, Cunningham one for 24, Merritt one for 43, Blunt two for 20, A. W. Aloot one for 2. ,