SECOND TEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 5, 28 March 1927, Page 1

SECOND TEST

AUSTRALIA MAKE 493

N. Z. AT THE WICKETS

BLUNT AND MILLS BATTING

Melbourne in the first innings made 493, Onyons and Hansford contributing centuries. New Zealand is now at the wickets, with Blunt and Mills batting. New Zealand’s first innings deficit is 176.

(THE SUN’S Special Representative)

WELLINGTON, Saturday. When play was continued on Saturday afternoon Johnstone did not remain at the wickets long, succumbing to one of Merritt’s tricky ones, which slipped off his pad and took his stump as he tried to get around it. Sandford soon settled to his free style and pasted Merritt and McGirr about for several boundaries. The Sandford-Onyons combination made New Zealand’s bowling appear cheap, and a change of bowling could not shift Onyons from his patient stand at the wickets. WEAK FIELDING The fielding became looser as the day went on, the ground work often being very faulty. Lowry’s work behind the tsicks was far from satisfactory, and he missed at least two easy chances of stumping the batsman. ONYONS STUMPED He retirived this later, however, by clicking off Onyons’s bails when the Australian had piled up 180. Onyons appeared to be very unlucky in being given out in a stumping decision, as he seemed to haul his foot well in. 78 —4 —l 80. Even Blunt,, whose fielding had been fairly good, failed with a fast but easy catch from T. Armstrong (who joined Sandford), and the Sand-ford-Armstrong partnership appeared quite strong when the Australians passed the 400 mark immediately after the tea adjournment. SANDFORD CAUGHT OUT Shortly after the resumption, however, Sandford was well caught behind the wickets f>y Lowry off Henderson, the wicketkeeper juggling with the ball. 418 —5 —59. FIRST SIX OF MATCH Wood joined T. Armstrong, who was 26, but with the total at 423, Blunt got the latter lbw. 42 36 —30. Campbell partnered Wood and 450 came after 305 minutes’ play. % Henderson gave way at 456 to Merritt, and Wood scored the first six of the day by driving him powerfully over the fence, 10 coming from the over. After scoring 29 he was bebaten by an off-break from Merritt. 470 —7 29. END OF THE INNINGS Ebeling joined Campbell. With the total at 493 Campbell nlayed one on from Blunt. The innings, which lasted 340 minutes, closed for 495. Stumps were then drawn. Scores: NEW ZEALAND. First Innings 317 MELBOURNE CLUB.—First Innings. H. L. Hendry, c Cunningham, b B. A. Onyons, st Lowry, b Dacre 180 V. S. Ransford, b Merritt LI6 R. C. w Johnstone, b Merritt .. .. S H. C. Sandford, c Lowry, b Hender-

T. G. Armstrong, lbw, b Blunt . . 30 Wood, b Merritt 29 Campbell, b Blunt 26 Rodgerson. st Lowry, b Blunt .... 2 H. I. Ebeling, not out .. * 6 W. Armstrong, absent ° Extras 33 Fall of Wickets. —One for 15. two for 250, three for 2#S, four for 375, five for 41S, six for 423, seven for 470, eight for 475, nine for 493. Bowling Analysis.—Henderson, one for 57, McGirr one for 186, Cunningham none for 38, Merritt three for 112, Blunt three for 91, Oliver none for 13, Dacre one for 23. TO-DAY’S PLAY NEW ZEALAND BATTING Press Association WELLINGTON, To-day. Perfect weather conditions prevailed for the third and final day of the test match. Faced with a deficit of 176, New Zealand commenced the second innings on a good wicket, Blunt and Mills going to the crease. Ransford led the visitors, Warwick Armstrong not playing Ebeling opened the attack. Blunt started off with a single, and then Mills placed the fast man nicely to leg for three. Slow Scoring Rogerson bowled from the other end .and Mills brought 4o up. Ebeling kept the batsmen very quiet. He was rocking them in at a great pace, and beat Bluwt twice. More singles brought the total to 20. Blunt succeeded in getting Rogerson away for a couple, but the scoring was very slow. Better Batting. Wills reached 10 runs with a single off Ebeling and Blunt secured the first boundary off the same bowler. Three off Ebeling gave Blunt double figures, and carried the score past 30. Blunt also drov.c Rogehson to the ropes twice in succession. The batsmen were now making better progress. Blunt squarecut Rogerson twice for two, Johstone, at point, letting the ball through. These strokes brought 50 up. Ebeling narrowly missed Blunt’s wicket with p, yorker, but the next ball was turned by the batsman for three —a pretty Blunt was 30, and was again shaping well. Mills was batting soundly, but slowly. With the total at 65, Wood replaced Ebeling. At noon the score was none for 75 —Blunt 40, Mills With the score at 77, Hendry replaced Rogerson, and Blunt despatched his first to the boundary. The batsmen found difficulty in scoring off Wood, but Blunt managed to get one away to the boundary, bringing his score to 50. Mills was 26, and was sharping soundly. After a long period of quiet play Blunt brought 100 up— Blunt 55, Mills 31.