VIGOROUS BATTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 190, 1 November 1927, Page 1

VIGOROUS BATTING

DACRE PLEASES CROWD SYDNEY, Monday. After the dismissal of Mills in New Zealand’s second innings, Lowry and Blunt again became associated in a valuable partnership. Blunt played a sound game all round the wicket and scored much faster than did Lowry. Runs came slowly, the first 100 taking 98 minutes to get. Blunt scored 50, while Lowry made 23, in a little over an. hour. When Blunt had made 53 he hit one from O’Reilly to cover-point and started to run, but Lowry sent him back. He slipped and fell, and Andrews returned the ball quickly to Oldfield, who snapped the bails off before the batsman could rise.

As was the case on Saturday, Lowry soon followed Blunt, Andrews accepting an easy retur i. The New Zealand captain was lucky in the early part of his innings, but later made some nice strokes. He and Blunt put on 84. The board read 110 for three wickets when Blunt went out after having batted 80 minutes and hitting four fours. Lowry had batted 106 minutes. DACRE BRILLIANT When the total was 123 Allcott gave an easy chance to McNamee, but this was not accepted. Page, well supported by Dacre, excelled in sharp running between the wickets and gained runs in a style the earlier batsmen had neglected. Both men hit out freely and found Andrews very much to their liking. They knocked his deliveries round the ground. This pair sent up 50 in 27 minutes. Dacre hit one six. His brilliant play roused the enthusiasm of the crowd. He passed Page when the latter had made 34 in half an hour, each stroke being roundly acclaimed. A GREAT OVATION Page also was attractive and was given his share of applause. Dacre brought up his 50 in 38 minutes, but four minutes later McNamee bowled him. He had hit four fours and a six. His partnership with Page was the brightest of the match and yielded 95. The total was then 222 for six. Page was 44. Page continued to bat brightly till the total was 232, when Gregory cleanbowled him. the disappearance of Page all hope of New Zealand avoiding an innings defeat seemed to be gone, but the tail wagged vigoih ously. Henderson and Merritt batted in great style and lost no opportunities. A great ovation was given them when they secured the necessary total. The last wicket yielded 42.—A. and N.Z.