WELLINGTON “IN THE CART”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 283, 20 February 1928, Page 11

WELLINGTON “IN THE CART”

BATTING FAILURES AGAINST AUSTRALIANS DEMPSTER ALONE MAKES A STAND AFTER getting rid of the powerful Australian batting side for the quite reasonable debit of 375 runs, Wellington crashed badly against the visitors on Saturday, and at the end of the day’s play Wellington was in a hopeless position.

(Special to THE SUN.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. OVER 10,000 Wellington fans attended the Basin Reserve on Saturday to witness the Plunket Shield holders play the visiting Australians. The home team had dismissed Yne powerful opposing batsmen for a moderate 375 the previous day, and Wellington had put 42 runs on for the loss of no wickets. Consequently, the local barrackers had visions of the strong local batting team passing the Australian first innings total and making a creditable draw. But the heady bowling and keen fielding of the visitors proved too good for the provincial batsmen. After being dismissed for 206 in the first innings, Wellington followed on to lose six good wickets for 92 runs before bad light caused an early drawing .of stumps. DEMPSTER’S FINE EFFORTS Dempster was the only local batsman to play up to

form, and he played two fine innings of 52 and 49. Oxenh a m, Grimmett, Blackie and Morton were the destroyers of Wellington’s hopes, the Queenslander (Oxenham) putting up a fine performance in the first innings, when he took four wickets for 39 runs. Foley (36) played a

patient innings in the first knock, and Lambert (35) gave a sparkling display in the second before falling a victim to the deadly Oldfield-Grimmett combination, while forcing the pace. Lowry was very disappointing, the New Zealand captain failing to get going in either innings, being bowled for nine by Oxenham in the first innings, and skittled for a “cluck” by an express from Morton in the second innings. Three of the Wellington batsmen were clean-bowled without scoring in the second venture, Dempster and Lambert accounting for 84 out of the 92 runs scored for the loss of six A large number of the big crowd objected to the game being adjourned on account of the failing light. Details: —- AUSTRALIA First Innings 375 WELLINGTON First Innings. DEMPSTER, c Grimmett, b Blackie 52 FOLEY, c Oldfield, b Grimmett .. 36 LOWRY, b Onenham J BADCOCK, c and b Grimmett .... 23

JAMES, lbw, b Oxenham 4 McLEC'D, c Oxenham, b Morton . . 11 McGIRR. c Alexander, b Blackie .. 22 LAMASOX, c Kippax, b Grimmett . . 12 LAMBERT, c Oldfield, b Oxenham . . 7 BRICE, c Richardson, b Oxenham . . 0 MASSEY, not out 13 Extras .. 17

Total .. .. 206 Bowling: R. K. Oxenham, 4-39; Grimmett, 3-65; Blackie, 2-53; Morton, 1-32.

Second Innings DEMPSTER, b Grimmett 49 FOLEY, lbw, b Morton 1 LOWRY, b Morton 0 BADCOCK, b Blackie 0 LAMAS ON, b Blackie 0 LAMBERT, st Oldfield, b Grimmett 35 JAMES, not out 6 McLEOD, not out 0 Extras • ..... I Total for six wickets 92 Bowling: Blackie, 2-24; Grimmett, 2-19; Morton, 2-18; Oxenham, 0-22; Schneider, 0-8. NO INNINGS DEFEAT WELLINGTON'S LAST MEN Press Association. WELLINGTON, To-day. Ideal cricketing weather greeted the Australians as they took the field this morning. Wellington, with six wickets down, required 78 to avert an .innings defeat. James and McLeod faced Blackie and Grimmett. James punched Grimmett through the covers for four, and ran into double figures. McLeod broke his duck, and then popped one from Blackie into Oldfield’s hands. 97 —7 —l.

McGirr was next, and the new pair saw the century up. McGirr skied one from Grimmett just out of rea h of the field, and Blackie’s next one was dropped by Alexander at deepsquare leg. He soon ran into double figures. McGirr snicked a ball from Grimmett, but Oldfield missed a difficult chance, and four resulted, giving the batsman 20. McGirr was bowled by Grimmett round the batsman’s leg, with a similar ball to that which got Dempster. 126—8—26.

Brice snicked the first ball he received from Grimmett into Blackie’s hands in the slips. 126 —9 —o. Massey was last. James drove Blackie for three, and Massey had a narrow escape against the same bowler. However, he lifted Blackie to the fence for four, and late-cut Grimmett also l’or four, •which were run out. Both batsmen ran into the twenties, and brought 150 up. At 159 Oxenham replaced Blackie and Massey had a close call, running a short one. Great enthusiasm prevailed when the innings defeat was averted. Massey reached 30 with good cricket.