SLOW CRICKET AT EDEN PARK

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 301, 12 March 1928, Page 13

SLOW CRICKET AT EDEN PARK

AUCKLAND FINDS RUNS HARD TO GET LANGRIDGE AND POSHES BAT WELL LOSING two wickets cheaply this morning at Eden Park, Auckland settled down to a dour effort to stave off an innings defeat by the Australians. The early dismissal of Bowley and Cooper was a heavy blow to Auckland, but a splendid stand by Langridge and Postlese improved the position considerably. The wicket looked to be wearing well at the start. There was plenty of life in it, Morton’s first over coming off at a spanking pace.

THERE were 20 runs on the scoreboard when Bowley (14) and Postles (5) resumed batting to the bowling of Grimmett and Morton. Disaster came early. After adding two singles to his score Bowley let fly at the first ball of Grimmett’s second over, missed it, and was clean bowled. 26 —I—l 6.1 —16.

Cooper came next. A quiet spell followed, the batsmen scoring mostly in singles and twos off Grimmett. Cooper was shaping well to the ex-New Zealander, playing, his leg spinners with his pads when they were on the wicket, and cleverly turning loose ones to fine leg. After bowling three overs Morton gave way to McNamee, who had proved so troublesome to Auckland on Saturday. After half an hour’s play Grimmett beat Cooper with a twister that whipped in low and sharp, rattling the bails off. 55—2—18.

With the advent of Langridge play settled down to a spell of defensive cricket, the runs coming slowly in ones and twos. After an hour’s play Richardson put Blackie on in place of Me-

Namee, but the Victorian neither hastened nor checked the rate of scoring - . Toward one o’clock play livened up, Postles making some very nice leg shots off Grimmett, while Langridge was also beginning to open out. At 10 o’clock Langridge brought the cetnury up by snicking McNamee through slips for four. Just before the adjournment Postles had a narrow' squeak from being stumped off Grimmett. At 3.15 Auckland had scored 115 for two wickets. Details: AUSTRALIA First innings -131 AUCKLAND First Innings. BOWLEY, c Blackie, b Morton 0 WEIR A. F., c Richardson, b McNamee 0 COOPER, b Grimmett 12 LANGRIDGE, c and b Blackie .... 46 ANTHONY, c Woodfull, b Morton . . 23 SNEDDEN, c Woodfull, b McNamee 21 PLAYER, not out 27 HENDY, b McNamee 0 POSTLES, b McNamee 4 WEIR, G. L., b McNamee 10 ROWNTREE, b Grimmett 10 Extras .. IS Total 171 Bowling: McNamee, 5-12; Morton, 2-25; Blackie, 1-37; Grimmett, 2-79. Second Innings. BOWLEY, b Grimmett 16 POSTLES, not out 4S COOPER, b Grimmett IS LANGRIDGE, not out 26 Extras .. .. 7 Total for two wickets .. .. 115 A review of Saturday’s play will be found on page 6.