A GREAT START

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 312, 24 March 1928, Page 13

A GREAT START

Ponsford and Woodfull Pile Up Runs in Cricket Test

VICTORIANS’ MACHINE-LIKE CRICKET

U7INNING the toss at Eden ' • Park this morning, Vic. Richardson, the Australian captain, decided to bat. An overcast sky, With a hint of rain in the air, testified to the wisdom of making first use of a wicket that rolled out firm and fast.

The teams were as follow: Australia.—V. Y. Richardson (captain>, W. M. Woodfull (vice-captain), D. D. J. Blackie, C. V. Grimmett, A. Jackson, A. F. Kijvpax, W. A. Oldfield, W. H. Ponsford, K. J. Schnieder, F. B. Morton, R. McNamee. New Zealand.—T. C. Lowry (captain), F. T. Badcock, C. S. Dempster, C. G. Finlayson, H. Foley, M. Gallichan, I. M. Hamilton. W. E. Merritt, J. E. Mills, H. M. McGirr, R. Read. THIS MORNING’S PLAY Padded and gloved for his post behind the stumps, Lowry led the New Zealand team on to the field shortly after 11.30 this morning, and was followed a few minutes later by Australia’s great opening pair, Ponsford and Woodfull.

Badcock and McGirr opened the attack for New Zealand, the latter’s pacy deliveries being aided by a sparkling breeze from the top end of the ground. McGirr had four men in slips, while the field clustered close in for Badcock. The Victorians opened with their customary caution, scoring in ones and twos with well-placed push shots, mostly on the leg side. The New Zealand fielding at the start was crisp and clean, Finlayson, Dempster and Gallichan earning applause for smart stopping and returning. With 20 runs on the board after less than half an hour's play, McGirr gave way to Merritt. The slow bowler

pitched a casual first over, Woodfull vigorously pulling a short one on to the boundary. Runs continued to come slowly but steadily. Woodfull was the more confident of the two batsmen, and Fonsford was occasionally a trifle uncertain of both bowlers. The batting machine, however, brought the half century up after three-quarters of an hour’s play by pulling a loose one from Merritt to the boundary. Reg. Read, the Canterbury bowler, who was so successful against Auckland in the Plunket Shield this season, replaced Badcock at 12.30. Ten minutes or so later, after a rather costly spell at the bowling crease (half the total having been scored off him) Merritt gave way to Finlayson. The Wellingtonian, who was the selector’s surprise packet in the New Zealand team, had already created a good impression by his brisk fielding, despite the fact that he is easily the oldest man in the team. Short and i if Petone man bowls a slow l ball with a nice easy action. SLOW BATTING Toward one o’clock the batting became very slow and stodgy, and there was ironical applause from the bankers when Woodfull poked at Finlayson for a smartly run single. With the breeze assisting him the Wellington man was alternating' between slow and medium pace, and the batsmen watched him carefully, until Ponsford suddenly opened out and drove him for three, bringing his half-century up after 80 minutes’ batting. Both batsmen now livened up a bit, and the century appeared five minutes later. A mild epidemic of slack ground fielding developed just before lunch. Lowry gave Merritt another turn with the ball, vice Finlayson, and Woodfull welcomed him by jumping out and pushing a slow one away for a single, which gave the young schoolmaster his half-century. WOODFULL SCORES WELL Woodfull was showing a nice variety of strokes, scoring mostly with wellplaced singles varied by occasional powerful driving, and a solid squarecut. Ponsford, with a very pronounced crouch at the wickets was still making the leg side his strong point. Jack Mills bowled the last over before lunch and there was a mjld thrill when Woodfull cocked one up in slips between Dempster and Finlayson, but it was out of reach of either. Details: AUSTRALIA First Innings PONSFORD, not out 61 WOODFULL, not out 57 Extras 3 Total for no wickets 121