LIVELY TEST CRICKET

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 313, 26 March 1928, Page 11

LIVELY TEST CRICKET

Australia Piles on Runs and Declares Innings Closed N.Z.’S STIFF TASK IX marked contrast to the monotony of Saturday’s play, the Test cricket match at jßden Park to-day opened with a succession of sensational incidents. New Zealand missed three chances in the first half-hour of play, but Woodfull, who was dropped off the second ball of the day, was bowled neck and crop by MeGirr with the huge total of 284 to his credit. Rattling on the runs at a merry pace before lunch, the Australians declared their innings closed at the adjournment with 573 runs for the loss of five wickets.

V\7ITH a total of 416 on the board for ** two wickets, Woodfull (250) and Schneider (50) resumed batting this morning to the bowling of Read and Badcock. Cooper fielded for half an hour at the start in place of Dempster, who was receiving attention for a. bruised finger, which the Wellington man jarred on the rails on Saturday in attempting to save a boundarv shot. The game started senslionally, Woodfull snicking the first ball of the match low and hard to Finlayson at second slip, but the Petone man dropped a hard chance. Read’s luck as a bowler was right out, for in addition to this chance, and two on Saturday, Schneider was again missed at the wickets off Read by Lowry, after adding 11 rubs to his Saturday’s score. OUT AT LAST The little South Australian had had his full quota of luck, however, and with 68 to his credit he was smartly caught by Lowry oft Badcock. 448—3 —6B. Despite the chances he ggve Schneider had played some nice shots his late cutting and leg glanding beinr particularly good. Richardson was next, and had hardlstarted his innings when he pulled one from Badcock hard at Merritt, who could not manage to hold a very difficult chance.

It was left to McGirr to even up by clean-bowling Woodfull with a beauty three-quarters of an hour after the start of this morning’s play. 4904 — 284. Woodfull had been at the wickets for the best part of five hours and had scored considerably more than half the Australians’ total up to the time of his dismissal. The only chance he gave was off Read at the start of play this morning. RICHARDSON OPENS OUT Five minutes after Woodfull’s dismissal 500 runs were posted on the score-board. Richardson, who had been joined by the 18-year-old Sydney colt, Jackson, was now scoring freely with powerful drives and an occasional square cut. It was now evident that with the huge score they had in hand, the Australians were out to force the pace. Both Richardson and Jackson opened out in breezy style. The former reached his half-century in 35 minutes, treating all the bowlers with scant courtesy. Jackson specialised in lovely cover di'ives, and neat cutting. "GIVE GALLICH AN A BOWL” A few minutes before lunch, Lowry put Dempster on to bowl, slow dollydrops, and loud shouts from the hill: “Give Gallichan a bowl” were heard. Just before the adjournment, Jackson spooned one of Merritt’s slow ones up into the air for the bowler to accept an easy catch. 573—5 —35.

A* good crowd of spectators for an off-day had assembled at two o’clock when Dempster and Mills went out to open New Zealand’s first innings. The Governor-General and members of his party watched the game from the members’ stand. Morton and McNamee opened the attack, the former with a light breeze behind him, making a fair bit of pace off the wicket. Dempster, with nicelyplaced shots, quickly ran into double figures. Details:— . AUSTRALIA First innings. WOODFULL, b McGirr 284 PONSFORD, c Lowry, b Finlayson . . 86 KIPPAX, c Lowry, b McGirr 16 SCHNEIDER, c Lowry, b Badcock . . 68 JACKSON, c and b Merritt .. .. 35 RICHARDSON, not out 65 Extras 19 Total for five wickets (dec.) 573 Fall of wickets: 184, 230, 448, 490, 573. Bowling: Badcock, 1-124; McGirr, 2-88; Merritt, 1-121; Read, 0-102; Finlayson, 1-92; Mills. 0-6; Dempster, 0-24. [A review of Saturday's play appears on page 6.3