CRICKET TEST RESUMED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 314, 27 March 1928, Page 13

CRICKET TEST RESUMED

Late Start This Afternoon FLOODED WICKET CAUSES HOLD-UP New Zealand Batting: on Sticky Pitch AFTER a break of nearly 3 hours, play was resumed in the cricket teat at Eden Park to-day shortly before three o’clock. Only about 40 minutes’ play was possible this morning owing to torrential rain which set in at midday and flooded the wicket. In the morning New Zealand put on 33 runs without Joss. When play was resumed this afternoon the wicket was very soft, but drying under the influence of fitful sunshine.

THE sky was dull and overcast when 1 Foley and McGirr resumed New Zealand’s first innings at 11.15 this morning to the bowling of McNamee and Grimmett. A nice breeze was blowing down the wicket, and Richardson soon replaced Me Name e with Morton at the top end. Scoring was slow at the start, but McGirr livened things up by square-cutting Morton to the fence twice in quick succession, both beautiful shots. Morton was no-balled three times within the space of s few minutes, and Richardson came up to have a look at the lines marking the bowling crease, which had become rather badly worn. RICHARDSON AND BARRACKERS Light rain began to fall at 11.45 and the players started to leave the field. Good-natured banter came from the barrackers, and one shouted to the Australian captain, “Come on Vic, stay

out—it won’t last long;.’’ With a big grin on his face, the Australian captain cocked an inquiring eye at the weather and then after a short conference with the umpires and batsmen, signalled his team to carry on, amid cheers from the bankers. Only one more over was bowled, however, when drifting showers started to spray the ground, and there was no option but to seek the shelter of the stand. Five minutes in the stand, and the teams went back to the wickets for another short spell, but at midday, the rain set in in earnest, and play was stopped, the score-board then showing 239 for six wickets. PLAY RESUMED At two o’clock Richardson and Lowry inspected the wicket, but it was then unfit to play. A second visit was paid at 2.30, and it was decided to resume a quarter of an hour later. Although liberally sprinkled with sawdust at both ends, the wicket was in a treacherous state when McGirr and Foley resumed batting shortly after three o’clock. McNaraee and Blackie were the opening bowlers. Ten runs were scored in the first ten minutes, but both batsmen were uncertain at times to bumping balls. Details: AUSTRALIA First Innings (5 wickets dec.) .. .. 573 NEW ZEALAND First Innings DEMPSTER, b Grimmett 44 MILLS, b Grimmett 58 HAMILTON, b McNamee 40 BADCOCK, b Grimmett 0 LOWRY, c Oldfield, b McNamee .... 18 GALUCfiAN, Ibw b McNamee .... 11 FOLEY, not out JMcGIRR, not out JJ Extras Total for six wickets 239 A review of yesterday's play appears on page 14.