THE FIRST TEST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 76, 11 January 1936, Page 6

THE FIRST TEST

LIVELY, SRARKLING PLAY. M.C.C. SCORES 437 FOR FOUR. BARBER SCORES 173 RUNS. (Per Press Association). DUNEDIN, This Day. The weather was glorious when play was resumed in the test cricket match Marylebcme Cricket Club versus New Zealand this morning. The wicket was still in first-rate order and was playing better than ever, with the outfield very fast. Cowie opened the attack, and both Barber (122) and Hardstaff (21), the M.C.C. net-out men, took singles off him in his first oyer and brought the total to 280. Both Englishmen were batting freely and confidently, and scoring with easy strokes all round the wicket. Barber gave Jackman a very hard chance off Cowie, but the wicketkeeper could not get his hands on it, and the ball ' went to the boundary. Hardstaff offered Roberts another opportunity a few minutes later, but the latter atT'fine leg dropped a fairly easy ball. Cowie had bad luck in having these two catches missed. The fielding was weak, and the batsmen were finding holes in the field with ease and accuracy. Three hundred went up in 203 minutes. The fielding tightened up as the game went on, but was still not good enough. Both batsmen continued their steady innings with well-placed singles. Barber had a close call when Vivian returned a hard shot from mid-off, the ball shattering the" wickets just as the batsman got home. The Aucklander was the outstanding fielder at this stage of the game. Barber took his total past 150 in 189 minutes. Roberts and Cowie were being kept on, and the first maiden was recorded after three-quar-ters of an hour's play. Runs were corning freely, and Hardstaff reached 50 in 86 minutes.

The Englishmen began to crack on the pace, Barber becoming very aggressive and treating Merritt with scant respect, but he was too disrespectful as it happened. He played back and was clean bowled at 173, after being at the wickets for 211 minutes. Barber hit one six and 20 fours. His partnership with Hardstaff realised 124 runs. 361—3—173. Langridge was the next batsman, and opened his account with a drive through the covers to the boundary. Hardstaff was scoring slowly but steadily. After being on for an_hoiir and a quarter without a spell Cowie was replaced by Elmes, who bowled well out on the off. A lively and sparkling morning's cricket ended with the score at 400 for three. M.C.C.'s impressive total began to mount again after luncheon, but after 10 minutes' play Hardstaff was dismissed, Cowie taking a quick catch at third slip off Elmes. 412-4-76 Hardstaff batted 143 minutes, and hit four fours and one five. Elmes had then taken two for 56. Human, the incoming batsman, had a. life l?efore he opened his tally, Roberts dropping him at second slip off Elmes. Details are: —

NEW ZEALAND

First Innings. Mills, c Smith, b Parks <J Cromb, b Baxter j* Moloney, lbw, b Baxter A Weir, b Read ... ••• ••• -J Lamason, c Smith, b Bead 14 Roberts, b Read u Elmes, b Read *• Vivian, b Read **? Merritt, Read ° Cowie, c Barber, b Parks o Jackman, not out jExtras Total ••• 81 Bowling—Baxter took two wickets for 7 runs, Parks two for 38, Read six for 26. M.C.C. First Innings. Smith, b Roberts 26 Parks,' c Roberts, b Elmes IUU Barber, b Merritt ... u* Hardstaff, c Cowie, b Elmes ... <<> Langridge, not out ... •■• ••• *j Human, not out f-° Extras _J^ Total (for four wickets) ... 437