DOGGED BATTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 18, 23 January 1933, Page 8

DOGGED BATTING.

WELLINGTON'S RECOVERY. TUfDIIL WINS HIS SPURS. A FIGHTING CAPTAIN. Full credit is due to Wellington for their fighting cricket on -Saturday. When they began the day they faced a score of 360 and they lost one of their best wickets within 10 minutes of the opening. It was a bad start and the Auckland total must have looked a long way off, but the visitors tackled their task doggedly and to such good effect that when stumps came out they were almost abreast of their hurdle and had still four wickets in hand to pus them on the right side. Tindill, the young Wellington lefthander, played a big part in the success of his side. He went to the wicket when the scoreboard showed one for six and was not sent back until the figures were six for 284. He was at the crease for just under five hours, and his score of 10G represented one of the most patient innings seen at Eden Park for many a long day. It was not exhilarating, but at no stage of the long time that Tindill was batting was Wellington in a position to sacrifice care for fireworks. There was one occasion when the left-hander might have been stumped, (but otherwise his hundred was chanceless. At times he showed supreme, self-confidence _ in using his feet to go yards down the pitch to meet the Auckland slow bowlers with a broad blade. If on any of these occasions he had failed to get his bat to the "ball he must have been stumped. The majority of Tindill's scoring shots were on the leg side, but he also displayed a good straight drive and at times Icept the slip fieldsmen busy. He appeared nervous only when he first went to the wicket and when he was approaching his century. His worst shot was the one that ended his innings and probably the fact that he was dead tired after his effort had something to do with that. On the first day of the game Tindill impressed with his fine fielding, so that it can truly be said that he has Avon his spurs in his .first Shield match. Only 22 years of age, he should have his best cricket in front of him. James' Good Batting. If it was Tindill who did most to hold the Auckland attack in check it was James who supplied the brightest batting of the day. Five wickets were down for just under 200 when the Wellington captain went to the wicket, and when play ceased with the total at 352 for six he was unbeaten with 87. He started off with a fine off-drive to the boundary and then set about to demonstrate the fact that the Auckland bowling could be

scored off, although his knock was in no way one of the reckless variety. His driving on both sides of th<? wicket was good - and on several occasions he was applauded-for pretty strokes that flashed the ball through the slip-field. Near the end of the afternoon he scored freely in the vicinity of square-leg. When in the seventies he had a life, being dropped in .the.long-field. James, who, like Tindill, was not afraid ,to use his feet, played a fine captain's innings, and near the finish of the afternoon made his runs at a brisk pace. "He hit 14 boundaries. ; Dempster's innings was. a good one. He glanced the ball nicely and also made it fly with a crisp, square cut. He refused to take the slightest risk in going for an extra run and was subjected to somti good-natured banter - from the crowd'; When given out leg-before Dempster was within a couple of his half century. O'Brien executed some good drives in collecting 23. He was more at home'when facing the medium-paced bowling than when up against slower trundling. Lamason' (20) and Parsloe (22 not out) both showed , some good strokes. The last named was dropped by Dacre off Garrard when he was seven. With the exception of the chances missed off' James and Parsloe, the Auckland fielding was good, the groundwork being clean .and the backing up smart. In the morning, however, the throwing in was erratic and Wellington benefited accordingly. Thp Auckland field felt the effects of a long day in the sun and in the last half-hour the standard clipped perceptibly. Garrard, with three wickets for 58 runs, was the most successful of the Auckland bowlers. He tossed the ball up well and for long spells at a time pegged the batsmen down to defensive Ten of his 30 overs were maidens. Vivian sent down no fewer than 38 overs, including 11 maidens. His one wicket cost 73 runs. Weir's two wickets cost 62 runs. Bush bowled very well indeed, but without success. Ten of his 27 overs were maidens and only 47 runs were scored off him. Matheson gave the batsmen no trouble. Although he bowled only 15 overs he had 66 runs hit off him. Hampton, the Auckland wicket-keeper, caught O'Brien and Blandford in quick succession, but his display was not up to the general standard of the play. The extras reached the unusually high total of 46. Quite a few of the sundries, however, were leg byes, for which the 'keeper was not to blame. It was Hampton's first appearance at Eden Park and probably, like other wicketin the past, he found the wicket difficult.