TRICKY PITCH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 36, 12 February 1943, Page 4

TRICKY PITCH

WEIR WINS THE TOSS

SENDS WELLINGTON IN

(O.C. > ' WELLINGTON, this day. The return cricket match between Northern and Central Military Districts commenced at Basin Reserve this morn ing in ideal weather. The visitors had won at &(3en Park oh January 29 and 30 by six wickets. The pitch was tricky after riin. This no doubt decided the Auckland captain on winning the toss, to send WelUnetrm' in to bat. 81011 The teams are:— Northern.—G. L. Weir (captain) a t Postles, S. G. Haliday, L. E. Partridge L. C. Archer, G. Hook, J. W. Carrnii P. M. Andrews, W. J. Brown, D n' Taylor, G. O. JlcKenzie, H. B. Jones (12tli man). Central. —J. R. Lamason Ccantaini S. A. Brooker, T. L. Pritchard, Hu Whiting, R. J. Coupland, W. H. BatW M. A. O'Brien, M. O. Blakeley, w £ Norris, R. B. S. Chadwick, J. Liver R p' l James (12th man). ' ' ' Weir Soon In The Wickets ' Barker and Whiting opened and Weir bowled Barker with the first ball of his second over. Coupland followed, and played good shots. " e Whiting was struck on the head by a return from Andrews. Andrews replaced Brown, who was erratic. The former with Weir kept the batsmen quiet, and only 14 runs had been scored in the first half-hour. Coupland hit the first boundary, a cover drive off Weir. He gave a stumping chance next ball. ° Whiting batted 55 minutes for 13 runs before Weir broke through his defence The board now read two for 31, Weir two for 15, off eight overs. O'Brien was .the incoming batsman and lie hit Weir for four from the first ball he received. • A breeze from the south was drying the pitch rapidly, and this enabled the batsmen to become venturesome, both Coupland and O'Brien registering boundaries off Andrews and Weir. Partridge (formerly of Dilworth Old Boys) relieved Andrews at-47, bowling a maiden to Coupland. Again O'Brien drove Weir to the feice to bring 50 up after 70 minutes' play; Andrews replaced Weir from the'south end, and Coupland took six off his first over. After O'Brien had hit a boundary off the first ball off Partridge's third over, he was bowled next ball, and was succeeded by Lamason. At 11.30 a..m the total was 7S for three (Weir two for 30, Partridge one for 7). Coupland was then 32, while the captain had four runs to his credit. Partridge Devastating After the tea interval play livened up, Lamason hitting out at Andrews and scoring 14 off the first over. Lamason • sent the 100 up in 110 minutes, with a strong pull to the square leg fence, off Partridge. Next over he was caught at mid-on by Postles,- off Andrews, for 30. His runs were scored in 22 minutes. 4—109. Archer was conspicuous in the field. A quiet spell followed. Coupland ran to the forties with a splendid cover drive for four. Norris did not last long, scoring a brace before Partridge uprooted his middle stump. 5—116. Liver, next man in, took a brace off the third ball. - Andrews had another success when he had Coupland caught by Postles, at midoff. 118—6 —41. Partridge bowled Blakely after he had scored four, with - the total 123. The bowler's figures were then three for 24, off nine overs, which he improved to four for - 2-\ . when -Chadwick was bowled two balls later. • Pritchard resisted temporarily, but • Partridge bowled hdm ywith the score 136. Liver, proceeding qtifetly, Jiad scored 11 before Partridge bowled himlin the same over, to close Central's innings at 136. ' Auckland had seven ruiiS 'on the- board before lunch (Haliday 4, Postles 3). Scol es WELLINGToN _ First Barker, b Weir . .!> Whiting,- b Weir ...... " O'Brien, b Partridge -■■••• Coupland, c Postles. b Andrews « Lamason. c Postles. b Andrews Norris, b Partridge Liver, b Partridge ••••• Blakeley. b Partridge ? Chadwick, b' Partridge " Pritchard, b Partridge g Brooker. not out Extras _ Total 4 135 Bowling: Partridge six for 31, Weir two for 30. Andrews two for 57. Brown none for 3.