CRICKET DEBACLE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 59, 10 March 1945, Page 6

CRICKET DEBACLE

TROUBLE WITH WICKET

BUTTERFIELD 5 FOR NINE

Scoring was difficult when the inter. Island cricket match was resumed at Eden Park this morning on a new wicket and in the opening stages in the North Island second venture wickets fen quickly. "

Overnight North Island had 23 runs on without loss, with Pearson 15 and Ri» 5.

The South Island attack was by the medium-paced right-handers, Butterfield and Freeman.

The outfield was slow, and although the bowling was not kicking as hard as it was on the opening day, an occasional ball was keeping very low.

Without adding to his score Pearson went over the top of a dead shooter from Butterfield, and the first wicket fell with only 24 runs on.

Rice, the Wellington man, added a single only to his overnight score, and in attempting to play Butterfield defensively, put an easy catch into the hands of T. Burtt at silly forward-leg.

The Wellington player, Mooney, was completely beaten by Butterfield, and North Island had three wickets down for 30 runs.

At this stage Butterfield had taken three wickets for eight runs.

North Island hopes rose when the Auckland pair, Wallace and Sutcliffe, got together.

At this stage T. Burtt came on to bowl, and Wallace won applause with a brilliant off shot which flashed through the covers to the fence.

With the score at 44, Sutcliffe missed a late swerve from Butterfield, and the ball, finished on his pad to send him back lbw.

Cleal was beaten all the way by Butterfield, and half of the North Island side was out for 44 runs.

Butterfield at this stage had taken five wickets for eight runs.

Compensation for spectators was beautiful stroke-pl£.y by Wallace, which in. eluded a brilliantly (square cut boundary shot off Burtt..

C. Kerr, the Auckland suburban player, did his best to give the North Island batting a foundation, and resolutely met every ball with a straight bat.

At this stage North Island was facing an acute crisis, with accurate and steady bowling supported by crisp ground fielding..

Wallace was using his feet well to get to a half-volley, and there was applause when he leaped down the track to hit Burtt to the fence.

After bowling an hour and taking five wickets for nine runs, Butterfield was replaced by Freeman, and the new bowler with his first ball had Kerr dropped at the wicket by Mills.

Scoring was slow, but Wallace, with a perfect off-drive to the fence, sent 60 up.

Butterfield was hurt when stopping a slip-shot by Wallace, and A. Richards, the North Shore player, went on as substitute. When the score was 70 N. Burtt, the Canterbury slow right-hand spin-bowler, took up the attack, and both batsmen drove him firmly to the outfield. Wallace and Kerr maintained a timely partnership until the luncheon adjournment and took the score to 111, Wallace being 50 and Kerr 22. When the afternoon play started the attack was shared by Freeman and T. Burtt. Wallace made a sparkling shot through the slips to the fence off Freeman, and then a spell of quiet play followed. Anderson came off and was replaced by Sutcliffe. Both batsmen were playing defensively and would hit only when a ball was loose. AVallace Bowled A partnership which had put on 80 runs was broken at 124. Wallace tried to pull T. Burtt, and was clean bowled. The North Island captain had batted about 125 minutes, and in sound, straight play had made an invalua'oie contribution. Matheson opened with a four through the covers, which won applause, and Kerr hooked T. Burtt to the fence. Matheson opened out and hit two more fours, one of them landing on the fence at sauare leg. SOUTH ISLAND ~ First Innings • .* NORTH ISLAND First Innings *• 16J Second Innings H. T. Pearson, b Butterfield 15 H. F. Bice, c T. B. Burtt, b Butterfield .... « F. H. Mooney, b Butterfield * M. Wallace, b T. Burtt : ■ B. Sutclifle, lbw. b Butterfield ... J O. C. Cleal, b Butterfield ■• ' C. Kerr, not out ••■•• £! A. M. Matheson, not out " Extras •• _/ Total for six wickets ™