CRICKET.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19812, 27 December 1929, Page 11

CRICKET.

M.C.C. V. CANTERBURY.

A DRAWN GAME.

FINE BATTING BY PAGE

The fact that the bad weather conditions had restricted the match to two days robbed yesterday's play of a certain amount of interest. Nevertheless there was a very good attendance probably over 4000, and there were some interesting features about the play. The Canterbury team was on trial. It was a young and largely experimental side, and the match that ended yesterday enabled one to make an estimate of its all-round strength. The play proved two things. First that Canterbury batsmen could not play fast bowling, and second that Canterbury batting at the present time is of a low standard. The brightest spot in Canterbury's batting yesterday was Page's 86, and it made the batting of the rest of the side look very drab by comparison. The M.C.C.'s bowling was of only good average quality, but much of it was fast stuff, and the local men, with one or two exceptions, made a poor showing. As already mentioned, Page's batting was in a class by itself among the Canterbury men, and indeed no finer batting was seen in the match. His first innings of 26 was a thoroughly sound one, but in the second he gave an exhibition of sound, but aggressive, batting, that was delightful to watch. Allen batted very confidently and well in the first innings, but, like most of the others, he did not relish the fast stuff, and Nichols got him cheaply in the second innings. Roberts showed the fast bowler a resolute front, and batted very soundly in each innings. Cromb played very sound cricket in his second innings knock, playing the bowling confidently, and well, but his inclination to flick at off-balls was a weakness. The batting of the others was not impressive. Towards the eiul, when it was obvious the tnatch would be drawn the visitors rested their stork bowlers, which allowed some of the later batsmen to rake in a few runs.

A laughable feature of the innings was Duleepsinhji's bowling tally. In his first essay with the ball his three overs cost 37 runs. Going on a second time ho bowled four overs for 12 runs and four wickets. He was in high glee and showed it, as though appreciating the fact that his wickets for the most part were got by some of the loosest balls sent down during the day. The visitors gave a good, solid exhibition of out-cricket. In Nichols, Worthington, and Barratt, they have a trio of bowlers who can keep batsmen on their best behaviour, and always look as though they might get wickets. This was the impression one got from seeing the Canterbury men bat, but against a team of batsmen of Page's calibre it would probably be found that they are no more than fair average bowlers. It was in the fielding that the visitors overshadowed the local men. In their ground fielding perhaps there was not great superiority, but they could hold catches. If the Canterbury catching had been nearly as good the Englishmen would have had no lead on the first innings. The visitors could also give tire Canterbury men a big lead in their returns to the wickets. The going was not very smooth as between umpires, scorers, and board men yesterday. The signals were sometimes missing, and the fact that one of the umpires never called the 110 balls, but only signalled them with his arm, caused no little confusion to the scorers. It is the batsman's right, too, to have the no ball promptly "called." The arm signal is only supplementary to thf» rail, and is tor the benefit of the scorers. The weather was beautifully fine when play was resumed. A warm sun was tempered by a light haze, and a mild easterly wind. The wicket looked in perfect order, and it played well right up to the drawing of stumps. There was again a capital attendance, the takings at the gate being £277. This, with the £382 on the first day, will more than cover Canterbury's guarantee.

Nichols (66) and Benson (1) were the not-out3, and Merritt opened to the former from the north end. Nichols got a single off the first ball, but the next was an over-pitched ball which Benson tried to sweep round to leg and it bowled him round his legs. The innings had lasted 3J hours. After the customary interval, the Englishmen took the field, and were immediately followed by Cromb and Allen, Canterbury's first pair. Nichols bowled from the north end, and Cromb turned his first ball to leg for four. The next ball, however, clean bowled him. 41 —£. Talbot opened with a pair to the on first ball, and then Barratt bowled from the other end. Allen opened his account with a pair off the first ball, and four byes sent the first ten up. Only singles came in the next three overs. A single to Talbot brought three as the result of two overthrows, sending 20 up, and Allen reached doubles with a fine four past third man. In Niehols's next over Talbot played on. He had not been happy to the fast stuff. 27—2—8. Page's first ball went into the slips, an emphatic appeal for Ibw being given in his favour, and a single resulted. When the score was 35 Worthington replaced Nichols, and in Barratt's next over Page sent 40 up with a pretty off drive to the fence. The Canterbury" skipper reached doubles with a stolen single, and at 45 Woolley took the ball from Barratt. Allen got him to leg for a pair, sending 50 up for j 48 minutes' batting. A bit of bad luck then befell Allen. Page hit one into ; the "gully" and Allen started for a second run. Page sent him back, but he slipped in turning, and a fine return from Dawson did the rest. o2 3 19. Roberts followed, and after some alow play he turned Woolley to leg for three, sending 60 up. Page lifted the slow bowler dangerously near Dawson, but it reached the off boundary. Roberts followed with a nice glance to leg for four, and then lifted Woolley to the pickets. A beautiful off drive gave the Riecarton man another four, making him 20. Nichols replaced Worthington at 77, and Page got to 20 with a pair. Roberts showed his liking for Woolley by hitting him for two fours and a two in one over. This made the Riccarton man 30, and sent 90 up. Woolley gave way to Barratt and Koberts off-drove him finely for three. With the total 9S the players went in to lunch. On resuming, Allom went out to field in place of Gilligan. Barratt and Nichols still had charge of the bowling and a single to each batsman off the'former sent 100 up for 89 minutes play. Niehols's first over proved fatal to Page, the express bowler knocking his off stump out of the ground. 101 4 —26. Hamilton replaced him, and opened with a pair "n-ough'the slips. Gilligan returned to the field m time to see Barratt clean bowl Koberts with a leg-break. 107-O--3S A loud and confident appeal for lbw was made against Lester the baU he received, but he survived it. Then for a time the batsmen appeared to have their work cut out to . wickets intact. XventnaHy,

a couple of pairs, sending 120 up. Worr'nington then replaced Barratt. and WoolleV took the ball at the north end. The latter change came off, Hamilton lifting one to Gilligan at ':o\er, v-ho brought off a tine catch. 121—6 9. Powell followed, and after getting a single he drove Woolley beautifullv B for 4. Lester then fell to the finest stumping feat, seen for a long time. He forward to a fast over-pitched ball on the leg-side, but over-balanced, and Benson had_the legbail off in a trice. 130—7—7. Merritt made onh* a single, and was then clean bo v.-led. 132—8—1. Burns joined Powell, but a fine length ball from Nichols left him standing. 133 9 o. A broken bail delayed play for some time, when the last man. went in. The Sydenham man got a single, but the first ball from Worthington skittled him. _ The innings had lasted 2 hours 40 minutes. The visitors sent Canterbury in again, and after the usual interval Gromb and Allen opened the innings to the bowling of Nichols from the north end, and Barratt. Cromb got a single off Nichols. and Allen sent him prettily to the leg boundary. The next ball, however, the latter was Ibw. 6 1 4. Talbot was the ingoer, and got two from a ball from which an emphatic appeal for lbw was made. C'romb got three from a nice off-stroke, and at 19 Woithington replaced Barratt. Cromb was batting confidently, and soon got into doubles. With the total 25, Barratt replaced Nichols at the north end, and Cromb got him prettily to leg for two. Singles took Talbot into doubles, but he then "felt" for a rising ball on the off, and was caught at the wicket. 30 —2—ll. Page joined his clubmate, and play became very slow. Pairs and singles took the score slowly alone to 40. As it had been agreed not to adjourn for afternoon tea, travs "vrere taken out to the players. After a few minutes interval plav was resumed, and the crowd applauded when Duleepsinhji replaced Barratt. Page the change and hit a slow one to the leg boundary. Gromb sent 50 up with a nice four down the gully. In Duleep-sinhji-s next over Page off-drove; the first ball to the boundary and lifted each' of the next two balls clean over the long on fence for six each. fifth ball was another four for an offdrive, and a single off the last made 21 off the over. Five came off Worthmgton's next over, and Page hit Duleepsinhji for another six in his next over. \ four and two singles also came off the over, but in Worthington's next over Cromb waa caught at the wicket. 91 3 —26. Roberts partnered his skipper, and Nichols replaced Duleepsinhji. Loud applause came when Page, a nice pair to third man, reached 00. Barratt replaced Worthington, and a single to Roberts sent 100 up for an hour and 17 minutes* play. Page reached 60 with a lovely off-drive. At 111 Earle went on for the first time, replacing Nichols. Page on-drove him prettily for four and then got Barratt to the on for three. Another three off Earle made the Canterbury skipper 70, and he sent 130 up with a lofty four over the bowler's head. A lovely late cut gave him another four. Page was forcing the pace, and he reached 80 with a pair to leg. Woolley replaced Barratt at 140, and Page sent a full toss like a flash to the on fence. In Earle's next over Page hit a hot one back to the bowler. The ball bounced off Earle's hands, but he held it at the second attempt. Page had been batting an honr and eight minutes, and he got a round of applause on going back to the pavilion. 146 —4 —86. Hamilton filled the gap, and Roberts raised 150 with a lift to the on fence. Hamilton got two twos and a four off Earle's next over. This brought Duleepsinhji on in his place. His second ball was a full toss, and Hamilton hit it into Nichols s hands at mid on. 162 —5 9. Lester was next, and Roberts reached 20 with a four to the on. Lester~ hit a full toss from Woolley to the on boundary and got him to leg for another four. In Duleepsinhji's next over Roberts was lbw. 178—6—23. Powell partnered Lester, and Legge bowled in place of Woollev. Lester lifted him to the on for four, sending 190 up. This was his last, for he lifted one high nearly to the square leg fence, and Worthington, sprinting along the boundary, brought off a fine catch. 193—7—20. Another great catch, saw Powell disposed of. He lifted a short one nearly to the leg fence, and Turnbull held a very difficult catch. 193 —B—4.8 —4. Merritt was joined by Simmonds, and the former off-drove Legge for four, sending 200 up for two hours 20 minutes' play. Merritt got another beautiful off-drive for four, and time was then called.

Scores: — M.C.C. First Innings. E. W. Dawson 112111311111121111121, c Hamilton, b Merritt .. .26 A H H. Gilligan 143114111341111112111211111131, c Talbot, b Merritt .. • • • ♦ 47 K. S. Duleepsinhji 22, lbw, b Simmonds . • • • ■ ■ • F. E. Woolley .13211111141, lbw, b Merritt .. •• • • 17 G B Legge 141, lbw, b Simmonds .. 6 M Nichols 1121111113111112142421111212311111211144211-, not out •• .■•'•■ 6 I M J Turnbull, lbw, b Simmonds .. . 0 S " WortMngton 2141121441411111412111121121113121111, -c Merritt, b Cromb ... • ■ «J G. F. Earle 2, b Lester .. .... 2 F. Barratt 12161, e Cromb, b Merritt •• •• •• " ET. Benson 1, b Merritt • - -i Bvea 11, leg byes 1, no balls 'lllll .. - •• >• H Total .. - - •• 249 Bowling Analysis. O. M. E. W. N.B. G. Simmonds 30 5 64 3 0 I. B. Cromb .. 12 2 41 1 2 W. E. Merritt 32.2 4 97 5 1 E. O. Talbot .. 6 0 15 0 4 S. G. Lester .. 9 0 24 1 4 CANTERBURY. First Innings. I B. Cromb 4, b Nichols ... 4 P. Allen, 221141121112, run out .. 19 •R O. Talbot, 2132, b Nichols .. 8 M. L. Page, 1211411214121211, b Nichols ■ • . .. 26 A. W. Roberts, 12113444424131111, b Barratt ... ..38 I. M. Hamilton, 2112111, c Gilligan, b Woolley • • 9 S. G. Lester,"lll22, st Benson, b Worthington .. 7 J. L. Powell, 14111, not out ..8 W. E. Merritt, 1, b Worthington 1 E. C. Burns, b Nichols, .. 0 G. Simmonds, 1, b Worthington .. 1 Byes 4331, wides 1111 .. 15 Total ... .. 136 Bowling Analysis. O. M. E. W. N.B. M. Nichols ..17 5 32 4 2 F. Barratt ..14 1 37 1 0 S. Worthington 10.2 2 16 3 4 F. E. Woolley S 1 36 1 0 Second Innings. I. B. Cromb 12113112111211412. e Benson, b Worthington '., 26 P. Allen 4, lbw. b Nichols ~ 4 B. O. Talbot 21212111, c Benson, b Worthington .. .. 11 M. L. Page 1221446641221641121212 4143344241. c and b Earle .. 86 A. W. Roberts 2111121142421, lbw, b Duleepsinhji . . .. 23 I. M. Hamilton 2241, c Nichols, b Duleepsinhji .. ~ 9 S. G. Lester 441111224, c Worthington, b Duleepsinhji .. 20 J. L. Powell 211, c Turaball, b Duleepsinhji M j» 4>

W. Merritt 414. not out G. Simmer,us. not out Eves 111113, leg byes 111,, no balls 111 •• Total for 8 wickets -• Bowling Analysis. O. M. K. W. N.B. M. Nichols .. 7 0 23 1 P F. Bsrratt .. 10 1 0 *S. Worthington 10 1 G. B. Legge .. 3 o 2' 1 0 0 K. S. Duleepsinhji 7 0 49 4 0 F. E. Wnolk'y 4 0 20 0 0 G. F. Earle .. -3 1 20 1 0