CRICKET.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19813, 28 December 1929, Page 14

CRICKET.

M.C.C. TEAM. MATCH WITH SOUTH CANTERBURY. NICHOLS MAKES 75. (SPECIAL TO THE PBKSS.J TIMARU, December 27). The M.C.C. team commenced its two days' match against South Canterbury this afternoon in dull weather. The ground was in good order, though slow after several showers during Thursday night, and for two hours before the match. The wicket, which had been covered, played well, though it gave the bowlers a little assistance. The weather cleared later in the afternoon, and the attendance increased to over 1000. The Englishmen won the toss and elected to bat. Duleepsinhji and Gilligan did not play. .They are at present making a visit to Mt. Cook. The former is feeling the effects of a hard tour, and he is being rested. In Gilligan's absence Earle, the vice-captain, led the side.

Dawson and Cornford opened the innings for M.C.C, the'former facing the bowling of Mcßeth. Dawson opened his account off the first ball with a drive to deep cover. Two came off the first over. Kane bowled from the other end. Off the first ball of Mcßeth's second over Hamilton an easy chance from Dawson at first slip.. However, Hamilton took a magnificent catch in the slips to dismiss Cornford off the first ball of the nest over. 2 I—l.

Woolley was next in, and scored a single off the first ball he received. There was a breeze blowing across the ground, and both bowlers were swinging a good deal. After a quiet period for the first six overs. Mcßeth sent down an overpitched one, and Woolley delighted the crowd by driving it into the road over the long-leg boundary for six. The batsman had reached doubles in quick time. Dawson, who had never been at home to either bowler, was caught behind the wickets off Kane when feeling for a ball swinging away on the off. 17—2—2. Turnbull joined Woolley, who drove Mcßeth to long-on for four. He reached 20 in the next over, off-driving Kane to the fence. Settling down, he was playing both bowlers confidently, when he stepwed back to drive ii long hop from Kane, and hit it back to the bowler. 32—3—23. Slow Scoring. At this stage Kane had taken all 3 wickets, for 14 runs. Play was tedious, with both Turnbull and Nichols, who followed, Woolley, watching the bowling carefully. When Mcßeth had bowled eight overs, he was replaced by Herdman. Off that bowler's first ball Turnbull hit an easy catch to Hudson, who misjudged its flight. Mcßeth was put on at the other end, relieving Kane. He was flighting the ball well and nipping in off the wieket. At the end of an hour's play the total was 42. The runs had come very slowly, except during Woolley's brief visit. Turnbull roused the crowd with a delightful late cut for a brace, and scored two more with a glance to leg. However, in attempt- ! ing to pull a straight full toss from Herdman he misshit it. Gregory took a good running catch at deep fine leg. Turnbull had been in for 10 minutes for his tally. 48—4—18. Legge joined Nichols and brought fifty up with a drive to cover point for a single. Kane, who had been put on in Herdman'B place, had Legge uncomfortable for an over, but the batsman slammed a loose one to the leg fence for four. Play became livelier, and 60 was brought up when the batsmen stole five singles in an over, and had the fieldsmen on their toes. Legge opened out to Herdman's bowling and reached double figures. Nichols was content to wait, and after being at the wickets 45 minutes he had scored Bix singles. Legge continued to' make merry, playing some fine shots past cover point and point. Hind was given the ball as a further change, and in his first over Legge reached forward and gave a chance of stumping, which was not accepted. Nichols reached 10 after 55 minutes' batting by driving Kane for four. Several changes of bowling failed to break the partnership, and 100 was brought up when Legge cut Kane for four. It had taken 105 minutes. Nichols, with his score at 28, cocked one up just out of reach of Hind. Legge and Nichols were still together at the tea adjournment with the total 105. Legge Bowled. Both batsmen passed 30 in the first two overs after resuming. Legge was well set when he was clean bowled by Kane. He had treated the spectators to an exhibition of crisp and finished off shots. His placing was a feature of his batting, and he continually found gaps in the cordon of fieldsmen on the off when Mcßeth was bowling. The partnership had added 74 runs. 122—5 —*3. Worthington, the new-comer, did not stay long. He hit across one from Kane and was caught. 134—6—6. Kane, a medium pace right-hander, was bowling very well. He was swinging very late in his flight and nipping off the wicket. His average now was 5 for 52. Earle heralded his arrival by a terrific drive for four over the bowler's head off the first ball, but the second beat and bowled him. Barratt and Nichols carried the score to 150. The Englishmen had been batting for 165 minutes. Barratt opened out and ran into double figures with some hard hitting to all parts of the field. He gave a hard chance in the long field, and then was dropped behind the wickets off Mcßeth. The next ball he pulled over the square leg fence for six. Mcßeth had bowled very well indeed, but had had little luck, three chances off his bowling going a begging. After a bright innings of 20 minutes for 3°, in which he had opened out at everything, Barratt was clean bowled by Mcßeth. 186—5—39. Soon after Benson had joined Nichols, the latter passed 50 with two fours off Meßcth. The 200 came up after 185 minutes' plav. Kane replaced Mcßeth and bowled his fourth maiden. Facing Herdman, both batsmen then hit oat. Nichols reached 70 with a terrific drive through the eovers, and next ball gave a hot chance to Eaton, which that fieldsman was not quick enough to get his hands to. Nichols Misses Straight One. Gregory was tried with the ball. Benson hit his first ball for a magnificent four to the square leg fence. Gregory was very erratic at first, but in his third over a fast, straight, short one beat and bowled Nichols, who tried to pull*it. Nichols had taken 107 minutes to make his 75. It had been a patient innings, and included some pretty leg strokes. 2329 —75. Allom was last man in, and he and Benson brought 250 up by patient bat-

ting, both punishing anything loose. The pair played out time. The match will be continued to-day. Scores: — M.C.C. First Innings. E. "vT. Dawson, c Brown, b Kane .. 2 \V. Cornford, c Hamilton, b Kane 1 F. E. Woolley. e and b Kane .. 23 M. J. Turnbull, c Gregory, b Herdman .. 18 M. S. Nichols, b Gregory .. 75 G. B. Legge, b Kane .. .. 43 8. Worthington, e Hamilton, b Kane 6 G. F. Earle, b Herdman .. 4 F. Barratt, b Mcßeth .. ..39 E. T. Benson not out .. .. £6 M. J. C. Allom not out .. .. 7 Extras .. • • .. 9 Total fornine wickets w . 253 Bowling Analysis. O. M. R. W. D. J. Mcßeth ..21 4 78 1 J. Kane .. 27 5 77 5 A. Herdman ..14 0 70 2 C. E. Hind ..2090 G. E. Gregory .. 4 1 10 1 OTAGO TEAM FOR M.C.C. MATCH. (press association telegbam.) DUNEDIN, December 27. The following team has been selected to represent Otago against the M.C.C. team on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday next: —A. W. Alloo (captain), R. C. Blunt, V. Cavanagh, A. Clark, G. R. Dickinson, F. Dunning, S. Elmes, A. Galland, A. Knight, J. McMullan, P. Monk, and D. Moloney (twelfth man). HAWKB CUP. (press association telegbam.) PALMERSTON NORTH. December 27. Tn the Hawke Cup match, Poverty Bay, resuming their first innings to-day with five wickets down for 55 runs, were all out for 92, which is 84 behind Manawatu's first innings. Manawatu in their second innings had five down for 158, when rain stopped play. SHEFFIELD SHIELD MATCH. VICTORIA V. NEW SOUTH WALES (UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPTBIGHT.) (Received December 27th, 8 p.m.) MELBOURNE, December 27. At the luncheon adjournment, New South Wales in the first innings had scored 146 runs for two wickets (Bradman not out 85, Kippax not out 42). Fairfax went for two, being brilliantly caught by Blackie. (Received December 27th, 11.55 p.m.) MELBOURNE, December 27. Rain caused a stoppage of play at 5.10. Stumps were drawn half an hour later without resumption of play. New South Wales, in the first innings, has reached 358 for seven wickets (Bradman 89, Kippax 80, Marks 68, McCabe 70, Allsopp 26). NO PLAY AT ADELAIDE. (Received December 27th, 11.55 p.m.) ADELAIDE, December 27. There was no cricket to-day owing to the rain. MALVERN ASSOCIATION. The following team has been chosen to represent Malvern boys under 21 against a Canterbury boys' team, at Christchurch, on January 2nd, the match to commence at 10.30 a.m.:—N. McClelland, A. Oliver, 0. Thome, G. "Willis, T. Charles, J. Mitchell, J. Frew, A. Jones, C. Ferguson, T. Hennessey. R. Westwood. Emergencies: A. H.imm,' R. Townsend, A. Lobb.