N.Z. CRICKETERS AT MELBOURNE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22249, 13 November 1937, Page 15

N.Z. CRICKETERS AT MELBOURNE

yiSITING BATSMEIf BEGIN WELB FOUR WICKETS DOWN FOB 122 RUNS AFTERNOON RAIN CURTAILS PLAY

(TOTTED KtE9fl ASSOCIATION—COFYJUGST.) (Received November 12. 11.55 p.m.J. MELBOURNE, November 12. Considerable interest was taken ia the cricket match to-day betweea New Zealand and Victoria, as it presented an opportunity to try for th« first time in first-class company Victoria's candidates for places in the Australian test team to tour England next year. The match opened in brilliant sunshine, but the weather became thundery and oppressive in the afternoon, accompanied by rain, which stopped play at 3.30 p.m. for the day. Page did not play because of a recurrence of injury trouble after the Adelaide match. Lowry was the captain. New Zealand won the toss and batted. The opening batsmen, Vivian and Kerr, soon settled down and were little troubled by the bowling of McCormick and Ebeling. Vivian played crisp cricket, placing his shots where no fieldsmen could reach them in time. His 30 was hit up in 45 minutes. He was unlucky to be caught in a rising ball trap set by McCormick. Moloney went, just before lunch, leg-before to Fleetwood-Smith, who was bowling a long series of rising balls. Kerr batted with extreme caution.

New Zealand's century went up in 2 hours 35 minutes. Ten minutes later a fast one from Ebeling scattered Kerr's wicket. With three wickets down for 112. Weir went in with Wallace, who was then playing a scientific gameHis score was 26 and he was giving no chances. Weir did not last one over, his wicket being Ebeling's second. Four wickets had then gona for 122.

Donnelly went in, but almost immediately rain stopped play. Lowry, Hadlee, Roberts, Parsloe, and Lamason have still to bat. Scores: — NEW ZEALAND First Innings Vivian, c Barnett, b McCormick 30 Moloney, lbw. b Fleetwood-Smith U Kerr, b Ebeling .. •• 4 i Weir. lbw. b Ebeling •• " Wallace, not out .. *• n Donnelly, not out .. •• 2 Extras • • • • * Total for four wickets .. 122 Bowling Analysis—McCormick took one wicket for 24 runs; Ebeling two for 17; Fleetwood-Smith one for 59: Sievers none for 14.