EIGHT WICKETS LOST

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24820, 9 March 1946, Page 8

EIGHT WICKETS LOST

Australians Play Canterbury

FINE CENTURY TO W. A. BROWN

Canterbury’s position at the end of the first day’s play in the match against Australia, which began at Lancaster Park yesterday, was a very satisfactory one. Th visitors, batting all day, made more

than 400 for the loss of eight wickets, but in view of their strength the results achieved by Canterbury were reasonably good. They might well have been considerably better, had not the Australian captain. Brown, been dropped three times in making 137. the top score His partner in a first wicket stand of 144. Meuleman. was also dropped early in the day. More could not be said of the Australian batting than it was of the quality expected by the large crowd. On a ■wicket which, throughout the day. showed a little life, they gave, almost without, exception. displays of stroke-making ■ which delighted the spectators. As was expected, the wicket was a little ' soft, and the ball came through fairly easily most of the time. The Canterbury | medium-paced bowlers were able to get a ball to kick occasionally, particularly in the morning, when Mcßae, in a really fine spell of bowling, was on top of the batsmen for an hour. Brown’s batting was notable chiefix r for the excellence • his leg side play In the first 10 minutes of the game he twice moved into Burtt, to off drive him to the boundary, but from that time he rarely seemed to hit the ball. He appeared to persuade it, usually with a delicate leg glance.

through the field. The speed with which the ball went away testified to the excellence of his timing. After passing his century he began to walk down the wicket to make some handsome drives. His last scoring shot, a huge six off Cromb. was effortless. When the bowler dropped the next one shorter he was caught, and Canterbury’s chief source of concern —at that stage—was removed.

B.own’s partner, Meuleman. also played some fine cricket. He made some pretty cuts, and also drove very well indeed. Meuleman had one period of extreme doubt, to Mcßae, in the morning. At that stage the left-hander was giving the best exhibition of bowling by a Canterbury player this season, and Meuleman ■was struck on the hand several times oy deliveries which rose sharply. After he had survived Mcßae’s brilliant spell, he again played beautifully, and after lunch scored quickly and attractively. Barnes, who was associated after Meuleman s dismissal with Brou’n in a partnership which realised 85 in only 52 minutes, hit the ball very hard. Barnes hit the ball with tremendous power and scored faster than any of the other batsHamence had made only 11 when he was run out. Miller, who was not out at -a with 23, made in only 20 minutes, also gave a polished display. Hassett was subdued, but played some text book shots. Tallon gave an impressive display of clean driving and square cutting and was 38 not out at stumps Canterbury’s Bowling Canterbury’s work in the play before lunch had much to commend it. It was unfortunate that the chances were missed. Three of the four catches, if held, would have been excellent ones. Mcßae, in the morning, bowled finely. To keep two such batsmen as Meuleman and Brown down to nine runs off 12 overs, to make them play hurriedly and ineffectively on a number of occasions, and to force them into giving two catches to the field, was a noteworthy performance. Mcßae did not reach the same heights again during

the day. It was a courageous, determined. and competent spell of bowling. Butterfield failed to take a wicket, but he seemed to make the ball do more than the others, with the possible exception of Mcßae. He had a catch dropped from his bowling, and through a tiring day was reasonably inexpensive. Burtt seemed out of his class early in the innings, but bowled really well in the spell in which ; he dismissed Miller and McCool. Scott bowled steadfiy and at times well. The batsmen were too quick footed for Sharpe to look dangerous, but O’Brien, bowling late in the day, kept runs down remarkably. considering the state of the game. The Canterbury ground fielding in the morning began quite well, but after lunch it. slipped badly. When wickets began to fall later in the afternoon, the side showed more fight and at the finish it was still performing fairly well. Anderson gave the best exhibition. He chased the ball tirelessly and made some good saves. Britton, the Canterbury wicketkeeper. also gave a fine exhibition. Australia at one stage had scored 229 with only one wicket down. Later catches were held, and at another stage of the day eight were down for 394. To capture seven Australian wickets for 165 runs is no mean performance.