GENTLEMEN V. PLAYERS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25548, 16 July 1948, Page 7

GENTLEMEN V. PLAYERS

NEW ZEALANDER ON EACH SIDE PRITCHARD BOWLS WELL; DONNELLY OUT FOR 5 LONDON, July 14. The Gentlemen v. Players match began at Lord's to-day. Hutton, captain of the Players’ team, won the toss and sent the Gentlemen in to bat on a wet pitch. Play did not begin until alter lunch. Edrich and Dewes gave the Gentlemen a good start, putting on 70 for the first wicket, but then Palmer and the New Zealander, M. P. Donnelly, failed. Scores.—Gentlemen: First innings; Edrich 33, Dewes 45, Palmer 5, Donnelly 5, Pearce not out 24, Yardley not out 33. Extras 5. Total, four wickets lor IM runs. “It was a case of New Zealander v. New Zealander for a lew momenta in the Gentlemen v. Players match to-day,’- writes A. W. Mitchell, special correspondent, New Zealand Press Association. "M. P. Donnelly, batting at second wicket for Gentlemen, arrived briskly to face- his fellow New Zealander and clubmate, T. L Pritchard—they are both playing for Warwickshire this year. Pritchard had just taken his 105th wicket of the season by skittling the stumps behind C. H, Palmer, of Worcestershire, who did so well in the Australians' first match of the present tour. “Donnelly took his guard, patted an errant piece of turf, and cut Pritchard for two from the first ball. Then he glided another to leg for three, and it seemed as though this friendly New Zealand rivalry might become expensive for the Players. “Unfortunately, Donnelly did not survive the next over. He crossed to face Wardle, of Yorkshire—and Pritchard played an important part in his dismissal. Wardle was bowling to three short legs and Donnelly was tempted to sweep a slow delivery to leg for four. He swept—and the ball hit Pritchard high on the thigh and bounced up for Robertson, of Middlesex. to take an easy catch. So Donnelly had a brisk walk back to tha gavilion, leaving Pritchard rubbing is thigh.

“Pritchard had been bowling well He had collected his 104th wicket of the season and he separated the Gentlemen's opening pair wh'en he beat Edrich. of Middlesex and England, who played on. Fortified by tea, he promptly made a wreck of Palmer's wicket, and there was no doubt that he was hoping to dismiss Donnelly, too—but not off his thigh. "Both Donnelly and Pritchard told me that they were very pleased at being selected for this match. So far as the three of us could make out. it was the first time New Zealanders had been selected at the same time to play for both Gentlemen and Players—though Donnelly, of course, is making his third appearance for Gentlemen, having played for them in two previous seasons. ‘‘Neither of these New Zealanders, both of whom have established reputations in first-class English cricket, knows at present what will be his position when the New Zealand team tours England next summer, though I gathered that both would like to play ror New Zealand if possible.”

. 9“ mes le » m Forbidden Alcohol.— The United States Olympic Games authorities, recalling the stir caused in 1936, when the American swimmer Eleanor Holm was dismissed from the team for drinking champagne, to-day issued a stern warning that any athlete who breaks training by drinking alcohol will be dismissed. The edict also warns that "members shall not take with them any articles for sale or barter and shall not purchase any goods in the black market Violation shall be grounds for immediate dismissal from the team.”— New York, July 14. Mr Churchill Tries Farming.— Mr Winston Churchill told farmers at the Kent agricultural show, at Maidstone on Wednesday, that he had lately taken to farming in a modest way and found it very interesting as an occupation. "I think that if I had heard about it when I was young 1 probably should never have gone into politics at all,” h$ added.—London, July 15.