SOUTH AFRICA WINS FIRST TEST

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26986, 11 March 1953, Page 10

SOUTH AFRICA WINS FIRST TEST

CRICKET

Margin Of Innings And 180 Runs LEGGAT AND MEULI BAT WELL (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, March 10. Only the fact that a scramble among the players for souvenirs is now frowned upon prevented the South Africans from making a clean sweep of the first test against New Zealand, which ended at the Basin Reserve today. They won the match by an innings and 180 runs with 95 minutes to spare, but they left the stumps and bails intact. New Zealand, by a depressing coincidence, made 172, as it had done in the first innings. The only innings of note played by the New Zealand batsmen today were those of J. G. Leggat and E. Meuli, although in the afternoon F. L. H. Mooney and F. E. Fisher offered something more than token resistance. Leggat played his best innings in his first-class career, and Meuli established himself as a player of real promise. After being rolled and swept, the pitch played for about an hour better than it did on the previous afternoon, although it still demanded unremitting vigilance from the batsmen. Leggat and Meuli, however, scored at a rate of a run a minute for three-quarters of an hour, and it was the best batting by the New- Zealanders in the match. Before lunch the characteristics of the pitch changed rapidly, and as the match neared the end the bowlers were able to make the ball lift abruptly and spin wickedly.

The gate takings were £321, making the total for the match £5007.

Leggat’s innings this morning was a complete answer to criticism of his •low scoring and lack of initiative. He looked the safest of all the New Zealand batsmen, and this morning he scored the fastest. Although the bowlers had every reason to feel they were on top—a glance at the scoreboard and the pitch was sufficient—Leggat would have none of it He and Meuli lent the batting an aggression it had not known, except briefly at Sutcliffe’s whim, and for the ficst three-quarters of an hour they scored at a refreshing run a minute.

Leggat produced an amazing number of strokes, like a conjuror who suddenly produces three handkerchiefs in brilliant colours from one of indeterminate hue. He square cut with purpose, drove strongly into the covers —often moving well down the pitch to do so-yglanced neatly to leg, and made H. J. Tayfield’s short leg positions untenable with a safe but savage sweep stroke.

Meuli, not perhaps as safe, also played Tayfield well, and his strong drives on either side of the wTcket off Mansell were beautifully made after quick footwork had got him into position easily. These batsmen made their partnership worth 50 in as many minutes, and it was not until J. C. Watkins and E. Fuller began bowling that the scoring rate was reduced. Meuli’s innings was ended by a particularly good ball from Fuller, a quick one which swung in at the batsman very late. The pair had scored 63 for th# third wicket. Leggat Caught After Meuli’s dismissal Leggat batted very quietly, but he did not look likely .to make a mistake until he played a dreadful stroke, extending his bat at an i out-swinger from Watkins much as an elderly gentleman will examine something , cn the with the aid of his stick. ■ W. R. Endean at second slip caught the ball almost apologetically. In. spite of this untimely end. it was an innings Leggat could remember with real pride. He refused to acknowledge that the bowlers had any reason to control the game, he batted with determination, he looked quite the safest of all the New Zealand batsmen, and he scored quickly, using his feet perhaps for the first time this season as they should be used. With the dismissal of Leggat and Meuli went New Zealand's best prospects of saving the game. About the time J. R. Reid came in. half an hour before lunch, the pitch was beginning to reveal all its vices. , and twice in an over from A. R. A. Mur- . ray Reid had to plav the ball down to his feet from good chest height. After lunch the crowd sat silent as at a funeral ceremony, and indeed it looked like a mass burial of New Zealand batsmen. In the first 45 minutes five runs were scored and three wickets were lost. In one period of 16 overs only one single came from the bat. Before lunch L. S. M. Miller had a worrying time. He was in 25 minutes before scoring, but then placed the ball on his leg side neatly two or three times. After that he was again in trouble, persistently stretching full length playing forward at balls he could have covered off the back foot. At full stretch he played one swinging away, and gave the South African wicketkeeper. J. H. Waite, an easy catch. J. R. Reid, in spite cf one bold and handsome drive off. Watkins, was most unhappy, and looked badly out of form. He swished wishfully at a half-volley from Murray, and was also caught byWaite. Stand by Mooney and Fisher A. M. Moir tried to square-cut Watkins, but was caught in the gully by Fuller, and then, like the little nigger boys, there were four. Two of them. Mooney and Fisher, battled on purposefully, each for an hour and a quarter, and at 3 p.m., when New Zealand still had three wickets to fall and only 130 more minutes to watch go by, there was a faint prospect of their struggling through to a draw. This illusion was shattered when Tayfield bowled Mooney. Two balls earlier there had been an appeal against Mooney for a catch at short leg. and although the umpire had raised his hand and Mooneyhad begun to walk out, the umpire almost immediately reversed his decision, and Mooney’s test batting career was ex- ■ tended by two deliveries. It was thought I by some of the spectators that the South • African captain, J. E. Cheetham. had . asked Mooney to continue.

Fisher, after a long, wearying, and scoreless defence, became quite violent as the innings drew to an end, and he made a cut for four which was the best stroke of the afternoon.

R. W. Blair made his first runs in tests, and Waite finished what was. in some respects. a most unsatisfactory contest on a high note. He dived far to his right to make a catch off Fisher with his outstretched right hand. It was a good moment to draw the curtain on an indifferent performance by half the cast. The South Africna bowlers, deprived of the assistance the wind had given them yesterday, found ample consolation in the liveliness of the pitch. That it was Watkins who took four wickets was purely coincidental. He bowled well, but so did Tayfield and Murray, and to a lesser extent. Fuller. They were all accurate, and gave the batsmen little respite. The leg spinner. Mansell, was played much more easily, but when he was on he had to contend with the two New Zealand batsmen who were able to make progress, during the day.

Of the 10 chances offered to South African fieldsmen in catching positions behind the wicket during the match, eight were taken, and this was a lesson Which should be remembered. Most of them came from the quicker bowlers, but Tayfield again today turned the ball viciously, and after lunch the batsmen were able to connect only occasionally. When trying to plav him they were rather like novice boxers having their first practice on a punchball Once again the statisticians offered New Zealand its only consolation. Although he made but 30 in the match. Miller brought his season s aggregate to 500. a mark reached by only 11 other players in the history of New Zealand cricket. But the statisticians also had the last word in New Zealand’s humbling defeat: an innings and 180 runs is the largest margin by w£ch New Zealand has lost a test

match. This is a record well worth preserving. i Scores:— SOUTH AFRICA ( First innings, for eight wickets dec. 524 NEW ZEALAND | First inpings .. .. .. 172 Second Innings II Sutcliffe, b Murray ' .. 33 J. G. Leggat, c Endean, b Watkins .. 47 U M. Wallace, b Tayfield •• .. 2 E. M. Meuli, b Fuller .. 23 I. S. M. Miller, c Waite, b Watkins .. 13 J. R. Reid, c Waite, b Murray .. 3 F. L. H. Mooney, b Tayfield .. 9 A. M. Moir, c Fuller, b Watkins ~ 9 F. E. Fisher, c Waite, b Watkins .. 14 T. B. Burtt, lbw, b Tayfield .. 9 R. W. Blair, not out .. .. .. 6 Extras (byes 16) .. ..16 Total .. .. 172 Fall of wickets: one for 43, two for 46, three for 109, four for 121, five for 137, six for 141, seven for 142, eight for 162, nine for 162, 10 for 172.

BOWLING „ „ „ O. M. R. W. E. R. H. Fuller ..27 8 43 1 J. C. Watkins .. 23.5 14 22 4 A. R. A. Murray .. 23 16 19 2 P. N. Mansell .. 13 2 30 0 H. J. Tayfield 32 12 42 3