CRICKET FIRST TEST WIN BY N.Z.

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27917, 14 March 1956, Page 14

CRICKET

FIRST TEST WIN BY N.Z.

West Indies Loses By 190 Runs

SIDE OUT FOR 77 IN TWO HOURS

(From Our Own Reporter)

AUCKLAND, March 13.

New Zealand reached today at Eden Park the goal for which it had been striving for 26 years—its first victory in a test match. The handsome margin of 190 runs over the West Indies was made possible by the finest exhibition of tight bowling and sure fielding any New Zealand test team has given. The West Indies, left four hours to score 268 runs, was in two hours bundled out for 77, although for an hour fhe mastery of E. D. Weekes and the stubborn defence of A. Binns held the bowlers at bay. At one stage the West Indies had lost six wickets for 22, an incredible collapse in the conditions. The victory was all-important to New Zealand cricket and its future, and it was thoroughly earned. For once New Zealand had what luck there was about — use of the pitch and the brief but heavy shower on the afternoon—but it would be as churlish as inaccurate to sucM|K that they were the most decisive factors in New Success was achieved by really determined batting, yielded runs only against fierce opposition, and the fact Zealand did not drop a single catch during the entire Other factors were the inspiring leadership of J. R. wonderful contribution of Mr W. M. M allace’s coaching the confidence and technique of the players, and many mdMH performances of outstanding merit, but most of all the of the entire team once it had broken through this

One who should be mentioned immediately is H. B. Cave, captain of the New Zealand team in Pakistan and India and of the team in the first test. After being dropped for the second game he came back to play under Reid, a position some cricketers might have found uncomfortable, but Cave gave his whole heart to the team effort, as he has throughout his career, and his match analysis of eight wickets for 43 runs was no more than a reasonable reward for his efforts over the years. Just as satisfactory was the fact that even those New Zealanders who failed with the bat took catches this after-

noon that were vital to the course of the game. Every member of a team the West Indies captain, D. Atkinson, described as “the finest bunch of fellows we have ever played against,” had his share in the success. Memorable Scene at End It was a memorable scene at the end. The ground, all green and gold r was besieged by the crowd of 7000 that watched the final act. There were cheers for Reid and for Atkinson. speeches from the pavilion, and more cheers: and the crowd, savouring to the full the flavour of the occasion, had not fully dispersed when the teams left the ground an hour later. The New Zealand victory was not achieved without some periods of anxiety. When play began. New Zealand, 61 for two wickets, was 171 runs ahead, and the obvious policy was to score as many as possible before declaring at lunch, but the West Indies bowled so well on a helpful pitch that New Zealand’s chances of setting the visitors a difficult fourthinnings task seemed to have slipped away. The pitch did not permit the bowlers unlimited licence by any medns. Atkinson, who bowled with extraordinary skill and tremendous heart, was able to jerk the ball back from the off, but when New Zealand was out he ordered the very substantial heavy roller to be used, and in the closing stages the bowlers’ task was not lightened by eccentricities of the pitch. For four or five overs Cave, in particular, was able to lift appreciably from a length, but after that the ball, although moving off the pitch, came through evenly. New Zealand needed, theoretically, considerably more than 100 runs during the morning so that the West Indies would have to score quickly to win. It was felt that such a carrot would have to be dan pled as bait if New Zealand was to dismiss a strong batting side inside four hours. In fact. New Zealand scored only 96 while losing seven wickets. Atkinson's Fine Bowling

AUtinson bowled wonderfully well throughout the whole innings today. His figures were five for 29 off 22 overs Atkinson did not bowl a bad ball. All through, the morning he pitched it a fraction short of a length at a brisk pace, making it move a little through the air or bite back savagely at the batsmen. Those who tried to hit him to meet New Zealand’s need for runs got out immediately. Nearly all the runs had to be made at the other end. where the bowling, if again particularly accurate, was less le* u «l.

The progress New Zealand made came almost entirely from S. C. Guillens batting. He hit with skill and irtelligence while D. D. Beard at the ether end held up the traffic in batsmen that could have proved fatal. Guillen plaved Ramadhin particularly' well, and Atkinson soon had Valentine on in his place. The scoring rate had been very rlew—36 in the first hour, for the loss wickets. Then Reid, J. E. F.

Beck, and M. E. Chapple quickly, but Guillen set aflH||||||| bowling with obvious made his 41 runs at one a hit Valentine straight over screen, then hit Atkinson huge six. While he was in 37 were added in 28 contributing nothing other stoic defence. The last few runs after gone back to a hero’s the crowd were scored Cave, playing out the last lowed New Zealand the declaration. New Zealand began with attacking fields, and Cave set alight by beating B. Pairaudeau wKg| his second ball. Pairaudeau inside edge, and was bowled. A. R. Mac Gibbon had two somewhat inaccurate overs, and Beard replaced him. When H. Furlonge edged a cutter downwards into the slips Mac Gibbon made a magnificent catch at bootlace height, and that, as much as any other single incident, set New Zealand mov.ing to its first victory in 45 tests. This was at 16. and the score had not moved when Chapole took a good left-handed catch in the slips to dismiss Atkinson. the fastest-scoring batsman in the West Indies team. In the same over Cave, beat O. G. Smith, and at 18 Weekes played Beard backward of point and ran. G. Sobers refused the run. but Weekes came on, and Sobers crossed to save Weekes’s wicket. A. Roberts, who had batted so capably in his first test innings, was beaten and bowled by Beard to piake the score an incredible 22 for six. Stand by Weekes and Binns Then there was an hour of wonderful cricket, the New Zealanders straining and striving to break through finally, Weekes and Binns offering determined opposition, They stayed together almost an hour. Cave, still bowling beautifully, kept Weekes pinned down at one end for over after over, and beat him off the pitch frequently. After an interminable period in which rain clouds began to gather above the ground. Cave, who had been rested for only one over, was brought back to bowl to Binns instead of Weekes. The strain on players and spectators grew with the minutes. It seemed certain that the tug of war could not go undecided much longer, nor did it. For when Reid brought J. C. Alabaster on the vital wicket fell. Alabaster’s second ball was a bad one. and Weekes, anxious no doubt to underline the growing domination of the bat, hooked it hard. But he got it only with the bottom of his bat. and S. N. McGregor, on the square leg boundary, waited for the ball to drop into his hands. With Weekes out, the game was as good as over unless the rain began, but before tea the clouds blew over and the sun shone brightly on the most pleasant scene New Zealand cricket has known for a long time. S; Ramadhin was picked up neatly by Tj. S. M. Miller in Beard’s short leg field.,and with the score only 68 Binns was beaten all the way by an off-break from Alabaster. A L. Valentine and T. Dewdney were together precariously at tea. After the interval Dewdney survived an over from Beard, but Valentine could not get his bat to Cave’s first ball, and Guillen stumped him with swift brilliance. Cave’s bowling today could hardly have been better. The West Indies players were convinced when they first played him at Dunedin that he was New Zealand’s best bowler, and he justified their opinion today. His swing and life and lift—when it was available to him—left the batsmen only the tattered remains of the confidence they had shown in making their big scores easlier. Perhaps half the runs that came off him were from unhappy snicks that went through the close-set field. Beard and Alabaster Beard offered him admirable support. and at the critical time Alabaster drove home the advantage with his two quick wickets. Beard bowled hardly one loose hall. He kept worrying the batsmen with his cut back from the off, and his whole-hearted concentration on the task at hand’was shared by the entire team. Guillen again kept wicket splendidly. The West Indies’ failure was understandable against bowling of such intensity, but it was unexpected, for the side contained many good batsmen fighting for places for the English tour next year. Weekes, batting for an hour and a half, and to a lesser extent Binns, w’ere the only batsmen who did not succumb to the excellent bowling, which was backed up by a tremendous will to win.

For once it was New Zealand nearlv all the way—on the first day Reid’s magnificent batting. Beck’s able support, and Beard’s hitting, with Dewdney bowling superbly; on the second day half the West Indies side out for 96; with Mac Gibbon and Cave couriering Furlonge’s obstinate batting; on

Indtesmronly rts, ' arid the of 61 for two wickets; and today the wonderful bowling of Atkinson, the hitting of Guillen, and then New Zealand’s dramatic march to victory. No success was more thoroughly earned, none quite so sweet to those who had waited for it; for it came after three crushing defeats ,in the earlier tests and at a time when New Zealand cricket was the butt of . all sorts of ill-mannered and ill-natured criticism. Today’s takings amounted to £975. bringing the receipts for the match to £4745. Scores:—

SUBURBAN TEAMS TO PLAY AT HOKITIKA Two Suburban representative cricket teams will play matches at Hokitika. Mr C. Martin was appointed manager of tne senior B team, and Mr I. Betteridge o: the third grade team at a meeting of the Christchurch Suburban Cricket Association last evening. It was reported to the meeting that a draw had been made to choose the teams to play off the final for the Junior Cup. The two teams are North Canterbury and Ellesmere. Senior and junior matches will conclude at the completion of round nine. The third grade will end on March 24 and the Mercantile grade next Saturday. The under 15 competition has been declared closed, and an evening is being arranged for later in the season. Trophies won during the season will be presented at the association s golden jubilee dance.

ocores: — NEW ZEALAND First innings 255 Second Innings L. S. M. Miller, c Weekes, b Atkinson 25 S N. McGregor, c Binns, b Atkinson .. 5 A- R. MacGibbon, c Weekes, b Atkinson 35 D. D. Taylor, c Valentine, b Atkinson ‘ . 16 J. R. Reid, c Binns, b Atkinson .. 12 J. E. Beck, lbw, b Atkinson 2 S. C. Guillen, st Binns, b Valentine 41 M. E. Chapple, lbw, b Ramadhin 1 D. D. Be '.rd, net out 6 J. C. Alabaster, b Atkinson 5 H. B. Cave, not out 0 Extras 9 ... Total for nine w’ickets (dec.) 157 Fall of wickets: one for 14; two for 61; three for 66; four for 91: five for 100: six for 101; seven for 109;. eight for 146; nine for 155. BOWLING O. M. R. W T. Dewdney .. 12 5 22 0 D. Atkinson 40 21 53 7 O. G. Smith 4 0 18 0 K. T. Ramadhin .. 18 6 26 1 A. L. Valentine 6 0 29 1 WEST INDIES First Innings First innings 145 Second Innings H. Furlongc, c MacGibbon, b Beard 3 B. H. Pairaudeau, b Cave 3 D. Atkinson, c Chapple, b Cave .. 10 E. D. Weekes, c McGregor, b Alabaster 31 O. G. Smith, b Cave 0 G. Sobers, run out 1 A. Roberts, b Beard 0 A. Binns, b Alabaster 20 K. T. Ramadhin, c Miller, b Beard 0 A. L. Valentine, st Gnillen, b Cave 5 T. Dewdney, not out 4 Extras Total Fall of wickets: one for 4: two for 16: three for 16; four for 16; five for 18: six for 22: seven for 68; eight for 68; nine for 68; 10 for 77. BOWLING O. M. R. W. A. R. MacGibbbon .. 6 1 16 0 H. B. Cave .. 13.1 9 21 4 D. U. Beard .. 15 7 22 3 J. R. Reid .. 6 2 14 0 J. C. Alabaster ..54 4 2