WOMEN’S CRICKET TEST MATCH DRAWN AFTER INTERESTING THIRD DAY

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28450, 3 December 1957, Page 21

WOMEN’S CRICKET TEST MATCH DRAWN AFTER INTERESTING THIRD DAY

A timely declaration by the New Zealand captain, R. McKenzie, almost brought an exciting . finish to the first women’s cricket test between England and New Zealand, which ended at Lancaster Park yesterday. McKenzie ; declared the second innings closed at the tea adjournment with 177 for seven wickets, leaving Eng- ; land to make 146 in 105 minutes, for an outright win. M. Duggan, the English captain, accepted the challenge, but the New Zealand fast bowlers were too accurate to permit such fast scoring, and the English total at stumps was only 48. New Zealand’s second innings was held together by the patient batting of E. Dickson, who scored her 65 in 209 minutes. She showed more confidence than she did in her first innings. Most of her early runs came from singles and twos on the leg-side off the faster English bowlers. Later in her innings she was more venturesome, “ and her total included some strong and well-timed drives. Dickson’s best shot was played off E. Barker, forcing a ball off the back foot past mid-on for three. The Canterbury player was 50 at lunch but was again troubled by the faster English bowlers early in the afternoon. She added only 15 runs in a further 51 minutes before being out leg-before-wicket, playing back to a ball from D. Macfarlane. Concentration J. Clothier again showed great concentration, and these two players gave their side a fine start with an opening partnership of 64. M. Speight was never completely happy, and was bowled by Barker after 18 minutes’ batting. R. McKenzie was unlucky to be run out, when she looked likely to score quickly. P. Blackler again hit hard and often to make 23 runs in 29 minutes. She drove the ball back nast the bowler with force, until she was caught at square-leg when she mistimed a hook. To-

wards the end of the innings B. Thorner, a stylish left-hander, showed a succession of delightful off-drives. Although she failed to take a wicket, H. Hegarty was by far the best of the English bowlers. She found life in the wicket at the northern end. and several balls lifted appreciably. She was more accurate than she was in the first innings, and her 19 overs cost only 24 runs. D. Macfarlane gained the valuable wickets of Dickson and V. Coutts, but she was less impressive. The slower bowlers, Duggan, Barker and A. Disbury, found spin in the wicket. Duggan in particular kept the batsmen tied down with her well-directed left-arm spinners. Brilliant Fielding Once again, the English fielding left nothing to be desired. Three run-outs testify to the speed and accuracy of the returns from the field. Close to the wicket, O. Marshall was really outstanding. To be the best fielder in a team such as this is an honour indeed, but one to which Marshall is undoubtedly entitled. She picked up the ball brilliantly, and threw in well. Fielding at deep square-leg, she threw down the wicket at the bowler’s end to dismiss G. Sutherland. Hegarty threw down the wicket from Ihe side to run out Clothier, and B. Birch was also very safe in the deep. Behind the stumps, R. V. Westbrook was slightly less competent than she was on Friday. and missed at least two chances. However, she took the slow-medium bowlers extremely well. J. Wilkinson did not field at any stage during the New Zealand innings, because of a bruised toe. Attempting to score the runs necessary for the outright win, at the rate of 84 an hour, the English batsmen began brightly. The team has shown on several occasions on [this tour that such a rate is by no

means beyond them, and even in the first innings of the test they at one stage scored 150 in 105 minutes. However, after three wickets had fallen for 27 runs, no further serious attempts were made to score quickly. Birch and Wilkinson opened for England, and stole some smart singles early in the innings. However, they could take no liberties with the fast bowling of J. Coulston and J. Currie. Duggan hit out immediately she came to the wicket but, after she was bowled by a good ball from Currie at 5 p.m., there was very little activity from the batsmen. C. Robinson was at the wicket for 25 minutes before she scored. Fast Bowlers

Great credit for the slow scoring must go to the New Zealand bowlers, Coulston-and Currie. Coulston is considerably faster than either of the English fast bowlers and. with a strong southerly gale behind her, she was almost unplayable at times. Her first four overs were maidens, and she conceded! only four runs in her first 12 overs, good figures against batsmen chasing an outright win. She bowled unchanged for 90 minutes, and her speed and accuracy were maintained throughout this period. Currie, bowling into the wind, presented just as many difficulties to the batsmen. She used the wind intelligently, and dismissed three of the best English batsmen in her long spell. She trapped Duggan with a particularly deceptive ball, which the English captain first shaped to drive then decided to block, only to find that it was too late. After her dismissal, there was no further forceful batting. The New Zealand fielding was again good, and the batsmen were forced to attempt very hard hits to score runs. This was their undoing. The umpires were Messrs E. D. Milne and W. Barnes. The scores were:— NEW ZEALAND First innings .. .. .. 223 Second Innings J. Clothier, run out .. 26 E. Dickson, lbw, b Macfarlane .. 65 M. Speight, b Barker .. .. 4 V. Coutts, c Barker, b Macfarlane .. .. 7 R. McKenzie, run out .. .. 10 G. Sutherland, run out 9 P. Blackler, c Birch, b Duggan 23 8., Shorner, not out .. ..15 J. Currie, not out .. 3 Extras (byes 9, leg-byes 4, wides 2) .. .. 15 Total for seven wickets declared .. .. 177 Fall of wickets: One for 64, two for 77, three for 98, four for 117, five for 129, six for 154, seven for 161.

Hegarty and Disbury each bowled one wide. ENGLAND First innings .. 255 Second Innings B. Birch, b Coulston .. ~ 7 J. Wilkinson, b Currie •• 11 M. Duggan, b Currie .. .. 7 H Sanders, b Currie .. .. 6 C. Robinson, not out .. .. 8 R. Westbrook, not out .. .. 6 Extras (byes 3) .. .. 3 Total for four wickets .. 48 Fall of wickets: one for 19. two for 27, three for 27, four for 34. Bowling

Bowling O. M. R W. D. Macfarlane .. 33 16 35 2 H. Hegarty .. 19 9 24 0 E Barker .. 25 11 46 1 M. Duggan .. 26 10 35 1 A Disbury ..6 2 10 0 O. Marshall ..6 2 12 0

O. M. R. W. J. Coulston ..16 11 8 1 J. Currie ..18 5 36 3 R. McKenzie 2 1 1 0