BIG SCORE BY M.C.C.

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28774, 20 December 1958, Page 16

BIG SCORE BY M.C.C.

May, Cowdrey In Form

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LAUNCESTON, December 19.

A stylish 80 by the captain, P. B. H. May, and a 72 frbm M. C. Cowdrey were highlights of the M.C.C.’s first innings of 384 for nine declared against a Combined XI at Launceston today.

May batted impeccably for nearly three hours, hitting seven 4’s before giving his wicket away. It was the M.C.C.’s second highest total of the. tour—their best being 396 against Victoria.

Both Cowdrey and May played some superb strokes against the Tasmanian medium-pacers, T. Cowley and W. Hird, and their fifth wicket partnership of 123 took only 118 minutes. Cowdrey did not give a chance, while May had one at 51. The bowling honours went to the veteran Tasmanian captain, Cowley, who took five for 92 off 28 overs. Little could be said for the rest of the attack The New South Wales leg-spinner P. Philpott finished with one for 98 off 23 overs. He did not bowl today. The test opener C. McDonald had a life when he had scored only two runs but at stumps, after 220 minutes, he was 89 not out. The Combined Xi’s stumps total was 154 for two.

F. S. Trueman, at short gully, missed a hot chance from McDonald off the first ball of P. J. Loader’s third over.

McDonald took advantage of the let-off and in spite of fiery attacks by Loader, Trueman and F. H. Tyson showed great form, particularly with cuts and glancing and forcing shots.

J W. Burke failed to get over the top of a kicker from Tyson and a chest-high catch flew to C. A. Milton at backward square leg.

N. O’Neill, who went to the wicket two overs before tea, was stroking prettily when he mistimed a full toss from the offspinner J Mortimore and Trueman took a smart left-handed catch at short midwicket. It was Mortimore’s first wicket in Australia. His flighted off-spin-ners into a stiff breeze troubled all batsmen. Scores:

Total for nine wickets dec. 384 t Fa !L°* wickets: one for 99. two for 122, three for 172, four for 178. ?Qd e six for 316 « seven for 334, eight for 353. nine for 353.

M.C.C. ... ... First Innings ™ . W V; s ?. n ' c O’Neill, b Cowley 43 £ Milton, hit wkt, b Philpott 85 T W. Graveney. st Brain? b Cowley 14 E. B. Dexter., c Walton, b Cowley 27 P B. H. May. c Stokes, b Richardson M C Cowdrey, lbw, b Hird 7 R. Swetmah, lbw, b Cowlev F H. Tyson, c Burke, b Cowlev JI J. Mortimore, c Philpott, b Richardson F. G. Trueman, not out* 29 P. J. Loader, not out .. 8 Extras (byes 6, leg byes 4 no balls 1) .. 11

Bowling W. Hird o,. 27 M. 6 R. 70 W. T. Cowley 28 5 92 E. Richardson . 20 2 73 P Philpott 23 98 J Burke 5 j D McGuire 6 0 26 0 COMBINED XI First InninBs C C. McDonald, not J. W. Burke, N. O’Neill, Mortimore Milton, b Tyson c Trueman, b 22 Stokes, not out Extras (byes 2) 2 2 Total for two wickets . 154 fof a Jofi° f Wlckets: one for 69. two fowling Loader o. . 6 M. 2 R. W. Trueman . 11 2 Tyson . 8 Dexter Mortimore ’ 12 Graveney 4 0 19 0