CRICKET Established Players Only Trial Successes

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28820, 14 February 1959, Page 14

CRICKET Established Players Only Trial Successes

(From. Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, February 13.

It was a case of no news not being good news when the inter-island cricket match began at the Basin Reserve today. Almost without exception, the runs were made and the wickets taken by players whose places in the test team this season are assured.

The only players who can have advanced their claims, and then only slightly, are D. L. Donald (Northern), S. N. McGregor (Otago), and I. B. Leggat (Central).

On a Beautiful pitch, in near/erfect weather, the South Island vas all out for 211 and North at (he close of play had scored 105 tor three wickets. One of the chief problems the aational selectors have to solve this season is the choice of opening batsmen. Five candiadtes played today, tour of them failed badly. The fifth. Donald, is at present 65 not out. All in all, it was a disappointing day, for some very ordinary bowling cruelly exposed the mediocrity of New Zealand’s present batting resources. Had the South Island’s catching been up to a good standard, the North would not now be nearly so well placed. North did well to dismiss South for so modest a score. Yet the bowling was undistinguished and South's failure was brought about, in large measure, through a combination of poor strokes and good catching. J. W. Guy and McGregor got themselves out making illadvised shots, and so did the last three batsmen in the order. B. A. Bolton tried to drive rather too early in the innings and J. W. D’Arcy was utterly deceived by a slow one from R. W. Blair. There were times when it seemed South would make a sound score. Guy batted with more freedom and certainty than at any previous stage of the season. McGregor was much more circumspect and safe than his reputation suggested he would be. and Sutcliffe played a beautiful innings. But all three got out lust when it seemed their spadework was done. Fine Innings Only A. M. Moir showed devotion oeyond the bounds of duty and his unbeaten half-century—his fourth this season—was a very fine effort. South lost its second wicket at 15, but Guy was all confidence from the moment he went in. Two of She best shots of the morning were boundaries he hit off Blair. When the slow left-hander, L. C. Butler, was. brought on. Guy used his feet swiftly and surely, and produced a succession of good-looking drives. The defensive field placings cut him down to singles as a rule, but it was entertaining batting Guy and McGregor scored 64 together in 69 minutes before Guy tried to cut one from Sparling which came in to him. He succeeded •n edging it on to his stumps. McGregor went a few minutes later. He moved down the pitch to a ihort one, and turned it to Blair at square leg. Former Days Recalled N. R. Thompson and Leggat were whisked away in a moment, both apparently because they credited the bowlers with a cunning they clearly lacked. But Sutcliffe charmed everyone with the serenity of his batting He does not have a particularly good record on this ground, and no doubt he still lacks confidence against the fast, lifting ban. but. tn the conditions obtaining today he was able to roll back the years and recall his most gracious and profitable days. When Blair dug the baU in short. Sutcliffe flicked him deftly away off his hip, on the ground all the way He was out trying to turn a ball from Hough—this after Hough had cut off the gentle flow of runs by concentrating on the left-hander’s leg stump R. C. Motz lingered while 24 useful runs were added, but Blair induced all three of the last batsmen to touch balls lifting a little outside the off stump, and W. R. Playle made one particularly fine catch to take J. T Ward. Moir batted about two hours for nis 52, unusually laboured progress for him, but he defended diligently while Sutcliffe was in, and later made many firm on-drives off Hough ■nd Blair Moir is not an elegant batsman, but he looked very safe. Flattering Success Blair could do little on this docile curt and he was somewhat flattered to finish with five wickets, for he was far too often short of a length or erring in direction. Hough, who was under-bowled, did insidious little things even when the ball was old. and he was the best of the bowlers. Sparling barely turned the ball, but flighted it quite well at times. Only McGregor took Butler very seriously and D. D. Beard bowled a fraction shorter than is his custom, so that the batsmen had ample time to watch him off the pitch. E. C. Petrie, north’s wicketkeeper, gave a smooth and accomplished exhibition and the fielding of A. H

Preston and Playle in the gully, and Sparling in the covers, was outstanding. North’s batting was not impressive, either, except for the swift running between the wickets of Donald, Playle, and D. J. Gray. They hardly left a single uncollected. R. M Harris got himself out chasing a ball in Motz’s first over, which pitched well outside the off stump. Playle began well, made several elegant strokes and was bowled at 13. Favoured by Fortune Donald went on to become the only opening batsman of the four to reach a good score, but in getting there he had more good fortune than a batsman has any right to expect in a season.

Donald is clearly a good on-side player, and he was able to show he can hit the full toss as well as most. Towards the end of the day, certainly. he made one or two hard drives off Moir, and hit him to midwicket for six.

Cameron was the unlucky bowler for South He beat the batsmen fairly often, but without reward Motz was most disappointing. He lacked length and direction. Leggat’s excellent control brought him two cheap wickets. He is hot a great bowler, but he can usually put the ball somewhere near the desired place, and New Zealand’s present batting standards are such that that is sufficient. Moir managed to turn a few towards the day’s end. but did not look'very likely to take wickets. The throwing was of indifferent quality, but Ward kept wickets well. Scores:—

SOUTH ISLAND First Innings B. A. Bolton, c Preston, b Hough 0 J. W. D’Arcy, c and b Blair .. 5 J. W. Guy, b Sparling .. 46 S N McGregor, c Blair, b Sparlmg .. 33 B. Sutcliffe, lbw, b Hough * .. 60 N. R. Thompson, c Playle. b Blair 0 1 B Leggat, lbw, to. Sparling 1 A. M. Moir, not out .. .. 52 R. C. Motz, c Petrie, b Blair .. 8 J. T. Ward, c Playle. b Blair .. 5 F. C. Cameron, c Petrie, b Blair 0 Extra (no-ball 1) .. 1 Total .."2H Fall of wickets: one for 1 (Bolton), two for 15 (D’Arcy). three for 79 (Guy), four for 92 (MeGregor), five for 110 (Thompson), six for 111 (Leggat), seven for 166 (Sutcliffe), eight for 188 (Motz) for 207 (Ward) nine Bowling O. M. R. W. R. W. Blair .. 22.3 4 61 5 K. W. Hough ..21 6 37 2 L. C. Butler ..12 1 37 0 D. D Beard .. 14 2 28 0 J. T. Sparling ..16 2 47 3 NORTH ISLAND First Innings D. L. Donald, not out .. % .. 65 R. M. Harris, c Ward, b Motz .. 0 W. R. Playle. b Leggat .. .. 13 D. J. Gray, c Ward, b Leggat .. 18 A. H. Preston, not out .. .. 8 . Total for three wickets ..”104 Fall of wickdts: one for 3 (Harris) two for 34 (Playle), three for '’.5 (Gray) Bowling O. M. R. W. R. C. Motz ..10 1 35 F. C. Cameron 11 2 26 1 0 I. B. Leggat ..9 5 12 2 A. M. Moir .. 9 2 26 0 B. Sutcliffe ..1 0 5 0