SOUTH ISLAND BEATS NORTH BY 52 RUNS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28822, 17 February 1959, Page 14

SOUTH ISLAND BEATS NORTH BY 52 RUNS

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, February it A deplorable exhibition of batting by the North Island lost it the match against the South Island at the Basin Reserve today by 53 runs. Three run outs and some feeble strokes against the moderate bowling on a pitch barely marked by the first two days’ play lost the North Island nine wickets for 127, and it was only half an hour of violence at the end, primarily by K. W. Hough, which brought the margin so close. It must have been .a disappointing display for the New Zealand selectors. It certainly was for the handful of spectators. At the start of the day the South Island, with two wickets standing, was only 185 runs in front, but A. M. Moir, completing a notable double, showed how productive the Basin Reserve pitch should have been for the batsmen.

This morning there was some more good and sensible batting from Moir, who took his score to 70, the highest innings of his career, and the first occasion on which he has scored two halfcentries in a match. He drove R. W. Blair and Hough with such assurance that it was impossible not to reflect on deficiencies of some of the earlier batsmen. Moir made his runs very briskly, and for the first halfhour or so carefully kept J. Ward away from the strike, which in itself was evidence of how ordinary the bowling looked on this excellent pitch. Moir batted only 45 minutes for his 37 runs to day, and whatever his lack of batting refinements he must be a strong candidate for the Redpath Cup. Ward defended calmly, and apart from one difficult chance he gave off Blair, he and Moir scored 49 for the ninth wicket in 50 minutes, a partnership which improved their team’s chance immensely. North’s Second Innings There were only two redeeming features about the North Island’s second innings. One was the effort made by A. H. Preston to save the side, the second the entertainment provided by Hough. The first three batsmen, D. L. Donald R. M. Harris, and W. R. Playle, began with snicks through the slips, with the ball carrying in the air some of the way. Donald aid play quite soundly for half an hour, but then ran himself out foolishly, Harris was never impressive, Playle was a little better, and D. J. Gray, although a left-hander, was quite unable to fathom Moir’s spin. Sparling, square-cutting, hit the ball to N. R. Thompson, who misfielded. By the time Sparling turned for his second run B. A. Bolton had the ball in hand, and a perfect throw had Sparling clearly out

D. D. Beard, also run out, was perhaps a victim of a mistaken decision, possibly the only error of its kind in this match, for the umpiring was of a uniformly high standard. Preston was never in charge, but he is a courageous player, and he hung on for an hour and a half, L C. Butler made one or two drives, but the only substantial partnership was the last one. E. C. Petrie and Hough added 57 in 32 minutes. Petrie batted well and was one of the few batsmen to use his feet confidently. Hough’s batting is a joy. He is a most impressive figure, and in repose, bat in hand, the proportions are rather those of Camera to- a tootnpick. In his rare moments spent in defence, the bat certainly looks like a toy in his huge hands. But mostly he attacks, and his intentions are clear long before the ban is on the way. There is a distinct gathering together of

muscles, giving something like the effect of an oversize bagpipe being inflated, before the vast - swing begins. He missed sometimes, but contrived some tremendously strong hits for fours and a satisfying six off Sutcliffe.

South Island Bowling The South ’ Island' bowling was reasonably accurate, with I. B. Leggat again enjoying considerable success. He brought his match analysis to seven for 50, and it was not without significance that five batsmen were caught somewhere behind the wicket and another bowled. His swing is not excessive, but it is usefully late. Moir turned some well, was punished by Hough, but might well nave had that batsman out on several occasions. R. C. Motz took only one wicket, but bowled better than at any other stage of this season. He tried very hard, and was distinctly unfortunate not to pick up two or three more wickets. Cameron, however, was not so impressive today. Sutcliffe took a wicket, and then heaped Hough’s plate with plenty.

Some of the fielding was very good, some a little elderly, and Ward did not take the ball as cleanly as he had done in the first innings. However, he brought off a very good leg-side catch to end Preston’s innings. Scores:— SOUTH ISLAND

First Innings . ..211 Second Innings J. W. D’Arcy, b Hough ..57 N. R. Thompson, c and ,b Hough 2 B. A. Bolton, run out .. 37 J. W. Guy, c Harris, b Preston 25 S. N. McGregor, c Petrie, b Blair .. ..11 B. Sutcliffe, b Blair ..15 I. B. Leggat, lbw, b Blair .. 0 A. M. Moir, lbw, b Blair ..70 R. C. Motz. b Butler .. .. 4 J* T. Ward, not out ..8 F. Cameron, b Beard .. 4 Extras (byes 10, leg byes 2, ■ no balls 2) .. ..14 Total .. ..~247

Fall of wickets: One for 8, two for 90, three-for 114, four for 134, five for 134, • six 1 for 136, seven for 159, eight for 189, nine for 238.

NORTH ISLAND First Innings .. .. 221 Second Innings D. L. Donald, run out .. ..14 R. M. Harris, c Ward, b Moir .. 28 W. R. Playle. c Sutcliffe, b Leggat .. .. 9 D. J. Gray, b Moir .. 6 A. H. Preston, c Ward, b Leggat 31 J. T. Sparling, run out .. 1 D. D. Beard, run out .. .. 10 L. C. Butler, c Motz, b Leggat 19 R. W. Blair, c and b Sutcliffe 4 E. C. Petrie, not out .. ..18 K. W. Hough, b Motz. .. .. 42 Extras (byes 1. no balls 4) 5 Total . .. ..185 Fall of wickets: One for 26, two for 42, three for 57, four for 72. five for 74, six for 97, seven for 122, eight for 127 nine for 127. BOWLING

R.N.Z.A.F. Tournament At Weedons Wigram beat Woodbourne in the inter-station cricket tournament of the Royal New Zealand Air Force played at Weedons yesterday. Woodbourne in its first innings made 143 (R. Dudley 39, S. McClory 36, R Young 27; A. E. Slack five for 30, W Craig three fdr 31). Wigram in its innings made' 145 for the loss of four wickets (M. Hurley 39, O. Miles 32, S'. M. Cameron 29; M. MeNaught two for 38, V. Bryant one for 8, Bl Hodges one for 30). Wigram won by six wickets on the first famiagsWigram will play the anal match today.

BOWLING O. M. R. W. R. W. Blair .. 31 7 71 4 K. W. Hough .. 27 9 52, 2 D. D. Beard .. 16.3 7 25 1 L. C. Butler .. 10 3 28 1 J. T. Sparling .. 16 A. H. Preston .. 6 4 0 36 21 0 1

O. M. R. W R. C. Motz .. 12.3 2 31 1 F. Cameron .. 10 1 33 0 A. M. Moir .. 20 6 61 2 I B. Leggat B. Sutcliffe 17 .. 6 7 1 27 28 3 1