Rhodesia 311 For Eight; Gruelling Day For N.Z.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29651, 23 October 1961, Page 12

Rhodesia 311 For Eight; Gruelling Day For N.Z.

(NX-P-A.-Reuter— Copyright) BULAWAYO (Southern Rhodesia), October 21. Rhodesia had scored 311 for eight wickets at stumps in the opening day’s play of the New Zealand cricket team’s tour of South Africa today. For the New Zealanders, it was a gruelling day in the sun as their Rhodesian opponents scored runs after winning the toss. The tourists made a fine start when they pinned Rhodesia down to 66 for three wickets in the two hours before lunch. But after the interval, they lost their grip.

Bartlett. New Zealand's fast bowler, had an unpleasant day. His first two balls—the first of the match —were wide, and he was noballed 15 times. This obviously upset him, and he never really let himself go. However, he sent down one or two good overs, and had Bland troubled several times after lunch. In all, there were 19 no-balls—be-sides Bartlett’s 15, Motz bowled three, and Cameron, one. Reid used Bartlett, Motz and Sparling for short spells, but after tea gave Motz eight overs with the new ball. The Rhodesians owe their favourable position to four men—-C. Bland, who missed scoring his first century against the New Zealanders by nine runs, the wicketkeeper. D. Arnott, and L Haig, who each scored halfcenturies, and a bright, unbeaten 35 in 49 minutes by G. Griffin, the Springbok fast bowler with the controversial bowling action, batting at No. 8. Dropped catches played a part in Rhodesia's formidable total. There were five, and for a side with a high repu-

tation in the field, this lapse was disappointing. Three of them should have been held —by Reid and Barton in the slips, and by Sparling at point. In addition, Reid and Sparling missed difficult chances, one by Reid proving fatal when he gave Arnot a life before he had opened his score. But one must not be too harsh in criticising the New Zealander*. They were playing in strange conditions—in an altitude of more than 4000 ft, and in a temperature in the low nineties. On the credit side, the New Zealanders’ ground fielding was good, especially that of Bartlett (in the gully) and McGregor (in covers). The crowd of 2000 was quick to applaud the fine retrieving and covering in difficult conditions. Reid bowled well in the pre-lunch session, taking two of the three wickets which fell for 22 runs, in a spell of 14 overs. Cameron was steady before lunch, and only 16 runs were scored off his 10 overs. Chapple and Sparling got no help from a plumb wicket, but Chapple

took the valuable wicket of Arnott. Bland and Arnott had put on 105 in 103 minutes for the fourth wicket, while Bland and Haig added 86 in 71 minutes for the fifth. Bland's aggressive innings was chanceless, and included 12 fours and one six. It enhanced his chances of playing for the Springboks against the New Zealanders. Griffin’s 35 included six fours and one six.

RHODESIA First innings A. Pithey, run out .. 19 R. Gripper, b Reid 7 D. Arnott, b Chapple 58 D. Lewis, c Ward, b Reid .. 7 C. Bland, lbw. b Motz 91 I. Haig, b Reid 54 D. Robertson, c Ward, b Motz 2 G. Griffin, not out 35 V. Dickenson, c Bartlett, b Cameron 2 J. Du Preez, not out 4 Extras 32 Total (for eight wkts.) 311 Fall of wickets: one for 15. two for 51, three for 63, our for 168. five for 254. six for 260. seven for 287, eight for 287. Bowling O. M. R. W. Bartlett ..13 1 39 0 Motz .. 18 7 33 2 Cameron .. 26 10 70 1 Reid .. 25 10 59 3 Sparling .. 14 5 40 0 Chapple .. 15 5 36 1