OTAGO PACE MAN TAKES 6-56 Webb’s great bowling may regain him test place

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32531, 15 February 1971, Page 24

OTAGO PACE MAN TAKES 6-56 Webb’s great bowling may regain him test place

(From

R. T. BRITTEN DEN)

WELLINGTON.

A demolishing spell of fine fast bowling by M. G. Webb and an innings of high quality from M. J. F. Shrimpton did most during the inter-island match on Saturday to revive hopes of New Zealand being able to extend England in the two-match series which begins at Lancaster Park on Thursday week.

Webb, taking six for 56, helped South to a first-innings lead of 59. Shrimpton’s 65, and a colourful innings of 72 by G. E. Vivian, reprieved North after four wickets had fallen while the score was being taken from 133 to 156. North was dismissed for 256, and at the end of the day South had 36 for two to show for 90 minutes struggling against North’s seam attack. Different bowler Webb did very nearly everything he needed to do to win back his place in the New Zealand team. The I Basin Reserve was a disaster

area for him last season, when he bowled for New Zealand against the Australians. After an exceedingly successful Plunket Shield season, he bowled badly at Wellington, seeming to lose his confidence and the rhythm in his 1 run-up after the batsmen had questioned the legality of his run-through, and he was no balled 20 times. But on Saturday, he: bowled with very sharp pace and generally on a good line. From near a full length he sometimes had the ball getting up uncomfortably, and he supplemented his, bowling income with an astonishing caught and bowled to remove M. G. Burgess.

Reflex action

The batsman hit it hard and low but Webb managed to stop abruptly in his fol-low-through and drop his right hand down for the catch.

It was an interesting day’s cricket but a slow-moving one. North could not quite match South’s modest scoring rate, but its bowling rate was a shade better —12| overs an hour, which is dreary progress. There was enough in the pitch for batsmen on both sides to struggle all day, with the notable exception of Vivian, who made his own rules. The first South thrust cajne from D. G. Trist, who had to bowl into a lively northerly wind. A fine catch by 18. F. Hastings in the gully cut short a promising innings from B. W. Yuile, and he

had R. W. Morgan when the batsman made a mesmeric flick at one outside his off stump. Webb bowled fast and found a few edges, but he had no success before lunch, as B. A. G. Murray and Shrimpton fought valiantly to restore North’s fortunes. Murray had a remarkable experience. He is by nature a free-scoring batsman, but his responsibilities weighed so heavily upon him that he did not score a run in the first 80 minutes. To be sure, he had a little less than his half-share of the bowling, but Trist and Webb so confined him that his overnight score of 9 had not altered when the drinks came out half-way through the morning play. He broke free then, but was never in command. However, his stand of 101 with Shrimpton, in 134 minutes, restored the balance of the game. Shrimpton had little success in shield matches this season, but he put in a strong claim to a test place with determined but cultured batting. Bat and pad classically close, he played Webb particularly well.

Powerful shots Webb’s fields were designed on attacking lines. Shrimpton was more able than the i others to exploit those deliveries a shade too short and ; he punched away some beautiful square cuts. He made his runs from 132 balls and he looked a thoroughly good batsman. . By lunch, North was 117 ' for three, and when Shrimpton began moving confidently out to drive V. Pollard, he seemed on the way to a century. But he went once too often to , that particular well, and minutes later Murray was taken by K. J. Wadsworth in a spectacular legside dive. Burgess and B. R. Taylor fell to Webb, then bowling with great elan, but Vivian and L. S. Mountain fought back with a stand of 61 for the eighth wicket. Vivian made some unimpressive passes at the pace bowling in the first half-hour of his innings but grew in stature as the runs began to flow. What an exciting batsman he is. He gave K. O. Campbeli a bad time, drove and cut Pollard fluently, and then turned to Trist, on again in the up-wind position. Trist bowled at a pretty lively pace but three times in an over Vivian was down the pitch, hitting glorious on-drives for fours, and another stroke of tremendous power just about accounted for one of M. L. Ryan’s shins..

Towering catch Vivian in such a mood provides magnificent entertainment, but he was out, after 134 minutes and 118 'balls, attacking Webb and sending up a towering catch. Vivian had a 6 off Campbell, Mountain hit one from Ryan, and Vivian also had 11 fours in his gaudy innings. Webb laid low R. O. Collinge’s leg stump to complete

a great display: he had five for 24 in nine overs after lunch. Trist bowled very well, notwithstanding his punishment from Vivian, and Pollard was efficient and tidy, turning some enough to be awkward, although he did seem to bowl on to the pad a little much. South had an hour and a half, and scored only 36 while no more than 18 overs were bowled. It was as if batting was sinful, runs a visible sign of decadence. W. A. Greenstreet, with well directed me-dium-paced bowling induced two tired-looking strokes for his wickets. Today, most interest will be in the batting of T. W. Jarvis, and in Taylor’s attempt to restore his prestige. He bowled accurately on Saturday but without the vim and vigour one hopes to see in him.