FIRST TEST MATCH

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 152, 24 March 1925, Page 8

FIRST TEST MATCH

NEW ZEALAND’S INDIFFERENT DISPLAY

VICTORIA REQUIRE 141 RUNS TO WIN

RANSFORD’S FINE BOWLING FEAT

New Zealand, 110 runs behind Victoria on. the first innings, gave an indifferent display in their second innings, being all out at the close of the day ■ Rans f or( i’ mainly owing to the fine bowling performance of Ranstorct, who secured six wickets for 38 runs.

The innings opened auspiciously, Blunt and Worker putting on 91 runs for the first wicket. Dempster, Dacre and Mcßeath were the only ot her batsmen to reach double figures. The seven later wickets fell foi 98 luns. Blunt, Worker and Dacre were stumped by Ellis, who accounted for six batsmen in the two inn ings.

f With: a perfect wicket to bat on, New Zealand’s opening batsmen, Blunt and ..Worker, had almost overhauled the leeway between the two • teams in the first innings. Blunt was very confident, and after settling down, commenced taking plenty of risks, going out to meet Hartkopf and Millar especially. His partner, though much quieter, followed his example, and, after several narrow escapes, fell a victim to Ellis’s smart wicket-keeping, after being at the wickets over an hour for 33 runs. The warning should have sufficed for Worker’s comrades, but it did not. Ellis was in such good form . that old cricketers remarked that it was many years since they had seen such deadly ’keeping. Blunt, who had j taken good stock of the bowling, ‘and batted without a blemish, with the exception of a chance to Mayne when he was 75, was another of Ellis’s vic- > tims. The third was I)acre. Thus, the three best batsmen of the side fell to causes within their own control, and the remainder appeared to lose heart. Certainly, the batting of the rest of the team, with the exception of Dempster, made no impression on Victoria’s bowling. Every run scored, particularly in the early stages of the innings,, was well earned, for the visitors were fielding at their best. It was a really uncommon experience to see a fieldsman fumble, and some of the returns from the field, especiallv those of Austin, Willis, Millar, arjl Wallace, were a revelation to New Zealanders in accuracy and pace. The crowd was visibly disappointed—and with good reason—when they saw' wickets practically given away to the visitors, who were handicapped ini being without the bowling services of Liddicut, who was injured on Saturday. '■ Alloo, who is not a first-wicket batsman, was put in at that period by Patrick, evidently as a reward, for his fine performance in the first innings. He only lasted a couple of balls from Wallace, and then placed an easy catch into Mayne’s hands. Patrick was out to a moi e feeble stroke still; he spooned a ball into Millar’s hands before he had taken an over. Hiddleston, two balls after he went in, was standing out of his crease when a ball driven by his partner hit the bowler’s wicket. Blunt gave a really dashing display of batting. He was especially effective on the “on,” and executed some fine, powerful shots past point. He was stumped in each innings. Dempster, also, had plenty of confidence, and hit . and drove with power. Ransford bowled him with a ball that would have beaten most batsmen. Ransford, who did not bowl in the/ first innings, was not tried until 150 runs were on the board. His first over was sensational. Blunt was stumped off his second ball, and nearly caught Hiddleston off the next, which was the first he sent down to him. The next ball Dempster drove hara back to him, and, although Ransford could not hold it, the ball cannoned on to the wicket, and Hiddleston was out of his crease. He sent down 99 balls for 38 runs and six wickets. • There is a strong feeling, attendant on New Zealand’s indifferent display, that the selectors should give youth a chance in the second Test match at Christchurch at the end of the week, and that some of the older plavers should be replaced by younger men, like Crawford and Boon, of Canterbury, or James, of Wellington, so that they may get the benefit of the experience.

DETAILS OF THE PLAY

. NEW ZEALAND AT THE WICKETS No rain having fallen at the weekend, the wicket rolled out well for the resumption of the Test. The weather was fine, with a light northerly breeze. Blunt and Worker opened to the bowling of Wallace and Liddicut. . Both batsmen were extremely cautious and were leaving alone off balls from Wallace, which proved such a successful trap for New Zealand batsmen in the first innings. Seven, overs produced 20 runs. At 22 Liddicut, who sent down four overs fot 6 runs, was relieved by Millar against the breeze. Blunt was more enterprising than his partner and got some nice shots forward of point and fine leg. At 27 Millar, after bowling a maiden, gave way to Hartkopf. Worker jumped into Hartkopf’s last ball and drove it hard to mid-off, the over producing one run. Millar went on at the other end in place of Wallace, whose six overs cost 15 runs. Hartkopf placed a man at silly point and silly mid-on. Ellis, very sharp at the wickets, was frequently clipping off the bails. The first hour produced 30 runs. Both batsmen stole a smart run at Mayne’s expense. Blunt got 3 from a hard cut past Mayne, oft Hartkopf. Worker and Blunt brought the “house” down by running four for an overthrow from a very cheeky run. Worker lost his bat but Blunt swooped on it in his stride and returned it, .flag-race fashion. Hartkopf, in returning the*ball in the first instance, hit the kicket, and Worker, who had dropped his bat, had a close call. Liddicut stopped to ask for a decision, and then had to chase the ball nearly to the boundary. The incident put the crowd in an excellent humour. Ellis’s work was still very deadly behind the sticks. Once again the pair cleverly ran 3, where only 2 looked possible, from a forward stroke by Blunt. Blunt and Worker made an occasional swipe to leg at Hartkopf. Worker eventually connected and registered a. boundary, bringing up 50 in 68 minutes. Ransford throughout was doing fine work on the boundary. Smart running between the wickets pleased the crowd mightily, the batsmen having a complete understanding of each other. Both were now adopting the practice of jumping well out to Hartkopf. Worker drove him to the oft boundary, and Blunt, stepping out, got * rather fluky slice to short-leg. Work-

er put one from Millar dangerously close to Woodfull at first slip, the ball going to the boundary. Next ball Worker just got his foot bigk in the crease as Ellis trimmed the wicket of the bails. The Victorian wicketkeeper did the same thing next ball, and steadied Worker. At 68, Willis went on in place of Hartkopf, whose five overs produced 27 runs. Blunt finely drove him to the off boundary and to the on deep-field. With a superb stroke Blunt pulled Millar to the pickets near ’he pavilion. He was now in his highest form and presented ’a marked contrast to Friday’s display. ' At lunch the score was none for 80, Blunt being 43, Worker 30, and extras 7.

Opening Partnership Broken.

After the adjournment Willis bowled to Blunt, his first over producing one run. Wallace bowled with the breeze Blunt smartly placed his first delivery to long leg "for 2. Wallace was noballed three times by Umpire Burton in his first over. Blunt walked down the pitch to Willis. Worker did so once too often, and Ellis had the bails off like lightning. The retiring batsman hit four 4’s. 91—1 —33. Alloo filled the vacancy. Alloo put the second ball from Wallace mildly into Mayne’s hands at third man in an attempt to pull him. 92—2 —1. Dempster followed, and neatly scored one from Willis at short mid-off. Despite Worker’s disaster and Ellis’s cat-like vigilance, both men were stepping out of their creases. Blunt beautifully cut Wallace for 4, bringing his 50 and New Zealand’s first hundred up in 110 minutes.

Dempster got 5 from an overthrow off Wallace, and pulled Willis to the square leg boundary. Next ball he cut Willis for 4, and then stole a run. The over produced 12. . Blunt made a beautiful cut off Wallace for 4. Both men were showing excellent footwork. New Zealand had now made up the first innings difference. Blunt ran 4 for an off-drive off Wallace, Austen throwing down the wicket from the boundary with Dempster just home. At 131 Hartkopf replaced Willis, whose six overs produced 25 runs and one wicket. His second ball completely beat Dempster. Millar replaced Wallace, whose eleven overs produced 39 runs, and one wicket. The Victorian fielding was perfect throughout. Dempster was causing some anxiety by trying to cut rising balls from Hartkopf. Blunt, still using his feet, drove Miliar past mid-on to the boundary. Stepping out, he converted one from Hartkopf into a full toss, which went to “on” boundary at a great pace. When he was 75 Blunt gave an easy catch to Mayne at forward square leg, but the Victorian captain, to the amazement of fieldsmen and onlookers, dropped it. The 150 appeared in exactly 150 minutes.

Ransford relieved Millar, whose ten overs cost 27 runs. Blunt leaned forward to Ransford’s second ball, and was smartly stumped. He hit seven fours. 153—3—77. Hiddleston hit the first ball he got from Ransford up at mid-off, out of reach of the bowler. Hiddleston was out next ball in a verv unusual fashion. Dempster hit a ball hard back to Ransford. The fieldsmen called “hold it,” and Ransford attempted to catch it low down. The ball cannoned from his hands on to the bowler’s wicket, .and Hiddleston, who had backed up for one run, could not regain his crease. Ransford’s over was indeed a sensational one. The crowd began to pay attention to Ellis for appealing against Dempster for l.b.w. Their feelings were greatly relieved when Dempster swung a ball from Hartkopf to the leg boundary. Dacre’s iiinings nearly ended disastrously at its birth. Millar made a fast return from the field, and it was touch-and-go, the umpire giving his decision in favour of the batsman.

Superb Fielding. Rarely has such superb fielding and wicket-keeping been seen in Wellington. It was with a feeling of relief, therefore, that the crowd saw Austin let a ball pass him. With the exception of Mayne dropping Blunt, it was the first mistake in the field. Dempster was shaping with greater confidence, and was placing his shots with judgment. He had the good fortune to flick a well-pitched one from Hartkopf between his legs and the wicket, a "boundarv” resulting. Just at 4 o’clock Ransford bowled Dempster. The retiring batsman hit five d’s. 188—5—45. Wickets Fall Quickly. After the tea adjournment Hartkopf resumed bowling to Darce and Patrick. Dacre, after two ineffective attempts, swept Hartkopf to leg for a single. Patrick (opened his account with a single off Ransford, but the bowler beat him with his next. Dacre, driving Hartkopf to the “on” boundary, brought up 200 runs in 200 minutes. Dacre repeated the stroke, and, facing Ransford, lifted a short one to the pickets near the grandstand. Next ball, Austin, fielding brilliantly, nearly ran him out. Dacre again brought his leg swing into play. Patrick was easily caught by Millar deep at cover, in trying to hit Hartkopf. 213—6—4. McGirr lasted a few balls and spooned one up oft Ransford into the bowler’s hands. 220—7—4. With the sun in his eyes, Austin dropped Dacre when he was 41, oft Hartkopf, on the leg boundarv. Next ball, Ellis smartly stumped him oft Ransford, who had now taken four wickets for 24 runs, off eight overs. 227—8—42. Condliffe put the second ball he got from Ransford just out of reach of Mayne’s outstretched hand. Dickinson, at the other end, gave a difficult chance also to Austin near the leg boundarv. A little later Dickinson put his leg in front of one from Ransford. 238—9—7. The 250 appeared in 242 minutes. Ransford then bowled Condliffe, and the innings terminated for 251 runs. Ransford secured six wickets for 38 runs Owing to the failing light, stumps were drawn at 5.45 p.m.

VICTORIA. First innings 336 NEW ZEALAND. First innings 226 Second Innings. R. C. Blunt, 142112223211331112414 212111111414114142, st. Ellis, b. Ransford 77 R. de R. Worker, 14111111144123421, st. Ellis, b. Willis 33 A. W. Alloo, c. Mavne, b. Wallace 1 C. S. Dempster, 111544121131211141 2341, b. Ransford 45 I. S. Hiddleston, run out 1 C. C. Dacre, 3311111111421141413421, st. Ellis, b. Ransford 42 W. R. Patrick, c. Millar, b. Hartkopf 4 H. M. McGirr, c. and b. Ransford 4 G. R. Dickinson, 421, 1.b.w., b. Ransford 7 J. W. Condliffe, 211111, b. Ransford 7 D. J. Mcßeath, 424, not out 10 Byes 8, leg-byes 7, no-balls 5 .... 20

Total 251 BOWLING ANALYSIS.

THIRD A FIXTURES. Third A fixtures for Saturday arc:— Hutt v. Stop Out, Hutt No. 3; Hutt Maori v. Marist, Anderson No. 1; Y.M.C.A., _ v. Railways, Karori No. 2; Kilbirnie v. Midland, Kilbirnie No. 2; Kaiwarra v. Thomdon, Wakefield No. 3; Institute, a bye. Third B:—Johnsonville v. Wellesley College, Johnsonville No. 2; Karori v. Eastbourne, Newtown No. 4; Petone v. Hataitai, Petone No. 3; Hutt Maori v. Technical College 0.8., Newtown No. 3; Hutt v. Kaiwarra, Hutt No. 4; St. Thomas’s v. Petone Wesley ,_ Hutt Park; Institute v. Kilbirnie, Kilbirnie No. 3; Railways v. Y.M.C.A. A, Wakefield No. 4; Y.M.C.A. B, a bye. Fourth grade:—Wellesley College v. Y.M.C.A. B, Kilbirnie No. 4; Petone v. Midland, Petone No. 4; Institute v. Y.M.C.A. A, Kilbirnie No. 5; Ston Out v. Flutt, Hutt No. 5; Technical College 0.8. v. Petone Wesley, Petone No. 5. MERCANTILE LEAGUE. The Myers Cup competition fixtures for Saturday are as follows:—Pastimes v. Cables, Wakefield Park No.' 6; Odlins v. Whitcombe and Tombs, Wakefield Park N0..7.

O. M. R. W Wallace . 11 2 39 1 Liddicut ... 4 2 6 0 Millar .... 10 27 0 Hartkopf ... 21 2 96 1 Willis .... 6 0 25 1 Ransford ... 12.3 1 38 6 Wallace bowled 5 no-balls.