TEST DRAWN

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 99, 21 January 1936, Page 11

TEST DRAWN

New Zealand Eleven On Top Yesterday

CENTURY TO J. L. KERR

Great Partnership With

H. G. Vivian

BOWLING AGAIN GOOD

Brilliant batting by J. L. Kerr, of Canterbury, and H. G. Vivian, of Auckland, who put on 190 together after two wickets had fallen for 39, enabled I. B. Cromb to declare New Zealand’s second innings against the English team yesterday closed at 229 for three wickets with the object of forcing a win. Requiring 316 to win in two hours and a half the tourists lost four for 33 before tea, but played out time, losing seven for 130, and the game was drawn.

A. W. Roberts, of Canterbury, again bowled outstandingly well, taking three for 39, and E. D. Blundell, of Wellington, captured two for 43. The match provided interesting cricket over all three days. The New Zea land players demonstrated that their form was too bad to be true at Dunedin in the first game, and there should be interesting contests in the last two matches at Auckland and Christchurch. The play yesterday was watched by about 7000 spectators. The teams were:—

England: C. J. Lyttelton (captain), N. S. Mitchell-Innes, J. H. Parks, W. Barber, J. Hardstaff, J. H. Human, J. Langridge, J. M. Sims, S. C, Griffith, 11. D. Read, A. D. Baxter. New Zealand: I. B. Cromb (captain), J. L. Kerr, D. A. R. Moloney, G. L. Weir, H. G. Vivian, M. Wallace, J. R. Lamasou, A. W. Roberts, J. A. R Blandford, C. Elmes, E. D. Blundell. The umpires were Messrs. D. L. Ryan (Auckland) and C. Moore (Wellington), and the official scorers Messrs. W. A. Smith (M.C.C.) and B. Warwick (New' Zealand). A Great Partnership, In the morning afid early afternoon, on a true wicket with a fast outfield, New Zealand scored crisply, making 50 in 50 minutes, 100 in SS minutes, 150 in 125 minutes, 200 in 150 minutes, and 229 in 180 minutes. An unimpressive start was more than redeemed by the bright and heavy scoring which followed. After Moloney bad been caught behind the wickets, and Weir was taken at forward short-leg off a full-toss, Kerr and Vivian, by bright cricket, took the score along at about a run and a half a minute, raising the total from 39 to 229. \ Kerr played every stroke known to batsmanship, with delightful fluency and certainty, facing the slow and fast bowlers with equal confidence. His drives past mid-off and cover-point were made with fine power, and his hooking of short balls was very strong. He was particularly certain against the fast bowlers, hooking and cutting rising balls -with easy skill. He ran to 50 in 90 minutes, and. after a short period of minor discomfort to the slow bowling after lunch, reached 100 in 175 minutes, his second century against the Englishmen. Kerr hit 12 fours, nine twos, and four threes. Three of his fours were from hooks, two from square-cuts, two from late cuts, and two from on drives and three from off drives. He stayed for three hours for 105 not out. Subdued by the knowledge that two wickets had fallen cheaply just before he went in. Vivian was in for 20 minutes in making 10, but then attacked the bowling, punching very strongly in front of the wicket and pulling with power and placing his strokes with skill. He scored 50 in 80 minutes and raced ahead of his partner after lunch, scoring 30' in the first 30 minutes. He was at the wickets 139 minutes for 96, hitting 10 fours and 13 twos. Seven of his fours were off drives or square cuts, the other three being hooks. He fell in trying to swing a fast-rising ball to leg, the wicket-keeper making, a good leg-side catch.

The pair were enterprising between the wickets, running several short singles. Cromb, who had waited to give both batsmen the chance of get* ting three figures declared as soon as the wicket fell. Hartl Work on True Pitch. Although Head bowled at something approaching his he did not trouble the batsmen except that twice balls flew near the slips from cuts. Reau had four men and sometimes five in the slips. Despite the heat he maintained his pace well for long periods, but he had to bowl to two batsmen who relished his short ones. Baxter and Parks kept down the scoring rate for short spells, but did not appear deadly, and a great deal of the wicket-taking responsibility fell upon Sims. The slow man began well by taking two wickets in his first over with catches made from rather tentative strokes, and on occasion he was bowling really well, nipping from the pitch and turning somewhat. He frequently beat the bat in his first five overs after lunch, when he was bowling into the wind. Langridge had a short turn with the wind just before the appearance of the new ball, which whs shared by Baxter and Read, the latter exploiting it by almost immediately getting Vivian. Apart from some fumbles the fielding of the visitors was good. Griffith was again steady behind the wickets, though he had a badlybruised hand. Human, the fastest mover in the outfield, received a bad blow on the shin and was off the field several times for short periods, receiving massage. A. G. Powell fielded in his place. Lyttelton stationed his men with judgment, but in the long partnership the power of the strokes frequently beat the outfields as they sped around in efforts to gather near the chalk line. Langridge Saves the Game. The Englishmen, against vimful bowling and clean catching, again started badly. Parks was snapped up in the slips, ail'd Mitchell-Innes, who played a creditable first innings, was caught behind the wickets. Barber, after surviving three l.b.w. appeals, was given out to the fourth, and Hardstaff fell to an easy catch from a rather leisurely

stroke to square-leg. Four wickets had then fallen for 33 runs in half an hour. Human was clean bowled soon after tea, the only batsman to keep out the attack and at the same time make runs i being Langridge. The left-hander played forward scoring strokes strongly, and when defending covered up with both his bat and his pads. His innings saved the Englishmen. He batted 80 minutes for 50, and .104 , minutes for 61, with eight fours, dis- ' playing fine grit at an awkward time. Had he been dismissed quickly the visitors would have been ‘‘on the run," and it is highly likely that the game would have resulted in a win for New Zealand. It appeared that, at 48, he was allowed to stay, after an l.b.w. appeal, at the instance of Cromb. Lyttelton stubbornly defended, a style of game against his nature, for half an hour for 15, and Sims stayed three-quarters of an hour for 12. They also played their parts well.

Good Opening Bowlers. Roberts and Blundell again bowled with great heart, their early success being especially creditable in view of the proved suitability of the wicket 1 or fast scoring. Roberts, making the ball dip slightly toward the slips, bowled live overs for six runs and then took a wicket in his sixth and another in his ninth, the latter with a ball which made pace_. His first 13 overs produced only lo runs and yielded three wickets, and 22 overs cost only 39 runs. Blundell began by swinging away, getting one man caught in the slips in his first over and another behind the wickets in his ninth. When the shine had gone off the ball he had two men close in on the leg side. Blundell, who does not usually appeal without good ■reason, made three unsuccessful requests for l.b.w. decisions before tea. Cromb called upon them for sustained effort, each bowling for nearly an' hour before tea and for half an hour after tea. He appeared to place much more reliance on his medium-paced attack than on his slow, for he did not use Moloney and Vivian till near the end, doing most of the slow bowling himself. His slows were well controlled. He made persistent efforts to entice the batsmen out, and later called on Moloney and Vivian for the same purpose, the latter getting a wicket The batsmen, quite properly, were not willing to be tempted, and for several overs simply patted back along the wicket balls which were “asking to be hit.” • . , The New Zealand fielding was again good. Roberts took a brilliant onehanded catch as he was falling in the slips, and Blandford eagerly seized the snick given him, as well as being quick with his stumping chance. Honours With New Zealand, New Zealand again hold a definite advantage and it can be said that the home team was slightly on top right through the match, except on the first day, Zhen seven wickets fell for 127 runs before the stand which saved the game was made by Roberts and Blandford, when they raised the score to 170 that day and took it on to 231 on Saturday.

Roberts gave bls'side admirable service with the ball and on his performances of the last two or three seasons he is the best medium-paced bowler in the country, considered from the point of view of effectiveness on all wickets. He just failed to secure selection as a batsman in the last New Zealand team to go to England. It seems that he has only to maintain hfs present form to bd one of the first chosen as a bowler for the visit next year to England. Blundell bowled effectively with the new ball in each Innings, taking valuable wickets cheaply. Unlike Roberts, however, he is not an 'all-rounder.

Cromb yesterday did not appear to make early enough use of the slow bowlers when the game was in such a position that it did not matter . how many runs were given away, as what was wanted was to get men out at all costs and as quickly as possible. It cannot bo said definitely, of course, that even the slow bowlers would have disposed of batsmen playing with such care, and it is probably fairer to admire the captain for what he did than criticise him for what he did not do. He certainly made the most of every chance on Saturday. The New Zealand team had the better of the run of luck with weather, and showed a pleasing capacity to utilise this fortune'. Especially satisfying was the general competency of the fielding, the bowlers being given good support in both innings. Probably changes will be made for the next game at Auckland. Weir, a vnltulile batsman when in form, failed in both innings in this match and was r/tlier uncertain in the field, and Elmes has so far done little to justify his’selection. He, however, is a young player whom the selectors evidently consider has possibilities and he may be retained on that ground. Certainly he is of the type worth developing—a left-hand bowler and batsman and a smart field. The honours of the draw were certainly with New Zealand. The Englishmen play their next match at Palmerston North. Scores: NEW ZEALAND.—First Innings. J. 1,. Kerr. e. Mitchell-Innes, b. Parks 2 D. A. R. Moloney, 1.b.w., b. Langrldge 32 G. L. Weir, c. Langridge, b Parks ... 1 H. G. Vivian, 1.b.w., b. Sims 29 M. Wallace, c. Barber, b. Parks it) I B. Cromb, c. Mitchell-Innes, b. Parks 15 ,f. R. Lamason, c. Parks, b. Langridge 17 A. W. Roberts, not out 75 .T. A. 11. Blandford,'c. Parks, b. Baxter 10 C. Elmes. c. and b. Sims 3 E. D. Blundell, b. Sims 0 Extras (byes 2, leg-byes 6, noballs 1) 9 Total 242

Fall of wickets: One for 3, two for 8, three for 50, four for 71, five for 05, six for 115, seven for 127. eight for 231, nine tor 242, ten for 242. Second Innings. J L. Kerr, not out 105 I). A. R. Moloney, c. Griffith, I>. Sims . 10 G. L. Weir. c. Langridge. b. Sime .... (I H G. Vivian, c. Griffith, b. Read 00 Extras (byes 8, leg-byes 5. noballs 5i 18 Total for three wickets, declared .. 229

Fall of wickets: One for 39, two for 39, three for 229. M.C.C. —First Innings. J. H. parks, run out ’.. 13 W. Barber, c. Lamason, b. Blundell .. 3 ,L Hardstaff, c. Lamason, b. Blundell 0 N S. Mitchell-Innes, c. Lamason. b. Roberts 37 J. Langridge, b. Cromb . 2 ,T. If, Human, c. Wallace, b. Cromb .. 2 C. ,L Lyttelton, c. Elmos, b. Cromb .. 4 •T. M. Sims. c. Lamason, b. Roberts . 30 S C. Griffith, not out 24 H. D. Read. b. Cromb 13 A. !>. Baxter, |>. Roberts 0 Extras (lives 1, leg-byes 7) St

Fall of wickets: One for 12, two for 12, three for 49, four for r>o, live for 06, six for 77, seven for 10-5, eight for 120. nine for 151, ten for 150. ' Second Innings. J.U. Parks, c. Roberts, b. Blundell .. 1 W, Barber, 1.b.w., b. Roberts 14 J. Hardstaff, c. Weir, b. Roberts .... Hi N. S. Mitchell-Innes, c. Blandford. It. Blundell 3 .1. Langridgc. not 0111 .T. Human, b. Roberts in C. ,T. Lyttelton, b. Cromb 15 J. M. Sims. st. Blandford, b. Vivian . 1” S. C. GrilHth. not out 5 Extras (leg-byes 2, byes 2) 4 Total for seven wickets 330

lall ot wickets: One for 2, two for 19, three for 29, four for 33, fire for 57, six for 100, seven for 130.

Bowling. 0. M. R. W II. D. Head . 11 0 37 0 ,T. JI. Parks ... 29 13 40 4 A. D. Baxter .. 14 z 30 1 .1. M. Sims ■ .. 20.3 *> 05 3 ,T. Langridge .. 21 u 49 2 Read bowled one no-ball.

Bowling. o. M. K. tv. II. I). Head .... 20.1 1 82 1 A. 11. Baxter .. 10 3 20 0 J. Jf. Sims ... 17 4 70 .T. H. Parks ... 4 0 26 0 J. Laugridge .. 4 0 13 0 Bend bowled four no-balls and Suns one.

Bowling, 0. M. R. \V A. . W. Huberts 10,5 7 . 13 4 33 3 K. D. Bltfndell . 40 C. Himes 4 2 10 6 I. B. Cromb ... 14 2 rv) 4 H. G. Vivian .. 7 0 13 0

Bowling. 0. Ar. r. \V A. IV. Roberts 22 8 3» ji J'i. B. Blundell . .17 2 13 I. B. Cromb .. in 4 25 i C. Klines 3 1 7 O' D. A. It. Moloney ’ 4 1 9 0 H. G. Vivian .. 3 o 1