EVENTFUL CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 153, 25 March 1944, Page 8

EVENTFUL CRICKET

N.Z. Team Leads Services By 134 Runs McRAE’S FINE BOWLING Deadly bowling on a wicket softened by heavy overnight-rain by D. A. N. McRae, the Canterbury left-hander, was mainly responsible for the New Zealand Services eleven collapsing for 99 runs in their first innings against a New Zealand eleven in the special cricket match for patriotic purposes which opened al the Basin Reserve. Wellington, yesterday. The -Services team batted for 167 minutes, Alcßae taking five wickets for 20 runs off 17 overs. The pitch appeared to roll out better for the New Zealand eleven, and Cromb and Uttley gave the side a good start with 93 runs. A great burst of bowling by Hoar (Wairarapa) and Scott (Canterbury) then caused a collapse. seven wickets being down for 13S runs. Butterfield (Canterbury) and Mooney (AVellington) saved the situation, both reaching the forties, and the .innings concluded just before 6 p.m. for 233 runs —a lead of 134 runs. ■ The weather was ideal with brilliant sunshine and a mild breeze.. The crowd was a large one for an off day. The presence of the two Auckland anu New Zealand representatives, J. Cowie ana AV. M. AVallace, neither of whom has been seen in action away from Auckland for some seasons, was a big attraction, unfortunately after bowling six oversLowle was compelled to retire. He got little assistance from the wicket, but his fast deliveries tore some turf out of the Pitch, and when Alcßae took over from the same end his “propping” deliveries caused no end of trouble to the batsmen. Hadlee’s skilful placing of the field left no gaps and runs were extremely enmCU Hadlee S£ u'sed five bowlers, but the bulk of the trundling was done by Mcßae and Burtt both left-handers from Canterbury. Indicative of the difficulty the batsmen experienced in playing Mcßae was the tact that there were eight maidens in his first 12 overs, his figures then being two for O. He exploited a strong leg field, and no fewer than four batsmen lost their wickets through pushing at leg swingers, deliveries which were more than usually difficult through several of them propping or rearing up. Cromb took two smart catches close in on the leg side, and Burtt and Sutcliffe the others. Cromb had a highly successful day in the field, taking two other catches close, in. Burtt Troubles Batsmen. Burtt found the wicket fully responsive to his spinners, and gave one of the best exhibitions of epin and flight bowling seen since the Australian Walsh appeared in Wellington with Sir Julien Cahn's team He got prodigious epin on the cyall at times. He sent down 18 ovens, three being maidens, and took four wickets for 37 runs. Burtt’s bowling was similar to the former Auckland and New Zealand representative, S. G. Smith, being concentrated on the off stump and spinning away to the slips. By clever use of flight he usually had the batsmen feeling. Only two of the Services batsmen reached double figures, R. Crawford (Wellington) being unbeaten with 35, and the captain, H. T. Pearson (Auckland), compiling a sound 27.. Crawford gave a polished display of stroke cricket, using his feet skilfully and always being in position for the shot. The slow outfield pulled up many wristy drives and pulls which would otherwise have been boundaries. His was a meritorious innings when the well” placed field was also taken into consideration. M. O’Brien (Wellington) shaped the best of the remainder, and was unlucky in his dismissal, a ball from Mcßae propping and going off the edge of his bat to slips, where Sutcliffe took an easy catch. When Cromb and Uttley opened .for T ew Zealand the early overs from Hoar and Scott suggested that the wicket might again prove troublesome. Cromb was dropped off a hard chance to Crawford from Hoar’s bowling. Uttley also had some uncomfortable moments, but the pair graduallv settled down to some enterprising cricket. ■ Heavy toll was taken of L. Smith, the Otago left-hander, whose length was erratic, Uttley pushing along his score at his expense. First successes to the Services came with the ecore at when Kerr, the Auckland slow bowler, changed to round the wicket, Cromb and Hadlee being given out I.'b.w., in quick succession. Great Burst of Bowling. A sudden change came over the play after the afternoon tea adjournment, when the score stood at HO for two . wickets. Scott (Canterbury) and Hoar (Wairarapa), two medium-fast swing bowlers, took up the attack. The former, who early in Uttley’s innings made a confident but unsuccessful appeal for I.'b.w., dismissed the batsman with a second appeal. Uttley had scored GO with ibatting which was a mixture of extreme caution and lusty hitting. He was ruthless on any loose deliveries. Wallace and Mcßae were both cleanbowled when attempting to hit good length deliveries from Scott, and Hoar claimed the wickets of O’Brien and Sutcliffe with beautiful deliveries. This brilliant burst of bowling altered the complexion of the game from 110 for two to 138 for seven. A sound partnership .between R. Butterfield and F. H. L. Mooney saved any possibility of the collapse developing into a rout. After a cautious start, both settled down to a steady rate of scoring, and added 81 runs before Butterfield was bowled by 'Smith. His innings was marked by patience and careful placements, there being two fours only in his 40. The New Zealand innings concluded shortly afterward. Burtt was caught in the deep field by O’Brien off Smith and. Mooney went without further addition to the. score. Like Butterfield, he had batted, with. restraint, relying on well-placed drives. There were two fours in his 43. Scott secured the best figures with three for 20 off 12 overs. He swung the ball sharply and few of the batsmen could take undue liberties with him. Hoar had three spells of bowling, but tired, in his third effort and proved expensive. Apart irom that he bowled excellently. Kerr secured two leg-before-wicket decisions bowling round the wicket, one against Cromb, who appeared to hit the 'ball. Smith had 32 runs hit off his first three overs. In his second spell with the ball he took three for “The Services fielding was sound, but lacked the crispness of their opponents. Scores N.Z. SERVICES. First Innings. S. A. McVicar; st. Mooney, by Burtt 3 H. T. Pearson, c. Cromb, b. Mcßae .. -7 J.'A. Ongley. c. Burtt'i b. Mcßae .... 2 A. C. Kerr, b. Burtt R. Crawford, not out Y...... oo E. Bezzant,*c. Cromb, b. Sutcliffe «... — M. A. O’Brien, c. Sutcliffe, b. Mcßae ... 8 R. A. Scott, c. Cromb, b. Mcßae .... 1 L. Smith, b. Mcßae B N. K. Hoar, c. Cromb, b. Burtt 5 D. M. Dunnett, c. Mcßae, b. Burtt .. 0 Extras (byes 3, leg-byes 2, noballs 3) 8 Total

Fall of wickets: One for 7, two for 26, three for 37, four for 49, five for 59, six for SO, seven for S 4, eight for S 4, nine for 96, 10 for 99.

NEW ZEALAND. First Innings.

I. B. Cromb. 1.b.w., b. Kerr jJO K F. M. Uttley, 1.b.w., b. Scott .... 90 W. A. Hadlee, 1.b.w., b. Kerr 10 W. M. Wallace, b. Scott Jj B. Sutcliffe, b. Hoar - F„ P. O’Brien, b. Hoar V F 11. L. Mooney, b. Smith *•> D A. N. Mcßae, b. Scott 10 R. Butterfield, b. Smith T. B. Burtt, c. O’Brien, b. Smith .... < j. Cowie, not out O Extras (wides 2. byes 13, leg-byes 7, no-balls 4) -b

Fall of wickets: One for 93, two for 10S, three for 121 four for 124, five for lU, six for 124, seven for 13S, eight for 219, nine for 233, teu for 233. Bowling Analysis.

The umpires were Mr. Harris Daw and Chief Petty Officer Chapman, the scorers Messrs. H. Hatch and B. Warwick. The match will be continued at 10.30 o’clock this morning.

Bowling Analysis. w. 0. M. 11. — "(J 0 MpRm 17 J) 20 5 Burtt «■> 37 * Sutcliffe " *.» 1 Butterfield .. 4 - *>

0. M. u. w Hoar ... 12 1 • V» Scott •»• 12 5 29 .... JO 0 44 Siu i t h ... .... 6.3 0 ■Il 0 O’Brien .. 23 0 Crawford •... 0 11 0