OUTCLASSED

Evening Post, Issue 59, 10 March 1924, Page 10

OUTCLASSED

A CRICKET FAILURE

NEW ZEALAND'S DOUBLE

COLLAPSE

DEMONSTRATION AGAINST UMPIRES. ■

A brass band might well have turned out on Saturday afternoon to assist in the procession of batsmen at the Basin Reserve; and its strains might have helped to lighten the hearts of some thousands of people who were treated to one of the worst displays ever given in the history of representative cricket m this country. The elect of the Daminion's players were engaged in a second Test with the touring New South Wales combination, and, to use a colloqualism, they " weufc to the pack." After what was regarded as a good performance in disposing of the visiting side for under 3bO runs, the home team made a poor start with the bat, ajid went from bad to worse. A " rot " ict in, and except for one or two occasions on which the march of batsmen was interrupted by efforts to make a stand, wickets continued to fall so cheaply that the game came to an end without the need of play to-day. In two visits to the crease the New Zealand team could muster only 168 runs, and the Test went to-, the visitors by an innings and 126 runs.

It was a bad day for New Zealand cricket, and it was made eVen worse by a hostile demonstration on the part of a section of the crowd. This was brought about in the first place by the decision of ona of the umpires that C. Dacre was rim out. The decision was obviously incorrect, but mistakes are liable "to occur in this and any other branch of sport, and they should be accepted in true sporting spirit, even though they may be extremely disappointing. From the time of Dacre's dismissal (in the second innings) until the termination of the match the noisy' element in the crowd voiced its displeasure. Some of the " barrack " was directed at the batsman who was with Dacre, and some at the wicketkeeper. The climax came when the umpires, after drawing stumps, proceeded to the pavilion. A portion 0* the crowd gathered near the exit from the ground, and " counted, out " and hooted the umpires as the two officials passed by, accompanied by three police-, men. The whole demonstration showed that there are people in Wellington whose sense of sportsmanship is very poor, and it placed a blot upon the fine record which the Wellington sporting public holds for its fairness and impartiality. , There were many spectators,' however, who, though they may have recognised that a mistake had been made, viewed the matter as sportsmen, and they attempted to ease the unpleasant situation by applauding the umpires.

AT THE WRONG END,

Up to the time of Dacve's dismissal the New Zealand side had been making a, much better showing than in the first innings. Subsequent play may have been affected by the incident, and there were one or two other occurrences which did not help the home team. Kortlang, who had made the best individual effort in the first innings, was again shaping well when, in making a stroke, lie came into contact with 'his wicket. Without being aware of that, the batsmen (M'Girr and Kortlang) ran for the stroke. Kortlang was at the other end of the crease when notified that he was out. Smith, the next batsman, went to the bowler's end, leaving M'Girr (at his wrong end, in view of the way in which Kortlang went out) to take strike to Mailey. It was unfortunate for M'Girr, as he lost his wicket directly afterwards, being given out " stumped." M'Girr had his foot across the line, but evidently it was not- on he ground. It is doubtful whether the result of the match would have been much different if those, mistakes had not occurred. The New South Welshmen were too good. Their bowling—on i wicket that was against the batsmen, though not to the extent indicated by the poor performance of the home team

—was excellent, Hendry, Mailey, and Everett gaining splendid averages. The fielding by the visitors left little to be desired. Their part in the game was distinctly meritorious, but, taking the match all through, it was extremely disappointing for a Test: The attendance on Saturday was estimated at 7500.

When " The Post " went to press on Saturday the New South Wales side had been disposed of for 294, and New Zealand in the first innings had scored 64 for the loss of five wickets, Kortlang (31) and Smith (6) being at the crease" Subsequent play was as follows:

KORTLANG HOLDS OUT,

Both Kortlang and Smith continued along fairly cautious lines, and scoring was | a very slow process, while the position" was not improved by a spot on the wicket which was causing some of Hendry's deliveries to hump. When Hendry started on his twentieth over his figures wore four for 20. He had sent down eleven maiden overs, and added another. Macartney, who had. also bowled unchanged, had not been so successful, though the batsmen could do very little with the majority of his deliveries. His twentieth over, however, accounted for another wicket, Smith sending a catch to Katcliffe at mid-on. The' New Zealand captain had scored 8. Korllang's total was 31. 66—6—8.

DACRE'S BRIEF SOJOURN.

Dacre, who had registered a century in the first Test, was the next batsman, and having been kept so late he was practically the "last hope.". He soon roused the crowd, the first ball lie received from Hendry being driven straight and hard to the boundary. A little later Kortlang was applauded for a shot to square-leg for 4. More was heard from the dashing Aucklander ■ when he lifted Hendry for 4. The spectators were just beginning to hope for a bright change in the play when, to their disappointment, Dacre fell to an appeal for a catch behind the wickets off Hondry 79—7—8. James followed and was soon returned to the pavilion. He faced only one ball from Hendry. and that found his -wicket. 79—8—0. 1 KORTLANG DISMISSED. Henderson joined Kortlang, who failed to score from Macartney's next over. Hendry, who had taken two wickets with tlie last two balls of his previous over, ! had hard luck in not getting the "hat trick." The first ball of his next over was tipped by Henderson to second slip, but the catch was not accepted. The only chance for runs now was to hit out, mid this Kortlang did in facing Macnrtney, obtaining three for a hit to Hie outfield. That was his last contribution to tho score. 'In Hendry's next over he sent a catch to the bowler, and a fine effort to save New Zealand from complete failure was terminated. His sojourn at llir orcaso lasted for 130 mm.- . utw, and during it ho displayed good

defence as well as an amount of forcing piay, which mainly accounted for his scor^of 39. He registered four 4's. 82-

THE LAST WICKET. M'Beth and Henderson were associated or the last wicket. The latter, who had been content to hold his end up, gave Oldfield a chance to terminate the innings when he went out to a ball from Macartney, and failed to connect. The wicket-keeper did not hold the leather m lifting the bails. A period of stonewalling was broken by Henderson, who liX 6 f a.f vtney for a singrle, to the delight of the spectators. Shortly afterwards M'Beth obtained 3 for a stroke through the slips, but one run was short. He gave further pleasure to the crowd by lifting Hendry for 4. Three balls later iNew Zealand's inglorious batting effort came to an end. Hendry finding M'JBetlis wicket. Tne innings had lasted lor 153 minutes. Hendry had achieved splendid success with the ball, obtaining eight wickets for 33 runs in 25.5 overs. Macartney had also bowled splendidly, and was somewhat unlucky in not getting more than two wickets.

THE FOLLOW ON.

3be New ZeaJanders were asked to follow on, and Htfdleston and Baker again opened—at 4.2 p.m. They had to ia.ee : a different attack, fast-bowler Everett being placed on at the northern end. Hendry,-however, was again the bowler rrom the other end. Ratcliffe kept •wickets in pl ac e of Oldfiekl. From livoretts first ball, iliddleston notched tu-o—a tip through the slips.' Baker opened with a single, and Hiddleston made a square cut to the boundary. The batsmen showed confidence in facing Hendry. Following a number of singles, the score was improved by another boundary, !nt by Hiddleston to square leg, making the total 20. There was further steady progress, and Macartney decided to make a change in the attack. Mailey relieved Hendry (none for 12) at the southern end, when the total was 3D. Hiddleston brought his total to 20 by glancing the slow bowler to leg for 3, and Baker reached double figures with a shot to the on for 2.

BEGINNING OF THE END.

Subsequently the batsmen were not altogether at home to Mailey, and little addition to the score was made from Everett's bowling. The latter accounted for Hiddleston's dismissal, when the total was 40. Hiddleston played forward to a ball and. mistiming . his stroke, he gave Oldfield a catch at forward short leg. During thirty-eight minutes at the wickets Hiddleston compiled 23, including two 45.—40—1—23.

Blamires partnered Baker, and made a quiet commencement.- Several extras were recorded," one ball from Everett bouncing over batsman and wicketkeeper and going to the boundary. After Baker had notched another single, Blamires found a ball from the fast bowler too good. The Otago man had thus failed to score on either visit to the crease. 46—2—0.

DACRE UNLUCKY.

Dacre filled the vacancy, but if the spectators expected to see him m action with the bat they were disappointed, and a section of the crowd voiced its objection to a decision which sent Dacre back to the pavilion without scoring. The Aucklander made a stroke and commenced to run, but Baker remained at the other crease. The ball was returned to the wicket-keeper as Dacre ran back. An appeal for "run out" was upheld by the umpire (Mr. D. M'Kenzie), although the batsman appeared to get to his crease just before Eatcliffe pulled one of the sticks. It was disappointing that Dacre had to go so soon. 46—3—0. Before Kortlang, carried on with the batting, there was a brief spell while a section of the crowd gave vent to its feelings, and even after the play was resumed a good deal of "barrack" was indulged in.

Appreciation of good shots by the batsmen was, however, not neglected. Baker did not las.t much longer. He sent a ball from Everett to Andrews (at backward point), and the catch was accepted. Baker had contributed 13 to the score. 53—4—13.

MORE MISFORTUNE,

With M'Girr's appearance there was a hope that the best partnership of the first innings would be repeated. For a little time the prospects seemed good, as Kortlang shaped confidently and ran into double figures. But hope was dispelled when • Kortlang in sending a ball from Mailey to leg played back to his wicket, and was therefore compelled to retire—"hit wicket." Meanwhile M'Girr had notched a single. Kortlang made 14, including one boundary hit. 65—5— 14.

Smith was next, only to see M'Girr on his way back to the pavilion before any addition was made to the score. M'Girr had jumped out to Mailey, and missed. As quick as Ratqliffe was in whipping off the bails, M'Girr seemed to be just as quick to get his foot across the line, although, it was possible Unit it was not touching the ground. The umpire (Mr. Harvey) decided that the batsman was out. i With this there was. further "barrack" from some of the spectators. 65—6—1. THE "ROT" CONTINUES. [ Worker joined the New Zealand captain, and once again he failed to "break I his duck." After a stay of some mm I utes, during which Smith registered a boundary hit, Worker jumped out to Mailey and gave Everett an easy catch at mid-off. 69- -7—o. Henderson joined h» the procession of batsmen. He lasted for some minutes, while Smith added, a single to the score, and was then beaten by Everett. 70—S—0. Everett's figures were four for 30. The Wellington colt, James, nest, tried his hand,1 and shaped as well as any of those who had preceded him. Smith ob- ] lamed a lucky-single, after which James made a stroke off Mailey to "break his I duck." He then faced the fast howler i with confidence, and placed one ball' neatly to third slip for one. There were other singles from the over, after which James jumped out to Mailey. To the delight of the crowd one ball was sent to the fence, hut when James elected to play back to the slow bowler, he was beaten. 79—9—7. M'Beth, the last man, could not be expected to do anything with the hopeless position. He faced Mailey, and was tempted to open out to the first ball. He missed, and Ratcliffe smartly whipped off the bails, to bring the match to an end. Mailey and Everett shared the bowling honours. Details:— NEW SOUTH WALES. First Innings 294 NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. J. S. Hiddleston, c Ratcliffe, b Hendry o W. A. Baker, 11, c Ratcliffe, b Hendry 2 E. 0. Blamires, b Macartney ...... 0 B. J. Kortlang, 11221141212241114143, c and b Hendry 39 H. M. M'Girr, 211121411, 1> Hendry ]4 H. de R. Worker, b Hendry 0 e>. G. Smith, Hl2, c Ralciiffe, b Macartney 8 C. Caere, 41, c Oklfield, b' Hendry 8 K. James, b Hendry 0 M. Henderson. ], not out 1 JJ. M'Beth, 2*, b Hendry 6 Extras, byes 3112, ' kg-bye 1 11 Total „,; ■gg l rall of wickets: One lor 0, two lor 1,

three for 11, four for 43, five for 47, six for 66, seven for 79, eight for 79, nine for 82, ten for 89. BOWLING ANALYSIS. O. M. R. WV C. G. Macartney... 25 9 45 •> H. L. Hendry ... 25.5 15 33 S Second Innings. J. S. Hiddleston, 214114311311, c Oldfield, b Everett W. A. Baker, 12111112111, (-"'Andrews, b Everett 13 E. O. Blamires, b Everett 0 0. Dacre, run out 0 B. J. Kortlang, 12214211, hit wicket, b Mailey 14 H. M. M'-Girr, st Ratcliffe, b Mailey ] S. G. Smith, 1111, not out 7 R. de R. Worker, c Everett, b Mailey o M. Henderson, b Everett 0 K. James, 1114, b Mailey . 7 D. M'Beth, st Hatcliffe, b Mailey '.'.'. 0 Extras, byes 1242, leg-byes 211 j no-balls 1 n Total ~7g ! Fall of wickets: One for 40, two for 16, three for 46, four for 53, five for 65 six for 65, seven for G9, eight for 70 nine for 79, ten for 79. ' BOWLING ANALYSIS. <4 r .. °- M" R- Wfc>. Everett 12 0 33 A H. ]„ Hendry ... 3 0 12 0 A. A. Mailey ... 8.6 4 20 a The umpires for the match were .Messrs. U Harvey (Auckland) and D Mkenzie (Wellington). The scorebooks were kept by Messrs. H. D. Ulementson and Lord. Afternoon tea, supplied by a committee of ladies was and othe^!' 60"11^ phyen> officials' The New South Wales team leaves tomorrow for New Plymouth, where a n?H M-° i be P,' iiyed with Novtll Ta™naki on Wednesday and Thursday