GLORIOUS CHANGE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 9

GLORIOUS CHANGE

CRICKET'S BIG DAY

M.C.C. V. WELLINGTON

SUTCLIEFE TAILS

With- the weather in striking contrast to that which caused a cricket wash-out at the Basin Reserve yesterday, an excellent opportunity was offerjug today' of repairing the damage, and ii was evident the cricketers of England and Wellington were only too willing to grasp and, as far as possible, provide good compensation for the disappointment experienced yesterday. Many thousands of enthusiasts, young and old, had built up hopes of a cricket treat in the match between the latest winners of the "Ashes" and Wellington's representatives, and, disappointed yesterday, they had their ehance at the Basin Beserve today. Although how reduced to a one-day match, the attraction was still great—the- incentive was there, in fact, for bright, forcing cricket—and at starting time (11.30 a.m.), a largo crowd was preseut at the ground, with the attendance increasing as the play progressed, and the prospect of a reeord gathering this afternoon. So far as an early start today was concerned, the cricketers themselves "were willing enough, but in view of the heavy rainfall last evening it was considered advisable to give the ground, "much improved in appearance after the previous dry spell, a chance to recover under the influence of the bright sunshine this morning. The change was a real treat in itself, and a perfect morning held out fine prospects of a splendid day's cricket.

England's second wicket partnership between Paynter and Hammond kept Wellington busy and provided plenty of interest for the spectators. The pair put on 90 runs before being separated, and they occasionally indulged in some aggressive batting. Withit also there was some delightful stroke play, although Hammond -was handicapped by a septic knee and had to have a player to run for him. Paynter scored a fine half-century, and Hammond, subsequently partnered by Ames (who did not last long) aud Jardine, was near that mark when the luncheon adjournment was. taken at 1.15 p.m. The!, total then was 115 for three wickets.. . .

The following aro the teams:—•

M-C.C. (England).—D. E. Jardine (Surrey,; captain), H. Sutcliffe (Yorkshire), W. E. Hammond (Gloucestershire), E.. Paynter (Lancashire),'L.E. G. Ames (Kent), F. E. Brown (Surrey), H. Verity (Yorkshire), M. W. Tab (Sussex), W. E. Bowes (Yorkshire), T. B. Mitchell (Derbyshire), and G. Duckworth (Lancashire).

Wellington.— K. C. James (Wellington. College Old Boys), C. S. Dempster (Eetone), H. Foley (Wellington), E. W. Tindill (Midland), M. A. O'Brien (Hawke's Bay), J.'-E.. Lamason (Wellington College Old Boys), E. Morgan (Wellington), C, Parsloe (Wellington College Old Boys), D. Freeman (Nelson), J. Newman (Nelson), and E. D. Blundell (Wellington), with B. Champliess (Hutt) as twelfth man.

The umpires are Messrs. C. Webb (Wellington) and K. H. Cavo <Wanganui). " ■ ' ■ •

'.'Conditions were ideal at' starting time, although, the-wicket'was soft and tli6 outfield heavy. England had v'first use of the wicket. The thousands present at the commencement gave the Wellington players a fine reception on taking the field, and there wasJloud applause and cheering for England's opening pair, Sutcliffe and Paynter. Therp was : an. early sensation in the dismissal of Suteliffe—clean bowled by Parsloe after having made only three runs. This was a big surprise to the spectators,' and their disappointment at" not seeing Suteliffe in full cry for runs wo,uld be shared by the many who arrived at the ground later. Still, there were other formidable batsmen to follow. .

James, the Wellington captain)' did not occupy his usual position, tho wicket-keeping being done by Tindill.

PLAY IN DETAIL. *■'

A prompt start was made, Sutcliffe taking first striko to Parsloe, who opened the Wellington attack.. Prom the first delivery England's great opening batsman collected two runs,.the.ball being placed neatly " down the gully." Subsequently Suteliffe added a single, and a leg-bye made 4, at which the unexpeeted happened, Suteliffe being cleau bowled: by Parsloe. If was an inauspicious beginning for an English Test side, but the greatest of batsnren have such-experiences as that which fell to Suteliffe, and a cheap dismissal is no new experience for this prolific scoring batsman. 3—l—2.-

Hammond filled the vacancy, and he had Brown to run for him, through still being troubled by an injury received in a Soccer match at Melbourne. The Gloucester man, also- a great Test player, immediately opened Ms account; although early in Ms strike he lifted one ball very close to a fieldsman; Paynter, the Lancashire left-hander who made a big name for himself' in. the Adelaide Test and a bigger one in the Brisbane Test, quickly settled down to run-getting, and played some neat strokes off the bowling of Parsloe and Blundell (who started the attack from the northern .end after Parsloe's opening over). Placings to fine leg were Paynter's most productive efforts. Hammand played out Parsloe's fourth over Without scoring.

The score was advanced at a fair rate by Paynter and Hammond, and at 34 the ; first bowling change was made, Newman taking over from Blundell (none for 13 off five overs). Hammond, "who on occasions had not used Ms feet to advantage, due, no doubt, to his injury, made another uppish stroke in facing Newman, who sent down a very good first over. After 45 minutes' play the total was 41 for one wicket.

HAMMOND A SIX.

Blundell was switched over to the (southern end in place of Parsloe (one for 23 off six overs). From a steady attack Hammond and Paynter collected runs confidently, although there were not many deliveries with which, any liberties could be taken. Some smart fielding came in for applause, as did attractive scoring strokes, with aa occasional boundary hit, by the batsmen. Paynter was hard on anything on the leg side, and at length Hammond raised a ebqer by lifting a ball from Newman ])igh over long on for 6< Umpire Cave appeared to be in doubt as to whether a "sixer" had been registered, but after a. little delay he signalled a 6. Paynter's hard hitting to leg was also entertaining to the spectators, though some of it was cut short of the boundary by good fielding, in which Lamaaon was conspicuous.

" SIXES,'• TO PAYNTER.

Little more than an hour's play Yielded 66 runs,, at which total the young Nelson slow bowler, Freeman, '■was brought into the attack, rolieving Newman, who took over from Blundell at the southern end". Twenty-four runs had been scored from Blundell's ten overs.' Paynter, whoso batting was delighting the crowd, further enlivened tho proceedings by sending a ball from Trueman high over square leg for a*6. Tha wicket had the appearance of. being dead easy, and. the batsmen continued to make good use of it, Paynter'still scoring well to log and keeping ahead vt Hammond, who added four with a ■sparkling off drive. Paynter in eighly

minutes reached his half-century, a feat which was loudly ' applauded. Almost immediately afterwards he was caught and bowled by Freeman. The j Lancashire left-hander had batted i brightly all the way, and most of his I 52 runs were made by strokes to log. His score included one 6 and three 4's. 94—2—02. 100 UP. The vacancy was filled by Ames, whose first scoring stroke mado England's total 100, Hammond having just previously made further additions to the tally. The century was compiled in 88 minutes. Ames did not last long. Ono ball from Freeman was lifted just out of reach of Foley in the slips for two, an.d the next was sent to cover, where James made no mistake with the catch. ,102—3 —3.

England's captain, Jardine, then appeared on the scene, and he was accorded a fine ovation. A smartJy-ruu single started Jardine's account. Others followed, and then Hammond gave a very hot chance to Blundell at midoff. The fieldsman stopped it, but found it too hot to hold. The pair played cautiously until the luncheon adjournment, at which the total was 115 for three wickets—Hammond 47, Jardino G.

HAMMOND OUT.

When play was resumed after lunch Jardine and Hammond scored freely from Parsloe and Freeman. The crowd was' of big dimensions and still growing. ' Hammond, who now had Mitchell running for him, received a round lof applause on reaching his half-cen-tury, the time for which was 104 minutes. Just1 afterwards Blundell stopped a hot carpet driv6 by the Gloucester "star," who was batting unconcernedly though not without force. Jardine ran to. donblc figures per medium of a series of attractive strokes which kept the ball on the ground. In twenty^minutes the' score was taken from 115 t0'142, and at that stage Hammond's sound innings eamo to an end, the batsman lifting a ball back to the bowler for Freeman to take his third wicket. Hammond's knock occupied 188 minutes, and his score of 58 included one 6 and four .4's. 142— i —58. -

. OVATION FOR TATE.

The next batsman was Tate, and his appearance was the signal for a. round of applause. He came to meet a bowling change, Blundell taking over from Parsloe (one for 37 ofi 11 overs). A series /of singles carried the score to 150 at 2.30 p.m.'—Jardine 22, Tato 3. .. ■

'■■A-four to leg and another to theon took Tate .quickly into double figures. Both he and Jardine .wore scoring almost- at will, from the slow bowler, but .they were kept fairly quiet by Blundell. Jardinc had made 25 when in stepping forward to play a ball from Blundell ho failed to connect and was smartly stumped by Tindill. The captain had shown some neat .strbke play in making his runs. 164-5-25.

Brown joined Tate and opened his account, with a. miss-hit off Blundell. ■Newman was then brought on in place ofi-Frceman (three for 61 off 12 overs). The-change iwas not disturbing to the batsmen, and at 2.45 the total was 175 for five/wickets—Tate 15, Brown 10.

Both built on solid, lines, Tate and Brown played aggressively. Tate had a ."life" when ho lifted a ball from Blundoll to cover, where the fieldsman misjudged the flight of the ball. Just afterwards, however, the same batsman skied a ball high over the slips and Freeman mado the catch. 185—6—19.

Verity was the newcomer. Brown lifted one ball from Blundell. high over long-on for six. Verity had but a short stay, as, before scoring, he fell Ibw to Blundell. 19G— 7— 0.

-Duckworth was next, and broke his duck with a single "down tho gully." Brown was then clean bowled by Newman, in attempting a, big hit. At 3.5 pjnK - the score was 198 for. . eight wieketrs. Brown made 28. . A big hit to the on by Bowes, who joined Duckworth, took the score over I the two hundred mark. At 3.15 p.m. i the total was 202 for eight wickets..1. Details:— ' .. M.O.C. ..Firsfi Innings. . Sutcliffe, b Parsloe 3 Paynter., e and b Freeman. ...... 52 Hammond, e and b Freeman ..... 58 Ames, c James, b Freeman .. 3 Jardine, st 'Tindill, b Blundell .. 25 Tate, e Freeman, b Blundell .19 ! Brown, b Newman ~..... 28 ! Verity, Ibw, b Blundell 0 Duckworth, not out 1 Bowes, not out .................. 3 Extras ........ ........ 10

Total for eight wickets 202