TRICKY WICKET

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 7

TRICKY WICKET

AN UNUSUAL ATTACK (By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evening Post.") CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Lamason's decision to bat was probably the only one in ithe circumstances, but the wicket proved to be tricky and great caution was necessary. The outfield was slow and consequently there were few boundaries. Although Mulcock held no terrors for the lefthanders he was swinging to leg and had seven men on the leg side, two behind the wicketkeeper, two in front, one by the square-leg umpire, and two deep. He had an unsettling- influence on the right-handers, who were unaccustomed to this form of-attack, and captured Moloney and , Ell. Moloney fell to a push shot close in. Ell's stroke was harder but went right into the fieldsman's hands. Despite his good figures Mulcock is a negative type of bowler and did not compel the batsmen to play him all the time. Moloney and Tindill let many go harmlessly by.

I Roberts was the best bowler, keeping a good length and swinging and turning both ways. An occasional ball made pace off the pitch and one or two came up sharply. Cromb, bowling medium pace, was steady and always required watching. The fielding was good, on the whole, Page and Roberts being particularly good, but three chances were dropped. Jackman did his work well but per--1 formed nothing difficult. Blandford's I catch was a doubtful decision. Tindill batted soundly for 90 minutes and was beaten only once or twice. He was strong on the on side but played inside one and was caught behind. McLcod presented a solid defence for two hours but survived one chance. He skied Bellamy's first ball to square leg but Ihe sun was in Had-•leeis-ejcs,

Ell was restrained and batted well but he gave two chances and finally the fatal third on the leg side. It is essential to get well over Mulcock's deliveries and keep the ball down. Cromb led his side ably and managed the bowling well.