TOWN V. COUNTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 127, 25 November 1940, Page 10

TOWN V. COUNTRY

MATCH AT BASIN

DONNELLY'S FINE INNINGS

When stumps were drawn on Saturday after the -first day's play in the annual cricket match between Welliugton Town and Country, honours were with the visiting eleven. They had 60 runs on for the loss of two wickets, in reply to Town's Hrst inuiugs score of 107. The outstanding feature of Saturday's play was the delightful knock for Country by M. I*. Donnelly, former Taranakl, Canterbury, and New Zealand representative. Donnelly is the present holder of the Redpath Cup for outstanding batting In New Zealand last year, and l«e proved on Saturday that he is a worthy holder of the trophy. Against D. S. Wilson, who was bowling at a fair pace and swinging a shade, Donnelly played perfectly-executed shots with a minimum of effort. His timing was always correct, and one shot In particular, a slashing late cut between the wicket keeper and first slip, moved even the most lethargic spectators to applause. Lemin, Buchan, Wilson, and Whyte were the Town bowlers tried, and generally speaking they were on the spot. Lemln skittled the crack Wanganui batsman Kewell with a ball that swung in just a few inches from the off. Peterson, of Wairarapa. a surprise choice for the Country eleven this year, also failed to score. In the meantime Donnelly, who had opened, had scored fairly rapidly on alt sides of the wicket. He was joined Dy W. E. NorrLs (Manawatu), the captain, who was content to keep his wicket intact and let Donnelly do the scoring. Of the 60 compiled by Country at stumps, Donnelly had scored 49 and Norris 7.

Bowling honours went to T. A. Downes, the Manawatu left-arm swinger, who played a season or two ago for the Hutt Club in Wellington Association cricket. Downes bowled into the breeze for a solid hour without a change and finished with the good figures of four for 25 off eleven overs. Rice, Burnette, Rush and Whyte were the men he beat. Downes, as usual, concentrated on the leg pin, swinging an occasional delivery away to the off. One of the sensations of the match was the catch he held off his own bowling. Burnette played a defensive shot and Downes, at full length along the pitch, held the ball inches from the ground.

The wicket did not assist Prltehard, not so much because he could not make pace off the wicket, but because he had difficulty in finding a solid foothold at the moment of delivery. At no stage did he bowl at top; even so he took four for 42 off twelve overs. Donnelly's slow bowling had the Town men well on the defensive. He had three runs .knocked off his seven overs and secured dv Chateau's wi fleet.

The Town batting was unimpressive. There ■ was some merit In the knocks of dv Chateau and D. S. Wilson (far too low in'the batting order for one of the best representative batsmen In ; the province), who both reached the twenties,' and Whyte reached double figures with confldently-plajed shots. Otherwise, it was a dismal procession to and from the ] pavilion. The wicket was easy, especially when play commenced. The match is being continued at the Basin Reserve today. Details of Saturday's play are as follows: — TOWN. First Innings. Rice, b Downes 9 Dv Chateau, c Sewell, b Donnelly .... 24 i Ktiss, c Pritchard. b Downes 7 Burnette, c and b Downes 2 P D. Wilson. Ibw. b Hoar 6 (fwilliam, c Peterson, b Pritchard 4 D. S. Wilson, b Pritchard 21 Mooney, c Hoar, b Pritchard 4 Whyte, c.Donnelly, b Downes 11 Buchan, not out 2 Lemin, b Pritchard 1 Extras (byes 9, leg-byes 4, no-balls 3) 16 Total 107

Fall of, Wickets. —One for 15, two for 31, threp for 45, four for 57, -five for G2, six for 70. seven for 84. elprht. for 101, nine for 103. ton for 10".

COUNTRY. First Inniugs

Bowling Analysis. O. M. PritcliarJ 12 ,'i Dowries 31 1 Donnelly 1 » Hoar 7 0 R. 42 25 3 W. 4 4 1 1

Donnelly, not om 4y SpwhII, b L('min »... 0 Peterson. \> B'irtian. 0 N orris, no! out ' Cxtrns (lives-H. leg-byes I) 4 To! at f'o) two wickets 60 Full of Wlfknts.-One tor 0. two for 14. Bowling Analysis. 0. M. K. W. Lcmin ti 1 1:1 1 Uuclian G 3 15 I Wilson 3 0 17 0 White 3 1 5 0 The umpires are Messrs. H. Baker and C. Webb.