M.C.C. V. SOUTHLAND

Evening Star, Issue 20375, 6 January 1930, Page 5

M.C.C. V. SOUTHLAND

WOOLLEY TOP SCORER [Pe • U.ViTEU Pkess ASSOCIATION.] INVERCARGILL, ; January 4. Tho M.C.C. team commenced a m a toll against Southland to-day, and batting lirst had scored 284 lor nine wickets when stumps were drawn. Steady rain fell early this morning, and, although tho weather cleared and the sun shone later, it was decided to postpone the commencement of tho game till 2 o’clock. During the afternoon several light showers fell, causing play to be suspended for brief intervals. The wicket was in good order, and the outfield was on the heavy side. The display of the Englishmen was not at all impressive, and the restrained manner in which some of them batted suggested that no liberties could be taken with the bowling, which seemed rather flattering to the local bowlers. Even Woolley, who made 79 in two hours, rarely opened out. Duleepsinhji failed to get going. He made a few wristy scoring shots, but was badly beaten by Coupland after scoring IS. Legge, who, with Woolley, assisted to take the score from 59 to IC2, produced some really attractive strokes, and scored at a faster rate than the left-hander. After the dismissal of these two the wickets fell rapidly, nine of the visitors being out with the score at 203. A great stand was then made by Allom and Cornford, whom the bowlers could not separate before time was up. The most successful Southland bowler was Coupland, formerly of Wanganui, who took six wickets at a cost of 80 runs. He bowled very steadily throughout, and seldom did the batsmen attempt to attack him. Gilligan and Turnbull opened for the M.C.C. team, and bad made 23 when the latter got his leg in front to a straight ball from Coupland. Gilligan folowcd seven runs later, having been clean bowled by CouplniuL Duleepsinhji and Woolley took the score to 59, at which stago the Indian prince was beaten by Coupland. Legge and Woolley settled down to steady cricket, but there was no sparkle in the batting. The Kent batsmen occasionally failed to connect properly. At 120 Sherriffs, a medium to last right band bowler, relieved Coupland, who bad bowled continuously up to this stage. An appeal for leg before against Woolley in Sherriff’s first over was disallowed. The pair continued to bat quietly, and shortly afterwards Woolley gave a chance to Anderson dee]) in the slips, but the fieldsman lost Ids foot,iig and the ball fell from his hands. At the tea adjournment the score was 155 for three wickets, Woolley being 62 and Legge 42. Woolley opened out on the resumption of play, and lifted ono from Conpland to the outfield. The fieldsman, however, badly misjudged the ball. In Diack’s second over after the tea adjournment the partnership, which had taken the score from 59 to 162, was broken. Legge being clean bowled. Woolley hod another life when

ho drove a ball from Diack hard to Tapley at mid-off, thof fieldsman failing to hold it. Tapley made amends almost immediately by dismissing Worthington with a good catch, the score board then reading IS3—s—ll. Earle filled the vacancy, and the second ball ho received from, Coupland he hit for a magnificent G. He tried to do the same thing a couple of balls later, but failed to get the ball away, and was caught by M'Gowan. Woolley's innings came to rn end a few minutes later, when Anderson took a, brilliant running catch in the outfield off Diack. Woolley had been at the wickets i2lmin for 79. The set re now was 197 for seven wickets. Nichols was out in . Coupland’s rest over, after making only 3, the IMO mark having just been reached. With the addition of 3 runs Barratt was. given out Ibw to Diack. Allom and Corn ford made a stand for the last wicket, and, despite numerous changes in the bowling, were still together at the close of play. Details;— ENGLAND. First Innings. Gilligan b Couplnnd IS Turnbull Ibw b Coupland 5 Duleepsinhji b Coupland IS Woolley c Anderson b Diack ... 79 Legge b Diack 44 Worthington c Tapley b Coupland 11 Earle c M'Gowan b Coupland ... 6 Nichols c Lee b Coupland ... 3 Allom not out >••: 39 Barratt Ibw b Diack ... ... ... 1 Cornford not out Extras ... 24 Total for nine wickets ... 284 Bowling Analysis. Johnson, none for 38, Coupland, sis for 80; M'Gowan, none for 53; Diack, three for 44; Sheriffs, none for 26; Carson, none for 19.