Hard Luck, Hadlee!

Evening Star, Issue 25745, 19 March 1946, Page 6

Hard Luck, Hadlee!

Battling Innings Ends

TWO SHORT OF DOUBLE CENTURY Aussies Apply Finishing Touches HOME BY EIGHT WICKETS Despite the fact that there was a prospect that the match might be finished within a couple of hours, approximately 2,000 people went out to Carisbrook this morning to witness the remainder bt the play. The weather and ground conditions were again perfect. There is no doubt regarding, the enthusiasm aroused by the splendid fight being put up by Otago against the formidable Australians, and everybody was eager to see Hadlee add more runs to his already fine total, Tlie Otago man actually got to within two runs of a.double century when he was caught and bowled, just missing the distinction of carrying his bat through the innings.

1 1 Hadlee Hit Again /Promptly, at 11.30 Barnes opened to Groves, who made several futile attempts to hit the slow howler to leg. hut failed to connect. The over was a maiden. Lindwall took the ball at. the Kensington end, and Hadlee placed his third ball to mid-off for a single. The last Groves put down the gully for another single. lhe Old Boys’ batsman off-drove Barnes nicely for 3, and off the next ball there was an appeal against Hadlee for a catch behind the wickets. It was disallowed. Barnes was bowling well, and neither batsman was entirely at home to him. Some good fielding kept Lindwall’s next over to a maiden, hut a straight drive and a pull brought Hadlee 2 and 1 from Barnes. Hadlee was 'now 173. After Groves had played : a maiden from Barnes, Hadlee was struck on the chest ( by a rising ball from Lindwall. This bowler was certainly making his mark, but the Otago captain did not appreciate being the one to act as the registering medium. An attempt to run Hadlee out resulted in an over-throw. A single to each, and then Hadlee reached 180 by wrepuing Barnes to the leg boundary. Huns came quietly, and at 325 poolaud relieved Barnes. Hadlee hoisted him out into the deep, but Hassett could not get to the catch, and one run resulted. Lindwall was still making tlie ball pop a bit, and one went oft Hadlee’s bat through the slips for a single. In the next over from Dooland Hadlee hoisted another risky one which fell short of the fieldsmen. Groves did better when he off-drove the same bowler to the fence Groves Run Out But the Old Boys batsman then t'an himself out badly, bolting for a, run from a stroke to Brown, and failing to get back when Hadlee justifiably refused to move. 332 —3—lß. Groves was in for 70 minutes, giving valuable aid in helping to add 55 for the ninth wicket. Tense Moments Overton was last man, and Hadlee, after several attempts, got Lindwall away to the fence at fine leg, obtaining a single from a dangerous looking bumper. He then cover-hit Dooland for 4, bringing him to 190. A single, and then Overton had to face Dooland. He succeeded in playing it out. being encouraged by applause from the crowd, who were anxious to see Hadlee get his 200. Hadlee ran a smart 2 off Lindwall, and added a single off the fifth ball, making hini 196. Overton played the last ball amid cheers.

Hadlee Out But it was Hadlee who got out, for in Dooland’s next over he sent one back to the bowler, who took a fairly easy catch. Hadlee was only two runs short of the double century. He had batted 374 minutes, and hit 18 4’s and one 6. The innings closed at 12.23 p.m., for. 347. which left Australia 96 to get to win.

Bright scoring. Meuleman was certainly not quite at Ivime to Roberts m that bowler’s next over, but nothing happened. He liked Overton better, and straight drove him nicely for 3. thus reaching double figures. Brown was batting like au artist, and he hooked Roberts for 4. At 45 McDougall took over from Roberts (none for 24), and Meuleman off-drove his first for 2. adding a single to bring 50 up in 35 minutes. Brown was 29 and Meuleman 17. For the last over

At 12.36 the Australians began their task with their usual openers, Brown nnd Meuleman. Roberts opened to Brown,, who at once got busy, scoring .14 from the over with shots to the line leg boundary and to covers, three ■l’s and. a 2. Overton’s over to Meuleman resulted in 2 to that batsman for a nice cover drive. Pretty leg glances increased Brown’s score, but Meuleman’s graceful shots were not getting through yet. A quick one from Roberts shot past Mills for 4 byes, and 20 came up in 13 minutes. Browii was playing botli mediumpace bowlers with ease, but Roberts now and again appeared to bother Meuleman. Brown with a characteristic leg glance brought up 30 in 18 minutes.

before lunch Smith took the ball from Overton at the Kensington end, and Meuleman drove him straight back for a single. Brown played the rest. The score at the adjournment was 55 for no wdckets. The Finish The adjournment was fatal for Brown, for, in . McDougall’s second over, the Australian captain attempted to sweep a short-pitched ball towards square leg, and Overton held a high catch. Brown had hit four 4’s. Hanience joined Meuleman, and the rate of scoring slowed down appreciably. The total of 70 runs had been scored in 54 minutes. Meuleman was taken m the gully. The end came shortlv after 2.30, when Hanience and McG’ool added the necessary runs for an eight-wicket victory. OTAGO. First innings 168 Second Innings. Hadlee c and b Dooland 196 Mills e Tallon b Lindwall 19 Fraser b O’Reilly ... 0 Shirley b O’Reilly 10 Milnes lbw b O’Reilly 19 Roberts c .Johnson b McCool ... 10 Smith c Tallon b Barnes 40 Freeman st Tallon b O’Reilly ... 12 MoDougall lbw b Barnes 0 Groves run out ... 18 Overton not out 0 Extras (byes 16, leg byes 2, no balls 3) 21 Total ...' ,347 Fall of wickets: 1 for 41, 2 for 46, 3 for 68, 4 for 100, 5 for 137, 6 for 256. -7 f0r.278, 8 for 279, 9 for 332, 10 for 347.

AUSTRALIA. First innings ... 420 Second Innings. Brown c Overton b McDougall ... .31 Meuleman c Freeman b McDougall 36 Hamence not out ... ... ... 16 McCool not out ... 10 Extras 5 Total for two wickets ... ... 98 McDougall. two for 21.

—Bowling Analysis.— 0. M. R. W. Lindwall 32 10 72 1 Hamence 11 2 32 0 O’Reilly 27 3 89 4 Johnson 21 1 63 0 MeCool 10 o 20 1 Dooland 10.3 i 26 1 Barnes 13 2 24 2 Lindwall bowled three no--halls.