TEST (?) CRICKET

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 April 1933, Page 7

TEST (?) CRICKET

NEW ZEALAND’S POOR DISPLAY DEMPSTER ONLY EXCEPTION [PKB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, March 31. When the second test, England v. New Zealand', opened at Eden Park, there was glorious weather, the wicket was easy, and the outfield was fast. The attendance in the morning was 2000,which increased to 6000 in the afternoon. The New Zealand batsmen with the single exception of Dempster, made a poor showing, the side being disimssed for 158. . England, with 127 on for one wicket was in a good position at the drawing of stumps. Vivian and Smith stood, down from the New Zealand side. Smith was 12th man. The doctors passed 1 Vivian as fit for play, but it was decided not to take the rik of playing him. Dempster arrived late from Wellington, and Whitelaw and Mills opened to Allen and Bowes. There was a disastrous start. Mills attempted to back-cut Bowes’ second ball. It swung in late, and clean-bowled< him. Then Weir was bowled first ball. He played back, but the ball swung away late, taking his off stump. Two wickets were down for none. White law and Dempster held up the attack for a while, both batting steadily. The former was unfortunate in being bowled off his pads by Bowes with a slow ball.

Kerr abandoned his natural free game in favour of a stern defence. Dempster, meanwhile, was batting with admirable steadiness. The score had reached 62 when Kerr walked in front of Voce and was out l.b.w. Page came next, and shaped well. The batsmen hit 4 19 off two overs from Brown. Mitchell was then recalled, and Page played forward to his first ball, missed, and was brilliantly stumped by Duckworth. Badcock was clean bowled by Bowes in the last over before lunch, when the score was 101 for 6. Dempster had reached a chanceless 50 in 105 minutes.

After lunch, James went cheaply, but Dunning and Newman defended resolutely to enable Dempster to do the scoring. New Zealand’s finest batsman rose to the occasion, and played one of the finest innings of his career. Dunning was bowled in attempting to hook a good length ball from Bowes, and Newman was yorked by Voce. Dempster was now nearing the century, and was endeavouring to keep the bowling. The batsmen attempted a run that looked safe off the last ball of Bowes’ over, but Freeman stumbled in turning and was run out. The innings lasted for 169 minutes. Dempster gave a chanceless exhibi-

tion of perfect stroke play and received an ovation on his return to the pavilion, the Englishmen joining in the applause. Weak batting alone appeared responsible for New Zealand’s score. Bowes swung the ball late while it was new, and it was really dangerous for the first few overs. Occasionally he made pace from the wicket, but his figures were more than a little flattering. Voce was steady, but was not particularly dangerous. Neither of these two, nor Allen, could bump the ball on the Eden Park wicket. Mitchell was somewhat erratic, and Brown bowled only two overs.

The English fielding was perfect, Paynter and Voce being outstanding, with Duckworth brilliant behind the stumps. Sutcliffe and Wyatt opened England’s innings just before three o’clock. They took no risks with the bowling of Badcock and Dunning. The first half-hour yielded 15 runs. The batsmen scored 14 off Newman’s first over, but shortly after Sutcliffe played forward to a rank long hop from Freeman, giving Weir an easy catch at cover.

After tea, Hammond 1 and Wyatt revealed glorious batting, Hammond f particularly driving and hooking with power and precision, and giving an object lesson of perfect footwork. 1 Badcock bowled eleven overs un- < changed after tea, and he kept the batsmen playing him. i Dunning, Freeman, Newman and ’ Page were all used in rapid changes ' at the other end, but they presented no difficulties. . Shortly after' five o’clock, Wyatt, < who had batted solidly and unostenta- i tiously for 56, appealed against, the ( light. The sun was shining at an ( angle round the corner of the pavilion. The appeal was upheld, and stumps ; were drawn. j The New Zealand bowling was never more than steady. The fielding was adequate throughout the afternoon, and James clearly proved that he is at least Duckworth’s equal behind the stumps, his taking on the leg side being brilliant. Scores:— NEW ZEALAND —First Innings. Whitelaw, b Bowes . . . . .. 12 Mills, b Bowes .. .. .. 0 Weir, b Bowes .. .. .. 0 Jempster, not out .. .. .. 83 Kerr, 1.b.w., b Voce .. .. .. 10 Page, st. Duckworth b Mitchell .. 20 Badcock, b Bowes .. . . .. 1 James, b Bowes . . .. .. 0 | Dunning, b Bowes .. .. ..12 j Newman, b Voce . . . . ■ . 5 Freeman, run out . . . . . . 1 Extras . . . . .. 14 Total 158 Bowling analysis: Allen 5 overs, 2 maidens, 11 runs, 0 wickets: Bowes 19/5/34/6; Mitchell 18/1/49/1; Voce 10/3/20/2;.Brown 2/0/19/0; Hammond 3/0/11/0. ENGLAND—First Innings. Sutcliffe, c Weir b Freeman . . 24 Wyatt, not out . . . . . . 56 Hammond, not out .. .. .. 41 Extras .. .. .. 6 Total for one wicket .. 127 TO-DAY’S PLAY. At 12.45 p.m., to-day, England had scored 202 for the loss of two wickets (Sutcliffe 24, Wyatt 56, Hammond, not out 91, Paynter not out 25, extras 6. ! WARNER’S MEMORIES GAME AGAINST WESTLAND [SPECIAL TO “STAB.”] ' AUCKLAND, March 31. “Many moons have waned since I then,” laughingly replied Mr. P. F.

Warner, joint-manager of the English cricket team, this morning, when a “Star” representative introduced himself as the scorer in a game against Westland at Greymouth in February 1903. “Yes,” he said, “I remember it well. A. M. (“Joe”) Ongley, the slow bowler (now President of the Manawatu Cricket Association) took eight wickets for 36 in our first innings, and the diminutive R. Currie, crouching over the handle of his bat, was undefeated for Westland. Batting 22 men and fielding 18, with a score of 31, the West Coasters turned us out for 69 in the first innings, and although we had to make only 106 to win, five wickets were down for 50, but C. J. Burnup and P. R. Johnson pulled us through. I was bowled in the dark first ball by the fast bowler, Tim O’Donnell.” Mr. Warner smiled again as he drew on his memory for pictures of the match. Speaking of their trip through the Dominion, Mr. Warner said that every member of the team, Mr. R. C. N. Palairet, his co-manager, and himself were delighted with everything they had seen. Every man had enjoyed himselm immensely, and they had been charmed with the National Park, Waireki, and Rotorua. W T ords failed adequitely to express the gratitude they all felt to the authorities of the various associations whose districts they had visited, for their kindness. The New Zealand Cricket Council had presented everyone in the party with a valuable rug, and the very fine spirit which had prompted the gift was typical of the camaraderie that existed between the cricketers of their two countries, and was genuinely appreciated by the victors, while many had called to treat them with courtesy, consideration and generosity. Mr. Warner said he felt that he could not allow the opportunity to pass to say a special word of thanks to Mr. Arthur Donnelly (former President and chairman of the New Zealand Cricket Council). He had been their guide, philosopher, and friend, and they would never forget his kindness, nor that of Mr. D. E. Wanklyn, the Council’s Treasurer.

Mr. Warner sounded a humorous note, when relating an incident of his meeting with A. H. Fisher, the other dav at Christchurch. The Otago player had missed him off Alex. Downes at backward point (when Lord Hawkes team played Otago in February, 1903) with his score at six, and the M.C.C captain had gone on to make 211. T 1 e Southerner said that he had not, even yet, “lived it down.”