NEW ZEALAND NINE WICKETS FOR 308— Final Test Match Ends In Another Draw

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 August 1949, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NINE WICKETS FOR 308— Final Test Match Ends In Another Draw

[From C. R. MENTIPLAY, N.Z. Press Association Special Correspondent.] . LONDON, August 16 (Rec. 10 a.m.).—The fourth and final test between England and New Zealand ended as did the previous matches —in a draw. England added 50 to their first innings to bring a total of 482. This gave them a lead of 137 with five hours and a half left. _ New Zealand replied with nine wickets for 308 (declared), 20 minutes being lost for bad light in the last hour. W.'A. Hadlee declared because several members of the England team wished to leave early to catch trains for tomorrow’s matches. Runs were scored at one a minute and Reid made an excellent 93. With Sutcliffe (54) and Wallace (58), he saved the match for New Zealand.

Thus England were 171 behind and a fourth day on a wicket that was taking spin throughout this afternoon would have provided an interesting finish. Once again New Zealand took the final six England wickets with some rapidity. Cowie collected four and Cresswell two in 45 minutes. “Tail” Fails to Wag Brown was first to go after 10 minutes’ play, when he failed to get right ovei’ a ball from Cresswell and Hadlee at mid-off took a good catch at his feet. Evans joined Bailey, who provided the best batting of the England “tail” and hit 17 in 15 minutes. Evans was caught by Donnelly off Cowie and in the same over Cowie had Laker well, caught by Scott at first slip. In his next over he beat Bedser, who was caught by Reid. Bailey swept both Cowie and Cresswell to the boundary. Then he edged Cowie, and Reid took his second catch. Hollies and Wright competed for the bowling and Wright, was legbefore with the first ball he received from Cress well. N.Z. Begins Brightly Sutcliffe and Scott began New Zealand’s second innings as though a test was little more than a club match. Scott played back to Bedser, nudged the ball with the inside edge of his bat, and was caught by Evans. One wicket was down for 24 in 20 minutes. Hadlee and Sutcliffe moved the score along sedately. Sutcliffe was not the same smooth, 'efficient batsman of last week and for a period he lived extremely dangerously. When Hollies appeared for Bedser, Hadlee tried a wristy cut and was caught at ’slip by Edrich. At lunch the score was two for 88 (Sutcliffe 41, Wallace 14). After the interval Laker began a period of 80 minutes bowling during which he commanded both care and respect from the two New Zealanders. He beat their bats several times with nicely-flighted balls. Bedser sent down a ball well pitched up on the leg-side. It came rather slowly and Sutcliffe turned it to leg, and there was the patient Brown. Donnelly joined Wallace and their partnership had the appearance of a stand until Bedser caused the ball to pop at Donnelly, who hung up his bat as though to protect his head and the ball bounced to Brown at short leg. This made New Zealand four for 131. Wallace-Reid Partnership Wallace and Reid, however, swung the balance round in favour of a draw for New Zealand. They put on 57 in 55 minutes and Wallace batted delightfully. It was Hollies who finished Wallace. Hollies went to Wright’s end and made the ball spin

sharply away. Wallace, advanced to smother it, missed and was stumped. Reid was now in full flight and at tea New Zealand had lost five wickets for 213 (Reid 48, Rabone 5). When Bailey took the new ball at 226, Reid was largely responsible for 14 taken in one over. Reid continued to bat forcefully with some tremendous hooks and off-drives. When fie entered-the nineties it seemed certain that he would reach his century, but Laker impelled him to hit one straight to Wright at extra cover. He was cheered all the way back to the pavilion. With Rabone he put on 88 in 70 minutes. Rabone plodded well for 20 in an hour and a quarter when he went leg-before to Laker. The last 20 minutes had some tension for Cresswell, who was determined to get a stump as a souvenir. Hadlee declared at the end of the over and Cresswell grabbed to good effect.