N.Z. Magnificent Victory Over Surrey: Hadlee And Burtt Outstanding

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22946, 14 May 1949, Page 5

N.Z. Magnificent Victory Over Surrey: Hadlee And Burtt Outstanding

(N.Z P.A.—Reuter —Copyright.) (11 a.m.) LONDON, May 13. New Zealand today defeated Surrey, the runners-up in last year’s English championship, by 149 runs. It was a magnificent victory to which Hadlee, Burtt, Cave and Mooney contributed the lion’s share.

Hadlee’s 119 not out on a wicket that was as difficult as any the New Zealanders have ever played on and are likely, perhaps,' to find on the tour was sterling, and the manner in which Burtt polished off Surrey, taking four wickets with IS balls and giving no runs away in the final spell, was both exciting and gratifying.

Once again he received every assistance from Mooney, who twice whipped off the bails and once took a catch.

At one period, with five wickets down for 42 runs, it seemed as though Surrey would not make a fight but an excellent partnership by Constable and Whittaker added 119. Once they were out within a few minutes of one another, the end came like a thunderclap. Highest Praise Deserved

After 17 minutes, with only 14 up, Cresswell had E. A. Bedser caught at mid-off by Hadlee and, 11 minutes later, Burtt caught Squires at silly mid-on off Cave. Eight minutes later, Fishlock was caught off his glove by Wallace at short square leg, one from Cave getting up sharply. Burtt in Good Form A little over a quarter of an hour later, Burtt, with his first ball of the day, had Barton caught at first slip by Scott who flung the ball up in the air gleefully. In his next over Burtt clean bowled Mclntyre. That made five for 42 and lunch was still 40 minutes away. We were' looking forward to a quick finish, but then the swinging fortunes of cricket, which make the game so interesting, veered in Surrey’s favour and Constable and Whittaker made a fighting stand. They combined in a partnership of 111 in 100 minutes. Constable reached 50 in 90 minutes and Whittaker hit Burtt into the stands and was 50 in 95 minutes. A leg-bye .brought up 153 —half the total required by Surrey and we checked up on our watches, and carefully calculated that one hour 57 minutes of the match remained. Fortune Swings Back

The New Zealanders deserve the highest praise for this victory which not only endorsed the fine qualities of their captain but also gave lustre to their bowling of which there had been some doubts. Burtt took six for 47. Hadlee finished off the New Zealand innings with a fine flourish, adding 42 with Cave in 36 minutes to bring the total up to 249. Hadlee did as he liked with Laker, hitting two sixes, one of them straight back over the wicket into the members’ stand.

It was a great finale to an innings that must rank as one of the best in his career. He carried his bat for 119 and hit 11 fours and three sixes in one hour 36 minutes. Hadlee ended New Zealand’s second innings with magnificent belligerence, scoring 42 runs in 36 minutes, with Cave keeping up his end manfully. Hadlee batted for four hours 36 minutes .

One of his sixes this morning off the slow right-armer, Laker, was thumped straight back over the wicket. Fishlock on the boundary could only watch the ball sailing majestically over his head. Hadlee was then 96. He took the remaining four for his century off Laker whom he subsequently pulled for another four and then square-cut McMahon, a slow left-hander, for four. It was a grand finish to an innings that for sheer concentration and courage must rank righ in New Zealand cricket history. When Surrey began their second innings, the wicket had not, quite the same fire as it had yesterday, but the warm sun breaking through the London hage helped to dry .it out. The New Zealand bowlers set about Surrey with a will- Surrey required 306 in four and a half hours.

Then once again the fortunes of the game swung in New Zealand’s favour and this time, finally. Burtt, returning for his second spell after lunch, took four wickets without giving a run away’. Mooney, vigilant as ever, stumped Whittaker when he played forward and missed a leg break. Within four minutes. Cave had Constable caught at second slip by Sutcliffe.

Laker was stumped by Mooney a few moments later- A. V. Bedser stayed briefly before he was caught by Mooney and Burtt and, with the next ball, Burtt bowled McMahon.

The end was something of an anticlimax but one entirely satisfying to the New Zealanders.

NEW ZEALAND First Innings K 258 Second Innings Sutcliffe, bA. V. Bedser ;. .. . .. 20 Scott, c A. V. Bedser b Laker .. 18 Hadlee, not out 119 Wallace, c Mclntyre, b McMahon 9 Donnelly, ,c, A. V. Bedser, b Laker 13 Smith, c A.W. Bedser, b McMahon 15 Mooney, c and b A. V. Bedser .. IS Burtt, c Fishlock, b Cox 1 Burke, lbw, bA. V. Bedser .. .. 3 Cave, not out 2 Extras .. 33 Total, 8 wickets (dec.) .. .. 249 BOWLING O. M. R. W. Cox 12 1 49 1 - Laker 31 10 71 2 McMahon 20 5 55 2 Eric Bedser .... 3 1 4 0. SURREY First Innings .. 202 Second Innings Bedser, c Hadlee, b Cresswell .. I Squires, c Burtt, b Cave 1 Fishlock, c Wallace, b Cave .. .. 13 Barton, c Scott, b Burtt 10 Mclntyre, b Burtt 11 Constable, c Sutcliffe, b Cave .. 55 Whittaker, stpd Mooney, b Burtt .. 50 Laker, stpd Mooney, b Burtt .. 0 McMahon, b Burtt 0 Alec Bedser, c Mooney, b Burtt .. 3 Cox, not out 0 Extras 12 Total .. .. 158. BOWLING

O. M. R. W. < Cave 20 4 55 3 : Cresswell 14 3 32 1 : Burtt 21.5 7 47 6 1 Burke 3 1 8 0 i Sutcliffe 10 2 0 FaU of wickets: 1-14, 2-17, 3-20, 4-37, 5-42, 6-153, 7-153, 8-156, 9-156.