Easy N.Z. Victory Over Cambridge: Rabone Takes Five Wickets

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22952, 21 May 1949, Page 5

Easy N.Z. Victory Over Cambridge: Rabone Takes Five Wickets

(N.Z.P.A.—Reuter—Copyright.) (10.30 a.m.) CAMBRIDGE, May 20. • By taking .our of the five remaining Cambridge University wickets after lunch, Rabone played a coni spieuous part in the New Zealanders’ third win of the tour. They beat the University by an innings and 50 runs with 45 minutes to spare.

Cambridge made a commendable effort to force a draw and a splendid fighting innings was played, by their captain, Insole, who scored 79 not out.

The way was paved for New Zealand’s win by Rabone, however, when he took three wickets in three overs immediately after lunch, and completed his good day’s work by getting the last wicket of the match—his fifth for the innings at five apiece. When Morris and Doggart settled down for the first hour and added 38 to the overnight total it began to appear that they would remain at least until lunch. Neither Hayes nor Burke, though they were bowling well, were getting much assistance from the wicket. Rabone Bowls Leg-Breaks Then Rabone made his first appearance for the day—he had previously appealed for a catch at second slip from Doggart off Hayes but the leg umpire ruled that the ball had hit the ground first —arid had Morris caught behind the wicket by Reid. Rabone usually bowls off-breaks but today, at Hadlee’s instruction sent down leg breaks, with an occasional variation from the off. & Morris, who was given his blue during the match, had batted well and Doggart followed his lead by passing 50. Then Cresswell took a hand in the proceedings and, with the last ball of his first over, had Doggart leg before. He got his second wicket when Burtt took a catch at short square leg from Coles, the ball appearing to strike his pad after it left the batStill another wicket was to come before lunch. Donnelly at fine leg took a brilliant right-hand catch when Rimell snicked Hayes. It was easily the best of many good catches taken since the tour began and probably the only people who saw the ball with any clarity—it was travelling so rapidly—were Donnelly and, perhaps, Hayes. ■ Insole’s Determined Stand Insole brought some life to the wicket in the period immediately before lunch and ran vigorously for singles and the break came at 207 for five, University having added 129 in two and a-half hours. With half the side out and two hours 40 minutes left and Cambridge still requiring 127 to avoid an innings defeat, it appeared the chances were slightly in their fav’our on this easy wicket. ; Rabone’s three quick wickets in three overs, however, changed the complexion of the game. In the fifth ball of his first over, he bowled Hawkey with a long hop that turned in from the leg and just bounced a second time before it hit the stumps. With his next ball, he had Stevenson out leg before. His following over was a maiden and then he hit Popplewell's stumps and this so surprised the crowd that they just sat and stared. University Wickets Topple Any hopes that it would be all over quickly, however, were hit to the boundary by Insole, who playing a fine innings, took the score along at a comfortable pace with Power keeping up his end nobly. Rabone’s first after-lunch spell was 10 overs, three maidens, 11 runs and three wickets. In the next 65 minutes Insole and Pryer put on 63 runs, the Cambridge captain hitting freely and taking as much of the bowling as possible. He reached 50 in 90 minutes and then Pryor, who had scored only eight, was caught on the boundary in pulling a full toss off Burke. He had stayed for a quarter of an hour, Insole monopolising the bowling. He took three off Rabone, who bowled for the third time, in preparation for the next over and New Zealand finished off the match with the next ball by bowling the Cambridge fast bowler. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY. First innings .. .. 107 Second Innings Morris, c Reid, b Rabone .. .. 56 Doggart, lbw, b Cresswell .. .. 62 Coles, c Burtt, b Cresswell .. 12 Rimell, c Donnelly, b Hayes .. .. 3 Insole, not out 79 Hawkey, b Rabone 13 Stevenson, lbw, b' Rabone .. .. 0 Popplewell, b Rabone 3 Pryer, c Sutcliffe, b Burtt .. .. 3 Warr, b Rabone 0 Extras 16 Total 284 ■i. BowlingO. M. R. W. Hayes .. .. 27 5 77 2 Cresswell .. 17 4 42 2 Burtt .. .. 24 9 50 0 Burke .. .. 31 10 56 1 Sutcliffe .... 9 3 18 0 Rabone .. .. 18 6 25 5 Fall of wickets: 1/7, 2/129, 3/170, 4/175, 5/179, 6/209, 7/209. 8/217, 9/272.