HONOURS DIVIDED IN CRICKET TEST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22972, 15 June 1949, Page 7

HONOURS DIVIDED IN CRICKET TEST

Washbrook’s Century

Sutcliffe In Form

(N.Z.P.A.—Reuter—Copyright.)

(I I a.m.) LEEDS, June 14. The first cricket test between England and New Zealand ended in a draw after a final day of interesting cricket. New Zealand made 341 in the first innings in reply to England's 372. This gave England a lead of 31, to which was added 267 for four wickets scored in three hours five minutes at the rate of 90 hourly

Hutton was out second ball. "Washbrook made 103 not out, and Jlann was 40 not out in 24 minutes. When England's captain declared just before 3.30 p.m., he set New Zealand the task of scoring 299 in two and a half hours. Had he left his declaration until after 3.30 New Zealand ■would have had another 20 minutes’ batting; but with his eye on the English bowling and the potential scoring rate of the New Zealand batsmen, Mann declared in time to take the tea Interval of 30 minutes. It was practically an impossible task he set New Zealand—l2o hourly which was a rate that neither side had achieved at any time during the match. New Zealand’s reply was by no means half-hearted, however—l9s for two (Sutcliffe 82, Smith 54 not out) —and honours of this first test were equally divided. Last-Wicket Record Mooney and Cowie batted another half hour tor New Zealand's first innings total to reach 341. Their partnershin for the tenth wicket was a record for a New Zealand team in England, beating the 51 made by Allcott and Beanau against Kent at Canterbury in 1927. Mooney was dropped by Hutton at short leg before scoring and Cowie. who had Scott running for him. did most of his scoring chiefly by fortuitous snicks. Cowie pulled another muscle in his right leg while fielding on Monday and he did not go on the field for England’s second innings. He does not regard the iniurv as serious and believes he will be fit for another test.

At lunch England was 114 for one in one and three-quarter hours. Edrich did not add to his score after the interval and Cave bowled him —the first batsman to be bowled so far in this test. Compton rushed to work and took three fours from Cave in one over, including a delightful cover drive. He put on 25 in 20 minutes and then made an ambitious stroke against Cave wide of the off stump and Mooney took bis second catch. Washbrook’s Perfect Timing Washbrook had a life at 56, with the score 156, snicking Cave past Rabone at first slip. Washbrook was batting more freely than before lunch and his cutting and square driving were models of timing. He also on-drove forcefully and relished Burtt for this purpose. Sutcliffe distinguished himself by bowling Wharton and then it was Mann’s turn to harvest honours. He laid about him in all directions and lifted Rabone on to the roof of the pavilion for the ball to crash on the tin roof with a resounding bang and dribble into the gutter to remain there. Hadlee took a new ball which was conveniently due and apologised to Washbrook who required two for his century. He got them in singles, with Mann’s eager assistance. Washbrook batted three hours for his three figures and hit 12 fours—an excellent effort in view of his handicap. Mann walloped 49 in 24 minutes and, in addition to his six, he had nine fours and the Yorkshiremen, women and children, loved him for it. When he declared and left New Zealand to score at the rate of two a minute, Sutcliffe and Scott began as though they had every intention of getting the runs. For once Sutcliffe had some luck— Bailey ‘might have had him caught and bowled and Compton almost caught a stinger at short-leg when the lefthander was three.

His absence was a definite handicap to New Zealand and meant that most of the work fell to Cave. The Wanganui boy bowled well and registered his first wicket in test cricket ■when Moonev took an excellent catch off his second ball to Hutton. It rose from a length and Hutton "snicked it to leg. Mooney moved swiftly behind him and England was one for none.

Donnelly opened at the other end in place of Cowie and bowled five overs for 20 runs. Edrich moved the score along brightlv but Washbrook. handicapped by pulling a muscle, had to have "Wharton as a runner.

Thus encouraged, the opening pair hit 50 in the first half hour and. when tea was taken one hour after the innings began, Sutcliffe was a round 50 and there was 82 on the board to which Scott contributed 30. After the interval, the clock was too much of a burden for the 217 runs required in the remaining 85 minutes. Scoring Rate Slowed

Neither Scott nor Sutcliffe. had the slightest intention of throwing their wickets away for risky shots and they slowed the rate of scoring to 30 in 40 minutes.

Then Scott was caught in the covers by Bedser, off Young, and Sutcliffe went in precisely the same manner when he was 82 and everybody was hoping that this was the day for his first England century. As lie walked away from the wicket, head down, Mann ran over to him and patted his shoulder with a sympathetic "bad luck.”

When Smith appeared there was a burst of enthusiasm from the crowd who looked for a repetition of his form in the previous innings. He contributed two sixes off Young and Hutton to their appetite for runs—and nearly 500 was scored today—and with Hadlee ran some quick singles when the Englishmen penetrated the vastly deep and waited patiently for catches. Scores:—

NEW ZEALAND First Innings

Scott, c Washbrook, b Bailey .... 1 Sutcliffe, c Evans, b Young 32 Hadlee, c Edrich, b Bailey 34 Wallace, c Evans, b Bailey 3 Donnelly, c Young, b Bailey .... 64 Smith, c Compton, b Edrich .... 96 Rabone, c Evans, b Edrich 13 Burtt, c Bedser. b Compton 7 Cave, c Edrich. b Bailey 2 Mooney, c Edrich, b Bailey .. . . 46 Cowie. not out 26 Extras 17 Total 341

Compton .. 8 2 23 1 Byes, 2; leg byes, 8; no balls, 7. Second Innings Sutcliffe, c Bedser, b Young . . .. 82 Scott, c Bedser, b Young .. .. 43 Smith, not out 54 Hadlee, not out 13 Extras 3 Total for two wickets 195

Compton .. 10 5 0 Byes, 1: leg byes. 2. Fall of wickets: 1/112: 2/147. ENGLAND First innings 372 Second Innings Hutton. C Mooney, b Cave .. .. 0 Washbrook, not out 103 Edrich, b Cave 70 Compton, c Mooney, b Cave .. . . 26 Wharton, b Sutcliffe 13 Mann, not out 49 Extras 6 Total for four wickets (dec.) . . 267 Bowling

Bowling O. 51 R. W. Bailey .. .. 32 6 118 G Bedser .. .. 22 8 5G 0 Edrich .. .. 9 2 18 2 Young 22 G 52 T Hollies ! . ! 25 6 57 0

Bailey Bowling G .. .. 0 M.R. 0 51 W 0 Edrich 2 0 13 0 Bedser .. 9 1 26 0 Hollies .. 11 3 33 n Young . . 14 3 41 2 Hutton ll f) 23 0

O M. R. W. Cave .. . 26 3 103 3 Donnelly 5 0 20 0 Rabone 17 4 56 0 Burtt . - . 18 2 56 0 Sutcliffe .. .. 1 0 17 0 Scott Byes, 4; leg byes, 1 2 0 9 0 Fall of wickets: 4/201. 1/0, 2/118, 3/162,