AUSTRALIANS END SLOW DAY WITH 120 RUNS FOR 5 WICKETS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23207, 20 March 1950, Page 5

AUSTRALIANS END SLOW DAY WITH 120 RUNS FOR 5 WICKETS

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, March 20, Batting: with extreme caution the Australian cricketers had scored only 120 runs for the loss of five wickets at the close of the second clay of play on Saturday in reply to the New Zealand opening of 231 runs. Rain delayed the start of play and also caused a stoppage during the day. The wicket was hardly affected, however, as it was covered overnight, the only change being that it “sweated" a little.

The New Zealand bowling was firstclass, but the Australians, whose policy is apparently to play out time regardless of the score, gave a most disappointing display of batting. It was decided not to begin play until 12.45 p.m., this leaving only half an. hour before lunch. Brown and Burke resumed for Australia with one wicket down for 18 runs. G. F. Cresswell had an early success when he completely beat Burke. The medium spin bowler used the strong cross-wind and the ball appeared to swing late. Reid at the other end was getting occasional lift from the wicket, but a ball which kept low left R. Howard with his bat in the air and his wicket was down.

L. Duldig stayed with Brown for the remaining few overs till lunch, the score board then showing three down for 34. The bowlers had made the most of their restricted morning spell arid the New Zealanders were gaining a grip on the game. , Tactics Indicated An indication of the ' Australians’ tactics was given in the first 20 minutes after the resumption, five maiden overs being bowled in that period. Mac Gibbon replaced Reid, wh6 found himself in the unusual position of stock bowler. The batsmen continually played back to Mac Gibbon and, although Hadlee and Burtt were the only fieldsmen in front of the wicket, neither of the batsmen accepted the invitation to attempt to drive through the wide gap in the covers. Seven runs were scored in the first half-hour after lunch.

A dramatic change came in the slowmoving scene when Cresswell had Duldig smartly caught at leg slip by Sutcliffe. The ball hit Mooney's pads but Sutcliffe was alert and kept it off the ground. Four wickets were down for 42 runs.

Brown, who was joined by Driver, reached a painstaking 10 after 75 minutes at the crease. A 10-minute shower slowed down play even further, but 50 came up before the players again left the field for half an hour because of rain.

When Cresswell resumed the attack he had the first run in 11 successive overs scored off him. Gulls Scattered

After the tea adjournment seagulls, which had gradually been encroaching on the playing area, moved in even closer to the wicket. They scattered, however, when Driver attempted a big hit off the medium-spinner. Wallace, close in at mid-wicket, turned and sprinted underneath the ball, but failed to hold a hard chance. The crowd received another of the meagre thrills interspersed throughout the day when Driver gave a hard caught-and-bowled chance to Cresswell. The ball hit the bowler on the chestj but the catch proved too “hot" to hold.

Rabone relieved Reid and there was a cheer when Burtt was brought on for the first time in the match shortly before 5 o'clock. The batsmen became a little more enthusiastic about scoring so Hadlee put the versatile Rabone on at the other end, bowling slow offspinners. Their inviting deliveries were to no avail, however, and it was not until 220 minutes had passed that the 100 came up.

Captain’s Innings With the return of Cresswell to the attack New Zealand had immediate success and the prize was a rich one. Brown played a triflle nonchalantly to a good-length ball and Mooney snapped up the chance. The Australian captain had achieved his aim, nevertheless, for his stay at the crease had kept the side together during a most difficult period. His innings of 45 had taken 183 minutes to complete. D. Tallon, with sticking plaster covering a gash over an eye, stayed with Driver till stumps. The lefthander made three unsuccessful appeals against the light, but Tallon was not similarly troubled for he hit Cresswell on to the terrace for a six and followed this with a shot which swept past point to the boundary. A day of unusual cricket ended on an appropriate note, the players going off the field 10 minutes before stumps as the result of a succesful appeal against the light, only to return again five minutes later to play out time in heavy rain.

Cresswell, with three wicekts for 40 runs off 30 overs, half of which were maidens, gave an outstanding performance. Reid’s two wickets were also well deserved. The Australians took in all 251 minutes to reach their total. Scores:— NEW ZEALAND First Innings 23! AUSTRALIA " First Innings J. Burke, b Cresswell 9 K. Meuleman, c Rabone, b Reid .. IQ W. A. Brown, c Mooney, b Cresswell 45 R. Howard, b Reid 4 L. Duldig, c Sutcliffe, b Cresswell 5 W. Driver, not out 28 D. Tallon, not out 25 Extras (byes 3, no balls 4) .. 6 Total for five wickets .. ..120 Fall of Wickets: 1-16 (Meauleman) 2-28 (Burke); 3-33 (Howard); 4-42 (Duldig); 5-103 (Brown). Bowling

0 M. R. W. G. F. Cresswell .. 30 15 40 3 A. R. MacGibbon .. 12 3 24 0 G. 0. Rabone .. .. 10 4 17 0 J. R. Reid .. .. 21 6 28 2 T. B. Burtt .. .. 5 2 5 0