AUSTRALIANS PROVIDE LESSON IN TACTICS TO WELLINGTON XI.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23219, 3 April 1950, Page 8

AUSTRALIANS PROVIDE LESSON IN TACTICS TO WELLINGTON XI.

(P.A.) WELLINGTON. April 2 The Australian cricketers taught the Wellington' representatives a valuable lesson on Saturday—how to dig in and recover from a set-back, but the dig-ging-in process appeared to be overdone. Thus a dhv as full of incidents as could be desired up to mid-afternoon tapered off to correct, polished, but uninspiring stroke-making to the great disappointment of the crowd of 10,000. At stumps Australia, with 160 for three wickets in reply to' Wellington's 125. had the game in safe keeping. The gate-takings were £lO9l. Conditions were ideal when Ongley won the toss and Tindill and McVicar opened the innings. There was a sensational start. Tindill being dismissed, leg before, off Davidson's third ball, which kept low. McVicar was yorked in Johnson's second over and Vance failed to get across to an off-bail in his third over and was caught at first slip. Reid and Onalev set about retrieving the situation, Reid doing the bulk of the scoring Just when he appeared well settled in Ongley tried to turn a ball from Davidson to leg and was well caught bv Talion. Ticid Averts Collapse After Mooney had fallen to a brilliant catch bv Davidson, Dempster and Murray contributed quick double-figure scores, but it was Reid who saved Wellington from serious collapse, lie stole quick singles to gain the bowling. drove square and turned deliveries lo the on with power and confidence, finally losing his wicket when chasing runs with only the tail-enders to support him. His 74 occupied 115 minutes and in eluded eight fours out of the 11 boundaries hit during the innings. Few more competent or courageous efforts have been seen at the Basin Reserve. After the speed men had done thenshare of attacking Ring and Iverson came on the attacked Iverson was more expensive than usual, 13 coming off one over.

Despite their difficulties the Wellington -batsmen were always looking for runs. Their 125 were compiled in 143 minutes.

Meuleman dominated the scoring when he and Burke opened Australia’s innings Randall was expensive, 23 runs coming off six overs. A. E. Cresswell relieved Randall and had immediate success. Burke touching a leg ball to Mooney. In the next over Murray caught Meuleman off his own bowling. Ovation For Brown Brown received a big ovation. There was a gasp when, before he scored. Mooney and Reid appealed confidently for a catch behind off Cresswell’s bowling, but file umpire. Mr. McLellan, had no hesitation in refusing the appeal. Brown and Howard showed admirable defence and took no risks. They dead-batted several overs from Cresswell and let many of Murray’s accurate outswingers pass by. At ono period onlv seven runs came in 20 minutes. Murray bowled three consecutive maidens. Reid and Cave spelled Cresswell and Murray and the scoring brightened before tea which was taken with the score at 75 for two. In 90 minutes after tea 85 runs were added for the loss of Brown’s wicket. He attempted to glide a ball from Cresswell which swung in and took his leg slump.

Howard reached 50 in 105 minutes. Almost a replica of Brown in his stroke-making, he was very confident off the back foot. When 61, and with the score at 150, Howard skied a slow ball from Murray, but the glare of the sun caused Vance to misjudge it and an easy catch was dropped. Duldig, with a sound 21, was unbeaten with Howard at stumps. Scores. — WELLINGTON First Innings E. W. Tindill. lbw., b Davidson .. 0 S. A McVicar, b. Johnson .. .. 2 R. A. Vance, c. Ring, b. Johnson .. 2 R. Reid. std. Talion, b. Ring' .. 74 ,T. A Ongley, c. Talion b. Davidson 8 F. L. II Mooney, c Davidson, b Johnson 0 E. W. Dempster, c Davidson, b. Iverson 14 R. McMurray, b. Ring 10 11. B. Cave, c Davidson, b Ring .. 5 C. L. Randall, not out 7 A. E. Cresswell, b Iverson .... 0 Extras 3 Total 125 Bowling: Davidson, 17 overs, 5 maidens. 32 runs; 2 wickets: Johnson, 14, 2. 37. 3; Iverson, 5.4, 0, 31, 2; Ring 8,0, 22, 3. AUSTRALIA • First Innings K. Meuleman c and b Murray ~ 28 J. Burke, c Mooney, b Cresswell .. 9 W. A Brown, b Cresswell .. .. 27 R. Howard, not out 68 L. Duldig, not out 21 Extras 7 Total for three wickets .. .. 160

Bowling: Randall, 9, 0,27, 0; Murray, 12. 4 23 1: Cresswell, 11. 1, 18, 2; Cave, 9,1, 34. 0; Reid, 10, 4, 14, 0; Dempster, 9. 1, 37 ,0.