N.Z. MAKE 249

Grey River Argus, 18 August 1937, Page 5

N.Z. MAKE 249

IN FINAL TEST England’s Poor Start (From the Special Correspondent of the United Press Association with the Team.l LONDON, August 16. Donnelly, Page, Roberts and Moloney, who .were not overcome by the psychological effect of another bad start, staged a recovery for New Zealand on a pitch lively after overnight dew. New Zealand experienced an unhappy first hour, quickly losing four wickets for 47 runs. Gover and Matthews bowled like deamons on a slightly helpful pitch. Both were swinging the hall disconcertingly, and Gover made some bump. After Vivian and Hadlee were dismissed 'in a quarter of an hour, the tourists suffered a very heavy and rather unlucky blow, Wallace being run out on what looked a perfectly safe run, as the result, of superb fielding by Washbrook. Weir, in attempting to off drive a fast swinger, was well caught at third slip. Donnelly and Moloney resolutely sec out to retrieve a difficult position. Robins made a double change, introducing Goddard and Hammond, but both batsmen were soon the aggressors, especially Donnelly. A sturdy, valuable stand ended when a yorker beat Moloney. He and Donnelly added fifty valuable runs, but more important still, occupied the pitch while the moisture dried away, making the task easier for the following batsmen. Donnelly and Page together added forty-eight for the sixth wicket. Donnelly was dashing, showing almost audacious confidence, driving, cutting and pulling all the bowlers with wristy crispness. He hit six fours, two past square leg, two through the slips, and two to past cover point, completing a spectacular half century in an hour. He was caught at long on, attempting a big hit off the slow bowler. Robins exploited quick changes, using Gover, Matthews. Hammond. dard and himself. However, Page and Roberts, showing fine determination, added 77 runs for the seventh wicket. Roberts combined careful defence with powerful attack. He hit anything that could be driven exceptionally hard, especially to cover point, long on and long off. His score included six fours, six twos, and two threes. He was caught off Gover, when he attempted to drive, and mishit the ball.

Page, carefully playing himself, in, batted for a quarter of an hour without scoring. After that ne gathered runs quickly and competently. His leg side play was particularly certain. He scored with neat, leg glides, strong pulls and drives. He hit. five fours and seven twos.

The innings ended abruptly, the last three wickets falling in quick succession to Robins. Tindill, who batted half an hour, helped in a handy stand. He was beaten by an exceptionally quick turn of ’a colossal teg spinner. Dunning was brilliantly caught, after making a full-blood-ed hook close in on .the leg side Page was caught in the long field, hitting out when last man in. Jack Hobbs says: The loss of six wickets before lunch was without excuse, although the pitch was some help to the bowlers. New Zealand should not have lost more than two.

New Zealand started brilliantly in the field. Hadlee made a spectacular diving catch, forward at short leg, to dismiss Barnett. Vivian, bowling slows with customary accuracy, took two wickets cheaply, the second with a brilliant one-handed catch. Hutton showed how accurate the bowling was by taking three-quarters of an hour for four.

When England had three down for 36, the luck turned against New Zealand. Drizzling rain made the ball greasy, the batsmen gradually attaining mastery, and scored steadily til! rain stopped play at six o’clock. London was again generous in patronage, over 13,500 paid. The estimated attendance was 16,000, including a special standful of New Zealanders. Scores:— NEW ZEALAND—Ist Innings. Vivian c Ames b Gover 13 Hadlee, b Matthews 1° Wallace, run out ° Weir, c Matthews, b Gover 3 Moloney, b Hammond 23 Donnelly, c Hutton, b Robins ... 58 Page, c Washbrook, b Robins .... o 3 Roberts, c Barnett, b Gover 50 Tindill, b Robins 4 Dunning, c Gover, b Robins I Cowie, not out Extras 1° 'Petal 249 Bowling: Gover 28/3/85/3; Matthews 22/6/52/1; Goddard 10/2/25/0; Hammond 7/1/25/1; Robins 14/1/2/40/4; Hutton 2/0/7/0. ENGLAND—Ist Innings. Barnett, c Hadlee, b Cowie 13 Washbrook, lbw b Vivian 9 Hutton, c and b Vivian 12 Compton, not out 28 Hardstaff, not out 23 Extras 1 Total for 3 wickets 86 Bowling: Cowie 21/1/45/1; Roberts 10/3/14/0; Dunning 5.2/3/10/0; Vivian 11/3/16/2. ENGLISH COMMENT. LONDON, August 16. Seeking an explanation of the English batsmen’s ‘“deplorable start” against New Zealand, the “Telegraph’s” cricket writer says: “The truth seems that English batsmen are afflicted with an inferiority complex as soon as they appear in a Test match. They struggle and grope uncertainly, remembering the occasion, and forgetting the strokes. Robins teased the New Zealand tail-eriders out, but the disturbing fact was that the English attack could .not drive home the advantage ot the lly-ng start.” The “Daily Mail’s” cricket writer says: Matthews, in a few overs, cast a doubt on the advisability of choosing him against the Australians. His feet, after delivery, cut up a rough spot, just where O’Reilly and Fleet wood-Smith would wish it. The "Daily Herald” states that several of the New Zealand cricketers are suffering from Summer sickness. Although the illness is not serious, it may affect their play.