THE FOURTH TEST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 74, 22 February 1930, Page 12

THE FOURTH TEST.

ENGLISHMEN BATTING. SIX WICKETS FOR 375. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Feb. 21. In the fourth cricket Test match between the touring M.C.C. team and New Zealand, M.C.C., batting first, compiled 375 runs for six wickets before stumps were drawn. Rain threatened several times during tho day, but only one heavy shower necessitated a short adjournment. The wicket was in perfect order and played well the whole time, much to the disadvantage of the New Zealand bowlers, who could not make much nip or turn on it. The gate takings were £235 7s and the attendance was estimated at about 5000. „ „ Even scoring characterised the M.t-.0. innings, Woolley and Worthington being the only ones to secure small tallies. Bowley, one of tho opening pair, produced 42 in his brightest style, driving freely and with an abandon which ultimately cost him his wicket. Ho left his partner, Dawson, well behind. He succumbed in attempting to force a good length ball of Allcott s which hit the end of tho bat, and in a brilliant piece of work James picked the ball up, and had the bails off before the batsman could regain the crease. Dawson gained his half century before being dismissed, but took a very long time to got started. He lacked scoring shots. Duleepsinhji was again seen in delightful mood, the power he put into his snots to gain 63 being astonishing. Tho honours of tho day went to Leggc, however, who, in compiling 104 not out, gave an exhibition of a real fighting innings. Confining himself to orthodox and safe shots until ho was properly set, ho opened out and scored freely in spite of an alert and wellsct field, His scoro included twelve boundaries. Nichols was subdued at the start in compiling 75, and looked a certainty for a century until McGirr bowled him. The majority of his runs came as a result of strong driving and good timing with his leg shots. The New Zealand bowling was thoroughly •tested, and, considering that a little luck was against them, they came through the ordeal well. Allcott’s trundling was the salient feature of the attack. Considering tho number of overs he bowled, his length was remarkable. His two wickets, both clean bowled, were gained in 39 overs, 13 of which were maidens, for the cost of 87 runs. A pleasing feature to Aucklanders was tho generally consistent bowling of Matheson in his first try-out in Test cricket. Bad luck dogged his efforts throughout tho day. On one occasion Duleepsinhji played him on to tho wicket without removing the bails. Merritt bowled steadily and might easily have secured three wickets. McGirr did not bowl as well as usaul, and after the opening attack was not used again until the 300 mark was passed. Now Zealand's fielding showed a vast improvement, the picking up and alertness of the fieldsmen earning constant applause. Dempster was particularly outstanding in this department, his efforts being brilliant at times. Matheson and Allcott resumed bowling after lunch, Duleepsinhji taking four off the latter but spooning the next through the gully just clear of a fieldsman. Dawson ran into the thirties with a perfectly-timed square-cut for four, but facing Allcott he was fortunate to escape, playing a ball which came through low. At this stage a heavy shower intorruped play for ten minutes. On resuming, Duleepsinhji placed Matheson to the off fence to bring his fifty up. He followed with another pretty boundary, taking a full toss right off his foot and turning it to the leg fence. The advent of Page in Matheson’s place saw Duleepsinhji give a difficult unaccepted chance I to mid-on. However, in Allcott’s next over | the bowler got right through Dulcepsinhji’s guard with a low pacy delivery which removed tho off stump. : —150 —2—63. Woolley started nicely, gliding Allcott for three and a brace. Dawson was scoring more freely and approached 40 by getting well over Allcott and guiding him through the gully to the boundary. Woolley had just reached double figures when Allcott , bowled him with a great ball. 170 —3 —lo. Leggo joined Dawson, the latter getting I his fifty a couple of overs later. He had been batting for 165 minutes. Merritt had replaced Page, but could not induce the batsmen to take chances. Legge drove force- * fully, but could not find openings in the fielding. Blunt took the ball from Merritt, and.in his second over Dawson was caught in the slips by Allcott. 190—4—55. Nichols did not display his usual initiative on coming to the crease, being rather uncomfortable to Allcott and Matheson,

who had spelled Blunt. Two hundred appeared after 205 minutes’ play. At the afternoon tea adjournment 223 was on the board, Legge being 25 and Nichols 13. Matheson and Merritt handled the attack on resuming, and play brightened somewhat, Nichols sending a long hop from the former to the boundary. Legge also produced several nice off shots which took him into the thirties. Legge (41) gave an easy stumping chance when facing Merritt, but James failed to gather the ball properly. A close-run single gave Legge 50. He had commenced rather slowly, but was now showing a variety of crisp scoring strokes. Nichols showed a penchant for short-pitched balls, swinging them repeatedly to the boundary. The score soon passed 250, but as 300 was approached tho scoring slackened again. The third century was hoisted when Legge pulled a ball from Weir, who had relieved Matheson, to the fence. Nichols reached fifty shortly afterwards. McGirr, who had been sparingly bowled, was given another chance, and was unlucky to graze Nichols’s stumps with the last ball of his -first over. Allcott was being persevered with at the other end, and although he kept the batsmen subdued, he was not getting so much pace off the wicket as formerly. Merritt replaced him tho next over, but met with no success. It took Legge a long time to clear the eighties, and Nichols gradually caught up. Nichols commenced to hit, on one occasion mistiming and returning a soft catch to Merritt, who dropped it. McGirr made amends in the next over, however, by bowling Nichols. 3745 —75. Worthington was the newcomer, and iie was clean bowled by Merritt before scoring. Stumps were then drawn with tho total at 375 for six wickets. ENGLAND. —First Innings.

Bowley, run out .. 42 Dawson, c C. Allcott, b Blunt ... .. 55 Dulcepeinhji, b Allcott .. 63 Woolley, b Allcott ... .. 10 Lcgge, not out .. 104 Nichols, b McCirr ... \ .. 75 Worthington, b Merritt .. 0 Extras .. 26 Total BOWLING ANALYSIS .. 375 O. M. R. W. Allcott 39 13 87 2 Merritt 24.3 32 86 1 Mathcson 24 5 72 — McGirr 11 2 37 1 Weir 6 — 26 — Blunt ' 7 1 18 — t’ago 5 — 23 —