FINAL TEST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 74, 22 February 1930, Page 2

FINAL TEST.

SLOW CRICKET. DAWSON STONEWALLS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Feb. 21. In the final Test cricket match today, England won the toss and Bowley and Dawson led tho way for England to the bowling of McGirr and Matheson. Bowiey opened out briskly with a couple of twos off McGirr and drove the last ball straight to the fence. Matheson kept Dawson on the defensive and four slips were set deep in a lane for McGirr, who was exploiting a new ball with a late out-swing. It was slow cricket, with the opening English pair strictly on the defensive. The attendance was small but rapidly increasing. Bowley, after sending up double figures, gave the game a bright sparkle by hard driving and slipped a brilliant four through the covers off McGirr. Wtih the score at 27, Merritt came on to replace McGirr. Dawson was playing like a rock and Bowley was keenly out for runs. With the score at 31, Dawson went forward to Matheson and was beaten, but James missed and a chance to break the partnership was lost. Half an hour’s play saw 41 on, with the batsmen settling down. The field was spread deep for Merritt, but the batsmen refused to be tempted. Alcott then cam© on, vice Matheson. Dawson was playing the stonewall game to perfection. Dempster won applause for a brilliant return. New Zealand ground fielding, however, was slipping. Fifty runs were on in 45 minutes and up to this stage the New Zealand attack had been steady but not stingful. Weir was the next bowler tried and Lowrv made another change bv bringing Ailcott on again. The change was successful, for Bowley played forward and got over tho crease and the ball spun back to James, who whipped the bails off. Technically. Bowley was run out. He had been in 48 minutes and had played in a free style.—Bo—l-—42. Duleepsinhji was next in and batted brilliantly. For an hour’s play 71 runs were on. , . Duleepsinhji brought 100 up in 80 minutes. Blunt was the sixth bowler tried. Duleepsinhji hit a ball from Blunt to drop just short of Ailcott. Dawson went imperturbably on his way. Up to this stage, Blunt had given the impression of being New Zealand’s best bowler; he kept a good length. Dawson was content to hold his end up, but Duleepsinhji was brighter and was fighting for runs. The scoring slowed to zero and persistent pats by Dawson led to ironical applause from the hillside. With the luncheon adjournment the score was 111 for the loss of one wicket—Dawson 28 (for 95 minutes’ batting) and Duleepsinhji 37,