RAIN CAUSES TEST HOLD-UP

Northern Advocate, 18 January 1936, Page 6

RAIN CAUSES TEST HOLD-UP

N.Z., Batting Recovers’ After Early Lapse

BETTER SHOWING THAN IN FIRST MATCH

t Per Press Association. — Copyright .] WELLINGTON, This Day,

npORRENTIAL RAIN OVERNIGHT DRENCHED THE BASIN RESERVE, PREVENTING THE PROMPT RESUMPTION OF THE NEW ZEA-LAND-MARYLEBONE CRICKET MATCH THIS MORNING. THE DAY BROKE FINE AND THE SUN FINALLY SHONE THROUGH BRIGHTLY. THIS, COMBINED WITH A FRESH BREEZE, ACTED AS A GOOD DRYING AGENT. The wicket was rolled out before 11.30,. and, ajjter inspections of the wicket, it was decided to commence play at 12.30, with lunch from 1.30 to 2 o’clock.

catch low down and almost out of reach was made by Parks. Langridge also took a rather .quick chance cleanly at short leg. Griffiths did not allow a bye. The New Zealand batsmen had to play defensively for some time, in an effort to retrieve the ground lost by the early fall of the first two wickets. Aggression was not introduced until the advent of Wallace, Lamason, Roberts, Blandford and Vivian. Owing to the position of the side they had to play a style of game foreign to them, but they met the situation admirably. Cromb endeavoured to hold his wicket intact, but was trapped into an error just when he was becoming set.

The weather was bright when stumps were placed in position. Although they were never really subdued by a . steady attack, backed by sound fielding, which, on occasions, was brilliant, the New Zealand batsmen made a much better showing in the second Test match against the touring English team in Wellington yesterday than at Dunedin. Postponement Yesterday. After two wickets had fallen cheaply, and five were lost for only a moderate total, the later batsmen attacked the bowling, and 170 runs were scored for seven wickets, when rain caused a postponement at 3.30 p.m. New Zealand’s scoring was marked by cautious solidity rather than effective aggression. The first 50 runs took 75 minutes, the 100 two hours, and the 150 three hours. The batsmen seldom appeared really troubled, the fall of wickets being mainly accountable to eagerness, which the visitors capitalised at every opportunity. Holmes and Smith were unable to play, owing to injuries. Lyttelton captained the visitors, and Mitchell-Innes was included in the team. Early morning showers dampened the wicket, which rather favoured the batsmen. A half-gale all day frequently blew the bails from.the stumps. There were about 2000 spectators in the afternoon. Good Use of Attack. Lyttelton made good use of the attack and placed his field with judgment. Excellent control was shown by Parks, the right-hand slow to medium professional, who bowled against the wind, mostly with a leg trap. He slowed the scoring, swinging the ball both ways with such a good length that the batsmen were unable to force him for runs. With the new ball he sent down eight overs, seven of which were maidens, for one run and two wickets. He finished with four wickets for 32 runs in 24 overs, 11 of which were maidens. Read and Baxter, the fast trundlers, bowled with the gale, but neither had exceptional pace. The wicket was not helpful to the fast bowlers, who were tried both with and against the wind. Sims, a slow right-hand tjowler, did not maintain his length or flight so well as in the match with Wellington. Langridge was used to break a promising partnership just before the luncheon adjournment and again for the same purpose after the interval. Excellent help was given to the bowlers by the fieldsmen. Brilliant Fielding. Mitchell-Innes took two good catches in the slips and a brilliant one-hand

The scoring was bright after the luncheon adjournment, but was not fast. It is questionable whether more enterprise would not have been more profitable. Nevertheless, full credit must be given the visitoi’s for the steadiness of their bowling axid keen fielding under conditions rather more favourable to the batting than the fielding side. A Bad Start. New Zealand started badly, losing two wickets for eight runS, but Moloney and Vivian, in a slow but handy partnership, took the score to 50 before the luncheon adjournment. Kerr began confidently, playing his strokes cleanly, but after being in for 10 minutes he touched a swinging delivery from Parks, and was well caught in the slips by Mitchell-Innes. Weir fell to the same bowler, glancing one into the. leg trap, where the catch was taken inches from the ground by Langridge. Moloney shaped without discomfoi’t, especially to the fast bowling of Read. He took 35 minutes to reach 10. After being- in for 75 minutes for 32 he was out leg before to Ljangridge. He did not give a chance, and was particularly certain in the on-side strokes. Vivian’s Slow Start. Vivian began slowly, being in for 20 minutes for two. When he got the pace of the wicket and the strength of the bowling, he became fi’eer, scoring with a good range of strokes. He was in for 68 minutes for 29, before being out leg before to a ball, which was pitched on his toe. He hit thi’ee fours, and did not give a chance. A bright innings was played by Wallace. He made 19 in 39 minutes, off driving strongly and late cutting prettily. Cromb and Lamason looked likely to save New Zealand. The captain played many balls safely, his scoring strokes were clean and he held up the attack for 40 minutes at an awkward time. Cromb was in three-quarters of an hour for 15. Lamason was aggressive, his first six scoring strokes being twos. Lyttelton shrewdly tried two slow bowlers and Lamason fell almost immediately. He attacked the bowling more than any batsman, with the exception of Wallace.

THE LATEST SCORE. New Zealand are all out for 342. M.C.C. have lost two wickets for 12.

Creditable Stand. A creditable stand for the eighth wicket was made by Roberts and Blandford, who added 40 in 20 minutes. Roberts, although shaky early, punched the loose balls with power, hitting five fours, one being almost a six, in making 28 not out. Blandford was also aggressive, hitting two fours and three threes in making 20 not out. The ts-.tsmen appeared to be getting on top of the bowling when rain drove players off the field at 3.30 p.m. BEFORE LUNCH TODAY. A good crowd watched play before lunch. Baxter completed his unfinished over from the southern end. Langridge took up the attack from the other end, Roberts' turning the ball to leg for a brace, to reach 30 in 45 minutes. There was only one other scoring stroke in the first 4 overs. Both batsmen lifted Langridge high to the off from successive deliveries, the shots falling clear. The pair sent up 180 after 210 minutes’ play. The batsmen now were scoring more freely and at 1 o’clock 18T was on the board. , NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Kerr, c Sims, b Parks 2 Moloney, 1.b.w., b Langridge 32 Weir, c Langridge, b Parks 1 Vivian, l.b.w r ., b Sims 29 Wallace, c Barber, b Parks ...... 19 Cromb, c Mitchell-Innes, b Parks 15 Lamason, c Parks, b Langridge .. 17 Roberts, not out 62 Blandford, not out 28 Extras Total for 7 wkts 227

PLUNKET SHIELD VPer Press Association. — Copyright.] DUNEDIN, This Day. The Otago team to meet Wellington at Carisbrook in the Plunket Shield cricket match next Friday will be:—Cavanagh (captain), Badcock, Elmes, Smith, Kerr, Saxton, Mills (wicket-keeper), Knight, Dunning, Dickinson, Uttley.

TARRANT’S TEAM GETS BIG SCORE (Received 10 a.m.) CALCUTTA. January 17. In reply to Patiala’s total of 352, Frank Tarrant’s Australian cricketers ran up the big score of 484 (Wendell Bill 118 retired hurt, Morrisby 145, Maharajah of Patiala, who captained the visitors, 15). Bowling: Amirelahi, 6 for 164. / Patiala, in the second innings, had lost three wickets for 77, when stumps were pulled, leaving the game drawn after three days. The Maharajah took two wickets for 40 against his own State. An X-ray reveals that Wendell Bill suffered a fracture of the jaw bone. This was properly set, but it is not expected that he will play before the third four-day match at Madras, if then. Ironmonger is reported well, and may play at Secunderabad.

Bowling. O. 11 M. , 0 R. 37 W. 0 24 11 32 4 ...... 5.2 0 20 0 15 2 51 1 Langridge 8 2 23 2