N.Z. WELL PLACED IN FINAL TEST

Northern Advocate, 7 March 1936, Page 6

N.Z. WELL PLACED IN FINAL TEST

M.C.C. Go Cheaply To Fine Bowling;

Kerr’s Brilliant Batting

[Per Press Association. — Copyright.] . CHRISTCHURCH, This Day' "VIEW Zealand are well placed in the ■ final cricket test match against M.C.C., which commenced at Lancaster Park yesterday.

It was, moreover, an innings played under difficulties, for indisposition had prevented him from fielding while the M.C.C. team was at the wicket. He was at the wickets for 128 minutes in making his 62 not out, and toward the close of play was

Given a good start by Blundell, who captured the wickets of Parks and Hardstaff with successive balls—the score then being nine— home side had the visitors all out for 195, the other bowlers getting wickets being Griffiths, 4 for 60, and Roberts, 3 for 33. Chiefly due to the fine batting of Kerr, New Zealand had, at stumps, scored 138 for the loss of three wickets. The conditions were ideal again this morning. The Dominion XL, with seven wickets in hand, required only 58 runs to secure the lead on the first innings. 1

scoring freely from every bowler. The English attack was good, without being really troublesome. Baxter opened with Parks, but while the latter was steady, neither seemed likely to break the opening partnership. Parks bowled with a leg trap, and was very steady. Kerr (62) and Hadlee (4) carried on New Zealand’s Innings in good style. The former turned Read’s first ball to leg for a single, while Hadlee showed more confidence than he had done last season. Kerr’s total soon rose into the 70’s, but it was not easy to score off the two pace bowlers, Read and Baxter. Excellent fielding, notably by Barber and Human, helped them to keep runs down. Kerr hit the first boundary of the day, a dashing offdrive at' the expense of Sirqs, who had relieved Baxter.

The feature of this morning’s play was the fine performance of J. L. Kerr, the Canterbury batsmen, who scored another test century against the Englishmen. At Wellington he was unbeaten with 105 in the second innings. Kerr, at Christmas, also scored 146 not out (carrying his bat right through) and 71 for his province against Marylebone. Profitable Partnership.

Hadlee ran into double figures with neat placement shots on either side, while Kerr hooked Sims to the leg boundary, and placed him to the off to reach 80.' First Baxter and then Parks was tried at the north end, but runs still came in even time.

Human and Sims were associated in the most profitable partnership of the innings. The former’s great driving was a joy to watch. He became very severe on Cromb, and hit nine off one over from the slow bowler when he fell to a really brilliant one-hand catch by the bowler. Sims once again played a valuable innings when runs were badly needed. He was finally beaten by another splendid ball from Roberts. The full resources of New Zealand’s attack were not required. Blundell unaccountably was given only one spell with the ball at the opening of the innings, and he took two wickets for 13 runs off six overs. Roberts was again exceptionally steady. His three wickets cost only 33 runs off 18 overs. Griffiths was watched with interest, as he has been declared New Zealand’s most promising slow bowler in recent years. His performance today was most impressive. He has a very low trajectory, and he varies his pace and spin well. As yet his length is varied, and he sent down a fairly high proportion of bad balls. He broke considerably from leg, and the good balls positively sizzled up the pitch.

Kerr Tops Century

The score was brought along faster both men sending Sims to the fence in one over, Hadlee a fine drive and Kerr a square cut, which advanced the latter’s score to 89. Human took over from Sims, and Kerr reached 91 with a brace. Then he straight-drove ‘ him to the . fence and the English first innings score was passed with three, wickets down. Kerr took two singles to reach 97, and the side’s double century was hoisted after 170 minutes’ play.

At the south end, Langridge took over, and kept them on the spot. A new ball was given to Baxter, who put five men on the leg side, without keeping the batsmen quiet. Kerr placed a single, reaching 98, and in Parks’ over he sent a beautiful square cut away, only to see Human save the four. A couple of overs passed with Kerr still at 99; then he on-drove Parks for three, and was warmly applauded for his chanceless innings. He reached his century (his third against the M.C.C. team in- 190 minutes. \

The batsmen continued to give an excellent display. Kerr was again severe, finding depths with anything loose. Hadlee had two chances. One was off a big hit to square leg, off Parks, which ' everyone was surprised to see Human drop. Next over Hadlee “ducked” to avoid a high bumper, but the ball struck the back of his bat and went into the air, Griffith diving in, but just missing the catch.

N.Z.’s Good Start. Vivian was steady, but not dangerous. Cromb bowled more overs than anyone else, and while the wicket was admittedly one for spin bowling, it appeared that he kept himself on too long. The New Zealand fielding, on the whole, was first-class. New Zealand’s very good start is largely attributable to the partnership of Kerr and Wallace for the second wicket. They put on 60 runs together in as many minutes, Wallace being the more aggressive and scoring 38 of them. Whitelaw opened very well with Kerr, scoring nicely to leg from the fast bowlers, Baxter and Read, but with the score up 22 he swung up a short ball from Reed, which bumped more than head-high, and was well taken by Sims. Wallace attacked the bowling from the start, and seemed keen on knocking the fast bowlers off their length. He hit every ball hard, even on defence, and was looking for runs all the time. Vivian maintained the scoring rate, and with Kerr added 34 runs for the third wicket. Kerr’s Fine Knock. Kerr, more sedate than the Aucklanders, played an innings deserving of the highest praise.

Bowlers Lose Accuracy.

Brought on for the third time during the morning, Read began to lose accuracy, and Kerr hooked his short ones powerfully. The partnership had added 145, when, on the second last ball before lunch, Kerr snicked one from Holmes and was well held behind the stumps by Griffiths. He had made 132 in 190 minutes without giving a chance and he fully deserved the applause which greeted him. The adjournment was taken with the score at 261 for four wickets, Hadlee at this stage being 47. M.C.C. First Innings. Parks, st. Jackman, b Blundell .. 8 Barber, b Roberts 60 Hardstaff, b Blundell 0 Smith, b Griffiths 16 Holmes, c Jackman, b Griffiths .. 2 Human, c and b Cromb 46 Langridge, b Roberts 3 Sims, b Roberts 38 Griffith, b Griffiths 9 Read, b Griffiths 1 Baxter, not out 10 Extras 4 Total 195

Bowling: O. M. R. W. Roberts 18.1 6 33 3 Blundell 6 2 13 2 Cromb 19 0 67 1 Vivian r8 1 18 0 Griffiths 17 2 60 4 NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Kerr, c Griffith, b Holmes 132 Whitelaw, c Sims, b Read 12 Wallace, c Sims, b Read . 38 Vivian, c Parks, b Sims . 20 Hadlee, not out 47 Extras ...... 12 Total for 4 wickets . 261 Bowling: O. M. R. W. Baxter 8 0 24 0 Parks 11 4 22 0 Read 11 2 31 2 Sims 9 1 39 1 Langridge 4 1 17 0 Human 1 0 3 0