Delightful Climax To 2nd Day At Northampton

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1949, Page 6

Delightful Climax To 2nd Day At Northampton

NORTHAMPTON, Thu. (11.25 a.m.).— -Northamptonshire were saved from the follow on against New Zealand by the 23-year-olcl colliery worker, Barrick, who, in his first match for the county hit 147. not out in three and a half hours (20 fours, one six) out of a total of 338. When eight Northants wickets were down for 227 it seemed that a follow on was inevitable;, but Barrick, with the felt-hand fast bowler Clarke, added 82 in 50 minutes of delightful cricket, while the New Zealanders worked hard with cheerful, though slightly rueful, grins.

Sutcliffe and Scott batted again for 10 minutes of the New Zealand second innings, and scored eight. The day began with thunder showers, which delayed play for just on on hour. It was expected that rain might affect the wicket, but, though it quickened for a time, it slowed in pace later and began to show a tendency to shed divots. In addition to Barrick, Oldfield, dropped twice, made a useful 78. Hayes, who recently strained a muscle—not a serious complaint but one which will require his leg being strapped for the remainder of the tour—had a good deal of bad luck, many snicks flying high beyond the reach of the slips. New Zealand now is 126 ahead, and an interesting finish on the last day seems likely. Hayes was distinctly unlucky in not having Oldfield caught in the first over of the day by Reid at second slip.

Barrick demonstrated the amateur’s keenness for straight driving. Burtt tricked Oldfield with one that turned, and Reid took his second catch at slip. Barrick reached his 50 in 90 minutes, and at tea tire score was four for 181. When Skinner was riui out smartly, Broderick bowled by Burtt and Nutter yorked by Hayes and Harlick caught by Mooney off Cave, all within 40 minutes, it looked as though Northants could not avoid the follow on. A NEW lIEItO Then Barrick really showed what he could do. He hit four fours off Hayes in one over—a snick high over slips’ heads, a square cut, off and cover drives. Clarke square drove his first ball from Cave for four and produced some good left-handed strokes. In 15 minutes 32 runs were added. Barrick delighted in straight driving with a high loft and a flourishing follow through, and scores of schoolboys crowed for a new-found hero. i-Ie hit eight fours in 12 scoring shots to reach his century in 152 minutes. The 300 was on the board in 260 minutes, and then Barrick on-drove Burke to the boundary to save the follow-on. None of the New Zealand bowlers seemed certain as to how they should attack him; but Burtt bowled Clarke as some compensation for the battering he was receiving. A SINGING TEAM Barrick, with the last man in, worked up to a delightful climax. He straight drove Burtt for six just wide ,of the sight-screen, and farmed the bowling from Constable. They ran several singles and missed being run out by inches, amid delighted chuckles from Northants supporters. Wallace, who had been fielding beautifully all day, missed a harddriven catch at silly mid-off by Constable off Burke; but Mooney made no mistake about stumping Constable two balls later. ° Sutcliffe and Scott were having no nonsense about quick wickets in the final few minutes. It was a fine day’s cricket which the Northants people thoroughly enjoyed. It certainly does not detract from the New Zealanders’ popularity that, though they can take quick runs off the counties, their own bowling can occasionally be mastered and bright replies maqje. Nor does it worry the New Zealanders, who invariably return to their hotel singing. Scores were:

Both he and Reid were more fortunate with Brookes, who was caught off his glove with only seven runs scored. In the 50 minutes of play before lunch Oldfield grateful for his escape, and Barron, a left-hander, snicked and cut usefully and hit 51. LIKE A BOMB They went off again like a bomb after the interval and put cn 21 in 12 minutes, taking 13 from Hayes in one over. Both Haves and Cave were making the ball rise sharply. Several shots went high over the heads of the slips. When Burtt came on for Cave he bowled Barron with his first ball. After Oldfield had cut Hayes and driven him and given Mocney a difficult chance on the leg side, Hayes gave his best bowling of the day and yorked Bennett. Oldfield and Barrick now settled down to a good partnership of 74. They had 100 on the board in 92 minutes. Oldfield pulled a short ball from Cave for six and reached his 50 in 100 minutes. Both were batting well.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE First Innings Brookes, c Reid, b Hayes 0 Oldfield, c Reid, b Burtt 70 Barron, b Burtt 20 Bennett, b Hayes 3 Barrick, not out 147 Skinner, run out 10 Broderick, b Burtt 5 Nutter, b Hayes 2 Garlick, c Mooney, b Cave 7 Clarke, b Burtt 3-1 Constable, b Burke 12 Extras 10 Total 308 Bowling: Hayes 22 overs, 2 maidens, 104 runs, 3 wickets; Cave 13, 1, 50, 1; Reid 3. 0, 16. 0; Burke 19, 1. 63. 1; Burtt 31, 7, 91, 4; SutcLiffe 1. 0. 4, 0. NEW ZEALAND First Innings Total (for 7 wkts. dec 456 Bowling: Nutter 28 overs, 6 maidens, 95 runs, 2 wickets; Clarke 23, 1, 81. 1; Barrick 7. 0, 58. 0; Garlick 30, 5, 110, 2; Broderick 31, 4. 96. 2. Second Innings Sutcliffe, not out 2 Scott, not out 6 Total (for 0 wickets) 8