Tension, Laughter Af End Of Northanfs Match

Northern Advocate, 16 July 1949, Page 7

Tension, Laughter Af End Of Northanfs Match

NORTHAMPTON, Fri. (11.20 a.m.),— I The final eight minutes of the New Zealand-Northants match were filled with tension and laughter. With eight wickets down, Garlick and Clarke, two county bowlers, were ringed by New Zealanders, avid lor catches which would give them the game—for, though they wanted only two wickets, Northants required 131 runs. Each time the batsmen poked or prodded the ball there was a burst of amusement round the ground.

But the North;jnts bowlers had the last laugh, for they carried their bats and the match ended in a draw.

New Zealand's policy was to make as' many runs as possible in the two and a half hours lo lunch, but this was not immediately easy, for the wicket, after heavy rain overnight, was tricky and the Northants mediumfast bowlers, Nutter and the left-armer Clarke, were making the ball rise sharply or shoot low. Nutter knocked out Sutcliffe's offstump after 20 minutes, with as many runs on the board, and Reid began cautiously.

The best of the last day's play came from Reid, who scored a fine 72 in his true New Zealand form and must have improved still further his chances of playing in the third test. He hit cleanly, with great power, and has now scored 245 in his last three innings. There also was a brisk 48 not out by Donnelly, and a 97 by Brookes, of Northants. New Zealand batted for two and a half hours in the morning and declared at 4 for 154. This left Northants to hit 313 in 200 minutes: they made 182 for 8 wickets. Sutcliffe clinched his reputation as a budding bowler by taking four for 07 and holding two good catches. During one . spell he bowled six overs, one maiden, and took 3 for 23. Barrick, who yesterday saved Northants need of the follow-on and helped prevent Now Zealand winning, was out for 11.

Scott used his on-drive and push through the covers and scored most, of the runs in the first hour, but when he was within sight of 50, Garlick, an off-spinner, who was using the pitch effectively, had him caught off his gloves at fine leg.

As only (52 had been scored. Wallace decided to push the pace along, and in 10 minutes hit 20 with firm pulls, one of which was a six. and a delightful off-drive. Then he played over the lop to Garlick and was bowled.

His nod was as good as a wink to Reid, who began some glorious hitting. He took 14 off Broderick, the slow left-armer, in one over, including his first, six of the tour, which was as many as he had scored in the previous hour, and then went on to reach his 50 in 90 minutes.

I-lis pulling was both pretty and powerful, and he swung Clarke round to leg for another fine six. DONNELLY HITS FREELY.

With Donnelly he added 72 in 50 minutes and was then caught by the wicketkeeper playing back to Garlick.

He hit seven fours and two sixes. Donnelly now continued where Reid left off and, with Mooney, added another 30 runs in the last 15 minutes.

He hit freely, particularly on the leg side, and once or twice used his immaculate on-drive —walking into the ball as he hit.

Mooney kept up his end and gave Donnelly as much of the bowling as possible. The pitch dried out towards the end of the morning, and, though it was taking turn, it was by no means as tricky. The sun was shining as Northamptonshire began its second innings, not too fortunately for, in his third over, Hayes saw Oldfield chop a ball on to bis stumps with only five runs scored. Brookes, who played for the MCC Ln the West Indies and was in the test trials this year, was sedate and. with .Barron, took the score to .30 in tire first, hour. SCTCLIFE AS BOWLER. Then Sutcliffe took a beautiful catch at cover when Barron hit out. to a full toss on the off from Burke. Sutcliffe followed up his success by bowling Bennett with a leg break. He nearly had Barrick caught byMooney before scoring! . but Mooneyallowed Barrick no second chance, and held him off Reid when he had scored 11, with 99 on the telegraph. Brookes reached 50 in 135 minutes, and gave Northanfs 100 with the same stroke.

When Wallace, at silly mid-off, caught Skinner off Sutcliffe, the score was 131. and Burt.t bowled to Broderick, with the New Zealanders ringed round him like so many crows waiting for a catch. But Broderick was not intimidated, and pulled Burtt for four. BATSMEN HELD OUT

Brookes took eight from Sutcliffe in one over, to enter the nineties, and 31 was scored in 13 minutes—the fastest of this innings. Burtt, had Broderick eventually, however, when Sutcliffe took another good catch at silly mid-on. Then Sutcliffe further distinguished himself by bowling Brookes when he was 97 (15 fours), and Garlick came to the crease with three wickets standing and the match 15 minutes to live.

Sutcliffe had Nutter caught, by Burtt at short forward-leg, and Clarke came in with eight minutes to go. but both •he and Garlick hit six runs.and saved the match for Northants.