13 New Zealanders In Birmingham Match

Northern Advocate, 4 August 1949, Page 3

13 New Zealanders In Birmingham Match

BIRMINGHAM, Wed. (11.30 a.m.).—On a cold, blustery day New Zealand won the toss and scored 9 for 302 against Warwickshire. Once again, Donnelly made a notable addition to the total with 106 not out, and, though his was not quite as polished 'a performance as usual in the middle stages, it was an invaluable innings.

Wallace again was in form and seemed well set for a century when he was beaten by the New Zealander, Pritchard, with a ball that .turned off the seam, and was caught in slips. In addition to Pritchard, Warwickshire played Don Taylor from Auckland, who has accepted professional terms with the county for three years. He will not qualify to play in county championship matches for two years, but is available for other first-class matches. Pritchard had a good day, improved in accuracy in the afternoon and took 5 for 95. He collected his 100th wicket for the season by having Burtt leg before. The pitch was slow-paced, and did not help the bowlers much. The crowd was estimated at 13,000 and gave Donnelly, who batted for four hours, a good welcome to his “home” county ground and roundly applauded him for his century. Warwickshire is. now second in the county championship, and a hardfought finished is expected. PRITCHARD PUMMELLED Sutcliffe and Rabone began slowly but steadily and, of the two fast bowlers, Grove was rather more accurate than Pritchard, whose pace was not as fast as the New Zealanders had anticipated, and whose direction inclined to vary.

Sutcliffe found it profitable to play him to the on and twice pulled him vigorously .to the boundary. The left-hander also was using his off and cover drive more freely today. Rabone, according to his habit, scored more slowly and more thoughtfully, but once straight drove past the wicket for four.

When Kardar, a left-arm leg-break bowler, and Hollies, right-arm leg break, came on Rabone swept with purpose to leg and twice tucked the Indian away nicely to the boundary. Sutcliffe rammed him back past the wicket and pulled him for four, and reached his 50 in 80 minutes.

Hollies required rather more careful attention for, though the wicket was rarely taking spin, he was bowling an accurate length. When it seemed likely that the opening pair would be worth a 100 Hollies changed the picture by taking three wickets in three successive overs. First he had Sutcliffe caught and bowled. FOUR QUICK WICKETS Then, in his next over, Rabone, pulling for the first time in his innings, was well caught by Gardiner at forward short leg; finally, to round off an excellent spell of bowling, Hollies beat Reid with one that turned slightly from the leg. Reid played back too late. New Zealand lost its fourth wicket before lunch, when Smith went in a surprising manner. Pritchard, who came on for Kardar, sent him a perfectly straight ball. Smith never made a shot, but just lifted the bat above his shoulder. After lunch Wallace began where he left off at Swansea, put Kardar through the covers twice, and then pulled him for a perfect six. Next ball he square-cut to the boundary. Donnelly, restrained and precise, scored frequently to the off, and the partnership was 53 in 55 minutes. DASHING WALLACE At 163 Pritchard took the new ball. His first delivery Wallace square-cut to the boundary, the second he put through the covers for another four, and the third he turned to leg for three—lo off three successive balls. The fourth moved away slightly to the off, Wallace was not sufficiently over it, and Townsend took a fine catch at second slip. It was a good ball, which turned off the seam, but bad luck for Wallace, who, once again, batted with his old form. His stand with Donnelly yielded 80 in 80 minutes. He hit seven fours and one six. Hadlee never seemed at ease today, and he, too, was beaten by Pritchard with a ball on the off that turned into the wicket from his pads. The umpire never hesitated. DONNELLY AGAIN Donnelly reached his 50 after tea by patting Pritchard to the off for a single; he had taken two hours 20 minutes. Pritchard, who had changed ends and was bowling with the wind with the new ball, was now much more accurate than during the morning and shattered Mooney’s wicket and then went on to get Burtt leg before for his 100th wicket of the season.

Mooney had shaped nicely, and once pulled Hollies, who bowled well all day, with power and grace for four. Cowie died a few deaths against both Pritchard and Hollies; but pulled a no ball from Pritchard and then swept Hollies to leg. LAST-WICKET STAND He was caught at square-leg by Wolton off Hollies after adding to the gaiety of the proceedings. Cresswell, as he did at Gloucester, combined in a useful last-wicket stand vith Donnelly. They put on 35 in 32 minutes, and the partnershio enabled Donnelly to reach his century in 3 hours 50 minutes. (10 fours). Scores were:— Fall of New Zealand wickets: 1 for 83, 2/84 ,3/93, 4/93, 5/173, 6/195, 7/227, 8/235, 9/264. NEW ZEALAND First Innings Sutcliffe, c and b Hollies 58 Rabone, c Gardiner, b Hollies 24 Reid, b Hollies 1 Smith, b Pritchard 5 Donnelly, not out 106 Wallace, c Townsend, b Pritchard .. 48 Hadlee, lbw, b Pritchard 6 Mooney, b Pritchard 12 Burtt, lbw. b Pritchard \... 0 Cowie, c Wolton, b Hollies \.. 11 Cresswell. not out t.. li Extras , 20 Total (for 9 wkts) 302 Bowling: Pritchard, 34 overs, 6 maidens, 95 runs, 5 wickets; Kadar, 19, 4, 47, 0; Grove, 17, 3, 38. 0; Hollies, 43, 8, 81, 4; Townsend, 7,1, 21. 0.