Warwickshire Takes Ist Inninqs Lead Over N.Z.

Northern Advocate, 5 August 1949, Page 6

Warwickshire Takes Ist Inninqs Lead Over N.Z.

BIRMINGHAM, Thu. (11 a.m.). —Warwickshire took a firstinnings lead over New Zealand (303) of 30 by making five for 333 on the second day, and unless the unexpected happens, the match will be drawn.

Birmingham produced a bigger crowd than yesterday, about 15,000, to watch the county bat, and although the first wicket fell in five minutes with only 11 scored, two century partnerships followed with Dollery making a bright 84, hitting 11 fours and one six.

The pitch was drier, but rather slower than on the first day and the ball tended to keep below stump height. It took very little spin and the New Zealand bowlers had an indifferent day, both as regards wickets and personal comfort. Cowie had further trouble with his leg muscle, Rabone strained a waist muscle bowling medium pacers, and Creswell was hit painfully on an arm. A bumpv outfield did not aid clean, tid' fieldine but it was an enjovabl“ day’s cricket, and Warwickshire supporters. proud of their county’s position in the championship table, were delighted with it. BEGAN LIKE A BOMB New Zealand’s first innings was quickly ended by Pritchard in his first over. After Cresswell patted a single. Donnelly or. without adding to his score. With Tavlor, formerly of Auckland and Gardner Warwickshire began like a bnmb Cowie delivering his first over easily to warm up had 10 runs taken from him including two byes. Tavlor turnin? him to lee for‘three and two Gardner took a single off Rabone’s first ball. With his second Taylor was out leg before It was a good effort for Rabone and for the first time on the tour he opened both hatting and howling. STRAINED MUSCLE Unfortunately, he strained a muscle while bowling medium pacers and had to retire to be padded up with something that looked suspiciously like a small corset. But there ■ was nothing feminine about his off spinners which he bowled later in the day! Townsend and Gardner now set about giving some stability to the Warwickshire innings and they were not separated until after lunch. By then they had batted 2hr lOmin and added exactly 100. For the first half of his innings Gardner was inclined to push and poke. Townsend, however, showed some appetite, though some of his shots were risky. GAVE TWO CHANCES He gave two chances, both awkward, one caught and bowled to Cresswell and a lofted shot to Sutcliffe at extra cover. Both were just too high. Though Cowie and Burtt were consistent and accurate, neither could beat the bat and Burtt who was only

three short of 100 wickets, found they were long in coming. After lunch Gardner was much more positive. Townsend was still in inclined to run risks. He took one too many and having run a, single to seal a 100 partnership, he called for another. Donnelly, however, had the ball at deep mid-on and with a perfect return flung it straight to Burtt’s hands above the bails. DOLLERY SCOREsLrAPIDLY Townsend hit 53 in the same time as the stand had lasted—2 hours 10 minutes. Gardner went at length, bowled by Sutcliffe; his 70 took 3 hours. While Ord, short and fair, was patient, Dollery, Warwickshire’s professional captain, began to score rapidly with well-timed leg sweeps. Ord had a life at 17 when Rabone got his hand to the ball in the slips off Burtt. but could not hold it. At 159 Cowie took the new ball and with Cresswell kept the runs down for half an hour. When the shine was off the leather Dollery polished up his score a bit by hitting Sutcliffe for 16 in the over before tea. BROUGHT OUT BIRCH He slashed a full toss to leg, offdrove another, on-drove and square cut. After tea he brought out the birch to Cresswell and Burtt. In half an hour 43 was added, of which he hit 33. He pulled Cresswell for a mighty six to leg and punched Burtt through the covers. Burtt had him eventually, however, when he became a little too familiar, and Smith took a good catch at cover. Dollery batted for 95 minutes, 'hit 84 and a stand worth 116. Ord reached 50 in two and a half hours by turning Burtt to leg. New Zealand was now without Cowie, who did not return after tea. CROWD DERISIVE Burtt, whose bowling one felt had been a little insulted, had injury added when a sharp return by Smith bounced off the bowler’s tracks and the ball struck him on the face. With Cresswell he now kept Ord and Wolton respectful and the crowd, who had tasted blood with their runs, became derisive. Ord removed his gloves and with his bat, offered them to the barrackers. They cheered him with delight, however, when he proceeded to ondrive Burtt to raise 300. They bellowed with contentment when Wolton off-drove Burtt for two and the New Zealand total was passed. There was generous applause for Hadlee when he hit the middle stump from mid-off to have Ord run out at 70. There was sympathy for him when he was struck painfully on the chest by a ball driven by the left-hander Kardar. It travelled like a bullet and was too hot to hold. Hadlee dropped on his face, but recovered after a short rest. Scores:—

NEW ZEALAND First Innings Sutcliffe, c and b Hollies 58 Rabone. c Gardner, b Hollies 24 Reid, b Hollies 1 Smith, b Pritchard 5 Donnelly, b Pritchard 106 Wallace, c Townsend, b Pritchard .. 48 Hadlee, Ibw, b Pritchard 6 Mooney, b Pritchard 12 Burtt lbw. b Pritchard 0 Cowie c Wolton, b Hollies 11 Cresswell, not out 12 Extras 20 Total 303 Bowling: Pritchard, 35 overs, 6 maidens, 96 runs, 6 wickets: Kardar, 19. 4, 47*. 0; Grove, 17, 3, 38, 0; Hollies. 43, 8, 81,-4; Townsend, 7,1, 21, 0. WARWICKSHIRE First Innings Gardner, b Sutcliffe 70 Don Taylor, lbw, b Rabone 5 Townsend, run out 53 Ord, run out 70 Dollery. c Smith, b Burtt 84 Wolton, not out 25 Kardar, not out 15 Extras 11 Total (for 5 wkts) 333 Bowling: Cowie. 17 overs, 4 maidens. 36 runs. 0 wickets; Rabone, 15. 1, 62, 1; Cresswell, 0,5, 94, 0; Burtt, 45, 10, ,89, 1; Sutcliffe, 8, 1. 34. 1; Reid. 2, 0. 7. 0. Fall of Warwickshire wickets: 1/11, 2/111, 3/147, 4/263, 5/310.