Hutton's Double Century Puts England On Top

Northern Advocate, 16 August 1949, Page 6

Hutton's Double Century Puts England On Top

LONDON, Mon. (11 a.m.). —On a pitch that steadily improved as a perfect summer day wore on, England scored the excellent total of 4 for 432 in five and threequarter hours in reply to New Zealand’s 345 in the fourth and final test. The chief architect was Hutton, who made 206 in just on five hours (25 fours), and took part in two good stands with Simpson (147) and Edrich (218). His second century was hit in only 85 minutes, and was packed with delightful cricket.

Simpson proved a good opening partner and Edrich, who made the exact century (14 fours) was nearly as attractive, though not so flawless. It was a good day for Cresswell, making his first test appearance, for, in addition to a neat innings, he took all four wickets for 146. With Cave he bore the brunt of the bowling, and neither Cowie nor Burtt was as dangerous as in the previous tests. England is now 87 ahead with six wickets ii. hand; if they can score quickly again tomorrow morning New Zealand may have to work hard for a draw. About 28,000 people attended. LAST WICKET STAND The New Zealand innings ended with a useful stand by Burt and Cresswell.

In the 37 minutes since lunch 52 runs had been added.

Now Hutton was approaching his century, and his appetite for three figures was greater than his desire to compete with the clock. With Edrich, who was nearly stumped by Reid when he strayed from the crease after playing Cave, he became so cautious that only five runs were scored in 20 minutes, and the crowd showed a tendency to become impolite. Edrich relented by square-driving Burtt off the back foot, punching him past mid-off and turning him to leg; and, when Cresswell took the new ball at 191, hooked a bad-length delivery so viciously that it bounced into the crowd. Hutton’s rather painful progress through the 90’s nearly ended at 99, when Cowie made a ball rise sharply, but it bounced two yards in front of Rabone. In the next over, Hutton glanced Cowie to leg for four, and had thus taken 45 minutes to move from 90 to 103. His century had taken three and a half hours. « CENTURIAN AWOKE He celebrated by off-driving Cowie for another four. This gave England 200, so the second 100 had taken 100 minutes. Hutton now began hitting freely again, and scored so rapidly that it was difficult to commend him for his extreme determination to get his century. Edrich made some good shots off the back foot, and at tea, after three hours 50 minutes, the score was 239 (Hutton 130, Edrich 35). This was the New Zealand score on Saturday, and England had reached the same total in quarter of an hour less time. Hutton took 13 off Cave in an over, hitting all round the wicket. He then proceeded to demonstrate his great art as a batsman, and drove all the New Zealand bowlers all round the ground with majestic ease. Edrich faltered once befort Cowie, snicked and Reid touched the ball out o'' reach of Scott’s eager hands at first slip. HURRICANE RATE The runs came swiftly, Hutton took 35 minutes for his third 50, Edrich was 50 in 2 hours and the score moved from 200 to 300 in 55 minutes. The pitch now was a batsman’s paradise; Edrich revelled in it. He on-drove Cresswell for a near six, hooked Cowie to the square-leg boundary, and off-drove him for another four. Sutcliffe took a magnificent catch off Edrich, but Cresswell had bowled a no ball. Hutton reached his double century in 4 hours 55 minutes, having taken only 85 for his second 100. CRESSWELL’S FOURTH RETURN Then, entirely care-free, he lofted Cresswell straight back past the wicket and Rabone took the catch neatly; everyone in the Oval rose, stretched themselves and applauded as Hutton walked back and the New Zealanders, too, could scarcely forbear to cheer. Out strode Compton, a threatening sight; he lived briefly but happily until Cresswell had him caught by Scott at mid-on. Edrich, dropped at square-leg by Donnelly at 76 off Cresswell, went on to his century in 3 hours 5 minutes. Then he, too, fell to Cresswell, trying to sweep to leg, and Cave took a fine catch to complete a good day’s work. Bailey was restrained, but Brown was interested in runs and collected them fairly quickly. Fall of wickets:—l for 147, 2/365, 3/395, 4/401. Scores:—

Cowie lasted only three balls before he was caught off Bedser by Hutton at leg slip and then we had aci inters tine duel, between two New ZeaIrnd and two England bowlers. Bedser and Bailey worked with energy and precision and, if Burtt r; Cressw II were grateful for two edges to their bats they were no less gratified at the runs they snicked to Ire and through the slips. Yet, as their confidence grew, they ■ }rr , - ■u-Uo r |rq f RurM

square-drove Bedser to the boundary and then Cresswell treated Bailey with similar familiarity.

He was so gleeful that he dashed dowr. the centre of the pitch and was reproved by the umpire; whereupon •e patted down the sprig marks with - 'll'- -’nr] nl->noed Bailev through the slips for a two and one u;nesi score of the tour.

It was all over when Burtt snicked Bailey and Evans roared with delight; Burtt batted well for 1 hour 35 minutes for his 36 and proved that the New Zealand tail could wag. OUT FOR RUNS

So England began with Hutton and Simpson, the latter having been promoted to open instead of Washbrook. and obviously Brown’s instructions were that the New Zealand example of a run a minute should be emulated Cowie and Cresswell opened the bowling and, of the two, Cresswell was treated with more respect. Both had an eye to trapping Hutton on the leg side where, on previous occasions, the New Zealanders had found him a trifle weak; but neither he nor Simpson had a chink in his armour in this direction, and the trap did not spring but had to be unloosed and men used in other directions. Simpson again was more energetic, scoring on the off; yet. though he hit the first England boundary by driving Cresswell past mid-off, he was more than a trifle suspicious of Cresswell’s swingers, and once was content to pat him for three maidens.

Cresswell frequently rapped both Simpson and Hutton on their left pads but the batsmen’s legs were well wide of the stumps and there was no appeal. Cowie, who was bowling a trifle short, gave way to Cave after 40 minutes; Hutton on-drove him immediately for three, but once Cave got into his stride he bowled really well and aided Cresswell to check the scoring rate. BURTT-HUTTON DUEL

The first hour saw 47 scored. After Cresswell had bowled for an hour he was replaced by Burtt. He had made a fine test debut. Hutton and Burtt, now old antagonists, eyed each other thoughtfully, and Hutton had the better of the exchanges. Twice he punched Burtt past point to the boundary, hitting off the back foot, his wrists steel springs. They, were perfect shots, and it was a case of diamond cut diamond.

Simpson, though he once swept Burtt to the mid-wicket boundary, had his doubts about the left-armer and once was trapped into advancing too far and missing the ball; unfortunately Reid, who was deputising well for Mooney, did not gather the ball cleanly and the chance was missed with Simpson at 38. At lunch England was 95 after 105 minutes, and both Hutton and Simpson were 46. SIMPSON WELL CAUGHT As soon as they returned they set about catching up with the clock, and Cowie, who had changed ends and Burtt both were hit with firmness and power. Simpson turned Cowie to leg to bring 100 up in 110 minutes, and, in the same over, both batsmen reached their 50 s off Burtt, Hutton in 114 minutes Simpson in 115. Cresswell returned for Cowie, and fittingly took the first wicket. Simpson swept into the untightened leg trap, and Donnelly took a good catch at backward square-leg. Simpson batted well for two hours 20 minutes for his 68, and England was now ahead of the clock.

NEW ZEALAND First Innings Sutcliffe, c Bedser, b Hollies 88 Scott, c Edrich, b Bedser 60 Reid, lbw, b Wright i 5 Wallace, c Edrich, b Bedser 55 Donnelly, c Edrich, b Bailey 27 Hadlee, c Evans, b Bedser 25 Rabone, c Evans, b Bailey 18 Burtt, c Evans, b Bailey 36 Cave, b Compton 10 Cowie, c Hutton, b Bedser 1 Cresswell. not out 12 Extras 8 Total 345 Bowling: Bailey 26.1 overs. 7 maidens, 72 runs. 3 wickets; Bedser 31, 6, 74, 4; Edrich 3,0, 16, 0; Wright 22, 1, 93, 1; Laker 3,0, 11, 0: Hollies 20, 7, 51, 1; Brown 5,1, 14, 0; Compton 2, 0. 6, 1. ENGLAND First Innings Simpson, c Donnelly, b Cresswell .. 68 Hutton, c Rabone, b Cresswell 206 Edrich, c Cave, b Cresswell 100 Compton, c Scott, b Cresswell .... 13 Bailey, not out 10 Brown, not out 21 Extras 14 Total (for 4 wkts) 432 Bowling: Cowie 22 overs 1 maiden, 101 runs, 0 wickets; Cresswell 36, 6, 146, 4; Cave 24, 4, 78, 0; Burtt 24, 2, 93. 0.