NINE BOWLING CHANGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18316, 5 February 1923, Page 8

NINE BOWLING CHANGES

TO DISLODGE ENGLISHMEN.

GREAT DISPLAY BY LOWRY.

COLLINS' AND BLUNT'S STAND

[by telegraph.— CORRESPONDENT..! WELLINGTON. Sunday. Saturday's play in the test match was not particularly thrilling- The features were Lowry's fine innings for M.C.C., and the stand made by Collins and Blunt when New Zealand's performance had already reached the stage of a forlorn hope. With an overnight lead of 14 runs over New Zealand's first innings' total, and seven wickets still to fall, the visitors were in a strong position. Bernau had accounted for the three wickets that had already fallen. The light -southerly that came up on Friday morning had cleared the moisture--laden air and provided ideal weather. By Saturday morning, however, it had given place to a gusty northerly, which carried the dust of the streets with it and swopt hats and paper across the ground. The bails were being continually blown off the wickets. In tlio afternoon, however, the wind fell and there was once more ideal cricketing weather. The pitch played fast and true. It was possibly the best that has ever been provided in New Zealand. In the morning there was but a sparse attendance of the public, but before the afternoon was far advanced the crowd had grown until it numbered 5000. .* ... Chapman and Lowry resumed play, and the onlookers were quite prepared to see the former continue his brilliant performance of the day before, but, after adding a few runs, Chapman was bowled by McGirr. Lowry, however, was in the hittiiif; vein and scored freely. Brice bowled Cal ;horpe before the latter, had scored a run, Then followed a long and lively partnership with Lowry and Mac Lean, each severely punishing the bowling. Collins tried almost every conceivable change of bowling, including himself, and it was the last resort that was effective, for, though the New Zealand captain bowled only one over, off which six runs wore scored, he had the satisfaction of seeing Mac Lean (53) caught off his bowling.

Lowry's Strong Hitting. Lowry continued to hit hard. He was now nearing his century, and with One mighty stroke he sent the ball clean out of the" field to square leg for six. . When a few minutes later he cot his hundred, he was heartily applauded. The rest of the innings needs no describing. It seemed likely that Lowry would carry his bat right through, but near the end he hit one of Mcßeath's up and Dacre made a good catch. He had scored 130 by forceful cricket and he received a great ovation as ho returned to the pavilion, several of the crowd rushing to meet him and cheering; To New Zealanders, also, it was some satisfaction to know that the highest score on the English side had been made by a young Now Zealander.

The New Zealand innings opened disastrously. Three, wickets were lost for 18 runs, and at one stage Freeman, the professional, had an average of two wickets for two runs. Soon after 10 had been made Collins received a hard smack on the leg from Gibson's bowling and lay for a minute writhing in pain. He was, however, soon able to resume play, but the injury he had received was an obvious handicap to him throughout the rest of his innings, especially in running between the wickets.

Slant's Stonewall Opening. A feature was the stand made by Collins (Wellington) and Blunt (Canterbury). Blunt was very careful at the start. Indeed, he was much slower at first than Wilson had been for M.C.C. and, whereas a section of the crowd had jeered Wilson, they had no comment to make while the New Zealander was slowly compiling his first ten or a dozen runs. Bluni continued his blocking, but when he had # "played himself in" he began stepping out to Freeman and hitting him frequently to the boundary, to tho delight of the big crowd. He was now repeatedly cheered. He raised his score to 40, and the English bowling was changed. He quickly added another 10 and was still more loudly cheered. He was batting with great confidence and now scoring at a faster rate than Collins.

At 69 the latter was caught by the wicketkeeper, and as he limped back to the pavilion the crowd rose at him and cheered again. He had more than justified his selection when it is remembered that he is now a farmer resident a long way from any place where he can get good practice. Collins' performance in the test matches is worthy of all praise. After he left the crease Blunt went merrily on until, at the close of the day's play, he had almost reached his captain's score and was still not out. The side's total was 178 with five wickets in hand. New Zealand requires 57 runs to save an inning's defeat.