BATSMEN'S DAY OUT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19525, 3 January 1927, Page 12

BATSMEN'S DAY OUT.

WELLINGTON'S STRONG SIDE.

TWO CENTURIES SCORED..

GREAT INNINGS BY BADCOCK,

[by telegraph press association.] CHRISTCHURCH. Sunday. The Wellington team fully sustained its reputation as one of the finest batting sides that has ever played for the Plunket Shield by the display in its first innings yesterday against Canterbury, generally considered to be a strong bowling side. Throughout the day the visitors, kept the local men in the field and scored at an average rate of nearly 100 runs an hour. At times they made the Canterbury bowling look third rate and their total of 488 seems likely to make a win in the match secure.

The weather was ideal, the wicket good and the outfield fast. Under the circumstances the winning of the toss was decidedly an advantage to the visitors. The strength of the Wellington batting was not revealed until fairly late in the day. After Worker's comparatively early dismissal Hiddleston and Kortjang, by very sound batting, took the edge off the Canterbury attack and added 105 runs for the partnership. After Kortlang's departure Lambert maintained the high standard df batting and. Canterbury was lucky to get him run out. He. really sacrificed his wicket and saved Hiddleston. The latter called for a run and went for it. Lambert refused the call, but seeing that the loss of one wicket was inevitable unselfishly crossed although he had no chance of getting home. Surprise for Canterbury.

After the second century had been passed luck came Canterbury's way. Dempster left at 207, Hiddleston at 224, McGirr at 226 and Hollings at 240. With seven cut for 240 probabilities seemed that Canterbury would not have a total of more than 300 to face. Then came a surprise. Badcock joined James and at once proceeded to make the bowling look second rate. He hit the bowling all over the ground, not by uppish or reckless strokes, but by masterly shots to every point in the field and rarely off the carpet. James also batted soundly. The rate of the scoring was astonishing. One batsman scored off every ball for two consecutive overs, and all except one in the next. In addition the two batsmen gave an exhibition of running between the wickets which has rarely been seen at Lancaster Park. The result was that the bowling was worn out and the field thoroughly demoralised. The Badoock-James' partnership put on 154 runs in 75 minutes. Badcock carried his total to 155 before he , slipped in front of a ball from Read and was out, leg before. Brilliant Batting Display. Critics were agreed that no more brilliant batting had been seen in Plunket Shield matches than that by Badcock. He did not score off occasional balls. It was only an occasional ball from which he did not score. He turned defence into attack by scoring off balls that ordinarily good batsmen would have been content simply to play.

Hiddleston was second only to Badcock in aggressiveness. James got his 56 by sound cricket but was considerably troubled by Sandman's slow deliveries. Read had the best bowling figures, but in his second spell with the ball he lost his length and was expensive. Cunningham bowled well for long periods but also had bad patches in which he failed to keep a length, Mcßeth was the most accurate bowler and most useful on the day. Canterbury's fielding was below shield match standard and it broke down utterly when Badcock and James put a real strain on it. Scores are: —

WELLINGTON.—First Innings. Hiddleston, c Gregory, b Cunningham 114 Worker, lbw, b Read . . •. 9 Kortlang, c and b Sandman . . . . 55 Lambert, run out .16 Dempster, c Boon, b Read .. .. 9 McGirr, b Mcßeth . « • • • • 6 James, c Boon, b Cunningham .. 56 Hollings, lbw, b Mcßeth . . . . 8 Badcock,- lbw, b Read . . .. 155 Brice, c Cunningham, b Read * . . 15 Henderson, not out * 18 Extras .« *.« •« »• 2 ? Total • • 488 Bowling Analysis.—Read took four wickets for 107 runs, Cunningham two for 132. Sandman one for 95, Mcßeth two for 93, Patrick none for 17, Gregory none for 17. ■