DEBACLE AVENGED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20472, 25 January 1930, Page 13

DEBACLE AVENGED.

REAL TEST FOR M.C.C.

NEW DOMINION RECORDS.

BRILLIANT BATTING BY MILLS. [bit telegraph.—own CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Friday. Few supporters of cricket in the Dominion were prepared to accept tho performance of New Zealand's representatives in the first test against the M.C.C. team as a true lino on the standard of plav in tho Dominion and it was confidently expected that in tho second test at Wellington, under favourable conditions, there would bo a showing more in keeping with the reputation left, by New Zealand's cricketers in England. The most sanguine supporters, however, could not have anticipated such a bold showing as that made against the M.C.C. to-day. Amends were made well and truly for the Christchureh debacle and the visiting cricketers were put to an entirely different test. They had a field day and the best they could do was to dispose of only three batsmen during the playing period of nearly five and a-half hours. For over lour and a-quartor hours they were occupied in trying to separate New Zealand's opening pair, Dempster and Mills, and they only succeeded when the batsmen became careless. Fit for the Best Company.

An opening partnership yielding 276 runs was easily the best ever recorded for a New Zealand team. By it Dempster and Mills proved once again that they are fit for the best of company. Not only was their partnership a record for New Zealand, but it also execeeded in runs tho total scores for an innings in all but one of the. tests which have been played against visiting English teams. The batsmen were also responsible for creating a record in scoring two centuries in an innings—or a match for that matter—in tests with English teams. Only two centuries have been scored previously by New Zealanders in tests with English teams, D. Reese making 148 against the English team of 1902-3, and D. C. Collins compiling 102 against Maclaren's team in 1922-3. To-day's score of 339 for three wickets places New Zealand in a sufficiently commanding position to make it practically certain that a definite decision, as far as the rubber is concerned, will not be reached until the Auckland test match which will be the first ever played against an English team in Auckland. This will be the position even if the present match is drawn, and unless the Englishmen fail in the batting there appears to be every likelihood of a drawn game, since only three days are allotted for the match. New Zealand's Good Fortune.

The visitors have been dogged by unfavourable conditions in their tour, but they could have wished for nothing better than those which obtained in Wellington to-day. It was New Zealand's good fortune, however, to have first use of the wicket.

The M.C.C. team is well supplied in medium-fast to fast bowling, and the chance to have it fully tested was offered to-day. While it commanded a g9od deal of respect it never looked as dangerous as it was made out to be in previous matches, and it was left to Frank Woolley (o do the damaga—what little was done. Early in the match Nicholls, the express bowler, rocked in his deliveries in a manner which suggested that lie was likely to be dangerous, but after a few overs he tired and his pace slackened. Right at the outset he gave Dempster a hard limo of it and the batsman made tho mistake of indicating by dropping his bat that he was not at home. Later, however, lie became more confident and demonstrated that the bowler was not on (op this time. Nichols had to be nursed to some extent and ho was not used as much as Allom, Barratt and JVorthington. the medium fast trio. Now and again these bowlers made the ball rise sharply but a close watch was kept on them and they rarely troubled the batsmen when Dempster and Mills were once into their stride. Woolley's Good Average. The inclusion of Bowley to lend variety to the attack was not very beneficial to the visitors, Bowley having had no play since the first match of the tour against Western Australia. Woolley, the other slow bowler, was not called upon until shortly before the tea adjournment, by wliicli lime 223 inns had been scored. Even then his participation in the attack did not disturb the batsmen, and they finished up (lie second session unbeaten, much to the delight, of (he record crowd of spectators for an off day in Wellington. It, was after the tea adjournment (hat Dempster and Mills, when both over the century mark, commenced (o take more liberties than usual and both paid the penalty. Mills attempted a big hit and was bowled, and Dempster stepping out was smartly stumped. Woolley's figures were further improved when lie had to deal with' Lowry who generally appears to bo in difficulties against slow bowling. It took an exceedingly smart catch on Duleepsinhji's part, however, to support Woolley in tho dismissal of the New Zealand captain. At, that stage Woolley had taken three wickets for 27 runs, remarkable figures compared with those of tho other bowlers. Jn (he closing stages of (lie day's play Page demonstrated that there were no terrors in the bowling for him, but Blunt was inclined to nibble at. the off deliveries and was lucky to be unbeaten at stumps. Two Great Performances.

Although Dempster gave glimpses of his best form, his batting generally was not as impressive as that of Mills. For all that Dempster's performance wa3 great and in the early stages of tlio innings the Wellington player was able tp fake and deal with most of the bowling, while Mills, playing his first match against this M.CC. team, took stock. During the first half hour Mills made only one scoring stroke. When the right time camo he started to score freely and went on to give one of the finest, displays of effortless batting ever seen here. In all his actions he reminded ono of S. G. Smith at his best. Each of the opening batsmen had his scoring periods and once Mills had drawn level with Dempster there was never a big margin between their scores. Dempster's innings was flawless, except, for a hard chance he gave t» the wicket-keeper when he was 27, and Mills made only ono or two weak strokes, one a chance when ho was 102.

A feature, of Mills' great effort was the manner in which he dealt with the short pitched bumping deliveries. Most of those which camo his way were banged hard to leg. The Mills-Dempster partnership was n memorable one, and although the rungetting was not fast, the play was intensely interesting and the progress of the opening partnership gradually worked up enthusiasm to a very high pitch. It was a great day's cricket.