FOURTH CRICKET TEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20495, 21 February 1930, Page 15

FOURTH CRICKET TEST.

PLAY 'COMMENCES TO-DAY. A FAST WICKET PROBABLE. MATHESON GAINS A PLACE. FOUR AUCKLANDERS INCLUDED. The fourth and final cricket test match between the touring M.C.C. team and New Zealand will commence at Eden Park at 11.30 this morning. The match -- was arranged as an extra one owing to tho third test being interrupted by rain and ono day's play only resulting. The weather prospects yesterday were very promising and a fast wicket and outfield is assured, providing the conditions remain fine. Under these circumstances some bright cricket should bo witnessed. Two of the three tests already played have resulted in a draw, the first being won by M.C.C. by eight wickots. New Zealand made a fine showing in the second test and tho draw was somewhat in its favour. Considerable interest, therefore, centres ui the fourth meeting of the teams.. The personnel of tho New Zealand team is the same as that for the third test, with tho exception of Badcock, Otago, who was not available.- Ho will bo replaced by Matheson, Auckland. Henderson, Wellington, was not available. Tho inclusion of Matheson will now give Auckland a representation of four. Matheson has thoroughly earned his

chance and Jus selection will meet with ' general approval. During the past few seasons he has bowled with distinction in representative cricket. He will be playincc for New Zealand for the fust time. The M.C.C. team concluded a two days' rn/itch against South Auckland at Hamilton yesterday and returned to .Auckland last night. The personnel of its team for the test match will not be known until just prior to the commencement of play this morning. However, ilr. A. H. H. Gilligan, the captain, . stated in Hamilton last evening that the team would probably be the same as that ior the third test. The following players will represent New Zealand: — T. C. Lowry (Wellington), captain. C. S. Dempster (Wellington). J. E. Mills (Auckland). E. C. Blunt (Otago). M. L. Page (Canterbury). G. L. Weir (Auckland). K. C. James (Wellington). G. F. W. Allcott (Auckland). H. M. McGirr (Wellington). A. M. Matheson (Auckland). W. E. Merritt (Canterbury). H. D. Gillespie (Auckland) is twelfth man. The M.C.C. team will be selected from the following:— s A. H. H. Gilligan (Sussex), captain. M. J. C. Allom (Surrey). • F. Barratt (Notts). E. T. Benson (Gloucester). E. ~RJ Bowley (Sussex). W. Cornford (Sussex). E. W. Dawson (Leicester). K. S. Duleepsinhji (Sussex). G. F. Earle (Somerset). G. B. Legge (Kent). if. S. Nichols (Essex). M. J. Turnbull (Glamorgan). F. E. Woollev (Kent). S. W(4rthington (Derbyshire). Messrs. L. T. Cobcroft (Wellington) and K. Cave (Wanganui) will again act as umpires.

M.C.C. AT HAMILTON.

VICTORY BY AN INNINGS. GREAT BATTING BY NICHOLS. t • [BT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL RErOP.TER.] HAMILTON. Thursday. The match between the M.C.C. team and South Auckland was concluded at Seddon Park, Hamilton, to-day, the visitors winping by an innings and 155 runs. The M.C.C. team carried its previous day's score of 161 for three wickets to 546 for seven wickets and then declared the innings closed at the luncheon adjournment. South Auckland was disposed of in the second innings for 105 runs and the match was finished at 4.5 p.m. The feature of the day's play was the display of forceful batting by Nichols, who scored a brilliant century. The wicket played better than on the first day and did not give the bowlers the same assistance. There was again a good attendance of the public and the gate taking 3 totalled £64. The Englishmen resumed their innings with three wickets down for 161, Nichols (9) and Gilligan (1). The total was 225 when Gilligan lost his wicket, spooning a ball from Badeley up to mid-on. Of the 64 runs added in the 29 minutes' of play Nichols accounted for 52, mostly in boundaries.

Nichols and Legge put on 73 runs in 34 minutes, the former claiming 51 of them. Legge was well caught low down at mid-off. The hitting continued when Earle joined Nichols. Earle made 18 in seven minutes, including a six and two fours. Ho was then caught at first slip off a ball which rose sharnly. Nichols' innings came to a close at 133, when he skied a ball from Patrick, Badeley taking a well-judged running catch. Nichols gave a brilliant display to-day. He passed his century by hitting Everest for six. On Wednesday Nichols batted for 32 minutes for 9, but this morning 100 was made in 56 minutes. Nichols made his runs by powerful strokes all round the wicket, but driving was his strong point. It was reminiscent of A. P. F. Chapman at his best, everything getting the full force of the bat. His total included a six and 21 fours. Legge made some nice strokes in getting 17. Earle's effort was purely "slog" at everything. Allom and Worthington were together at the lunch adjournment when Oilligan declared. The South Auckland bowlers were severely dealt with by Nichols, but the fielding was again keen. Patrick was promoted in the South Auckland batting list, opening with Cassidv. When the total was 5 Patrick was appealed against for leg before off Barratt. The batsman walked away from the crease, but returned, as the umpire's decision was in his favour. Patrick was twice struck on the chest by deliveries from Barratt and Allom. The first wicket fell at. 21, when Patrick was caught in the slips off Woolley's first delivery. Eight runs later Woolley caught Cassidy in the slips. Both Patrick and Cassidy shaped well. Thomas batted crisply for 13, scoring practically all his runs by means of a nicely executed late cut. He was dismissed by a brilliant catch bv Worthington. The batsman poked the ball up near the wicket and Worthington ran in from silly point, dived full length, got his hands under the ball and then turned a complete somorsault.

Garrard did not stay long, being bowled by a long hop from Bon ley. Skeet was enthusiastically applauded for hitting three successive tours off Woolley. In (lie same bowler's next over he drove a beautiful six. Badeley emulated Skeet by hitting Bowley to the boundary. He then skied one, but it fell sho a rt of Earle in deep field. The hitting of the slow bowlers caused Nichols to be brought on in Bowlev's place and the change was successful, for in the fast bowler's second over Badeley was caught in the slips by Bowley. South Auckland's first innings total had just been passed. Skeet also fell to the fast bowler, who clean bowled him. Skeet batted really well, making seine good shots, in addition to hitting a six and three fours.

Worthington injured his arm stopping a hard drive, but resumed after a brief retirement, during which Cornford fielded. Everest brought tho centurv up with a boundary off Bowley who " had taken over again at Nichols' end. The innings had been in progress for two hours and five minutes. The tail end batsmen fared badly and Going was absent owing to an injured ankle. The innings closed for 105. Tho Englishmen's bowling was altogether too good for the homo batsmen. The fast men were-not used much. The visitors' fielding was a littlo slack in places, thero being three or four overthrows. Scores are:— SOUTH AUCKLAND. First Innings . . .. ' . . . . 86 Second Innings. Patrick, c Nichols, b Woolley . . 9 Cassidy, c Woolley, b Worthington 16 Thomas, c Worthington, b Woolley 13 Skeet, b Nichols 32 Garrard, b Bowley . . . . . . 3 Badeley, c Bowley, b Nichols . . 12 Hawke. b Woolley 4 Winger, b Bowley 0 Everest, c Worthington, b Bowley . 8 Johnston, not out 0 Going, absent , . . . . . . . 0 Extras . « . ■ .. *. 8 Total .. .. ..105 Fall of Wickets.—One for 21, two for 29, three for 44, four for 61, five for 88, six for 91. seven for 97, eight for 105, nine for 105. Bowling.—Allom took no wickets for 8 runs, Barratt none Jor 9. Worthington one for 14, Woolley tnree for 47, Bowley three for. 14, Nichols two for 5.

ENGLAND.—First Innings. Bowley, b Hawke 48 Benson, c Going, b Badeley . . . , 76 Turnbull, Ibw, b Winger . . w . 11 Nichols, c Badeley, b Patrick .• „ . 133 Gilligan, c sub, b Badeley . * ... 11 Legge, c Cassidv, b Hawke ... » 17 Earle, c Patrick, b Hawke <. „ 18 Allom, not out . . . . ~ ~ 2 Worthington, not out . « . » ». 7 Extras . . . k -.. 23 Total for seven wickets (dec.) . 346 Fall of Wickets.—One for 95, two for 121, three for 161, four for 225, five for 303, six for 327, seven for 336. Bowling.—Going took no wickets for 36 runs, Everest none for 65, Hawke three for 72, Badeley two for 36, Johnston none for 36. Patrick one for 39, Winger one for 39.