LUCK OF THE TOSS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20496, 22 February 1930, Page 13

LUCK OF THE TOSS.

IDEAL BATTING CONDITIONS.

BOWLEY'S UNUSUAL DISMISSAL

A SPLENDID PARTNERSHIP

Fortune favoured the M.C.C. team yesterday when the spin of the coin went to Gilligan, and it was only to be expected under such splendid batting conditions that the side having first use of the wicket would compile a cood score. Nevertheless, it can be said the New Zealand bowlers held to their task well, and at one stage, when M.C.C. had lost four wickets, including its three leading batsmen, for 190 runs, were beginning to get on top. It was thou that a fine partnership between Legge and Nichols, which realised 184 runs, saved what seemed to point to a rather mediocre score.

For the most part the batting of the Englishmen was very quiet. Bowley, who opened tho innings with Dawson, gave a very attractive display, and iti was evident lie has regained his form. Six boundaries were included in his score.

Bowley > who never looked like getting out, was dismissed in a most unusual manner. In moving out to play a forcing shot to Allcott, the ball hit the bottom of his bat and went in the direction of James. At once seeing his opportunity James picked the ball up in a flash and had the bails off before Bowley regained his crease. It was really a brilliant effort on the part of the Wellington wicketkeeper. Batting. Duleepsinhji did not start nearly so well as he did in the match against Auckland, and in hi 3 first over from Matheson nearly played the bowler on twice, tho first time the ball hitting the wicket and the next going to the boundary. Nevertheless, Duleepsinhji gave-a graceful and wristy exhibition, for which he is noted, and the ease with which he made and placed his shots was again a delight to the spectators. He was dismissed by a ball from Allcott which made pace off tho pitch and did rot leave the ground, the occasional shooter for which Eden Park is noted. Duleepsinhji found the boundarv seven times.

Woolley was just settling down when Allcott got a good ball past him which clipped the off stump, the batsman being bowled of! his pads. Allcott was, therefore, responsible for the dismissal of two of the world's leading batsmen. By a strange coincidence, Allcott had *a hand in dismissing the first four batsmen. He was bowling when Bowley was run out, bowled Duleepsinhji and 'Woolley, and caught Dawson in the slips.

Dawson's long innings was the essence of defence and patience, tho batsman showing a paijcity of scoring strokes. At the same time his innings was a very useful one to the side, as he helped to take a lot of sting out of the attack.

Stumping Chance Missed, When Leggo and Nichols became associated the pair were 011 the defence for some time, but after the tea adjournment commenced to attack a tiring bowling side. TJie fine partnership would not, have yielded nearly so many runs had James accepted an easy stumping chance given by Legge off Merritt. Legge played very nice cricket and revealed some ex cellent off strokes from which he scored the majority of his runs. It was in attempting to drive Merritt that he jumped out, missed, and gave James the chance. Previously Legge had met with success in dealing with Merritt in this manner, and I)'! continued t<» do so afterwards. Ho list 12 fours during his innings, and was still unbeaten at stumps. Legge now joins Bowley and Duleepsinhji as a cen-tury-maker in tests on the present tour. A great, feature about Nichols' batting was his forceful forward play and the power he put behind his back shots. Like Legge, he started very quietly, but once settled down proved an attractive batsman to watch. He hit eight fours. Worthington, *vho scored a century in the match against Auckland, failed to score, being clean bowled bv, Merritt.

Allcott put up a remarkable bowling performance, and was the one bowler who commanded great respect throughout. Lowry persevered with him for over after over, and, in all, he sent down 39 overs, 13 of which were maidens, and secured two wickets at a cost of 87 runs. Ft is figures show an average of just over two runs an over—a wonderful performance under the conditions. Maiheson's Bowling. A good deal of inferesfc centred in Matheson, who was playing in his first game for a New Zealand team. The Aucklnnder bowled very well, in the morning making more pace off the. wicket than usually. With a, little luck he would have secured Duleepsinhji's wicket, and besides this, he had the batsmen on the defance on many occasions. Although the conditions were not suitable to a bowler of Merritt's type, the Canterbury slow trundler was unlucky not to secure Legge's wicket when the batsman was in the forties. He also missed an easy catch off liis own bowling given by Nichols. McGirr, the Wellington representative, failed to bowl with his usual sting, and only sent down 11 overs during the day. After opening the attack he was not given another chanco until 300 had been scored.

Lowry handled the attack and placed his field well, but Blunt, who had seven overs at a cost of 13 runs, might have been used more. New Zealand will now be faced with a good score to overtake on the first innings, but providing similar conditions prevail, its batsmen should prove equal to making between 300 and 400 runs.