FORTUNES VARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22687, 27 March 1937, Page 13

FORTUNES VARY

ALLEN HITS FEEELY VIVIAN'S BRILLIANT FORM VALUABLE PARTNERSHIP [BY TKLECKAI'II—OWN CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, Friday Now Zealand's fortunes in the test cricket match varied considerably* all through the second day's play. Kngla nil's overnight score of 334 seemed iairlv favourable to New Zealand, particularly as comparatively weak batsmen were to follow, but Alien proved his versatility by a fine display, and the addition of 100 runs made New Zealand's task more difficult. llien came the tragedy of New Zealand s innings, when three wickets had fallen ior 40 runs. Kerr's run of bad luck throughout the season continued with an inglorious "duck." A\ allace and Hadlee, by contrast, were unlucky to lose their wickets. Then Vivian and Page produced a brilliant partnership, which yielded 147 runs. Vivian apparently has a liking for the Basin Reserve. There live years ago he made a great hundred in the test against the South Africans, and on other occasions lie has played brilliant innings. To-day's display was one ol the finest. From the start he laced a difficult position calmly. He was not over-confident, of course, but, in realising the difficulties of the situation, he adopted the right tactics to combat it. Consequently his stroke play was sure and correct. Ho attacked loose deliveries with customary vigour and showed an especial liking lor square and late cuts, punching the ball vigorously and placing it with consummate skill. His footwork was not faulty at any stage, and the fact that his first careless shot ended a great innings was an indication of the merit ot his play. Voce tossed down a fastish one on tho off. Vivian played forward and ilicked, snicking the baJI to Ames, who appealed triumphantly as he took tho catch. Wallace Unfortunate Wallace, the other Aucklander. was almost as unfortunate. He went in first wicket and proceeded to show his strength by facing the very difficult bowling of Allen, Voce and Hammond with confidence. At the stage of settling down he scored a two to leg off Allen, but to the next ball, which was slightly over-pitched, he played back and missed completely. The bowling was probably the fastest he has faced in his career, and more practice at it should develop his talent. Page deserves almost as-much credit, as Vivian. In stroke plav he was not. quite as certain as Vivian, and once or twice he was fortunate that chances, especially an uppish shot, which was missed by Leyland, were not accepted. Otherwise his innings was grand. He punched the ball hard for eight fours, timing his shots skilfully and showing his experience in courageously facing the hostile attack. Batsmen Shape Confidently The other New Zealand batsmen were not so impressive, although Hadlee was going well when he flicked one to Ames. Moloney, too. seemed confident, and his powerful shots off tho back foot off Sims near the close of play were stylish and seemed likely to bring runs. Kerr, according to a report, was confident his luck would break, but for once confidence was misplaced. t Tindill was unfortunate in striking Voce bowling with plenty of "devil" at a time when the light was bad. After his dismissal stumps were drawn, almost half an hour before time. Actually an appeal should have been made beforehand, because the light was difficult. Possibly the reason for Vivian's dismissal was the fact that the light was so poor.

Cowie's first spell at the crease in the morning saw him show his best form of the match. He struck a good length and his pace was faster than on the previous day. Allen made some lucky snicks off his deliveries and, with fortune attending him a little more, Cowie would probably have bad a wicket in bis second spell. With the new ball, lie was not quite so impressive. although his average for a fastish bowler was good. Ho showed, however, a tendency to drop his length—a fault lie will probably eradicate in England. Allen's Aggressive Methods Vivian became expensive against the hard hitting of Allen, but it scorned as if Page was at fault in the placing of the field. Allen was hitting hard ami lofting tho ball over the inner ring, but short of the outer ring of fieldsmen. Page could easily have changed his field, and it was a step which would have most likely been successful, especially since Vivian is one of the few bowlers in New Zealand who can bowl to a set field. Again to-day Roberts was not impressive as a bowler, even although lie took, the last two wickets and pegged the batsmen down. He did not seeTn to be doing as much in the air as usual. Nevertheless, he deserved Allen's wicket, and he was fortunate in having a very able assistant in Dunning for the dismissal of Sims. Dunning took a one-handed catch low down. Allen's score was made in fast time, and he showed a disposition to attack any sort of bowling. Lacking the style of Hammond or Ames, lie contrived to play a very good innings and, like Vivian and Ames, was unfortunate to miss the century when it seemed certain. Hostile Fast Attack The jjerformance of tho English bowlers was one of the most impressive features of the match. Allen, bowling at three-quarter pace only, now and again whipped in a terrifically fast ball and maintained a length with it. Like all the other Englishmen, his rhythmical action was not only a joy to watch, but was also an object lesson in the economy of production. Voce started bowling at three-quarter pace, but, brought on late in the day, when Vivian and Page were both going well, he began to bowl at full speed. His pace off the pitch was disconcerting many times to the batsmen, and, being tall, he made the ball lift sharply. The experience gained by the New Zealanders who batted against him should prove useful. Hammond did not secure any wickets, but his bowling was one of the features of the play. Jt was hostile all the time and his concealment of the slower ball was beautifully done.