WELLINGTON V. OLD BOYS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11045, 31 October 1921, Page 3

WELLINGTON V. OLD BOYS

. BURTON’S FINE PERFORMANCE. PARTNERSHIP RECORD BROKEN. A good wicket and a fine light characterised the surroundings, in which Old Boys and Wellington met on the Basin Reserve on Saturday last, Wellington won the toss, and elected to bat first, Hiddleston and Bray opening the innings to the bowling of Barclay. Several singles off nicely-cut halls were scored in the opening over. The bowling was good, and the scoring wae slow to commence. Bray started to fun a risky single from*a hit by Hiddleston, and was sent back. A certain’ run-out was lost by a fieldsman - slipping. The next ball from Duncan saw Hiddleston off life crease, and McColl stumped him. 17—1—25. Jennings opened" nicely, bringing 30 up on the board, ■ but Barclay had him beaten early. 462 —17. Macfarlane, the Scotch addition to Wellington’s ranks, reached the wicket, only to see Duncan scatter Bray’s stumps with va fast one. 40—3—23. GREAT PARTNERSHIP COMMENCES. Burton, the Wellington captain, went next to the wicket. He opened cautiously off Duncan, while MoFarlane displayed little respect for Barclay, hitting him all round the wioket. The partnership settled down to business, McFarlane putting the wood on and Burton opening his account with a succession of well and cleverly-hit singles. The first bowling change came at the end of fifty-five minutes, McIntosh replacing Barclay. Burton now brought the century up on the board with a hefty hit off Duncan, and both batsmen added runs fairly swiftly. Three figures had appeared on the hoard at the end of sixty-five minutes’ play, and when McFarlane’s score stood at 47 he called a risky run, and paid the penalty. 45—4—133. Middleton replaced him, and then commenced a partnership which was to break the record score. Hard hitting was the rule lw Middleton hut Burton was also severe on everything soft. The fielding now fell off considerably, readjustments being tried to no effect. Upbam went on to bowl, and his nico length subdued the batsmen for a space, though Tucker, who took the other end, seemed to give them no trouble. Duncan missed Burton in the outfield, and fumbled several boundaries from his bat. A boundary off Tuoker then gave Burton his centwy, Middletbn’s score being at 41. Both batsmen began taking more liberties with Upham’s bowling, and were scoring freely off Tucker. Middleton lifted the latter out of the .ground for 6 twice in one over. Boundaries were frequent, and alterations in the field seemed of little avail. In attempting a risky single, Middleton on one occasion fell flat on hfe back in the middle of the pitch, and Upham mulled the bad throw-in, allowing the burly Wellingtonian to regain the crease. THE SECOND CENTURY. The score steadily mounted, and 200 was hoisted up at the end of two hours and ten minutes. Both men appeared well set, nnd thereafter scoring was faster, Middleton bidding fair to overhaul his partner. Rambert replaced Tucker without result, and the third ceriturv appeared 35 minutes later. The fielding was now thoroughly dead, and runs were added swiftly. Burton, till his century was obtained, had given one chance to Duncan at outfield, hut the fieldsman dropped it. That he was lucky in obtaining a second century is unquestionable. He was dropped by Duncan again and by Upham at outfield, and in the state of the fielding was well set. With 20 minutes to plav the fourth century -was reached, and eight runs later Middleton skied a hot one of Rambert's back to the bowler, who safely held it. He returned to the pavilion having scored 127, including three 6’s and 11 4’k Btalrton’s score then stood at 170. The partnership had realised 275, creating a new record. burt6n STILL AGGRESSIVE. Eaton journeyed next to the wickets, but missed .the second ball of Duncan's over without any addition to the score. 408 —6—o. Paterson survived the rest of that over on his arrival .at the crease; but patted one back +0 Barclay’s hands when his score stood at 6. 420—7—6. Marshall, the last man in, joined Burton, with seven minutes to pro and the skipper’s score at 188. Hard hitting brought him near his second century, and lie secured it on arisky single off Barclay with one minute to play. Stumps were drawn at the end of the over with Wellington 455 up for. seven, wickets and bidding fair for a three-point win. Following are the details: WERRINGTON—First Innings. Hiddleston, st McColl, b Duncan 5 Bray, b Duncan 23 .Tannings, b Barclay 17 McParlane, run out 45 Middleton, o and, b Barclay 127 Eaton, b Duncan 0 Paterson, o and b Barclay 6 Burton, not out 203 Marshall, not out 7 Extras /. 22 Total for seven wickets 455 Bowling Analysis.—Duncan took three wickets for 68 runs, Barclay three for 118, Mclntosh., none for 38, Rambert none for 96, TTpliam none for 73, and Tucker none for 40. How the wickets fell—l for 25, two for 46. three for 49, four for 133, five for 408, six for 408, seven for 420.