NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12095, 24 March 1925, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

NEW ZEALAND’S BATTING. UNEVEN SCORE SHEET. New Zealand batsmen again displayed a very uneven score book. Five batsmen only reached double figures, and only four batted up to anything like test form. Certainly they did not have the luck of the game on their side, and two rather unfortunate dismissals, those of Blunt and Hiddleston, put a different complexion on the innings. A great start was made, and it looked, for a time, as if the New Zealand batsmen would give the visitors a stiff fourth innings task. The batsmen attacked the bowling with confidence, and although the scoring was not fast there was a soundness about their methods that inspired optimism. FINE OPENING PAIR Patrick was fully justified in making Blunt and Worker his opening pair. Blunt commenced more quickly than his colleague, but both presented a good defence. Blunt scored most of his runs at the beginning frith neat glances to leg and cuts through. the slips, but .now and again he drove along the carpet very crisply. Hartkopf seemed to be his chief stumbling block, as far as the bowlers were concerned, and perhaps if he bad imitated the example of Dacre and ventured out more he would "have scored more runs. His total of 77 runs included eight boundaries, and he looked like reaching the century. As it was the decision, stumped by Mlis, was open to doubt, and the doubt should have been given to the batsman. WORKER’S DISPLAY. Worker’s innings, was a solid one, but now and again he went forward and missed the- drive badly. This was tho cause of his downfall. He lunged forward and the bails were whipped off in a flash. . Heused his feet splendidly when facingJEtartkopf. and it was only, the / fine worlr of a well-placed field that cut off a number of powerful shots along tho green.. Deinpster started very shakily, but this may be put down to the fact that this was his first test, and that he did' not make a soore in the first innings. Once be ran into , double figures, however, he played bright orioket, and his off driving and outting were very decisive. He scored four boundaries, and a five, the last-named being caused by an overthrow. Combined with his good fielding, Dempster has done well and has merited the confidence placed in him by the selectors. ' " CROWD’S IDOL. The crowd looked- to; Dacre, a great favourite in Wellington, for a score, and they were’not disappointed. He commenced brightly, and' after being a little more subdued. than usual, scoring eight singles , in succession, he batted aggressively Until he fell another victim to Ellis. Me Uses his feet well to Hartkopf,and his well-known pull shot, beautifully timed, was in evidence every now and again. There was a neatness,about his batting that was very pleasing. He found the boundary four times.' Mcßeath, the not out batsman, showed ; good form, and Diokineon started well; ! but an lbw decision nipped bis enterprise j in the bud. j Alloo, after his first innings display, { was disappointing, and the shot which caused his downfall Was weak. Hiddleston was unfortunate as such a dismissalwas one of the rarest on record. I THE FAILURES. Patrick and MoGirr have been the; failures. Both have been very disap-! pointing. Yesterday when the captain! Went to the-wickets a sample of bis form; in the previous game against'the Vic- i toriane was looked for. Yet he never: looked like getting runs. For fonr overs i he seemod to be in two minds, and his; four' was but a flash in the .pan. It was ! a beautifully timed shot, but the next, i from which- he was caught, .was a '.poor j drive. _ He picked the wrong ball. i McGirr- placed half-heartedly forward I to Ransford, and put one hack into the bowler’s hands. It was not a characteristic McGirr shot, but it must be! said that this once sparkling batsman, who knooked Mailey all~bver the field, is j but a shadow of his former self at pro- i PLEASING FEATURE. j A feature of the New Zealand’s stay! at the wickets was the smart running be- - tween the wickets. Blunt and Worke ! showed almost' perfeot understanding, and they seized upon every run. Dempster and Dacre wore also keen in this respect. - t ■ The fielding of the Victorian side was again very fine. Their ground work was clean and their returns to the wicket were accurate. ‘ A SPLENDID 'KEEPER. Ellis .was in great form behind the. stumps. He claimed l three victims from stumping and .allowed only eight byes to P®*- He showed; that he is worthy of being called Oldfield's rival. 1 RANSFORD BOWLS WELL. Ransford was a great success with the ball. He howled at slow medium pace, kept a very accurate, length and came back from the 1 off nicely. He also attack with judgment and fully deserved every wicket he got; The left-hander received a great reception as returned to the pavilion. UDDICUTT'S INJURY. Liddentt was still suffering from the knock he received when hit by Diokina?n on Saturday and was a great loss to the side. * Hartkopf was never dangerous, although he kept a good length and Was expensive. He lacked the nip off the pitch. . aU f??„ was not as faßt a® Dickinson, While Millar was accurate without the necessary "devil’’ to beat test batsmen. SECOND TEST DACRE NOT AVAILABLE. Followers of cricket will be sorry to near that Daore will not be available for the second test at Christchurch. Lhnstchureh was the scene of a century b J {P aore previous test, and in view of his good form against Victoria it was quite on the cards that he would have HiS abßen 7 JUNIOR GRADE MATCHES FOR SATURDAY; detailed-— 8 are ' th6 draw * the grades THIRD A. Hutt v. Stop Out, Hutt No. 3. Hutt Maori v. Marist, Anderson Parb No. 1J.M.C.A. v. Railways, Karori No. 2. Kilbirme v. Midland, Kilbirnie No. 2. Kanvarra v. Thorndon. Wakefield Park . No; 3. Institute, a; bye. THIRD B. Johnsonville v. Wellesley College, JohnBonville No. 2. Karori v. Eastbourne. Newtown No. 4. Petone v. Hataitai, Pelone No. 3. Hutt Maori v. Technical 0.8., Newtown No. 3. Hutt v. Kaiwarra, Hutt No.*4; St. Thomas v. Petone Wesley, Hutt Park. Institute v. Kilbirnie, Kilbirnie No. 3. Railways v. Y.M.C.A. A. Wakefield Park No. 4. ..Y.M.C.A. B, a bye. FOURTH GRADE. Wellesley College v. Y.M.C.A. B, Kilbirnie No. 4. Petone v. Midland, Petone No. 4. Institute v. Y.M.C.A. A, Kilbirnie No. Stop'out v. Hutt, .Hutt No. 5. Technical College 0.8. v. Pelone Wesley, Petone No.'S. MERCANTILE LEAGUE MYERS CUP COMPETITION. Following are tile fixtures for Saturday : Pastimes v. Cables, Wakefield Park No. 6. Odlins v. Whitcombe and Tombs. Wakefield Park No 2- i