SPARKLING CRICKET

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12635, 21 December 1926, Page 9

SPARKLING CRICKET

WELLINGTON TAKE MEASURE OF COUNTRY’S ATTACK VISITORS' TREMENDOUS TASK KORTLANG’S CLASSIC KNOCK: 185 NOT OUT Faced with the tremendous prospect of mating 459 in order to pull the match out of the fife, Country’s chances appeared none toq bright in the concluding day’s play of the Town v. Country match at the Busin Reserve yesterday. However, after one valuable wicket (Qrr’s) had fallen for 18, a, heavy downpour of rain set in, making farther play out of the question- The match was necessarily declared a draw, but prior to the rain settling the argument, Wellington appeared to be holding much the better end of the stick. Kortlang’s classic exhibition of quick-time run-getting will live long in the memories of those present yesterday morning, who were privileged to witness as dazzling a display as big cricket at the Basin Reserve has produced for many a long day, Kortlang again carrying his bat for a chaneeless 185, rattled on in just over a two'hours’ stay at the crease.

DETAILS OF THE PLAY Throughout the match, the cricket proved bright, interesting and full of incident, and served as an excellent try-out for the talent available for the approaching Plunket Shield matches. Wellington in their first strike ran up 340, Country’s opening venture realising 238 When stumps were drawn on Saturday, Wellington’s score stood at 163 fqr three wickets (Hiddleston, Airey and Lambert), Kortlang 75 not out, and McGirr, who had been called upon to play only one ball on Saturday, resumed. McGirr troubled the Country but little, clouting Gallichan to Stephenson at square-leg after the total had advanced only 7. The Manawatu colt’s deliveries were commanding respect, Kortlang and Hollings, the newcomer, being content to just keep him out, allowing a trio of successive maidens. Kortlang, dead set on gaining his century in each strike, was taking no chances, advancing into the nineties slpavly but surely. Gradually climbing, mainly by a succession of singles, Kortlang gained the coveted distinction of knocking up a century in each innings. KORTLANG’S HURRICANE HITTING Then he came to life with as classic a display of exhilarating cricket as cricket lovers could wish to see. Kortlang once past the century, started after fireworks, pasting Galiichan to all parts of the Basin, knocking 24 off one over, including a beautiful drive clean over the boundary—the first six of the match —and four fourers. It was hurricane hitting with a vengeance. Lowry replaced Gallichan with Newman, whose im-’ maculate length makes the left-hand-er a very difficult trundler to knock about. The Nelson man succeeded in. temporarily quietening Kortlang, but only for an over or so.

HOLLINGS SHOWS IMPROVEMENT Up to the twenties, Hollings had fallen a long way below his club form, appearing not at home to the trundling, especially the slow stuff. The ’Varsity colt was having more than his fair share of luck. Newman, usually the safest of fieldsmen, dropped a running-in catch near the leg boundary early on, and. in the early twenties, the colt just, snicked a fast one from Bernau, the leather flying between Orr and Newman in the slips. This let-off appeared to give Hollings confidence, as from this stage, he showed considerably improved form, being especially at home to Bernau’s pace stuff,, getting the Wanganui man beautifully away to the fine leg boundary four times in one over.

Kortlang, absolute master of the bowling, repeatedly found gaps in the field, knocking the ball to all parts of the ground. Newman, although continuing rigffit on the spot, commanded little respect, Kortlang dispatching him for three boundaries off on© over. Mitchell, tossing up his tempting leg breaks, succeeded in penning up Hollings in the early fifties. Going well out to Mitchell, Kortlang pulled and hooked the bowler at leisure, finding a weak link in the field in Bernau at square-leg, who was not relishing the fast ground stuff. Kortlang at 160 appeared like staying all day, but Hollings was patchy, often brilliant, but nevertheless making a number of faulty strokes. Orr at fiNt slip was doing great work, snapping up any lightning shots through the slips which came within his reach. ' Kortlang had rattled on over 60 in half as many minutes. Stephenson made a late appearance at the northern end, and was accompanied by success. Hollings was scratching at the Hawke’s Bay colt, and a deceptive change of pace did the tnck, the ’Varsity colt being well and truly beaten. 330—5—59.

GALLICHAN’S “GEM” CATCH

Badcock had a “fly” from the start, getting double figures off an over of mixed stuff from Dempster in double quick time. Stephenson was sending down good stuff, and the coach, in attempting to smock him about, went out to the finest catch of the match. Badcock connected with a slam to leg, and tho leather flew head-high to squarelog where Gallichan held a magnificent left-handed catch. James joined Kortlang for t«h© few r©mn.ining minutes of play before the luncheon adjournment. When the players adjourned 356 was on. the board, Kortlang having contributed 185. With the exception of the approach of his century, Kortlang delighted with the breeziest of displays, none of the Country trundlers causing him any serious trouble, or being able to prevent the ex-Victorian from scoring at will. His display was in direct contrast to his wonderfully sound but slowly compiled 149 not out in Wellington’s first strike, and provided ooinclusive proof of his remarkable versatility. Staying at the croase 'ior 223 odd minutes, Kortlang hit one •‘sixer,” and 28 fours, scoring at the, exhilarating rate of 90 runs to the hour. Safely past the century he kept up p dazzling pace, piloting the leather fifteen times to , the pickets and mice clean over. Throughout his sojourn at the, crease he gave not the semblance of a chance: • Those who witnessed his batting yestejday morning will remember his masterly exhibition for some time to coiite. James had no opportunity to give a repetition of his attractive knock in the first innings. Brice declared nt lunch time. ■ The Country attack lmd been none tpo strong, being completely colla.red bv Kortlang. Stephenson, a late Corner nt the bowling eud, appeared fairly dangerous, and sent Hollings back with'

a real “trickster.” The Hawke’s Bay colt finished up with two for 9. Bernau I lost his length and hurled down a lot of short bumping stuff outside the leg pin which was dealt with very drastically by Hollings. The Wanganui man was very noticeable for weak ground fielding. Mitchell turned the ball appreciably, and Hollings, whose footwork was weak in comparison with his stylish wrist shots, was never quite happy facing the leg-break man. Newman’s command over length made him very steady, but throughout both innings he lacked- “devil.” Gallichan trundled fairly effectively until Kortlang completely took the wind out of his sails. Country’s fielding suffered by comparison with their previous display, weak links being noticeable. Orr, a real “livewire” in the slips; Gallichan and Dempster nevertheless set a high standard. ORR MEETS IMMEDIATE DISASTER Faced with the tremendous task of compiling 459 runs to pull the match out of the fire, Country oommenced the task with four hours odd in which to knock off the runs, play for safety ( or get out. Disaster came in Hie first five minutes, Orr, who had given a very attractive display the previous innings, being skittled by McGirr’g pet fast swerving delivery without having troubled the scorers, and with only a single to Stephenson, the other opening batsman, up. Worker, joining Stephenson, carted Badcock, as usual keeping well on the spot, for a crisp boundary shot. Neither 1>«; • nan was taking the slightest risk, but Worker especially was meeting MoGirr’s and Badoock’s deliveries with a solid front. The weather, which had been ideal for the first two days, broke at the luncheon adjournment, a slight shower falling. Skies were overcast, and the light consequently dull when Country went to the wickets. After twenty minutes’ play, with the total at 18, a heavy downpour set in, play having to be abandoned; a drawn match resulting. Wellington had much the better end of the stick when the rain settled the argument., Details:— - ■ ■ v ■

WELLINGTON. First Innings 340 Second Innings J. S. Hiddleston. b Bernau ............... 8 W. It. Airey, lbw b Mitchell: 40 B. J. Kortlang, not out H. N. Lambert, c Onvb Worker ...... 185 27 H. M. McGirr, c Stephenson, b Gallichan 2 A. M. Hollinge, b Stephenson F. T. Badcock, c Gallichan, b Step*. 59 10 1 K. James, not out Extras (byes 19, leg byes 3, noballs 2) 24 Total for six wickets (declared)... 356 W. S. Brice, M. Henderson, and Beard did not bat. L. Fall of wickets.—Ope for 10, two for 111, three for 163, foiir for 170, five 330, six for 348. for Bowling Analysis. O. M. B. W. Bernau 18 1 95 1 Newman 12 2 50 0 Mitchell 20 1 87 1 Gallichan 13 4 55 1 Stephenson ' 3 1 9 2

Orr 2 0 - a 0 Worker 1 0 7 1 Dempster .... 2 0 20 0 Beraau bowled two no-balls. COUNTRY. Second Innings. G. Orr, b McGirr 0 H. S. Stephenson, not ont ■ 7 E. de B. Worker, not ont 9 Iktras (byes 2) — 2 Total for one wicket, play aban* doned) 18 Bowling Analysis. O. M. R. W. Badcock 3 1 7 0 McGirr .... .... 3 0 9 1