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NZ Truth, Issue 1152, 29 December 1927, Page 12

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Town Too Good For Country

(From"N.Z. Truth's" Wellington Hep.) Bright weather has attended the annual cricket match between the town and country representatives of the Wellington district. With the Basin Reserve in excellent order, it was expected that some attractive cricket would be witnessed, but beyond" a few brilliant spasmodic effortf 1 , there was not a great deal over which to enthuse. TAYLOR, playing for country, made A an excellent stand in his second visit to the wicket, scoring 127 out of the grand total of 261. Massey was the outstanding bowler throughout the game. Keeping a perfect length and getting fair spin with the ball, he was the undoing of the country team in their first innings. Five wickets for 33 runs, is a fine 'performance and, with 4 for 88 in the second innings, Massey can be credited ,-With having (lone more than his share towards the town victory. Massey has won a place in the shield •match to be played in "Wellington next Saturday against Canterbury. He should be a success for he possesses cricket temperament. LOOK LIVELY! From the spectators' point of view, the Town v. Country match was on the whole, monotonous. Our New. Zealand team in England made a reputation for themselves because they played lively, attractive cricket. The batsmen went to the wickets to score and not just to kill time. There is no reason why our local cricket should be >of a drab nature. Rarely do runs come ■when batsmen are satisfied to be cramped in their style and nervous labout taking a few risks. The batsman who will go for the ball ■quicklx, gets confidence and confidence jjnakes for bright and profitable cricket. The towhites, in their first innings, hmade a decent showing,' most of the (Wtsmen getting into double figures. ,Airey gave about the brightest display jn compiling 78 runs. He'has a variety iof strokes 'and Is not afraid to open his shoulders. It is no doubt, on this display that he, has been chosen as twelfth man against Canterbury. Christopherson, in approved style, krattled up 75 -.in the first innings- and r34 in the second. "Christy" has been ia most consistent batsman of late. 1 Lamason, 45 in the first innings and [24. not out in, the second, justified his (inclusion in trie team. Cousins 28, and jßadcock G2 (not out) also played their [parts well in the first innings. BadIcock goes for the bowling. The Well'ington coach sets an excellent example in this respect. .

Few of the country batsmen appeared to relish the local bowling. In a grand total of 209 in their first innings, Norris 7Q, Gallichan 40, Gee 22, and Naismith 20 were the only batsmen to put up a showing. The rest contented themselves with tapping at the ball and returning to the pavilion as quickly as possible. -/:•■. ; . • ■

Newman, 5 for 33 and 3 for 63, was the best of the visiting bowlers. Taylor 127, Gallichan 33 and Newman 25 were the main contributors to the country team's 2GI in the second innings. Taylor played pretty cricket and played it confidently, lie gained his century before the main total was 150.

:The town side had little difficulty in •winning with six wickets to .spare. As a try-out same for the coming shield matches, this annual fixture proved that there are few men ready to do ■ battle for the province.

Ken. Tucker (sole selector) has announced a very strong side to face [Canterbury next Saturday in the shield game. The following is the team: Brice (captain), Dempster, Foley, Lowry, Worker! James, McGirr, Bernau, Badcock, Lambert, Masgey, with iAirey twelfth man.

f This is a formidable combination [and Canterbury should find it hard to gain a victory. In batting, it would itie hard to improve on the men chosen, | but the bowling is nothing startling. Still. McGirr, Bernau, Badcock, and Msssey should be equal to upsetting the Canterbury stars. The match should prove to be one of fcth,e principal attractions over the New lYear holidays and on paper, at all ievents, in spite of apparently weak Sbowling, Wellington should account for , Stan. Brice is the right man to lead the Wellington team. His energy, alljrbund knowledge of the game and general enthusiasm keeps his team tuned to concert pitch until stumps are 'drawn. Stan, is an outstanding figure £n Wellington cricket.