THE FOURTH TEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20959, 24 February 1930, Page 14

THE FOURTH TEST.

M.C.C. v. NEW ZEALAND. FINE SCORE BY VISITORS. HOME TEAM LOSE 4 WICKETS FOR 174. (Pee United Pbess Association.) AUCKLAND, February 22. The fourth cricket test between the touring M.C.C. team and New Zealand was continued at Eden Park this morning in brilliant sunshine. M.C.C., resuming their innings, carried the score from 375 for six wickets to 540 before being dismissed, and New Zealand, commencing their innings at 2.40 p.m., had lost' four wickets for 174 when stumps were drawn. A large crowd witnessed '’play in the morning, swelling to over 10,000 in the afternoon. The gate, takings to-day were £655 17s 6d, which, with yesterday’s receipts, make a total of £B9l 4a 6d.

The wicket, although tending to show dirty patches at the end of the day, played splendidly throughout, lending very little assistance to the bowlers.

Legge, who reached a century on Friday, carried his total to 196 to-day before being dismissed. His batting and that of Weir for New Zealand were the features of the day. Legge showed a greater variety of shots than was the case yesterday, jumping into his stride right from the first ball bowled. He appeared a certainty to get his double century, but fell a victim to the only weak stroke he played in • the innings. The remainder of the Englishmen batted solidly.

The New Zealand bowling and fielding were again good. Merritt, in particular, struck a good length, puzzling the M.C.C. tailenders.

Mills. seeme<J set for runs when he opened with Dempster, but paid the penalty for nibbling the off-th'eory. Dempster and Page batted brightly, but Weir was tho real backbone of the side in running up 59, not out, in his usual steady and forceful style. Allom and Nichols bowled exceptionally well, while Duleepsinhji gave a great exhibition of slip fielding. Legge and Gilligan resumed the M.O.C. innings, the latter taking the first over from Merritt, and scoring a couple of twos. Facing M'Girr Legge guided a fast delivery to the chalk line, and then pulled a short ball for four to bring up 400. Gilligan played a rather uppish shot off rM‘Girr, but the ball dropped clear of the fieldsmen. He moved into double figures a few minutes later at Merritt’s cost, hooking the slow bowler to the square leg fence. \ The rate of 'scoring was fast, 36 runs having been added in 16 minutes. Allcott and Matheson took over the bowling, and instantly checked the bailsmen, who were confined to singles for the most part. Matheson soon lost his length, however, and Merritt was brought on again. The latter had Gilligan troubled, and in his second over caught the batsman in two minds with a nighty ball, and bowled him. 432—7—25. Barratt lacked confidence to Merritt when he joined Legge. The latter stopped out to the slow bowler, and drove repeatedly through the covers. He approached 150 with a fine drive past mid-on, which reached the line. Legge could have easily been.out when Barratt hit a ball to Lowry at cover aiid called for a single, but the New Zealand captain had a shot at the bowler’s wicket," which missed, instead of returning to James. . The batsman welcomed the escape by hoisting his 150 with a boundary off Merritt, atthe same time taking the side’s total past 450. Lowry spelled Allcott and substituted Blunt in\ an endeavour to trap Barratt, who was hitting out at the slow bowWng. The batsmen were placing their shots in a masterful manner, and had the New Zealand fieldsmen eyer on the move. Barratt eventually lifted Merritt into Lowry’s hands on the boundary, but the fieldsman dropped it. Mills was more reliable, and when the hitter put a ball from Blunt into his hands at long-on he held it safely. 475—8—17. Cornford, the incomer, was subdued for the start, especially when facing Blunt, but Legge continued to score freely, soon reaching 170. A total of 500 appeared after the innings had been in progress for 405 minutes. Page and Blunt handled the attack up to lunch, but could not separate the pair, and the score at lunch was 609 for eight wickets (Legge 184 and Cornford 9). Lowry persisted with Page after the Weir being given the ball at the other end. Legge took a couple of singles off Page, * llowcd with a brace, then a boundary to take him past 190. He was still batting in confident stylo when within four of the ■ double century. He missed the coveted mark,. however, for in Weir’s next over he attempted to chop one through the gully, and lifted the ball to Matheson, who held a brilliant catch. Legge had been just on five hours at tho crease for his score. 526-^9—196.

Weir was taken off with the advent of Allom and Blunt substituted. Comford welcomed the change by lifting a full toss high into, the terraces. The partnership did not last long, however, Cornford being caught at extra co ,r er in attempting a big hit, the innings closing at 2.25 p.m. for 540 runs.

Mills and Dempster opened the New Zealand innings to the bowling of Nichols and Eorratt. Dempster took three singles off Nichols and 'fills a single and three at Barratt’s expense. The first four of the innings came to Mills, who brilliantly late-cut Barratt to the fence, * Nichols was bowling a number of loose balls on the leg which Mills to ok advantage of to ento; double, figures with two nicely-timed glides. It was, however, but a fatal prelude to au attempt to late-cut Allom, win, had taken Barratt’s place, Duleepsinhji collecting a good chance in the slips. 20—1—12. Weir partnered Dempster, opening his account with a boundary, Barratt relieved Nichols, and the pair kept the Now Zealanders subdued. A period of dull play followed, the fi’-st 40 taking 45 minutes. Woolley took the ball from Allom, and a little bright cricket was witnessed, Dempster being responsible for raising the first half-century with a welltimed square cut, which rattled the pickets.' Woolley and bowled until tho afternoon tea adjournment, when tho score on the board read 71 for one wicket, Dempster being 27 and Weir 20.

The interval for afternoon lea proved fatal to Dempster, for on resuming he was caught in Allom’s first over. 71—2—27.

Page shaped confidently on coming to the crease.'playing hack mostly to Barratt, but opening out to Allohi. Fifteen minutes elapsed before Weir added a brace to the score. Seeing that the batsmen were adamant in the face of the fast trundling, and would not bo tempted with indiscretions, Gilligan resorted to Bowley, who replaced Alloin, and put Worthington on at the other end as a contrast. The change had no effect, neither batsnmn allowing himself to be lured by Bowley’s enticing deliveries. A series of singles ran the score along to 00, Weir not having moved out of the twenties, while Page was nine. Page brought 100 up after 130 minutes, with a brace to leg. Page lasted until another 27 runs were added. Then he was brilliantly caught behind by Cornford off Woolley. 127—3—25. Blunt only lasted three balls, when he was- clean bowled by Nichols, who, after

being spelled, had replaced Bowley. 131—4—0.

Weir reached 60 after being two hours at the crease, and Allcott and Weir were together at stumps, the score being 174 for four wickets. Detail? of the play are,:— ’

M.C.C. First Innings. E. H. Bowley, run out 42 E. N. Dawson, c Woollev, b Page 55 K. S. Duleepsinhji, b Allcotfc '.. 63 F. E. Woolley, b Allcott 10 G. B. Legge, c Matheson, b Weir 196 M. S. Nichols, b M'Girr 75 S. Worthington, b Merritt 0 A. H. Gilligan, b Merritt 25 P. Barratt, c Mills, b Blunt .... 17 W. Cornford, c Matheson, b Page 18 M. J. C. Allotn, not out 8 Extras 31 Total ..' 540

NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. J. E. Mills, c Duleepsinhji, b Allom 12 C. S. Dempster, c Cornf ord, b Allom -27 G. L. Weir, not out ......... 59 M. L, Page, c Cornford, b Wbolley 25 R. C. Blunt, b Nichols 0 C. F. Allcott, not out 21 Extras .. .'. 30 Four' wickets for .. .-.. 174 BOWLING ANALYSIS.

BOWLING ANALYSIS. 0. M. P. W. M'Girr .. 15 2 65 1 Matheson 30 6 89 0 AUcott .. 47 17 102 2 Merritt- .. 34 2 127 2 Weir 10 1 29 1 Blunt 21 S 61 2 Pase .. 14.4 -4 30 1

0. M. E. Vi Nichols .. 8 — 25 1 Barratt .. 13 . 5 2 3 — Allom 14 3 2 4' 2 Wooltey .. 14 4 40 1 Bowley S 1 19 — Worthiagton . 8 3 13 —