CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20960, 25 February 1930, Page 10

CRICKET.

FOURTH TEST MATCH. M.C.C. v. NEW ZEALAND. A DRAWN GAME. (Pee United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 24. The fourth cricket test between the touring M.C.C. team and New Zealand was concluded at Eden Park to-day, the game ending in a draw in favour of the. Englishmen. In reply to the M.C.C.’s first innings total of 540, New Zealand continued its innings, being dismissed for 387, which was four short of the number required to avert a follow on. Time was too short, however, for any advantage to be gained by enforcing the rule, so Gilligan sent his own side in to bat. M.C.C. lost three wickets for 22 before stumps were drawn. The early morning showers failed to affect the wicket, which, when the weather cleared, played perfectly. The attendance was estimated at 3000, and produced gate takings totalling £169 13s, which brought the takings for the match to £IO6O 18s.

Tffay throughout the day was characteriahed by dogged batting by the New Zealanders, which, if tending to promote uninteresting cricket nevertheless gave a splendid example of what New Zealand could do when pushed for runs. To Lowry went the honours of the day in playing a splendid fighting innings for 80 in an endeavour to take his aide’s total past the follow-on stage. He set himself determinedly against all bowling, and on the whole his innings was attractive as useful. Weir did not show the same confidence as on Saturday, and, fell a victim to Barratt after adding four runs to his previous score. M'Girr played a similar useful innings of 51 to that of Lowry, being more aggressive than hia partner. He was particularly strong in leg shots. Allcott was beginning to shape confidently when a bad run out ended his career. The remaining batsmen fought, stubbornly, but eventually succumbed. Allom ran out with the best bowling figures, takiqg four wickets for 42 runs and on the day was the steadiest bowler. M.C.C.. made a bad start in its second innings. Legge, who compiled nearly a double century in the first innings was well beaten by Blunt before openhis account, and Mutheson accounted for the other, two- wickets, and was well on the spot.

New Zealand’s innings was resumed by Weir (59) and ' Allcott (21) to the bowling of Nichols and Barratt. Weir added only a single when he appeared to snick Barratt to Cornford, but the batsman received the benefit in spite of a unanimous appeal. Twenty minutes produced 10 runs. Woolley then relieved Nichols, who, ‘while not 'appearing dangerous, had kept both batsmen quiet. In the succeeding over of Barratt Weir was dismissed, the 'batsmqn playing all over a “ yorker.” 186—5 —63,

Allcott carried on, partnered by Lowry, but the former was fortunate to play an uppish shot just clear of Nichols at mid-on, the fieldsman making a great effort to get it. • A few minutes later Allcott lost his wicket, howpv b r, in ,a bad runout, a smart return finding him only halfway down the wicket. 193—6—33.

M‘Girr joined Lowry, and both played for safety when the M.C.0., slow bowlers, Woolley and Bowley, were introduced. M'Girr' raised 200 with a lucky snickthrough the slips for 3, the double century having taken 255 minutes to compile. Lowry settled down and ran into double figures by driving Woolley to the off-boundary. M'Girr soon caught him up, however, taking three boundaries at Bowley’s expense and one off Woolley. The advent of Allom in place of Woolley and Barratt instead of Bowley did not deter the batsmen very much. They had got properly into their stride. Lowry wai in particularly ime form with his glide, and took seven runs ofi three successive balls received from Allom. M'Girr reached 25 with a fine late cut, and then gave a chance off Allom to Cornford, but the wicketkeeper fumbled and dropped it. Play quietened as the adjournment drew near, which occasioned Barratt. being changed for Bowley, but the batsmen were together at the break, .the score being 266 for six wickets (M'Girr 34, Lowry 28). ' Nichols and Barratt had the batsmen very subdued on resuming, a series iof singles taking the total to 270. M'Girr gave a difficult chance to Cornfbrd off Nichols's second over, the ball being a trifle low for the wicket-keeper to gather cleanly. Twenty-one minutes passed before Lowry added a single to his score, and M'Girr having reached 40 appeared satisfied to stay there. Gilligan made a double change in the attack after 19 runs bad been added in 40 minutes, Worthington and Woolley handling the bawling. Ironical cheering from the hill greeted each ran made, but a burst of applause followed., for M'Girr when he gained his halfcentury. M'Girr was then stumped off James just joined Lowry in time to see the latter send 300 up after 345 minutes with a shot through the gully. Bowley came on to bowl at the opposite end to Woolley and with'a good length made the batsmen quiet. Lowry pulled Bqyvley to the leg fence for four after playing carefully for three overs. Barratt replaced Woolley, James greeting him with a four to the leg boundary anya single to Lowry followed. Lowry also hooked the new howler to the boundary. A quick double change saw Bowley substituted by Nichols and B.arratt by Worthington. Almost instant success accompanied the change, Worthington finding James’s legs in front with, a straight one. 349—8—14. Lowry, still batting solidly, readied 70. Worthington suffered a leg injury while bowling just before the tea adjournment and had to be carried off. The score at the interval was 352 for eight wickets. Lowry was aggressive to Woolley on restarting, while Merritt was content to keep his wicket up against Barratt. Facing Barratt Lowry chopped the bowler to the boundary through the slips. Allom took over from Barratt and got Lowry leg before in his first over. 373—9—80.

Merritt and Matiioson carried the total to within four runs of the number required to prevent a follow on, when the former played-Allom on. 387—10—7. The innings occupied 443 minutes. Gilligan did not compel New Zealand to bat again, Cornford and Dawson being sent in to face the bowling of M'Girr and Matheson. Eight runs were added at a very slow rate, and then Matheson went right through Cornford’s guard and bowled him. 12—1—4. Matheson in the next over knocked Dawson’s middle stump out. 21—2—0. Matheson was taken off next over, Lowry going on to bowl a maiden. A sensation followed when Legge was beaten and bowled by a good length ball from Blunt, who had replaced M'Girr, Stumps were then drawn, the score being 22 for three wickets. Detailed scores: M.C.C. First Innings .. 540 Second Innings. W. Cornford, b Matheson .... .. 2 E. W. Dawson, b Matheson .... G M. S. Nichols, not out 7 G. B. Legge, b Blunt 0 Extras 7 Total for three wickets 22 BOWLING ANALYSIS.

NEW ZEALAND. First Innings J. E, Mills, c Duleepslnbji, b Allom 12 C. S. Dempster, o Cornford, b Allom 27 G, L. Weir, b Barratt 63 M. L. Page, c Barratt, b Woolley 25 R. C. Blunt, b Nichols 0 C. P. L. Allcott, run out 33 T. C. Lowry, Ibw, b Allom .... 80 W. M. M'Girr, st Comford, b Woolley 51 K. C. James, Ibw, b Worthington .. 14 W. E. Merritt, not out 18 A. M. Matheson, b Allom .... .. 7 Extras 57

Total 387 BOWLING ANALYSIS.

The following shows the results of the matches between the M.C.C. team and New Zealand:—

January 10, 11, and 13.—At Christchurch: New Zealand, 112 and 131; M.C.C., 181 and 06 for two t wickets. M.C.C. won by eight wickets. January 24, 26, and 27.—At Welling, ton: New Zealand, 440 (Dempster 136, Mills 47) and 164 for four wickets, declared; M.C.C., 320 and 107 for four wickets. Drawn.

February 14, 15, aud 17.—At Auckland: M.C.C., 330 for four wickets, declared (Duleepsinjhi 117, Bowley 109); New Zealand, 96 for one wicket. Drawn. February 21, 22, aud 24.—At Auckland: M.C.C., 540 (Legge 196) and 22 for three wickets; New Zealand, 387. Drawn.

THE BEST FIELDSMAN

PRESENTATION TO. DEMPSTER,

(Per United Press Association.) - AUCKLAND, February 24. The presentation of a bat in recognition of his splendid fielding in the fourth cricket test between the M.C.C. team and New Zealand was made at Eden Park to-day to C. S. Dempster, the Wellington representative. The hat was given by Major G. A. Faulkner, D. 5.0., the famous South African all-rounder, who, with the object of dra- ing attention to' tlie_ value and necessity of good fielding, desired that the bat should be presented to the best fieldsman in the test match against the M.C.C. at Auckland. The presentation was made by Mr F. Earl president of the Auckland Cricket Association, who said that Dempster’s fielding was one of the features of the test match, probably the greatest match ever played in Auckland. Dempster will also be presented later with the ball (engraved) which was used while he made hia century in the second test in Wellington.

t MATCH IN SYDNEY,

TASMANIA DEFEATED.

SYDNEY, February 24. (Received Feb. 25, at 0.30 a.m.) In the cricket match against a New South Wales eleven Tasmania in their first innings scored 119 (Nash 38; Theak five for 41, Hunt three for 20, Chilvers two for 22). Tasmania followed on, and in the second innings made 96 (Burrows 43; Theak four for 50, Chilvers five for 23). New South Wales won by an innings and 262 runs. •

This match, which was begun on Saturday in great heat, was concluded to-day in pleasant weather. The deadly bowling of Theak and Chilvers fairly routed the visitors, who never looked like making a stand.

0. M. K. W M'Girr .. .. 3 1 4 Mathcson .. C 2 7 2 Blunt .. 3 :t 2 1 Lowry .. 1 1 —

Overs. Mdns. Runs. Wkta. Nichols .. . . 19 4 45 1 Barratt .. .' . 37 12 60 1 Ailom .. . . 25 1 42 4 Woolley . 41 10 100 2 Worthington 15 5 25 1 Bowley .. . . 28 i 0 58 0