MCC MATCH IS DRAWN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27090, 26 May 1949, Page 7

MCC MATCH IS DRAWN

Mooney Scores His First Century Of Tour / New Zealand Press Association—Copyright LONDON, May 24.

The New Zealand cricket team registered its third draw of the tour in the match against the MCC at Lord’s. Features of the day were a century by the wicket-keeper F. L. H. Mooney, and his seventh-wicket stand of 176 with G. O. Rabone- in the first innings’ total of 313. Rain had a slight influence on the result and took two and a-half hours off the life of the match.

It was the first occasion during the tour on which Ne.w Zealand showed a deficit on the first innings. Because of rain, New Zealand batted only 20 minutes before lunch, adding 10 runs without loss. began again at 2.30, and Rabone, after cutting the slow lefthander, Broderick, for 4, was dropped at fine-leg by Watkins off Laker when he was 84. It was the second time he was dropped, Edrich having missed him at slip when he was 26. Griffith lost the opportunity of stumping him yesterday when the ball hit the wicketkeeper on the chest. When Rabone was 92, however, he was bowled by a ball well pitched up by Laker. He batted for 3hr 35min and hit seven 4’s.

Mooney continued quietly, and in the 90’s he on-drove and pulled Broderick for two boundaries. He stayed at 99 for about 10 minutes, and then took a single off Broderick to bring up his first century of the tour in just on four hours, including eight 4’s. Edrich took a new ball at 299, and at the other end Bailey ,egan an attempt to get some life out of the dull, damp wicket. He bounced one or two, and then Mooney lifted him high back over the wicket for Mann to run round and take a simple catch. It was a fine effort by both Rabone and Mooney, and everybody sympathised with the former for so narrowly missing his century. The innings lasted for 35 minutes after Mooney left, Burtt, Cave, and Cresswell adding a few runs which were worthily though pernaps not brightly gathered. Edrich and Robertson took some useful baiting practice until the latter was out to a good catch by Sutcliffe at cover off Burtt. The MCC’s second innings was notable for at least one thing. Both Hadlee and Wallace bowled to round off the match to the amusement of the remainder of the New Zealand team.

All cricket writers agree that Bailey, by his bowling performance yesterday, played himself into England’s team for the first test. , Scores:- , NEW ZEALAND ' First Innings Sutcliffe, b Bailey v .. .. .. 3 Scott, lbw, b Edrich 5 Hadlee, c Griffith, b Bailey .. .. 48 Wallace, c Bailey, D Compton .. 28 Donnelly, c Edrich, b Bailey .. .. 9 Reid, b Bailey 0 Rabone, b Laker 92 Mooney, c Mann, b Bailey .. ~ 102 Burtt, c Griffith, b Edrich .. .. 9 Cave, c Griffith, b Edrich .. 6 Cresswell, not out 5 Extras 6 Total 313 Bowling.—Bailey, 36 overs, 6 Maidens, 83 runs, 5 wickets; Edrich, 19.5, 7, 37, 3; Compton, 20, 3, 61, 1; Baker, 38, 14, 57, 1; Broderick, 34, 15, 56, 0; Watkins, 4,0, 13, 0. MCC First innings 379 Second Innings Robertson, c Sutcliffe, b Burtt 17 Edrich, not out .. 12 Simpson, not out 5 Extras .. 0 Total for one wicket .. .. 34 Bowling, 4 overs, no maidens, 19 runs, no wickets; Burtt, 3,0, 9,1; Wallace, 2,0, 6,0; .Hadlee, 1, 1. 0, 0. , l