DRYING WICKET MAY PROVE TROUBLESOME TO NEW ZEALANDERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27091, 27 May 1949, Page 5

DRYING WICKET MAY PROVE TROUBLESOME TO NEW ZEALANDERS

N ZP A—Copyright Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, . May 26'. A sharp shower of rain before play nn the second day would be welcomed by the New Zealanders in their match against Oxford University. The wicket, which was flooded by rain the day before the game began, was slow and easy-paced until tea on the first day. By then a cold wind and sporadic sunshine had dried it sufficiently to take the spin—as proved by G. O. Rabone — and thereafter the grass began to wear from the sandy soil. Unless there is a shower or two to bind it again, and this is probable according to the weather forecast, the wicket may crumble and be difficult for the fourth innings. New Zealand will require at least a lead of 100 oyer Oxford on the first innings to be in any way comfortable. On a crumbling wicket this may prove difficult with the three opening batsmen gone. The trend of play before lunch on the second day will have an important influence on the match. An Indifferent Start The New Zealanders, as though oy habit, made an indifferent start yesterday, losing the first wicket at 4 and the second at 19. When V. J. Scott played forward to one from Chesterton, a medium in-swinger that popped up, and was caught in the slips, they were 41 for three. M.. W. Wallace, confident as ever, and F. B. Smith, who used the middle of his bat, saw the day out. and New Zealand finished with 67 for three or 180 behind Oxford with seven wickets in hand. The brightest of the Oxford batsmen was C. E. Winn, who showed partiality for off-drives and relished T. B. Burtt particularly for this type of offensive, it was nbt Burtt’s day in any case, and, although he bowled well after tea and nearly had J. Holmeyr caught by M. B. Reid at first slip when the South African was 65, he did not show the same consistency that he did at Lord’s. Winn batted 110 minutes for his 58,' and then skied Rabone for Scott to take an easy catch. Van Ryneveld, the captain, another South African, who is a delightful stroke player, appeared set when he played on from Hayes, the ball t turning sharply from tne off.. D. B. Carr made some attractive drives before he was clean bowled by H. B. Cave, and A. H. Kardar, the Indian, whose studies have taken up more time than his cricket this season, was picturesque in using the edge of his bat. There was no little amusement in the New Zealand team when Smith in his first over of the tour took Kardar’s wicket just before tea, the Indian playing on a ball about a foot* wide of the stumps. Rabone Again When the, tea break was taken .Oxford was 214 for five, and showed every Indication of patting for the remainder of the day. Then Rabone stepped in and repeated his performance against ■ Cambridge University. In the same over he clean bowled P. A Whitcombe, K. Wiley and J. A. Law with his first, fourth and sixth balls respectively. In the next over he had G. H. Chesterton caught by Reid at first slip. He was turning the ball frorfi the off and keeping a good length. The remainder of the Oxford innings was interesting, chiefly for the general hope that Hofmeyer would reach his century. He was three hours getting his 50, and took another hour for the next 15. M. H. Wrigley added to the general enthusiasm by some fortuitous snicks off J. A. Hayes but he could not cope with the “Auckland express,” as one magazine described Hayes, and was eventually bowled. Both Hayes and Cave bowled well throughout the day, but the laurels were Rabone’s, and after tea his analysis was five overs, 17 runs, four wickets. * . . Hadlee Goes for One New Zealand seem fated-to lose one wicket for four runs. This time it was W. A. Hadlee who went with the innings only five minutes old. WnS* ley, a medium pacer, hit his middle stump with a ball that came back from the off. . , ... Reid shaped up nicely with some stylish cutting, and then he stepped right in front to Whitcombe, who is 6ft sin, with a moderate pace, and two wickets were down for 19. . The New Zealanders’ throwing to the wicket to-day was rather untidy, and Hayes had the unusual total of seven scored off him when the batsmen ran 3 and 4 were given for an overthrow. . . The New Zealand critic who described Rabone as "well below average ” when he was selected to visit England may now smile rather wryly over his opinion. . After taking an important part m beating Cambridge University by bowling leg breaks and googlies, and following that up with 92 in his first appearance at Lord’s, where he established a new record with Mooney Jor a New Zealand seventh-wicket stand in England, Rabone paved the way for the collapse of Oxford University on the first day. „ . For a “ well-below-average player to behave in this manner in three i consecutive matches is perhaps a little i unreasonable, but surely useful.