NEW ZEALAND FACED DEFEAT AT END OF SECOND DAY’S PLAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27092, 28 May 1949, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND FACED DEFEAT AT END OF SECOND DAY’S PLAY

NZPA—Copyright

Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON. May 27. At the risk of being abandoned, the match between New Zealand and Oxford University has shown once again the importance of the influence of the weather, the wicket and the luck of the toss in cricket. In winning the toss Oxford gained a definite advantage by. batting on the first day on a slow, easy-paced pitch that allowed them to put on 214 for five by tea time. It may prove that this period decided the match. By 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday, the wicket was taking spin and it is interesting to note that as soon as it did, so Oxford lost its five remaining wickets for 33 and New Zealand could do little more than' amass 67 for three. The overnight rain again changed thg picture. On" Thursday, the wickets were worth only some seven runs apiece and by evening the pitch was to all intents and purposes ruined for the batsmen. It is now bumpy, patchy, and soggy. Yet, if the sun shines on the final day there is the possibility that J. Reid, M. W. Wallace, M. P. Donnelly, F. B. Smith, H. B. Cave and J. A. Hayes may be able to run what at the moment appears certain defeat into victory. They require 165 runs to win. It will be an interesting test for the New Zealand batsmen and if they win the match it will be the most creditable achievement of the tour up to the present time. Second Day’s Play When their second innings began the New Zealanders needed 210 to win, batting on a rain-affected bowlers wicket, and have lost five wickets for 45 This aided Oxford to end the New Zealand first innings in 95 minutes before lunch for a total of 110 only 43 runs being added for seven wickets. Wallace alone of the New Zealanders batted with distinction; scoring 27 to bring his-total to 43. He was struck painfully on the thumb which was broken during the 1937 tour, and on. the fingers, and he did not field during Oxford’s second innings. Conditions also resulted in New Zealand extracting Oxford for 72 in two hours 35 minutes. In 20 odd minutes to lunch Oxford had lost two wickets for 6 runs, Rabone at, second slip taking two catches. He Tield a very fast one from M. B. Hofmeyr off Hayes iust before it hit the ground. C. E. Winn and B. Boobyer made the longest stand—3s minutes—for Oxford until the latter was well caught by W. A. Hadlee. Only Winn, the left-hander who did well on the first day, could make anything of the bowling, and his 37 in 100 minutes was a fine knock. The remainder of the Oxford batsmen competed with the New Zealanders for processional honours. ... The New Zealanders fielding was good, and Rabone, who did not bowl, distinguished himself again by taking in all five catches in the slips. T. B. Burtt returned to his bowling form to get six wickets for 18 runs in 16 overs. . Cave also bowled well, keeping the ball on the wicket' and making it riser Hayes was rather more erratic and sent down rather too many balls off the wicket, with an occasional full toss. ~ . It was a day for the bowlers and the statisticians. No fewer than 22 wickets fell for a total of 160 runs in six hours. Of those 22 wickets 19 were obtained by catches Well-grooved Wicket

When the New Zealanders began their second innings the wicket had dried a good deal, but it was still soft and well grooved. Hadlee sent in Rabone, who opens for Wellington, with V. J. Scott, instructing them to stay as long as possible in the hope that conditions may improve on the final day. Scott, after batting for 25 minutes, was struck on the left eyebrow by a ball from P. A. Whitcombe, and had to retire to have sticking plaster applied to the wound. Shortly after he returned he was caught off his gloves in the gully, and then Burtt came and went, giving a catch in the same position. Rabone was brilliantly caught at silly mid-off. Hadlee, determined to make runs, pulled G. H. Chesterton for a lovely 6. Then Whitcombe bowled him with one that kept low. and A. H. Kardar bowled F. H. L. Mooney at the other end. . ’

Reid and Cave played out time with the Oxford men running between overs to squeeze in as much bowling as possible.