HUTTON BATS BRIGHTLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27572, 14 December 1950, Page 7

HUTTON BATS BRIGHTLY

Centuries To Close And

Sheppard

MCC IN CANBERRA N ZP A—Copyright

Rec. 11 p.m. CANBERRA, Dec. 13. Len Hutton treated 2000 spectators to a delightful display of free hitting in the match between the MCC and New South Wales Southern Districts today. Opening the second innings with Sheppard after England had dismissed the country players for 164—16 runs short of their goal—he reached a chanceless 50 (five 4’s) in 54 minutes before deliberately throwing his innings away. When the partnership ended at 87, Hutton was 54 and Sheppard 32. Dewes and Parkhouse failed to get going, but the stolid, painfully orthodox Sheppard and the happy-go-lucky Close, whose three previous scores were 0, 0 and 1, were both 105 at stumps. The bowlers threw down so much rubbish and the fieldsmen missed so many catches after tea that their scores are hardly worth recording except that Close nit 16 4’s in an innings which lasted only 94 minutes. Sheppard, by contrast, batted for 178 minutes. He hit a 6, a 5 and nine 4’s. His first 50 took 118 minutes and looked very poor by comparison with Hutton’s efforts. Close was 92 at the start of the last over, but Hanna deliberately sent down two “ donkey drops,” which enabled him to reach the century. The two batsmen were associated in a partnership of 179 runs. Scores:— MCC First innings 180 Second Innings Sheppard, not out .. .. .. .. 105 Hutton, b Robinson 54 Dewes, c Rudd, b Robinson .. .. 5 Parkhouse, c Russell, b Hedditch 4 Close, not out 105 Extras .. .. 8 Total for three wickets .. 281 Bowling Analysis.—Robin, none for 14; Backen, none for 29, Travers none for 55, Robinson, two for 55; Rudd, none for 30, Hanna, none for 26, Freebody, none for 26; Hedditch one for 38 Southern Districts

Bowling Analysis.—Bailey, four for 49; Bedser, two for 43; Wright, three for 43; Brown, one for 24; Close, none for 12.

First Innings Hutchins, c Close, b Bailey .. . . 1 Russell, lbw, b Wright .. .. . . 35 Findlay, b Bedser . o Hanna, b Wright . 17 Ruddj lbw, b Wright ?! Hedditch, not out . 52 Robinson, c Sheppard, b Bedser . . 27 Freebody, lbw, b Brown . 21 Travers, lbw, b Bailey . 2 Backen, b Bailey . 3 Robin, lbw, b Bailey 1 Extras . 3 Total . 164