CRICKET TEST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19886, 14 March 1939, Page 7

CRICKET TEST

NEW ZEALAND BATTING 135 FOR FOUR WICKETS ONGLEY AG G RESSIYE SPIN BOWLERS' SUCCESS (Per Press Association,) WELLINGTON, this day. Wellington turned on a beautiful day for the opening of the test cricket match between New Zealand, and Sir Julien Cahn"s team at the Basin Reserve. Following the rain on Friday and Saturday, to-day is the only day of play. A crowd arrived in fairly large numbers this morning. The wicket rolled out beautifully and the outfield was fairly fast. Whitelaw and Ongley opened for New Zealand, the former lacing Phillipson from the northern end for the first over. The latter's fast medium deliveries were inclined to come up a trifle and Whitelaw was content to let the majority pass. The first over wa.s a maiden and Watts, with his medium spinners, took up the attack, bowling to Ongley from the southern end'. Ongley pushed the .second ball past mid-on for a single and Whitelaw scored a brace otf the next bail with a neat shot past square leg. Ongley Goes Well 'ln the next over from Phillipson, Ongley, with terrific power, pulled a short one to the leg fence to register the first boundary. Ongley was going particularly well and late-cut Watts for three to bring up 10 on to the board. While Ongley had been vigorous, Whitelaw's play so far had been characterised by neat placements. Ongley reached 20 shortly after noon with a solid drive off Watts. Neither batsman was troubled by the bowling. When the score was 29, Walsh replaced Phillipson at the northern end, but runs, mostly in singles, came fairly regularly. Fine ground fielding by the Englishmen earned frequent applause, but a hard chance was missed in the slips off Ongley when the latter was in the 'teens. Whitelaw reached double figures by slashing a square-cut off Walsh. When the total reached 50 in 41 minutes, Smith replaced Watts who had taken no wickets for 28. Spin Bowlers Troublesome With the total at 57, Ongley was bowled by a beautiful ball from Walsh. Menzies joined Whitelaw 7-1-35. Whitelaw, who at this stage was in the twenties, batting solidly, although finding Walsh, the slow left-hand spin bowler a trifle troublesome. Smith, bowling from the southern end, sent down three consecutive maidens, but on the fourth over Menzies scored a brace past mid-on. The scoring had slowed down since Ongley's departure. Menzies brightened the proceedings with a powerful drive to the long-on fence off Smith, and a slashing cut to the fence past point. The last shot took the total to 72 and Menzies to double figures. ■ The wicket was more difficult than at the start and Smith and Walsh, the slow bowlers, were treated with considerable respect. Menzies, when the score was 75, moved out to Walsh, was beaten by the break and was stumped by Maxwell.—7s-2-14. Wallace was the next man and Phillipson, who opened the bowling, had a turn from the southern end, replacing Smith. Whitelaw was playing a fine opening knock, and, partnered with Wallace, the Auckland pair were content to play quietly. Whitelaw, however, put his legs in front of a straight one from Smith and was given out—77-3-26. Donnelly joined Wallace at 1 o'clock. Details: — NEW ZEALAND First Inriings Whitelaw, lbw., b Smith .. .. 2(i Ongiey, b Walsh 33 Menzies, stp. Maxwell, b Walsh .. 14 Donnelly, c Maxwell, b Walsh .. 4 Wallace, not out 42 Moloney, not out 10 Extras 5 Total for four wickets .. 136