TAIL SAVES MATCH

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 609, 11 March 1929, Page 6

TAIL SAVES MATCH

SUBURBS’ LEADERS FAIL LATE-COMERS GET 154 The first half of L'nited Suburbs’ innings against Eden at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon led the spectator to think that the side was going to collapse for a trifling score. However, the tail wagged most effectively and the last five men, putting on 154, brought the score up to 207. The bowling of G. L. Weir and Langton was responsible for the downfall of the first six men, none of whom, except Wetherill, who made an excellent 50, passed the 20 mark. Weir took two wickets for 33 and Langton three for 50. Stotter and Webster, the opening batsmen, were troubled by the pitch, which was damp and tricky. Weir was bowling at a fair pace with considerable swing and neither of the batsmen really got “set” to the bowling. Hendy, at first wicket down, played over one of these swingers and went out for a duck. Lonergan, who followed him, played more confidently and his position seemed safe, but he had only just reached 20 when he was run out. Martin and Kerr followed, but could do little against the bowling. Weir was keeping the runs down in great style, bowling a perfect length and getting a good “kick” off the pitch. Butler, also, was bowling with great precision and when Webster’s wicket tell, just before Martin came in, he had bowled seven overs, one of which was a maiden, and had taken one wicket for six runs. Langton replaced Butler at the Kingsland end. but later changed over. His first wicket was Kerr’s, whom he clean bowled, and a few minutes later Martin was bowled by Mills in attempting a six. At the tea interval. at four o’clock, seven wickets had fallen for only 81 runs. After the meal things began to look brighter for Suburbs. Wetherill amused himself with a six, a four and a two in one over oft Mills and before he was caught bs Brook-Smith, off A. l\ Weir, he had put up an extremely useful 50 runs. Then Leikis and Williams got together and the score went soaring. Thev put on HO in well under an hour, 'Leiki's playing some splendid leg shots and I being well supported by Williams. When Leikis was caught by Postlc's I off Mills the score had reached 207. n [remarkable advance of 126 teince the