TOWN VERSUS COUNTRY

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1926, Page 15

TOWN VERSUS COUNTRY

CRICKET AT WELLINGTON

CITY TEAM MAKE 340 RUNS,

COUNTRY LOSE TWO FOR 56

(By Wire.—Special to News.)

Wellington. Last Night

In view of the approach of the Plunket Shield matches and the English trip considerable interest was manifested in the Town V. Country cricket fixture, which was commenced on the Basin Reserve this morning.

To win the toss meant to bat, and the spin of the coin favoured Brice, the Wellington skipper. Taking first strike Wellington, despite a disastrous start, four wickets having fallen for under half a century, run up the hefty total of 340; When stumps were drawn Country had lost two wickets (Worker and Nasmith) for 56 runs.

Kortlang was the hero of Wellington’s innings, giving a masterly display of sound batting and carrying hie bat for 149 after being at the wickets over four hours,

.lames, the youthful Wellington keeper, likewise played a splendid innings, compiling 82 by most attractive and exhilarating batting. Contrary to general expectations, Lowry kept wickets for the Country side, Kingston being in the field prior to the luncheon adjournment, when he failed to make a re-appearance owing to the recurrence of an old injury, he being replaced by C. Lash. The teams took the field as follows: Country.—Lowry (captain), Worker, Stephenson, Mitchell (Hawke’s Bay), Kingston, Nasmith (Taranaki), Bernau, Dempster, Orr (Wanganui), Galliehan (Manawatu), J. Newman (Nelson). Town (Wellington).—Brice (captain), McGirr, Kortlang, Hiddleston, Lambert, James, Hollings, Badcoek, Airey, Henderson, Beard.

The wicket and the outfield were both Very fast, and brilliant weather condi tions prevailed. Hiddleston and Airey, Wellington’s opening pair, failed to make any sort of a partnership, Airey having his stumps skittled by a beautiful ball from Bernau after having just opened his scoring account. Bernau, specially nt the commencement of the innings, was getting a lot of pace up, being aided by a fairly stiff southerly and the wteket. Hiddleston went vefy cheaply, getting in front to a good length ball from Stephenson before he had played himself in. McGirr shaped very confidently and was starting io lay on the wood when he fell l.b.w. to Mitehell.

Lambert, who last year figured in the Country side, gave his usual aggressive display, but did not go for a solitary big hit while at the wickets. His driving was full of sting, and he kept the ball on the ground more than usual. His partnership with Kortlang for the sixth wicket yielded 118 runs.

Hollings, the ’Varsity colt, who has been making phenomenal scores in club cricket, met early disaster, Lowry snapping up a great catch behind the sticks off the second express ball the colt received from Bernau. Badcoek had a short but merry career. Brice, Wellington’s skipper, went early in the proceedings in attempting a big hit off Mitchell.

KORTLANG’S GREAT INNINGS.

Kortlang added yet another century to hie splendid record in Wellington representative cricket. He was the personification of confidence from the outset, and at no stage did he appear like getting out. Although he took no unnecessary risks he laid on the wood when presented with any loose stuff. With the exception of a couple of very hot chances he had no lives, although surviving a confident l.b.w. appeal fairly early on in his career. James, the youthful Wellington wicketkeeper, who is considered to have a strong claim for selection for the English trip, gave a delightfully stylish display with the bat. He has improved out of all sight this season, and his innings to-day was reminiscent of Dernuster’s exhilarating knocks of last season.

Worker, who opened Country’s inn ings with Orr shortly before five o’clock, showed very sound defence, refusing to nibble at an over of tempting, fast off stuff sent down by Henderson, Wellington’s express merchant. He put on runs mainly by singles, and appeared set for a big score when he was beautifully snapped up by James behind the sticks. Orr, though perhaps a trifle lucky, batted with enterprise, specially relishing pace bowling, and was very pretty on the off side. Nasmith, who came to the wiekets when the light was beginning to fail showed stubborn defence for a couple of overs, but had his stumps scattered by the last ball of the day, a full toss from Hollings. Country’s fielding to a man was elean and safe. Dempster was the special bright star, repeatedly saving "moral” boundaries by his speed arid sure handling. Lash, fielding in the place of Kingston, was responsible for Badeock’s dismissal with one of the finest catches seen on the Basin Reserve so far this season. Badcoek opened his shoulders to a tempting one from Mitchell, and the ball sailed hard and high over the howler's head. Lash ran in from deep field and held a magnificent diving catch a few inches off the ground. Nasmith had plenty to do in the field and was very sound.

Mitchell, a slow right hander with an easy delivery, bore the brunt of the attack for Country. ' The hardly turning Hawke’s Bay man varied his length deceptively, with the result that he claimed five wickets at a cost of 110 runs. (The ball that sent James back to the .pavilion was one out of the box. Newman kept right on the spot, and scarcely sent down a loose ball in his fourteen overs, only 31 runs being knocked off him.

Taking into consideration their undeni .■Me batting strength, the general opinion here is that Country will make a bold bid to overhaul Town’s totrft when the innings is continued to-morrow.

THE DETAILED SCORES.

B.v Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The detailed scores in the Town v Country match are: —

WELINGTON.

First Linings.

J. 8. Hiddleston, l.b.w. b Stephenson H W. R. Airey, b Bernau 1 B. J. Kortlang, not out 149 A. M. Hollings, c Lowry b Bernau 0

H. M. McGirr, 1.b.w., b Mitchell .. 12 K. James, b Mitchell 82 F. T. Badcoek, e Lash b Mitchell.. 13 H. M. Lambert, c Orr b Mitehell .. 46 W. S. Brice, c Worker b Mitchell 6 M. Henderson, run out 1 L. Beard, b Galliehan 8 Extras 14 Total 340

Bowling analysis.—Mitchell, five wickets for 110 runs; Bernau', two for 54; Stephenson, one for 64; Galliehan, one for 56.

COUNTRY.

First Innings. R. De R. Worker, c James b Badcoek 14 G. Orr. not out 38 O. M. Nasmith, b Hollings 4 Extras 0 Total (for two wiekets) 56