CRICKET.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18500, 22 February 1930, Page 7

CRICKET.

THE FOURTH TEST. M.C.C. OPEN WELL. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, February 21. The fourth cricket test match between the touring M.C.C. team and New Zealand was commenced at Eden Park to-day. M.C.C., winning the toss and batting first, compiled 375 runs for six wickets before stumps were drawn. Rain threatened several times during the day. but only one heavy shower necessitated a short adjournment. The wicket was in perfect order, and played well the whole time, much to the disadvantage of New Zealand's bowlegs, who could not make much nip or turn on it. The gate takings were £235/7/-, and the attendance was estimated at about 5000.

Even scoring characterised the M.C.C. innings, Woolley and Worthington being the only ones to secure small tallies. Bowley, one of the opening pair, produced 42 in his brightest style, driving freely and with an abandon which ultimately cost him his wicket. He left his partner Dawson well behind, but succumbed in attempting to force a good length ball of Allcott’s, which hit the end of the bat, and in a brilliaiit piece* of work James picked the ball up and had the bails off before the batsman could regain his crease. Dawson gained his half-century before being dismissed, but took a very long time tp get started. He lacked scoring shots. Duleepsinhji was again seen in delightful mood, the power he put into his shots to gain his 63 being astonishing. The honours of the day went to Legge, however, who, in compiling 104 not out, gave an exhibition of a real fighting innings. Confining himself to orthodox and safe shots until he was properly set, he then opened out and scored freely in spite of a well-set field. His score included twelve boundaries. Nichols was subdued at the start in compiling 75, and looked a certainty for a century until McGirr bowled him. The majority of his runs came as a result of strong driving and good timing with his leg shots.

The New Zealand bowling was thoroughly tested, and considering that a little luck was against them, they came through the ordeal well. Allcott’s trundling was a salient feature of the attack. Considering the number of overs he bowled, his length was remarkable. A pleasing feature to Aucklanders was the generally consistent bowling of Matheson in his first try-out in test cricket. Bad luck dogged his efforts throughout. On one occasion Duleepsinhji played him on to the wicket without removing the bails. Merritt bowled steadily, and might easily have secured three wickets. McGirr did not bowl as well as usual, and after opening the attack, was not used again until the 300 mark was passed.

The New Zealenders’ fielding showed vast improvement, the picking up and alertness of the fieldsmen earning constant applause. Dempster was outstanding in this department, his efforts being brilliant at times. Bowley and Dawson opened the M.C.C. innings, the former taking first strike to McGirr, and collecting eight off the over. Matheson took up the attack at the other end, and Dawson square cut his first ball, a full toss, for a single. Bowley was displaying powerful back shots, and he clipped Matheson past cover to the boundary. McGirr also appeared to his liking, for he notched two boundaries with a chop shot to the on and a flashing drive past mid-off. Dawson was playing in his usual careful style, being content to score singles. Merritt came on in place of McGirr, Dawson taking a brace and a single off his first over. The first half-hour’s play realised 31 runs. In attempting to glide Matheson, Bowley gave a stumping chance, but James failed to gather the ball. Matheson was bowling very well, having sent down seven overs for 13 runs, and had troubled the batsmen exceedingly. When forty appeared, Matheson was spelled in favour of Allcott. Bowley lifted Merritt for two fours in succession. Allcott only bowled for three overs before giving way to Weir, but was immediately swung on again in Merritt’s place. The change was effective, Bowley being brilliantly run out off Allcott’s second ball. The batsman hit the ball, which rolled to James, who removed the bails before the batsman regained his crease. 60—1—42.

Matheson took the ball again from Weir, and almost bowled Duleepsinhji twice, the batsman just snicking the ball clear of his wicket. Duleepsinhji got the bowler away nicely to the leg boundary, however, following with a four and a brace at Allcott’s expense. Dawson continued to bat very slowly, taking six minutes to get 22. Duleepsinhji soon caught his partner and passed him. The Sussex man was cutting and driving beautifully, and he raised the first 100 after 90 minutes play. Blunt was given a trial with the ball, but could not trap the batsmen into hitting out. The score at luncheon was 111 for one wicket— Duleepsinhji 37 and Dawson 28. Matheson and Allcott resumed bowling after luncheon, Duleepsinhji taking four off the latter, but spooning the next through the gully just clear of the fieldsmen. Dawson ran into the thirties with a perfectly-timed square cut for four, but facing Allcott he was fortunate to escape playing a ball which came through low. At this stage a heavy shower interrupted play for ten minutes.

On resuming, Duleepsinhji placed Matheson to the off fence to bring his fifty up. He followed with another pretty boundary, taking a full toss right off his foot and turning it to the leg fence. The advent of Page in Matheson’s place gave a difficult unaccepted chance to mid-on. However, in Allcott’s next over the bowler got right through Duleepsinhji’s guard with a low pacy delivery, which removed the off stump. 150—2—63. Woolley started nicely, gliding Allcott for three and a brace. Dawson was scoring more freely, and approached 40 by getting well over Allcott and guiding him through the gully to the boundary. Woolley had just reached double figures when Allcott bowled him with a great ball 170—3—10.

Legge joined Dawson, and the latter got his fifty a couple of overs later. He had been batting for 165 minutes. Merritt had replaced Page, but could not induce the batsmen to take chances. Legge drove forcefully, but could not find openings in the field. Blunt took the ball from Merritt, and in his second over Dawson was caught in the slips by Allcott. 190—4—55. Nichols did not display his usual initiative on coming to the. crease, being rather uncomfortable to Allcott and Matheson, who had spelled Blunt. Two hundred appeared after 205 minutes’ play, and 223 was on the board at the afternoon tea adjournment—Legge 25, Nichols 13. Matheson and Merritt handled the attack on resuming, and play brightened somewhat, Nichols sending a long hop from the former to the boundary. Legge also produced several nice off shots, which took him into the thirties.

Legge (41) gave an easy stumping chance when facing Merritt, but James failed to gather the ball properly. A close-run single gave Legge his 50. He had commenced rather slowly, but was now showing a variety of crisp scoring strokes. Nichols showed a penchant for short-pitched balls, swinging them repeatedly to the boundary. 250 was soon passed, but as 300 was approached the scoring slackened again. The third century was hoisted when Legge pulled a ball from Weir, who had relieved Matheson. to the fence. Nichols reached fifty shortly afterwards. McGirr, who had been sparingly bowled, was given another chance, and was unlucky to graze Nichols’ stumps with the last ball of his first over. Allcott was being persevered with at the other end, but although he kept the batsmen subdued, he was not getting so much pace off the wicket as formerly. Merritt replaced him next over, but met with no success. It took Legge a long time to clear the eighties, and Nichols gradually caught up. but a brace of boundaries took him within call of the century. This he gained by square-cutting Merritt past cover. Nichols commenced to hit. on one occasion mistiming and returning a soft catch to Merritt, who dropped it. McGirr made amends next over, however, by bowling Nichols. 374—5—75. Worthington was the newcomer, and he was clean bowled by Merritt before scoring. Stumps were then drawn/ with the total at 375 for six wickets. Details of play are:—

PAREORA CLUB. The following will represent Pareora second grade v. Timaru, at 2 p.m.:— ► Thompson, Barr, Hurst, Bennison, Pratt, Mcßeath, Rogers, R. Munro, Steele, Richards, Smith, McPhail 12th man.

M.C.C. First Innings. E. H. Bowley, run out .. .. 42 E. W. Dawson, c Allcott, b K. S. Duleepsinhji, b Allcott 63 F. E. Woolley, b Allcott .. 10 G. B. Legge, not out .. .. 104 M. S. Nichols, b McGirr .. 75 S. Worthington, b Merritt .. 0 Extras Total for 6 wickets 375 Bowling. Ovrs. Mds. Rns. Wks. Allcott .... 39 13 87 Merritt .. .. 24.3 2 86 Matheson .... 24 5 72 McGirr .... 11 2 37 Weir 6 0 26 Blunt 7 1 18 Page 5 0 23 0