TEST MATCH DRAWN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18502, 25 February 1930, Page 8

TEST MATCH DRAWN

New Zealand Bat Doggedly. POSITION FAVOURS M.C.C. By Telperrprrti —Prps* Association. AUCKLAND, Febrv -y 24. The fourth cricket test between the touring M.C.C. team and New Zealand was concluded at Eden Park to-day. the game ending in a draw in favour of the Englishmen. In reply to M.C.C.’s first innings total of 540, New Zealand continued its innings, being dismissed for 387. which was four short of the number required to avert a follow-on. Time was too short, however, for any advantage to be gained by enforcing the rule, so Gilligan sent his own side in to bat i again, and M.C.C. lost three wickets for 22 before stumps were drawn. Early morning showers failed to affect the wicket, which, when the weather cleared, played perfectly. The attendance was estimated at 3000. and pro- | duced gate takings of £169 T 3 -, which j brought the total takings for the match to £IO6O/18/-. Play throughout the day was characterised by dogged batting by the New Zealanders, which, if tending to promote uninteresting cricket, nevertheless gave a splendid example of what New Zealand could do when pushed for runs. To Lowry went the honours of the day in playing a splendid, fighting innings for 80. In an endeavour to take his side’s total past the follow-on stage, he set himself determinedly against all the bowling. On the whole his innings was attractive as well as useful. Weir did not show the same confidence as on Saturday; and fell a victim to Barratt after adding four runs to his previous score. McGirr j played a similar useful innings of 51 to j that of Lowry, being more agressive ; than his partner. He was particularly strong in leg shots. Allcott was begin- ; ning to .shape confidently when a bad run out ended his career. The remain- ! ing batsmen fought stubbornly, but eventually succumbed to the bowling, which was rarely off good length. Allom ran out with the best bowling figures, taking four wickets for 42 1 runs, and on the day was the steadiest bowler. M.C.C. made a bad start in their second innings. Legge, who compiled nearly a double century in the first innings. was well beaten by Blunt before opening an account. Matheson accounted for the other two wickets, and was well on the spot. New Zealand Continue. The New Zealand innings was resumed by Weir (59) and Allcott (21) to the bowling of Nichols and. Barratt. Weir added a single when He appeared to snick Barratt to Cornford, but the batsman received the benefit in spite of an unanimous appeal. Twenty minutes produced 10 runs, Woolley then relieving Nichols, who. while net appearing dangerous, had kept both batsmen quiet. The succeeding over of Barratt’s saw Weir dismissed, however, the batsman playing all over a “yorker.” 186-5-63.

Allcott carried on,, partnered by Lowry, but the former was fortunate, an uppish shot falling just clear of Nichols at mid-on, the fieldsman inaking a great effort to get it- A few minutes later Allcott lost his wicket in a bad run out, a smart return finding Allcott ony half way down the wicket. 193-6-33.

McGirr joined Lowry, and both played safely when the M.C.C. slow bowlers, Woolley and Bowley were introduced. McGirr raised 200 by a lucky snick through the slips for three, the double century having taken 255 minutes to compile. Lowry settled down the quicker of the pair, running into double figures, by driving Woolley to the off boundary. McGirr soon caught him up, taking three boundaries at Bowley’s expense, and one off Woolley. The advent of Allom in place of Woolley, and of Barratt instead of Bowley, did not deter the batsmen very much. Lowry was in particularly fine form with the glide, and took seven runs off three successive balls from Allom. McGirr reached 25 by a fine late cut, and then gave a chance off Allom to Cornford, but the wicket-keeper fumbled and dropped it. Play quietened as the adjournment drew near, which occasioned Barratt being changed for Bowley. but the batsmen were together at the break, the score being 266 for six wickets —McGirr 34, Lowry 28.

Nichols and Barratt had the batsmen very subdued on resuming, a series of singles taking the total to 270. McGirr gave a difficult chance to Cornford in Nichol’s second over, the ball being a trifle low for the wicketkeeper to gather cleanly. minutes passed before Lowry added a single, and McGirr, having reached 40, appeared satisfied to stay there. Gilli-

gan made a double change in attach after 19 runs had been added in 40 minutes, Worthington and Woolley handling the bowling. Ironical cheers from the hill greeted each run made, but a burst of applause followed for MeGirr when he gained his 50. McGirr was then stumped off Woolley. 293-7-51/

James just joined Lowry in time to see the latter send 300 up after 345 minutes, with a shot through the gully. Bowley came on Jo bowl at the opposite end to Woolley, and with a good length made the batsmen quiet. Lowry pulled the bowler to the leg fence for 4, after playing carefully three overs, the batsmen gaining 50 in 150 minutes. Barratt replaced Woolley. James greeting him with a four to the leg boundary and a single. Lowry also hooked the new bowler to the boundary. A quick double change saw Bowley substituted by Nichols and Barratt by Worthington. Almost instant success accompanied the change. Worthington finding James’s legs in front to a straight one. 349-8-14.

Lowry still batting solidly reached 70. Worthington suffered a leg injury while bowling just before the tea adjournment and had to be carried off. The score at the interval was 352 for eight wickets. Lowry was agressive to Woolley on restarting while Merritt was content to hold his wicket up against Barratt. Facing Barratt, Lowry chopped the bowler to the boundary through the slips. Allom took over from Barratt, and got Lowry leg before in his first over. 373-9-80. Merritt and Matheson had carried the total to within four runs of the number required to prevent a followon, when the latter played Allom on. 387-10-7.

The innings occupied 445 minutes. Gilligan did not compel New Zealand to bat again, Cornford and Dawson being sent in. to face McGirr and Matheson. Eight runs were added at a very slow rate, and then Matheson went right through Cornford’s guard and bowled him. 12-1-4.

Blunt had partnered Matheson at the bowling crease, and their attack had the Englishmen on the defence. Matheson in the next over knocked Dawson’s middle stump out. 21-2-6. Matheson was taken off in the next over, Lowry going on to bowl a maiden. A sensation followed when Legge was beaten and bowled by a good length ball from Blunt. Stumps were then drawn, the score