WELLINGTON WICKETS FALL CHEAPLY TO M.C.C. BOWLERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18946, 17 December 1929, Page 10

WELLINGTON WICKETS FALL CHEAPLY TO M.C.C. BOWLERS.

Nichols Proves Deadly On Worn Pitch, And Dismisses Five Men.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, December 16. The uncertainty of cricket was exemplified to the full in the third day’s play of the match between the M.C.C. and Wellington at the Basin Reserve today. Starting the day with a deficit of 62 runs on the first innings, the Englishmen, thanks to the brilliant innings of K. S. Duleepsinhji and some resolute hard hitting by F. Barratt, managed to total 293 in their second knock. With 219 to make to win, Wellington collapsed upon the worn wicket against sensational bowling by M. S. Nichols, the Essex professional, and at the drawing of stumps had lost seven wickets for 60 runs. The position at the close of play today was that Wellington still required 159 runs to win, and have only three wickets in hand. Two of the remaining batsmen, C. S. Dempster and E. A. M’Leod, are cripples, as they had to leave the field to-day with injuries received from bumping balls. The feature of the day’s play was unquestionably the wonderful innings played by Duleepsinhji. His stroke play was an object lesson in batsmanship. With a turn of the wrists, the Cambridge University and Sussex player sent the ball speeding through the slips, gliding to the ropes at long leg or flashing through covers. Ever and anon he opened out and showed something of the devastating driving power which has made him renowned throughout the world. Everyone was disappointed that he just failed by four runs, to reach his century. E. W. Dawson, the Leicestershire county captain, gave a taste of his quality. He assisted Duleepsinhji to add 148 for the second wicket, and made many finished strokes in hitting up his valuable contribution of 69. F. Barratt, the Notts professional, played a resolute innings for 46 when runs were badly needed, and S. Worthington and G. B. Legge also made useful contributions. The task of obtaining 219 runs to win in the fourth innings if the match did not appear to be beyond the powers of the Wellington batsmen, but the innings had not proceeded far when it was apparent that the wicket had worn. M. S. Nichols, the Essex express bowler, proved a terror with a strong northerly wind behind him. He was making them fly head high at times, and Allom was also causing them to rear awkwardly at times. Dempster was compelled to leave the ground twice owing to knocks on the fingers,, and M’Leod had to be carried off the field by G. F. Earle after having been knocked out by a succession of severe blows from rising balls on the thigh and hips. None of the Wellington batsmen ever looked like staying, and the record at the drawing of stumps stood at 60 runs for seven wickets. WELLINGTON’S SECOND INNINGS. Dempster and Worker opened Wellington’s second innings after the tea adjournment. Nichols took up the bowling with the wind. Allom was the bowler at the other end. Dempster placed the Surrey bowler through the slips for a couple and then received a knock on the finger, which caused him to retire co the pavilion, Hollings taking his place at the wickets. With 13 runs on Hollings was clean bowled in Allom’s second over with one that kept low and made the pace from the pitch. Airey came next and arrived to see Nichols crash one into Worker's sticks. The Napier man had never been comfortable. Lowry, Wellington’s captain, came out to stop the rot, but the going was hard. Airey got one or two away to third man for singles, but was clean bbwled by the third ball of Nichols’s fourth over. Dempster here resumed his innings, but received a painful knock on the fingers from the very first ball from Nichols and again retired. James this time filled the breach. Nichols was making them fly with the wind behind him, and was giving the Wellington batsmen a little of the battering about M'Girr had given him in the first innings. Lowry was applauded for getting Nichols away to square leg for three. This brought up 20 for 45 minutes’ play. Lowry got Allom twice to leg which caused Gilligan to bring two men over to block this stroke. Lowry was standing up boldly to Nichols’s fast stuff and playing him well. With the total at 22. Barratt took the ball from Nicholls. The change was effective as Lowry played the fourth ball of the Notts man’s first over into Duleepsinhji’s safe hands at second slip.

The wind had freshened as M’Leod came in. After bowling nine overs for 15 runs and a wicket Allom gave way to Worthington. One from Barratt got up and rapped M’Leod sharply on the thigh and the batsman went down, while Cornford massaged him. Amusement was caused when Earle picked M’Leod up. bat and all, and carried him like a baby to the pavilion. M’Girr filled the gap. Fifty runs came up after the innings had been in progress for 69 minutes. Nichols here came on again with the wind, relieving Barratt. Cornford whipped over smartly and beautifully caught James at short stop off third ball. The game had now definitely swung round in the Englishmen’s favour and matters were even worse when Nichols crashed one into Badcock’s sticks.

Henderson, the hero of Wellington's first innings, then came in, joining M’Girr, who had replaced James. Henderson, after scoring a single, had his sticks spread-eagled by Nichols. Massey came in and got four for a lucky snick through the slips. When stumps were drawn at 6 o’clock the board showed a record of seven wickets for 60 runs, Massey being 5 and M’Girr 1. Nichols, the Essex professional, was responsible for Wellington’s debacle. With the strong northerly breeze behind him he fired them down at top pace and the worn wicket did the rest.

Following are the scores:— ENGLAND. First Innings. A. H. H. Gilligan, c Massey b Henderson 14 E. W. Dawson, c James b Henderson 25 K. S. Duleepsinhji, run out 12 F. E. Woolley, c Massey b Badcock 0 G. B. Legge, c Lowry b Badcock 7 M. S. Nichols, c and b M’Leod .. 28 S. Worthington, c Dempster b Badcock 10 G. F. Earle, c Dempster b M’Leod 45 F. Barratt, c Hollings b M’Girr 2 W. Cornford, c Lowry, b M’Leod 6 M. J. C. Allom, not out 11 Extras (byes 4, leg byes 2) .. 6 Total 166 Fall of the wickets—One for 35, two for 48, three for 50, four for 61, five for 63, six for 79, seven for 147, eight for 147, nine for 151, ten for 166.

A. H. H. Gilligan, c and b M’Girr 8 E. T. Dawson, b Badcock 69 K. S. Duleepsinhji, c and b/Badcock 96 F. E. Woolley, lbw b Henderson .. 11 G. B. Legge, run out . 22 M. S. Nichols, b M’Girr 4 S. Worthington, st James b M’Leod 30 G. F. Earle, c Dempster b M’Leod 3 F. Barratt, c Dempster b M’Leod 46 W. Cornford, c Lowry b M’Leod .. 0 M. J. C. Allom, not out 1 Extras (byes 1, leg-byes 2) .. 3 Total 293 Fall of wickets—One for 14, two for 162, three for 185, four for 187, five for 212, six for 218, seven for 227, eight for 277, nine for 283, ten for 293.

WELLINGTON. First Innings. C. S. Dempster, b Nichols 20 R. de R. Worker, c Nichols b Barratt 2 A. M. Hollings, c Worthington b Woolley 27 W. F. Airey, b Woolley 20 T. C. Lowry, c Duleepsinhji b Allom 10 K. C. James, run out 22 E. A. M’Leod, b Worthington .. 37 H. M. M’Girr, c Duleepsinhji b Nichols 11 F. T. Badcock, c Woolley b Nichols 5 M. Henderson, c Allom b Worthington 47 11. B. Massey, not Out 10 Extras (byes 10, leg byes 15, no balls 6) 31 Total 242 Fall of wickets—One for 6, two for 54, three for 56, four for 85, five for 91, six for 125, seven for 136, eight for 142, nine for 216, ten for 242.

Second Innings. C. S. Dempster, retired hurt .... 2 R. de R. Worker, b Nichols 6 A. M. Hollings, b Allom 4 W. F. Airey, b Nichols 3 T. C. Lowry, c Duleepsinhji b Barratt ll K. C. James, c Cornford b Nichols 13 E. A. M’Leod, retired hurt 8 H. M. M’Girr, not out 1 F. T. Badcock, b Nichols 0 M. Henderson, b Nichols ........ 1 H. B. Massey, not out 5 Extras (leg-byes 3, no balls 3) 6 Total for seven wickets .. 60 Fall of wickets—One for 13, two for 15, three for 18, four for 33, five for 51, six for 51, seven for 54. Bowling Analysis.

Bowling Analysis. O. M. R. w. M'Girr 16 6 28 * Badcock 28 11 72 3 Henderson .. 16 1 53 M’Leod 4 5 Second Innings. 17 3

M’Girr Bowling Analysis. O. M. 15 3 R. 45 W. 2 Badcock 35 6 68 2 Henderson 15 1 60 1 Massey 0 18 0 Hollings 0 43 0 M’Leod . 3 56 4

Bowling Analysis. O. M. R. W. Nichols 7 53 3 Barratt 3 44 1 Allom .. Jo 6 21 1 W orthington .. 14 3 13 2 W. Woolley .. 19 s 38 2

o. M. R. W. Nichols 9 2 24 5 Allom 1 15 1 Barratt 1 12 1 Worthington . 5 3 3 0