Donnelly And Cave In A Good Partnership

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 August 1949, Page 8

Donnelly And Cave In A Good Partnership

YORKSHIRE HAD TO FIGHT TO DRAW

SHEFFIELD, July 29.—After the best, most exciting and enjoyable game of the tour, New Zealand drew with Yorkshire and delighted a sporting crowd. At one time when New Zealand was eight for 141 and only 81 runs ahead, it seemed certain that Yorkshire would win. But a magnificent fighting stand of 87 in 85 minutes by Donnelly and Cave gave Yorkshire a target of 169 in 9u minutes. Yorkshire had to hit lour runs oil about 41 overs; Cresswell in a brilliant spell took five quick wickets for 30, anti three fell in one over. Then Yorkshire, with six down lor 53, had tt turn round and save the match. Lacking Trueman, they were eigl t for 95, but finished without further loss at 108. It was great cricket and Yorkshire should really have won. Donnelly, who played a great innings and hit 95 together with Cave who batted like a hero, saved New Zealand. Donnelly was stumped by Brennan after lie played a ball and strayed from the crease. The New Zealand fielding was again excellent. The day was thoroughly enjoyed by 10,000 people, of whom 6927 paid £703. The total attendance was 47,000 and the total receipts were £3792. New Zealand were quickly on the slippery slope when Scott, after five minutes, snicked a ball from Whitehead as it turned away and Brennan took a catch beaind the wicket. Then Burke was beaten by a ball front Wardle which turned, struck his bat and also went on to Brennan. This made three fur 61. Reid was batting well—he is a greatly improved player—and Smith joined him to make two of his typical cuts through slips which were worth a couple each. He was rapidly leg before to Close, however, when he tried to hook a ball that shot low.

Donnelly began quietly and confidently and we were not unduly worried about the situation, for Reid looked good and both his defensive and offensive strokes were nicely calculated. Wardle and Close, however, were in the middle of a fine spell ot bowling, getting a little bit of turn, or as Close called it at lunchtim e “ben” and demanded concentration. For variation Wardle sent Reid a yorker; Reid tried a full blooded on-drive, missed and was bowled. Now Hadlee arrived, playing lower in the order to avoid tne strain of helping to open the innings. With five for 98, however, he still had some responsibility of pulling the -innings together with Donnelly. He batted nicely for 40 minutes, pulled and off-drove with great competence and then went leg before to Wardle.

Close seemed slightly astonished when Donnelly took nine from him in an over with a square cut, a leg glance and an on-drive. In a quarter of an hour Donnelly leapt from 26 to 50. Brennan had missed a stumping chance when he was 36.

Cave, who was battling with copybook strokes, his lelt elbow nicely bent forward, joined in and swept Wardle to the leg boundary.

In 25 minutes 42 runs were addeu, and the game was swinging. At 186 | Whitehead took a new ball. This quietened the pace of the scoring, but even so Donnelly off-drove him perfectly for four. The 200 was passed and 73 were added in an hour after lunch. Cave was playing the good bowling so well that Yardley picked on Hutton in the hope that indiiterent stuff might trap him into error; Cave was Sheffield steel and solid for two maidens. Wardle came back with the new ball only a-quarter of an hour old and then Close and Donnelly pulled a full toss to reach 91. The scoring tempo quietened, for now time was becoming more important than runs. Then when it seemed certain that Donnelly would reach his century, Wardle returned, Donnelly moved across the wicket to push a ball with his pads. He had finished his stroke and appeared to be intent on keeping away from Brennan to allow him to return the ball to the bowler. For a ■ moment he had both feet out of the i crease and Brennan whipped off the | bails and the umire’s raised finger was like the knell of doom! Cresswell was out leg before in the same over and Cave carried his bat for 18. BAD OPENING. Yorkshire’s innings began sensationally with Cresswell having Hutton caught off the first ball of his second over by Rabone at first slip with only lour runs scored. Wickets continued to fall and, with six down for 53 and 68 minutes left, Yorkshire had to light to avoid losing! Keighley and Wardle dug in and Burke and Rabone came on; then Sutcliffe was tried and he bowled Wardle, Burke changed to the othei end and had Whitehead caught ofi Mooney. Brennan joined Keighley with 13 minutes to go. Every ball was cheered, every hii or tap drew roars and Keighley patter out a draw against Sutcliffe with the I New Zealanders hemming hint in liki I a hedge. Remaining Matches j July 30,.August 1 and 2, v. Glamori gan. I August 3, 4 and 5, v Warwickshire i August 6, 8 and 9, v. Nottingham--1 : hire. August 10. 11 and 12, v. Essex. j August 13., 15 and 16, v. Englam i (Uh Test). August 18 and 19, v. Durham. August 20, 22 and 23, v. Lancashire August 24, 25 and 26, v. Kent. August 27, 29 and 30, v. Middlesex. August 31, September 1 and 2, v Club Cricket Conference. September 3, 5 and 6, Hastings Fes tival. September 7, 8 and 9, v. H. D. C Leveson-Gower’s XI.