CRICKET.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 5 January 1926, Page 5

CRICKET.

N.Z. V. N.S.W. PATRICK AND ALCOTT SAVE GAME. SYDNEY, Monday. The weather was hot and the sky was cloudless when the New Zealand not-out ■batsmen —Patrick (71) and Alcott (51) resumed their innings on the last day of tiro ma tch, against New South I\ ales. The wicket was in excellent order, and the outfield was good. The play in the first half-liour was very lively. Alcott was particularly aggressive, cut Nic.holls and Tweeddale delightfully, and drove with great power and precision. Patrick was more cautious. He batted patiently, but missed no opportunities of getting the ball away. Campbell, five slow bowler, was the only quo to cause five New Zealanders trouble round the wicket. Both batsmen wore very slow between tbe wickets and lost many runs. Their 'back-ing-up, also, could have, been improved. Play hung fire just before Patrick reached his century, as both batsmen were taking no risks. PATRICK GIVES ONE CHANCE. Patrick's century took 179 minutes, and on reaching it he was warmly applauded. Eleven runs later he hit a ■ball into the hands of Bardsley at square leg. but the fieldsman diopped it. This was the only chance Patrick gave. When the total was 225 Alcott survived -a confident appeal 'for lcg-bcfore. He jAvsted the century past before lunch, having' occupied 212 minutes. A quarter-hour after lunch, and just before the’ fourth century, Morgan' clean bowled Aloot't with his first bowl with a new ball. Alcott hit 15 fours in. his most useful innings, and gave no chances. The partnership yielded 244 runs' at the time when they were most, necessary.

Morgan made the new ball swing in dangerously, and runs, came slowly. Patrick carried on slowly, but occasionally made a big hit. With the score at, 440 lie hit a boundary, but to J the next bail' lie stepped out to Campbell, hit over it, and his wicket fell. He occupied the crease for 294 minutes and hit 24 fours. It was due to his linedisplay, and also to that of Alcott, that New Zealand averted an innings defeat.

Mcßeath hit powerfully all round, and kept the out-fieldsmen running until he was caught on the boundary by Vaughan. , HOME BATSMEN HIT- OUT. New South Wales opened their second innings with a little over two hours to play. Scones gave a bright display, scoring rapidly by means of big ‘hits, till he skied one. off Meßath to Aleott. Cunningham again started unluckily-, a catch off him from Scanes. being muddled by Blunt. MYBc.ath -was entrusted -with most of the attack. Blunt’s slows had no terrors for the batsmen. Phillips scored slowly and steadily, and took no risks. The New Zealand fielding Avas generally good. Phillips showed considerable skill in piloting 'the ball through the .slips. Mcßeath was getting up more pace- than' m the first innings. LoAvry, behind the stumps, let few balls past him. , BOWLING NOT SO GOOD. Punch played cautiously, and both batsmen allowed many easy balls to pass. , The New Zealand bowling did not appear so good as in the. -previous innings. Punch, driving well, sent Cunningham several times- to the boundary. Phillips displayed nice footwork in. turning the ball to leg, and brought up his century witli a nice six off Patrick s first ball, just on time. The match amis drawn. NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Worker, c and b Campbell Alloo, 1) Nicholls 44 Blunt, c Campbell, b Morgan Oliver, c Vaughan, b Campbell ... -> LoAvry, c Ratcliffe, b Morgan 6 Dacrc, b Campbell ® Patrick, b Campbell 444 Aleott, h Morgan 1 James., lbw, b Morgan ™ Mcßeath, c Vaughan, b Campbell 16, Cunningham, not out ’’ Extras 44

Total 45 , 5 Bowling: Nicholls 1 for 80, Twee'ddale 0 for 98, Phillips 0 for 46, Campbell 3 for 132, Morgan 4 for 60, Punch 0 for 25. NEW SOUTH WALES. First innings . Second innings. Phillips, not out Scanes, c Aleott, b Mcßeath 34 Vaughan, b Alloo 15 Punch, li Cunningham LI Nicholls, not out _ b Extras ' 4 Total for 3 wicket. .s • •• 20a Bowling analysis: Oliver 0 for 9, Cunningham 1 for 52, Mcßeath 1 for 28, Dacrc 0 for 4, Blunt 0 for 31, Alloo 1 for 38, Aleott 0 for 31, Patrick 0

for S. ANOTHER MATCH PROBABLE. C IT HIST CUU R GII, Mould a y. The departure of the New Zealand cricket team- from Australia, lias been delayed, land a. match against Sydney University will probably be arranged. PLUNKET SHIELD. THIS MORNING’S SCORE. AUCKLAND, This Day. In the Plunket Shield cricket match the score at noon was three for 240. (Smith, b Torrance, 56; Sneddon, in, 1115; Anthony in 2.1; extras 60.)