AT THEIR BEST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 246, 29 July 1937, Page 5

AT THEIR BEST

NEW ZEALAND VERSUS SURREY.

DONNELLY’S RECORD OF TOUR.

TOTAL OF 45!) FOR NINE.

(From the special correspondent of the United Press Association with the team).

(Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, July 28

The New Zealand cricketers maintained the happy knack of appearing at their best in London. Rejoicing in a fast wicket and fine weather, they batted brilliantly against a strong attack by Survey, including the speed king, Cover. Surrey is now one of the strongest counties and has won the last three matches.

The foundation of a big score was laid in the good first and second wicket partnerships, and the following batsmen were able to attack the bowling without fear of consequences, for almost the first time on the tour.

Donnelly dashingly drove, cut, and pulled for a chanceless century. Brightly continuing, he compiled the highest individual score of the tour. He hit 21 fours and one six.

Wallace gave a correct, forceful display, hitting eight fours, including several favourite leg hits. Moloney was confident and comfortable against the bowlers, who were using a new ball, gliding and leg cutting prettily. Page played the most attractive innings since his century at Nottingham. His off driving and leg hitting was especially clean and strong. Page and Donnelly scored 100 together in an hour. After tea Dunning retired with cramp in a leg, but returned to assist in the partnership, which yielded 25 runs for the last wicket. The team is: Surrey, Holmes, Sandham, Mobey, Gregory, Squires, Barling, Parker, Whittaker, Watts, Gover, Daley. Scores:—

NEW ZEALAND. • First Innings. Vivian, c Mobey, b Watts ... 12 Moloney, b Parker 51 Wallace, c Daley, b Gover ... 69 Weir, c Gregory, b Squires ... 29 Donnelly, c Gregory, b Holmes ... 144 Hadlee, b Parker 39 Page, not out ‘ ... 77 Gallichan, c Holmes, b Squires ... 7 Tindill, c Watts, b Squires ... 0 Dunning, not out 6 Cowie, b Watts 5 Extras 20

Total for nine wickets ... 459

Bowling: Gover one for 72, Watts two for 71, Parker two for 84, Daley none for 35, Squires three for 96, Holmes one for 51, Gregory none for 30.

AUSTRALIAN INVITATION.

SERIES OF MATCHES SUGGESTED

(Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day,

The New South Wales Cricket Association has made a move to invite the New Zealand cricketers to play a series of matches in the Eastern States of Australia, oh their way home from England. The matter is to come before the Australian Board of Control, with a view to its submission to the New Zea*land Cricket Council.

The suggestion is that the matches be played in November in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Adequate financial support would be assured the New Zealanders, and the players on both sides would benefit by the contests.

THE SECOND TEST MATCH.

‘‘SLIPPED THROUGH FINGERS.”

LONDON, July 28

In the second Test match, the English howler, Goddard, made clever use of the only blemish on the wicket—a small rough patch just outside the off-side stump. It is a remarkable fact that only four .runs were scored from him hy right-handers. The rest were recorded by Vivian and Donnelly. New Zealand really lost the match on the second hour of the day, when four catches were dropped, enabling the home side to recover after a sensational collapse. Had the high fielding standard of the first hour been maintained England would probably, have been out for about 100. New Zealand would then almost certainly have won on form. The home team was unlikely to have used the spin howlers with so few runs between the sides. It will probably he years before New Zealand will have such a wonderful chance to win an official test.

Mr Howard Marshall, writing in “The Daily Telegraph” says: “New Zealand had the game safely in their hands and then let it slip through their fingers.”

MACARTNEY’S VIEW OF TEST.

LOSS DUE TO INEXPERIENCE

(Received This Dav, 11.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day

C. G. Macartney, commenting in the “Sydney Morning Herald’’ on the second cricket Test match, says the result was not surprising, but from New Zea-

land’s view it was somewhat disappointing. Nevertheless, England, after making a good start and applying the closure in the first innings, cannot be jubilant at the margin. The New Zealand bowlers showed to advantage in the second half of the match, and if their batsmen had performed with equal satisfaction the visitors probably would have won. The dismissal of England for 187 was a bowling triumph—for the attack was designated as weak—and a fine achievement by Cowie. New Zealand was then in a sound position, but the batting failed to consolidate it. The debacle of Now Zealand’s second innings appears to have been caused by inexperience. Englishmen possess the knowledge to deal with a tense situation, whereas their less-informed opponents would probably suffer from over-carefulness, which would seriously interfere with their natural game.