UNIMPRESSIVE PLAY AT BASIN RESERVE

Chronicle (Levin), 7 December 1946, Page 5

UNIMPRESSIVE PLAY AT BASIN RESERVE

-Press Association

By Telegraph-

WELL1N UTO.n , Dec. I). Town emerged with lionours slighth, in their fnvour aftor the iirst dayX plav in the anmral match with Country at the Basin Rosorve today. Country require 47 runs with only two wickets in hand'to rench Town's (irst hutinga si-ore of is?. The match failed to throw much light on the prospect* for tlie Plunket Shielu sidc, the bost performances in a rather dourly contested game being tliose ot already well-testeil cricketers. M. O. Meech. S. A. McVicar and J. R. Capstiek wero the soundest of the Town batsmen who did not impress general ly. Town liad iirst use of the wieket from which the fast bowlers Downes and Hoiir made the ball lift awkwardJv at times. For this reason the bntting of McVicar and t'npstick earued the greatest merit since they- made their runs during a period which was l'rauglit with some dirliculties. 1 11 the afternoon when the wicket appeared easier Meech aiul O'Xeill deiighted witli sonie attractive Imtting and wero rosponsiblc for taking the tcital from 10.") for seven to 1S2 before being separated. Downes was Country 's most hostile hodder and Eeniiey the most guileful. Hncked up by keen liolding they alwayshsul the batsmen treatiug them with respect. Country's batting had some bright moinents, particularly while Onglev, JJeanev and Ridland wero nt the crease, but it also was not of a particularly imprcssive standard. On the dav O. McVicar was verv solid but revealed the weakness of most of the batsmen in tlicking at rising off balls. Scores: — TOWX S. McVicar, e Downes b Reanev . 22 Tindill, c Matheson b Downes .. 0 Menzies, e and l> Downes 0 Oapstick, c I'eaney b Iloar .... d7 liainldrd, c Ilunt b Reanev .... 11 Larkin, c Barker b Reaney .... " Wilson. Ibw Downes 4 Meech, c Baiker 1) Cave 3S O'Xeill, c IToar b Downes .. .. 40 Allen, b Downes 1 Buehan, not out 1 ; Kxtras .. .. .-. 21, Tota] . . . . , . 1.S7 j Bowling: Downes five for 4.7, Reaney three ff>r 47, Cave oue for 22, Iloar one for 10, Matheson none for 12. ("OUXTRY XrcVicar c 8. McVicar b Wilson "2 liuiit, b O'Xeill (i Barker, c S. i\rc\'icar b O'Xeill .. 2 Rowe, • Tindill b Bnchan ] J. Ongley, b Wilson 21 | Reaimy. c Rainbiid b Meech .... 27' Ridland, c Tindill b Allen .. l!l Iloar, c Tindill b Rninbird ti Mtitheson, not ont 1" Cave, not out S Kxtras Total for S wickets 141' Bowling: O'Xeill two for .47, Buehan one for .'12, Wilson two for 20, Allen one for l'k, Rainbird one for 0, Meech oue for 17.