EXCITING CLIMAX TO M.C.C. GAME

Chronicle (Levin), 19 March 1947, Page 7

EXCITING CLIMAX TO M.C.C. GAME

-rress Association

DOUBLE CENTURYv BY SUTCLIFFE

Bv Telearzvh—

DUNEDIN, Mar. 18. The first two days of the match between Haxnmond's England team and Otago provided cricket to gladden any heart, but on the final day today Carisbrook was the setting for a figlitrto the tinish tliat will be talked about for uiany years to come. The brief facts were that Hammoud had declared England 's innings closed at "stumps" yesterday at 385 for six wickets in reply to Otago 5s first innings total of 340. Hadlee declared Otago 's second innings closed at 262 for seven wickets at the tea adjournment today, and in two hours of.exeiting batting England got to witliin one run of the required to tio, for the loss of nine wickets. It was a thriliing finale to a raaguificent match and great enthusiasm was aroused" in the crowd of 5000. Apart from the extraordinary progress of the match as a match, the day was a meiuorable oue in the annals of New Zealand cricket beeause it held the finest achievement which has evei goue to the credit of a New Zealand oatsman. The young left-hand player, B. Sutcliffe, had played an outstanding mnings of 197 in Otago 's first innings. and today he batted even more impressively to score 128. It was a glorious double and it carried Sutcliffe iuto the front rank of Avorld elass batsmen. A spectacular catch to disniiss Edrich when the Euglishmen were in full cry after runs in their second innings was the crowning glory of " Sutcliffe 's match. " In the last two hours of play today Evaus, Edrich, Compton, Bedser and Lkiu all chased runs so brilliantly, after the two opcuing batsmen, Fisliloclc and Yardley, had been disinissed for 21, that excitement reached a pitch never before approaclied at a cricket match at Carisbrook. . The weather was again beautifully fine and vvarm, and the fact that 478 runs were scored in a day's play — a total of 1203 in three days — uears eloquent testHmony to the quality of the Carisbrook wfcket. Gate receipts today were £422, making a total for the ; match of £2732. Scores: — OTAGO First Imiings 340 Second Innings Hadlee, Ibvv, b Bollard 47 Sutcliffe, c Comptou, b Wright . . 128 Mills, c lkiu, b Wright 14 Roberts, b \Vright 1 Robiuson, b Vocc . . 20 St. Jolin, c Bollard, b Bedser .... 25 Srnith,'c Edrich, b Bedser 6 O'Sullivau, not out 0 Extras 21 Total for seven wickets . . . . 262 Bowling: Bedser, 2 for 39; Voce, 1 for 34; Wright, 3 for '83; Poilard, 1 for 02; Edrich, 0 for 4; Yardley, 0 for 15; UompLon, 0 for 4. ENGLAND First inuings .. 385' for G' wickets dec. Second Inniugs Fisliiock, b AlcDougall . . 4 Yardley, c and -b iltobei'ts ...... 8 Evans, c Robinson, b McDougail .. 64 Edrich, c Sutcliffe, b -Roberts .... 26 Conipton, stpd Grllaway, b Siuitli 27 Hamniond, c Hadlee). b ' McDougail 4 lkin, not out 43 Bedser, b McDougail • 25 Voce, c McDougail, b Roberts . . 1 Wright, ruu out 3 Extras 6 Total for 9 wickets ., .. .. 216 Bowling: Roberts," 3 for 56; McDougail, 4 for 62; O'Sullivau, 0 for 15; Overton, 0 for 32; Sniith, 1 for 45.