GRAND FIGHTING INNINGS

Chronicle (Levin), 14 June 1949, Page 5

GRAND FIGHTING INNINGS

N.Z. Gather 312 On Tricky Wicket

Donnelly And Smith In Record Stand Received Tuesday, 11 a.m. LEEDS, June 13. A great fifth wicket partnership of 120 in 86 minutes by Donnelly and Smith saved New Zealand from Ihe possibility of defeat by England in tbe first Test and has almost certainly forced a draw. The partnership — a record for New Zealand in Test matches in England — came after New Zealand had lost four wickets for 80 on a wicket affeeted by early morning rain.

A lieavy shower changed the character of the pitph ana of the game. It preventtd Mann from getiing another 15u or so quickly before bemg &11 out or decianng, and aided New Zea.and with the ageing bafi to coileet tne last five Engiisn wickets in 50 minutes for 65 runs. Tnis gave England 3'72. Then, on a drying wicket and against a new baii, New Zealand were quick. y in trouble, but thanks to Donnelly (64), bmiuh (96; and Mooney (41 not out) they finished with the respectable total of J12 for nine, oniy 60 runs behind England. Gocd Day's Work. It was a good aay s woi'K and full of interesting cricket. Smith batted for two and a quarter hours and hit eight fours. When Compton and Bailey reopened for England it was apparent that Compton was ready to take chances with the wicket. Burtt was making the ball turn much more today than on Saturday and was getting a lift. When Compton went out to meet him, the ball popped over his bat and Mooney, wlio has had a good match, gave no second chance. With Compton out, England's hopes for two or three quick fifties were gone, but Evans looked immediately for runs and found thern. Bailey went when he tried to pull Cowie. Evans, after 12 minutes of hilarity, attempted to hit Burtt into the crowd. The ball turned and he snicked it. Mooney whipped off the bails and the umpire at the wicket raised his finger obligingly. Young was much too venturesome facing Burtt, and wandered down the pitch to miss a ball and was so far away from the crease that he made no attempt to return. Bedser enjoyed some driving until he holed out to Donnelly on the boundary at deep cover. . | England had partly achieved their intention of quick runs — 65 in 50 minutes — but they had got New Zealand in on a tricky wicket, and with a new ball., Wicket Dangerous. ' j In Bailey's secon'd over Scott played forward, his instincts overcoming caution, and Washbrooke took a grand catch at fourth slip. Hadlee's first ball from Bailey was wide of the off stump. He drew back his bat. but the ball turned in and was touched. Edrieh just missed it at first slip. The wicket was now at its most dangerous, but as the shine came off the ball Hadlee and Sutcliffe' dug themselves in and 41 went on for the first hour. Young, however, was bowlina well and had Sutcliffe eaught by Evans. Wallace had an ordeal of five balls before his meal. At lunch New Zealand were 64 for two and Hadlee had batted one and a quarter hours j for 27. _ The break seemed to unsettle him and Bailey beat him with his fine bowling, and he had Wal-

lace who was caught by Evans. With Srmth's arnval there was some of the bnghtest batting of this match. With Donnelly he set abouu tne bowhng with cheerfulness and gusto. In 35 minutes Donnehy and u.u.ai put on another 4U. Donnefiy had 1ns 50 in 65 nunutes. bmiui was cuttmg and puiling casily, and tne partnersmp reached 100 m 65 minutes. Smnn had his 50 m 70 minutes. uuimeily stayed until the score was 200 and his partnership with Smith of 120 had taxen only 86 mmui.es. It had been giorious to watch. The remainder of the New Zealand innmgs was in oertsiing, chiefiy for the hope that New Zealand would save a fofiow on and that Smith would reach his century. Smith entered the nineties by hooking Bailey, who took a new ball at 220, out then tried to glance Edrieh and Compton caught him at short leg. Mooney again proved his value as a batsman. He put New Zealand safeiy past 300. Cowie pulled a muscle in his left leg while fieiding and is unlikeiy to bowl tomorrow. The attendaiice was 25,000 and the gross gate £2980. Detaiis: — ENGLAND. First Innings. Hutton, c Sutcliffe, b Cowie . . 101 Washorook, c Sutcliffe, b Cowie 10 Edrich, c Donneliy, b Cowie . . 36 Compton, st. Mooney, b Burtt . . 114 Wharton, lbw, b Cowie 7 Mann, c Scott, b Burtt 38 Bailey, c Scott, b Cowie 12 Evans, c Mooney, b Burtt .... 27 Bedser, c Donnelly, b Burtt . . 20 Young, st. Mooney, b Burtt . . 0 Hollies, not out 0 Extras . . . . : 7 Total 372

NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Scott, c Washbrook, b Bailey . . 1 Sutcliffe, c Evans, b Young . . 32' Hadlee, c Edrich, b Bailey .. ..34 Wallace, c Evans, b Bailey 3 Donnelly, c Young, b Bailey . . 64 Smith, c Compton, b Edrich . . 96 Rabone, c Evans, b Edrich 13 Mooney, not out 41 Burtt, c Bedser, b Compton . . 7 Cave, c Edrich, b Bailey 2 Cowie, not out 6 Extras r 13 Total for nine wickets .... 312

O. M. R. W. Cowie 43 ' 6 127 -5 Cave 27 5 85 0 Rabone ..... 18 7 56 0 Burtt 33.3 16 97 5

Bowling.

O. M. R. W. Bailey 27 6 103 5 Bedser 17 5 46 0 Edrich 9 2 19 2 Young 22 6 * 52 1 Hollies 25 6 57 0 Compton .... 8 2 23 1

Bowling.