HANDSOME LEAD

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 149, 20 March 1939, Page 11

HANDSOME LEAD

Visiting English Cricketers FIRST INNINGS OF 456 Auckland Batsmen Fail Ou True Wicket By Telegraph —Press Association. AUCKLAND. March 18. Continuing its innings today in brilliant weather and on a perfect wicket, Sir Julien Cahn’s cricket team, which is meeting Auckland in the final match of the tour, carried its score from 318 for four wickets to 456. Auckland, in spite of the easy conditions, gave a disappointing exhibition, and at stumps had lost eight wickets foi 175. The attendance was 9000. Oldfield, who made au excellent 70, and Heane. 44. improved on the line start made yesterday. Oldfield showed that he hud the shots, but be was reluctant to use them, iu spite of the fact that there were many occasions when over-pitched short deliveries gave him an opportunity to exploit scoring strokes. Heane concentrated on legside play and was not as free as ou the previous day. Maxwell, who adopted aggressive tactics that were in distinct contrast to those of tiie earlier batsmen, was a favourite with the crowd. Though he scored only 28 runs, his innings, allowing for the clever placing of the Auckland fiejd, was worth considerably more.

Except in the closing stages of the innings, when slight dominance was established, the Auckland bowlers were forced into a negative role and relied for tbe most part on the batsmen making mistakes. Carson was most successful with three for 32. but he did not carry as heavy a burden as the other bowlers and invariably caught the batsmen in an aggressive mood. Weir was the only early Auckland batsman who shaped confidently. The visiting fast attack accounted lor Postles, Whitelaw and Wallace in fairly quick time. The visitors then concentrated on their slow attack. Against the subtle flight and spin of Walsh and Smith, the former bowling particularly brilliantly, the Aucklanders weie in difficulties. Scott was uncertain, but Vivian and Pearson gave a bright display toward the finish. Excellent wicket-keeping by Maxwell was a feature.

The Englishmen batted all_ told for 405 minutes for their total of 456. The 138 compiled on Saturday occupied 146 minutes. The batting hail more life in it than on tiie preceding day, though there were again some periods of slow play. For example, Oldfield took 38 minutes to add 12 runs to his overnight score of 38 to reach his half-century, which occupied all told 1.08 minutes. Oldfield ran to u 3 with a boundary shot aud then it took him 40 minutes to add a further six runs. Oldfield played a inorc or less detensive innings but he made some nice late cuts and cover drives. He scored six boundaries and was beaten by a splendid ball from Carson. . . Heane played a chanceless innings o--44 in 83 minutes. His leg gliding was very graceful and he got well over the ball when he attempted to drive. Maxwell enlivened proceedings considerably by hitting three successive fours olf Matheson. He was the only batsman of the side to take risks and it paid him. He gave one chance, but it was not easy. He lifted Matheson into the deep field, where Wallace had to run back. He got his left hand to the ball tut could not hold it. In his'enterprising display Maxwell sent the ball to Hie boundary on six occasions. For a recognized bowler, Phillipson proved himself a batsman of no mean bility. Playing a straight bat, he watched the ball carefully and he had the distinction of hitting the first six ot tbe match, .off Burke. Recognizing the great generosity ot Sir Julien Cahn in financing the tour of the English team to New Zealand, the crowd accorded him an ovation as he went to the wickets. The cheering was renewed when Sir Julien "broke his duck with a square cut for a single off Vivian. Walsh, who was tenth man out, remained on the field to run for Sir Julien. Carson claimed the bowling honours with three wickets for 32 runs in 14 overs, four of which were maidens. He bowled with pace and maintained an excellent length, keeping the batsmen on the defensive, Vivian also obtained three wickets but at the much greater cost of 105 runs. However, he bowled 38.4 overs, 10 of which were maidens, so his figures were quite fair. Burke thoroughly deserved his two wickets, as he kept the ball well up to the batsmen and hud them playing him all along. Cowie and Matheson, the other fast bowlers, were both very steady and did not have the best of luck. The Auckland fielding was generally smart and clean, and Sale performed well behind the wickets. Auckland’s Failure. The Auckland team was expected to make a lot of runs on such a true wicket, -but, with Postles, Wallace and Whitelaw back in tbe pavilion with only

39 runs on the board, tiie position was anything but hopeful. Both Rustles and Whitelaw were out in similar manner, cocking up the ball to short-leg. Wallace lost his wicket endeavouring to force the ■pace too early. After scoring a pretty two and a four, he snicked an off ball low to Walsh at second slip and was brilliantly caught. Weir came to the rescue with au excellent 41. He played all the bowling with confidence and was not afraid to hit out at the slow deliveries. He hit three fours. Carson and Sale paid the penalty of leaving the crease in an effort to smother Walsh's deceptive breaks. Scott made some good shots in compiling 26, but he was very scratchy at times when facing the slow bowlers. Vivian and Pearson looked like improving Auckland’s position very considerably by adding 69 runs for the eighth wicket, but Vivian's dismissal in the last over of the day, when attempting a forcing shot, was a further heavy blow. Vivian played some magnificent off and cover drives and was always looking for runs. He hit four boundaries. Though at times he looked uncomfortable. Pearson held his wicket up very gallantly. ' At the same time he did uot. miss 'airy scoring opportunities, bis favourite shot being a late-cut between point and third mau. Walsh Bowls Impressively. Walsh, a left-handei, who is much faster than tiie average slew bowler, was tbe thoru in Auckland’s side. He turned the ball both ways in a most deceptive manner, and there was not a single batsman who was really comfortable facing him. This is reflected in his figures U five for 56. Smith, the Ather slow bowler, did not have any luck and his average of none for 44 is not a true indication of his ability. Tiie fast bowlers. Phillipson aud Watts, maintained a perfect length and kept the batsmen well pegged dowu. The fielding of the visitors was of a very high order, and some splendid catches were taken. Heane was prominent in different positions. The wickctkeeing of Maxwell was first-class, the equal of any display given by an overseas keeper for some time past. Scores; — ENGLISH TEAM.—First limings. C. S. Dempster, 1.b.w., b. Carsou 56 H. Mudge, b. Vivian ••• 48 V E. Jackson, c. Vivian, b. Mathesou oil J. Hardstaff, e. Sale, b. Weir 84 N. Oldfield, b. Carson J 9 G. F. Hearne, 1.b.w., b. Cowie 44 E. A-. Watts, c. and b. Vivian ( C. R. Maxwell, b. Carson 28 W. E. Phillipson. not out 31 T. B. Smith, c. Carsun, b. Burke 7 J. E. Walsh, e. Carson, b. Burke 2 Sir J. Cahn, 1.b.w., b. Vivian - Extras Total 456

A UCK LAN D.—First I uniugs. Postles, c, Mudge, b. Phillipson .... 4 Whitelaw, e. Heane, b. Walts 14 Wallace, c. Walsh, b. Watts 9 Weir, b. Walsh 41 Scott, c. Jackson, b. Walsh 27 Carson, st. Maxwell, b. Walsh 9 Sale, st. Maxwell, b. Walsh 6 Vivian, b. Walsh ’ 37 Pearson, not out 33 Extras 7 Total for eight wickets 175

Bowling Analysis. Matheson °*O M. R. 79 W. 1 Burke i 81 Carson 14 4 /./ 3 \ V ci r 6 — 33 1 Postles 4 16 —— 29 9’* 1 Vivian 38.4 10 103 3