M.C.C. BATTING

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 44, 21 February 1930, Page 11

M.C.C. BATTING

A SOLID STABT

NO STING IN ATTACK

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day. Tho weather is dull for- the first day of the fourth Test. Tho wicket and the outfield was fast. Turnbull is twelfth man for M.C.C., and Benson and Earle are standing down. Gilligan won the toss and batted.

Bowley and Dawson led the way for

England. Tho bowlers were • M'Girr and Matheson. Bowley opened out briskly with a couple of twos off M* Girr, and he drove the last ball straight to the fence. Matheson. sent down an over at fast speed, which kept Dawson on the defensive. Four slips were set deep for M'Girr, who was1 exploiting the new ball with a late out-swing. He overtossed one, and Bowley swung it nicely to the-on for two. Matheson developed real pace; and sent along a maiden to Dawson. It was slow cricket, with the opening English pair On- the defensive. The attendance was small, but rapidly increased. Bowley got four off 'M' Girr, sending double figures up in ten minutes. He gave the game a bright sparkle by hard driving, and played a brilliant four through the covers off M'Girr. Tho batsmen had everything in their favour, with the ball coming straight through at a uniform height. With the score at' 27 Merritt came on at the pavilion end, replacing M' Girr,

and Dawson deflected tho ball for two.

following it with a single. Thifty was up in twenty minutes with Dawson playing the rock and Bowley keenly out for runs. The Sussex man sent Merritt straight for one, and Dawsou scrambled for the rest of the over. '

DAWSON LET OFF.

With ,the score at.3l, Dawson went forward to Matheson,. and was beaten, but James missed a chance to break

tho partnership. Bowloy was at sea with a ball from Merritt, and lifted the next one just clear of Lowry at mid-on. After half an hour's play there were 41 runs on, with the batsmen settling down. The field was spread deep for Merritt, but the batsmen refused to be

;empted, and went on quietly

Allcott came on in place of Matheson. Dawson was playing the stonewall game to perfection. Both batsmen sent Merritt straight for singles, Dempster winning applause for a bril-

liant return. In the following over Dawson turned Allcott nicely for three, and then drove a full toss for two. The New Zealand ground fielding was slipping. Mills let a shot from Bowley through to the fence.

FIFTY APPEARS,

Fifty runs were on in 45 minutes, and to this stage the New Zealand at-

tack had been steady/ but without sting. Weir was the next bowler tried. Bowley twice played him for a single to the off. Lowry made it a double change by bringing Allcott on at the pavilion end. ( It was successful. Bowley played forward and got over the crease, and the ball spun back to James, who whipped off the bails. Ho had been batting for 48 minutes, and had played freely. 80—1—42. BRILLIANT SIAET.

Duleepsinhji was next, and briliantly drove Alleott to the off boundary, and then pulled a ball for three. Matheson came back at.the..Terrace end, and tho, Indian deflected the last ball of Hie over to the fence.•.. Fox an hour's play 71 runs were scored. Allcott was keeping a good length and mixing the pace well. There was applause when Duleepsinhji turned Matheson to the fence at square-log. The spectators wero expecting fireworks from Duleep; sinhji, but he was playing in quietly, with a penchant for tho drive.

PATCHY FIELDING-.

Bringing the bowling changes frequently, Lowry brought Merritt ori at the Terrace end. Duleepsinhji drove Allcott to the off, a wild return by Page making the stroke realise three runs. None of the New Zealand bowlers could get any help from the wicket, and the score went along steadily. On the Dominion side Dempster was conspicuous in the ground fielding, but the general standard was patchy and below

the best representative form. Duleepsinhji was giving an object-lesson in footwork, and was daringly leaping out to get Merriti; on, the full. .The slow bowler was sending down some loosestuff.

Duleepsinhji sent 100-up in. 80 minutes. Blunt was the sixth, bowler tried. Dawson square-cut him for 'a three. Duleepsinhji .played one just short of AHeott in the slips. Dawson. went imper-' turbably on his way. Up to this stage Blunt .had given the impression, of being New Zealand's best bowler. He kept a good length, and occasionally brought oire sharply back from the oft. Dawson was content to hold his end up, but Duleepsinhji waa brighter, and was going for the runs. At lunch the Englishmen had lost one wicket for 111 runs. . • ; ■■ . The amendment was defeated and the meeting adjourned until this afternoon. Details:— : ENGLAND. First Innings. , Bowley, st, James, b Allcott ....... 42 Dawsou, not out ................. 28 Duleepsinhji, not? out ............ 37 Extras . v. 4 Total for one-wicket ............ HI