LECCE'S EXHIBITION

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 46, 24 February 1930, Page 11

LECCE'S EXHIBITION

STEW ZEALAND'S HAIiD TASK

(Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. The fourth and final Test match between New Zealand and M.C.C. has resolved itself into a dour strugglo by

the New Zealanders to overhaul the fine . score of 540 registered by the visitors. The winning of the toss has meant, a lot in the game, for, although the wic- . kct was still in favour of the batsmen on Saturday, tho New Zealanders were; under, a moral disadvantage in at- j tempting to emulate tho consistently high scoring of the Englishmen. The features of the day's play were the line batting of Legge, who carried his overnight score from .10-1 to 19ii, and the great fighting innings for New Zealand by Weir. ■ Although they did not force the pace unduly, Iho Englishmen provided some brig hi' crkket when they continued.] their innings. Legge and Gilligani scored freely, chicily at the expense of M'Girr. but, as on Friday, Allcott had a quietening influence. The first wicket to fall was Gilligan's. The M.C.C. | captain went down the pitch to' Merrill, but was caught iv two minds by j a well flighted ball and clean bowled. Loggo ■ continued to bat soundly, waiting i for an occasional loose ball and hitting it hard. He was confident right from the start and displayed a wide range of scoring shots all round the wicket. The chief, among them w;.s a crisp back cut, but ho also placed the ball well to leg and through,tho covers. Barratt provided a bright period' of hard hitting before lunch, but was finally well caught by Mills in the outfield. Previously he had hit a' sitter to Lowry at long on off Morritt, but the' fieldsman dropped the catch. There was some rather ill-judged barracking from the crowd as Lowry had been fielding, very well. His only previous mistake was when he had a chance of running Legge out but threw the ball at the wrong wicket. At the luncheon adjournment the Englishmen had lost eight wickets , for 50!), the 'morning's play having resulted in an addition of 111-J runs, in 105 minutes. . COFwEECT CRICKET. After, resumption the growing crowd eagerly waited .for Legge to reach his second century; Tho. Kent' amateur was as confident'as evqr. but with only four runs needed for 200 his favourite shot.brought about his downfall. He went to back cut Weir. The ball went , away a little and Mathesou took a good I high catch in the slips. From the point of view of correct cricket Logge's ex-hibition-was as t good as any. seen at Eden Park for some time. ..He played no unorthodox shots, but his defence was practically impervious. His seor-; ing strokes were all well executed. His life" on Friday, afternoon, wJien James' missed stumping him off Mcrritt.'with ■ his score at 41, was most e-xpensive to New Zealand, but he deserved all the runs he scored. Allcott, of course, kept Legge fairly quiet, but the only bowler who really troubled him was Pago, andonce or twice Legge. was-inclined to edge the ball toward tho slips. NEW ZEALAND ATTACK. ' With the wicket wearing well the New Zealand bowlers were, faced with an unenviable task, but led by Allcott they stuck to-it manfully. On Friday Allcott proved that he is still the most accurate bowler in New Zealand, and, if further proof was needed, furnished it on 'Saturday. ( He did not capture another wicket, but every time he was called to the bowling crease he succeeded in keeping the batsmen quiet, and what'is more, he c\id this on a batsman's wickot. '■■■ -

' Matheson did not live up to the promising form displayed on Friday. Then he frequently looked like getting wiekct-s, but on/ Saturday .his bowling lacked sting. He was very erratic and gave the impression that he had taken too. much out of himself on the opening day. Nor1 was M'Girr impressive, lie has done yeoman servico for' New Zealand in the .past, but it now appears that his career in -firstclass cricket is nearing a close.

. The slow bowlers, Merritt and .Blunt, dkl as-well as could be. expected in the circumstances. Page kept a fairly .consistent length, and varied his deliveries well. Weir proved useful as a change bowler. ' •

.Few. faults could be,found With the Now Zealand fielding. At cover point Dempster , was brilliant. His catlike pounces on the ball and accurate returning to the wicket frequently, won well:deservcd applause. Matheson wound up the innings with r two fine calches, the running catch which dismissed Cornford beiup a particularly goot" one; ■

I'; ,is interesting to note that the only six of the, match toi date was hit by, the smallest; man .in cither side. Cojuford made no mistake iv hitting a full toss from Blunt on. to the terraces. •''-.' ■ BAB START. Mills and Dempster opened for New . ealand in a manner which suggested they might put up another partnership such as they accomplished in the second Test, at Wellington. Mills' shaped much better than.-on the. previous Monday, against the same bowling. Ho Had just reached double figures, however, when he could.not resist having a. shot at the off theory. He paid the penalty accordingly. ' '

In carryinjj the total from-20 to 71, Dempster and Weir, batted very solidly, giving everything the full face of the bat. The afternoon tea adjournment proved fatal to Dempster, who attempted to late cut a ball. He was snapped up behind the wickets. Dempster was not so ,free as usual, but the bowling ■was much too accurate for any liberties to be' taken... Dempster was in 80 minutes "for his 27. Weir and Page became well set and Gilligan made frequent'■ changes in an endeavour to separate them. 3oth batted freely and confidently and had added 56' when Page was caught behind playing back to Woplley. This was a further slice of bad luck for New Zealand. Page made: most of his runs on the on side. The home team's stocks slumped considerably when Blunt was bowled by the second ball ho received from Nicholls. . WEIR'S: FZNE DISPLAY. ! .: , Wok and Allcott found' littlo difficulty with the bowling. ■ Last year \s Bcdpath Cup winner was loudly cheered oil rcachiug his half-century, the Englishmen joining in the applause.. Wenhas been most consistent against the visitors. ' His innings, to-day was one of his characteristic, solid efforts in i which ho showed wonderful, patience waiting for the ball to score off. The fast bowlers had no terrors'for him, and he drove and glided them accurately. His footwork.in meeting the slow Bowling was splendid. Weir ■ was at the wickets for two and a half hours. He was splendid. Alleott also shaped in his best form.