PLAY DESCRIBED

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 104, 30 October 1933, Page 4

PLAY DESCRIBED

MIDLAND AND WELLINGTON

For a first-of-scason effort, Midland's batting against Wellington on No. 1 wicket at the Basin Reserve was quite encouraging, • and in some of the individual essays there was evidence of batsmanship which should bring in tidy scores as the season progresses. Midland, getting a start at 3.30' o'clock, had about two and three-quarter 'hours at the wickets, and, up against bowler* who played no small part in the winning of ,the championship last season, they made good use ot that time, scoring 209 runs and having two ■wickets•• in ■-hand -when- a heavy. showier caused; stumps to be ■ drawn, lruo, the conditions were more favourable to tlie batsmen than to the bowlers, but, even so, Midland had reason to be well satisfied ■n-ith what was,achieved in the. curtailed playing ••time. "On the other hand, Wellington,- too, performed ably, with their batting strength, which, looks like being formidable,' to be revealed later They were on their toes and made the AJidiind batsmen---work for the runs. There was a lapse or two in the field, but the '"ener.il performance gave the impression that Wellington's fielding1 has sharpened

Dustin, who' struck some unlucky patches last season, piloted Midland on their run-getting mission, and, with the confidence of a veteran, he showed the way so capably as to gather in rims at a brisk pace, using a range of strokes, but with a particular liking for clipping the ball rather square to the off. He lost his first partner (Lawton) after one run had been scored, Ell taking a catch at second slip. . Baker shaped soundly, and was content to let Dustin do most of the scoring, though Blundell, whose deliveries at times rose sharply, was treated with caution. .Baker's stay ended when a risky run for a stroke to mid-on was attempted. Baker moved forward with the stroke and kept going, only to find that his partner was not prepared to respond. An accurate throw-in scattered the stumps. Jack shaped promisingly, with Dustin playing quite forcefully, though having most of his strokes covered.. It was soon after the second bowling change —Morgan relieving Blundell—that Dustin's good knock ended. Morgan's first over had been rather costly, but his second did the trick. Dustin was bowled and Clark went Ibw to the next ball. The merit of Dustin's performance is indi-i cated in the fact that it yielded 52 runs out 'of 75 in 45 minutes. Apiivt from strokes to the short boundary, there were seven 4's in Dustiu's account. O'Neill stepped into the breach to help the score along by forceful batting, and, without being over-vigorous, he collected a valuable 40 in good time. Bryant sprang a surprise by using the blade capably, and he, too. contributed well to the score, as did Tindill, who was not on hand when the decision to play was made. Tindili was shaping well in the concluding stages, and had made 31 when stumps were drawn, Cleverley having been with him for st>me time and to good purpose. The bowling was done by Blundell, Cousins, Morgan, and Symes, and two wickets went to each of the first three. Details:— ... MIDLAND. First Innings. ' j Dustin, b .Morgan ... ". 52 Lawton, c Ell, b Cousins 0 Baker, run out 4 •Tack, c Morgan, b Cousins ]2 Clark, Ibw. b Morgan 0 O'Neill, c Monteath, b Blundell 40 Bryant, run out 39 Tindill, not out 31 Cutts. c Morgan, b Blundell ' 0 Cleverlcy, not out 1C Extras 15 Total for eight wickets 209 Fall of Wickets.—One for 1, two for 44, three for 75, four for 75, five for 70, six for 147j seven for 163, eight for 168. Bowling Analysis.—Cousin? took two wickets, for. 4Q runsy Blundell two for 40, Morgan two for 53, and Symes none for 46. - -■■-■'•■-