TEST CRICKET

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 138, 28 June 1937, Page 10

TEST CRICKET

-Presa Assocjation.)

Eagland 370 Runs for Seven Wickets N.Z. BOWLING IMPRESSES

(By Telegraph

LONDOJT, June 26.' Inspired by the importanee of the oiomentous occasion the New Zealand firickcters bowled and fielded with comoiendable determination in the first Test against England at Lord's and well desQrved their . sueeess. Although the wicket, outfield and (veather were perfect the batsmen were kept under restraint even in the late afternoon. Before lunch the bowler3 were predominant. Cowie opened impressively with fine pace and accurate length and bowled Hutton off his pads. The young opener was nearly half an hour without seoring and Parks had his off stump knocked back by a beautiful ball. Gowie bowled for over an hour without a rest. His figures w'hen he was relieved were 12 overs, 2 maidens, 27 runs, '2 wickets. With two wickets down for 31 elaborate care was displayed by Hammond and Hardstaff to the menacing speed of Gowie, the steady aceuracy of Boberts and the tantalising length and flight of Vivian. Only 87 were scored in the two hours before lunch when the tourists were able to look back on a satisfaetory morning of resolute wbrk. Aftor lunch the . batsmen gradually gained the mastery and the scoring quickened to .60 in the first hour and 90 in the second. Fortune deserted the fielders just when a little luck was required. Hardstaff was missed in the slips at 50 off Vivian, Hammond snicked a ball just out of the reach of Tindill at 71 also off Vivian and at S0 he mlshit the lefthander almost into his stumps. The fielding was generally bright and rounds of applause wero xaised at the fast, clean ground work of Hadlee, Kerr and Wallace. Page placed the field intelHgently, cutting down to singles mariy of the strongest strokes by Hammond. When the batsmen were entrenched effective se^viee in slowing down the scoring was performed by Dunning. The Gloucester champion was batting for over two hours for 50 and reached the eentury in three hours. Hardstaff 's 50 took 40 minutes and his eentury 220 minutes. The pair added 245. Both were dismissed by gcqd catches, the former from a snick to the slips and the latter from a hard hook to midfield. After breaking the big partnership the bowlers were supreme, four wickets falling for 36 runs in three-quarters of an hour after tea. Gowie yorked Barnett and-Ames played on Vivian. The latter was wunderfully steady in one period, bowEng 11 overs for eight runs and two wickets. Robins and Eaynter forced the pace till the captain was well caught behind the wickets. Paynter played the brightest innings of tlie day, but even he scored less than a run a minute. Eighteen thousand nine hundred paid admission and counting members the attendance was probably 20,000. Roberts and Wallace both played with injured fingers bandaged. The team3 were: — New Zealand: Vivian, Hadlee, Kerr, Moloney, Wallace, Page," Roberts, Tindill, Donnelly, Dunning, Cowie. England: Robins (captain), Hammond, Barnett, Verity, Hutton, Voce, Hardstaff, Ames, Paynter, Gover, J. H, Parks., New Zealand finished a strenuous day comforted by the' knowledge that they had restrieted a powerful batting side to almost even time in scoring on a ruumaking pitch. Scorefe: — ENGLAND. First Innings. ( Hutton, b Cpwie 0 Parks, b Cowie ............ 22 Hardstaff, c Moloney, b Roberts . . 114 Hammond, c Roberts, b Vivian . . 140 • Paynter, not out 42 Barnett, Cowie,..,... .... . . .. 5 Ames, bf Vivian 5 Robins, c Tindill, b Bobefts .. . . *18 Voce, not out- ... . .. .. .. .. .. 12 Extras .. . . . . .. .. 12 Total for seven wickets .. .. 370

Hammond completed his hundred in 185 minutes, his 123rd eentury in firstclass cricket. He also ' passed Hobbs ' total bf 5410 runs in Tests. He hit 16 fours, all during the last 97 runs.. Hardstaff was tedious and Paynter was fifty minutes making nine. The critics emphasise the dullness of the cricket in view of the mildness of the bowling. The New Zealanders' vigorous fielding saved many runs.

• 0. M. R. , YV. Cowie 33 7 96 3 Roberts ...... 37 9 S3 2 Dunning .. .. .. 20 3 64 0 Vivian' ...... 44 10 93 2 Moloney 2 1 9 0 Page ........ 3 • 0 12 0

Bowling Analysis.