DRAWN GAME IN FIRST TEST

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 140, 30 June 1937, Page 6

DRAWN GAME IN FIRST TEST

N.Z.'s Dogged Second Innings RAIN AIDS TOURISTS (From the Special Correspondent of the CTnited Press Association with the Team.) (Received 30, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 29. New Zealand saved the first Test match after many anxious periods, Uiainly through another 'fine inningis by Wallace, a wohderful display oi stone-walling by Page and a determined stand for the eighth wicket by^ Kerr and Donnelly. The draw was decidedly in favour of the Hoim© team but the tourists deserve credit for their fine bowling on the first day and their determined batting when in difficulties on the second and third days Inability to open well was a severe weakness of the batting in both innings throwing a heavy weight of responsibility on those following, who were inevitably restrained from playing with freedom and confidence when faced with the difficult task of retrieving lost ground against bowlers and fieldsmen made doubly keen by eariy success. England, Beeking to win,- forced th^ pace in their second innings,, after overooming the cheap dismissal of Hutton and Parks to another fine piece of opening bowling by Cowie. Hardstaff and Barnett, in a brilliant partnership, made a century stand in little over an hour. Hardstaff scored six fours in an atfcractive display of driving, cutting and gliding, while Barnett hit in front of the wicket with great power. The batting order was altered, forcing batsmen being pxomoted to go for runs. Ames and Robins hit practicajly every ball, and ouly Cowie could quieten the batsmen, although Roberts always looked likely to take a wicket. Hammond was unable to bat or field on account of having water on the knee. England declared at lunch and New Zealand, facing a big deficit, were left with four hours' to bat. Another- shaky opening soon placed the tourists with their backs to the wall. Vivian was well caught close up in the gully, while Moloney was thrown out by a lightning return. Hadlee struck a rising ball which dropped on the stumps. Voce was venemous, making the ball rise at an awkward height. Gover was again troublesome, maintaining express speed. Later, Robins using the rough patch worn by the fast bowlers. turned brgaks sharply. A- policy of coneentrated caution was forced on Page and Wallace. Wallace injured his hand, which was trice rapped by "kickers," but he continued piuckily. and showed fine judgment in picking and hitting loose balls, completing a great half -century, including four fours in one over from Verity, and altogether nine fours. He scored 56 out of 70 for the fourtb wicket in one and a-half hours. Pagie patiently played the captain's part, taking half an hour for the first two runs, and over an hour for eight and 1J hours for 12 without mistake till his dismissal. Kerr, batting late because of his soro face, with Roberts, scored 44 in the half hour after tea. The latter was brilliantly caught one-handed at short leg. Kerr hit seven fours in the first half hour and then let the ball fall off a dead bat over after over. He stood at 31 for over half an hour, staying at one end to play Verity, and Donnelly, rising to the requirements of a difficult position, he held up his wicket for nearly an hour. Kerr's match-saving ' stand lasted nearly two hours without a mistake. Nearly 9000 people paid for admission, making over 43,000 for the three days, a welcome addition to the finances of the tour.

Four hard county matehes follow at Taunton, Bristol, Leicester and Leeds before the visit to Scotland, which will be followed by the second Test at Manchester. Scores : — ENGLAND. First Innings ...* k-- 424 Second Innings. Parks, b Cowie ... ... 7 Hutton. • \ ivian, h Cowie 1 llardslutr, c Tmdill. b Rotierts ... 64 Parnetl, tiul out 83 Ames, o Sub '• Roberts ... 20 Robins, not nut - 38 Extras 13 * Total Ior four wickets (dec.) 226 Kerr did not fie|d, Lamason substituting,

BOWLING ANALYSIS O. M. W, R. Cowie ,.o-t 15 2 2 49 Roberts ... 14 3 2 73 Dunning ... 9 0 0 60 Vivian ... 4 0 0 31 There were five byes and eight legh byes. NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Wallace, l.b.w., b Parks ,.. 52 Page, c Paynter, b Robins ... 9 Vivian, l.b.w., b Gpver ... ... . 5 Kerr, c Ames, b Robins ... ... -31 Donnelly, l.b.w., b Gover ... ... 0 Tindill, c Hammond, b Robins ... 8 Moloney, c and b Verity 64 Roberts, not out ... ... ... 66 Dunning, b Gover ... ... ... 0 Hadlee, c Verity, b Voce ... ... 34 Cowie, l.b.w.i -b Voce - ... 2 Extras ... ... ... • ... 24 Total 295 Bowling. analysis: Gover two for 49, Voce two for 72, Robins three for 58, Hammond none for 12, Parks two for 26; Hutton none for four. Second Innings. Vivian, c Verity, b Voce ... ».. 11 Moloney, run out ' * ... ... ... 0 Hadlee, b Voce ... 3 Wallace, l.b.w., b Parks ... ... 56 Page, c and b Robins ... ... 13 Roberts, c Sub. b Gover ... ... 17 Kerr, not out ' ... 38 Tindill, l.b.w., b Verity , 3 Donnelly, c Ames. b Voce ... ... 21 Extras ... ... 13 Total for eight wickets 175 BOWLING ANALYSIS Gover ... 18 7 27 1 Voce ... 18.58 41 3 J. Parks 10 6 10 1 Robins 16 3 51 1 Verity 14 7 33 1 Bad light stopped play and the match was drawn.