CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1930, Page 5

CRICKET

■ FOURTH TEST; j ENGLAND'S GOOD START. N.Z. BOWLING AND FIELDING j GOOD. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) | AUCKLAND, Feb. 21. The fourth cricket test match be- , tween the touring AI.C.G. team and New Zealand was commenced at Eden Park to-day. AI.C.C. won the-toss and batting first', compiled 375 runs for six wickets before stumps were drawn. Rain threatened several times during the day, but only one heavy shower necessitated a short adjournment. T'liewicket was in perfect order and played well the whole time, much to the disadvantage of the New Zealand bowlers, who could not make much nip or turn on it. Tim gate takings for the day were £235 7s, and the attendance was estimated at about 5000. Even scoring characterised the AI.C.C. inni ugs, Woolley and Worth- I ing.ton being the only ones to secure small tallies. Bowley, one of the opening pair, made 42 in bis brightest s y'e driving freely and with an abandon which ultimately east him his wicket. He left his partner, Dawson, -well behind. He succumbed in attempting to force a good length ball of AllcottV which hit the end of his bat ami James smartly ran him out before the batsman could regain his crease. Dawson gained his half century before being dismissed, but took a very long time to get started. He lacked scoring shots, Dulcepsinhji was again in delightful mood, the power he put into his shots to gain (j 3 being astonishing. The honours of'the day were to Legge, who, in compiling 104 not mu, gave an exhibition of a real fighting innings, confining himself to orthodox and safe shots until lie was properly set. Me then opened out and scored (reply in spite of an alert and well-set field. Ilis score included 12 boundaries. Nichols was subdued at the start in compiling 75, and looked a certainty for a century until McGirr bowled him. The majority of his runs came as the result, of strong driving and good timing with his leg shots. The New Zealand bowling was thoroughly tested, and considering that the luck was against them, they came through the ordeal well. Alle-’tt- s trundling was a salient feature of the 'attack. Considering the number of overs he bowled, his length was re-, markable. His two wickets, both clean' bowled, were gained in 39 overs, 12 of which were maidens, for the cost of 87 rims. A pleasing; feature to Aucklanders was the generally consistent bowling of Matheson in his first try-out in test cricket. Bad luck dogged his efforts throughout the day. On one occasion Duleepsinhji played him on to the wicket without remov| . ing the bails. Merritt; trundled steadily and might; easily have secured three wickets, McGirr did not bowl so consistently as usual, and after opening the . attack, was not used again until after the third century was pass., ed. The New Zealand fielding showed vast improvement, the picking up and alertness of fieldsmen earning constant applause. Dempster was particularly outstanding in this department, his efforts Being brilliant at times. Details of the play are as follows : ENGLAND—Ist Innings. Bowley, run out 42 Dawson, c Allcott, b Blunt ... 55 Dulcepsinhji, b AUcott 63 Woolley, b Allcott Legge, (not out) ... 104 Nichols, b McGirr "3 Worthington, b Merritt 0 Extras 2-6 Total for six wickets 375 Bowling analysis: Allcott 2 for 87, ; Merritt 1 for 86. Matheson none for . 72, McGirr 1 for 37, Weir none for 26, Blunt. 1 for 18, Page none for 23. <