Ninety Runs Ahead

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 894, 11 February 1930, Page 15

Ninety Runs Ahead

BALANCE IN M.C.C.’S FAVOUR

Yesterday’s Cricket Reviewed

AFIKR a fluctuating day’s cricket at Eden Park y esterday, **ihe balance of power eventually swung in England’s favour in her match with Auckland, as the visiting team’s first innings closed with the last ball of the day, leaving Marylebone with a comfortable 90 run lead over the score of 333 put up by the local men on Saturday.

There were three distinct divisions 111 yesterday’s play. The first, that period before lunch in which Duleeps:.nhji and Woolley were associated in partnership which looked like 200 r ins at least; the second, the early afternoon period, when with four of her best wickets down, and Auckland’s total still a long way off, England had to fight hard for runs; and the third and last, the late afternoon period in which the big hitters of the M.C.C. side infused new life into the game. It was generally expected when the game began that England could hope, with reasonable fortune, to get 400 nans, as the wicket was still in good order and the weather fine, and alt lough there were times when her chances of getting them were very dull, a dogged, rock-like stand by Av orthington, who scored a century, placed the ultimate goal beyond doubt. The best cricket of the day was witnessed when Duleepsinhji and Woolley were together. Two wick-, ets were down for 35 runs when they took up the fight, but 106 more were added before they were separated.

Gilligan did not score as freely as he was expected to do, but all the time AVorthington was plodding along and adding to his score. He impressed as a batsman with plenty of power in his strokes, and he employed it continually in hard off and on driving. He batted in all 336 minutes, for his 125—a patient effort which definitely turned the balance in England’s favour. EARLE HITS OUT The most spectacular period of all came late in the day, with the advent of tho burly vice-captain of the side, G. F. Earle. He was immediately popular with the crowd when he opened with a six, and folio-wed it up with a four, a one and a four as successive scoring shots. He went on to score a quick 49 before being dismissed. Barratt gave promise of fireworks also, but he had just reached double figures when he was clean bowled by McCoy with the last ball of the day. Allcott utilised eight bowlers in dismissing the Englishmen, and although it presented plenty of variety, the attack was not good enough to prevent Woolley and Duleepsinhji scoring off it freely, and it was not quite good enough to dislodge Worthington before he dug himself in. Wensley bore the brunt of the work at the bowling crease, sending down altogether 32 overs, of which eight were maidens, and taking one wicket for 75 runs. Although he came in for punishment at times, he commanded respect throughout the day. Allcott himself sent down 21 overs and took two wickets for 79 runs, his successes coming late in the day. Elliott managed to have Frank Woolley caught off him, but his 17 overs added 60 to England’s total. He bowled really well at. times, however. Matheson took two wickets during the day, and could at no time be heavily punished. Anthony’s figures suffered considerably when Duleepsinhji was batting. McCoy was not used as much as lie might have been, but when he was bowled for a stretch late in the day he got wickets all right, and finished up with three for 59. The Auckland fielding compared very favourably with that of the Englishmen, every man doing his work consistently well. Wensley was responsible for much brilliant work and hot returning to the wicket, and Gillespie and Finlayson were also outstanding. ENTERTAINING M.C.C. HARBOUR TRIP TOMORROW The members of the Marylebone Cricket Club at present in Auckland are being well catered for in the way of entertainment. Last evening they were the guests of the Thomas A. O’Brien Company at the Civic Theatre. Tonight will be a free night for the team, and tomorrow evening they will be present at St. James Theatre to see and hear the “Gold Diggers of Broadway.” The Auckland Harbour Board has placed a launch at the disposal of the Auckland Cricket Association, and tomorrow the visitors will be taken on a harbour trip. On Thursday the members of the team will be at practice for the third and final test, England v. New Zealand, which commences at Eden Park the day after. It is probable that they will attend the Majestic Theatre in the evening.

Much was expected of both men, and it can be said that neither disappointed. Duleepsinbgi impressed immediately by his uncanny placement. He displayed first of all those stroke** behind the wicket for which, his uncle before him was famous—crisp, effortless, carpet cuts and glances. Ifo then enjoyed a quieter period while "Woolley was opening out, but ultimately livened up again in the period just prior to his dismissal. He then infused more power than ever into his shots, and this time they Mere made in front of the wicket. Lhere was no waste effort about him. Every stroke was certain, decided, and almost every stroke was a scoring ,'? U . St a -Hick of the wrist, and the ball found its way right through the field and landed where a fieldsman wasn’t. WORTHINGTON’S STAND Both batsmen dominated the scene in turn. .Woolley lived right up to nis reputation as an entertaining batsman, and indeed one could wish to Se^.i togno more attractive pair. The Kent man hooked, and drove to the off and the on, bowling which the previous batsmen had found impossible to get away at all. His placement was perhaps even more astute than that of Duleepsinhji, and rarely could a fieldsman wait for a ball to come to him. The scoring rate did not appear to be fast, because so little effort was expended on it, but in reality it preceded at considerably more that a run a minute. It was a big burden off Auckland’s mind when this partnership was broken, just at a time when it might have become devastating in its ruthlessness. When Woolley was dismissed shortly after the luncheon interval, the three best batsmen in the team were back in tho pavilion, and prospects looked bright for Auckland. Worthington and Benson realised this, and consequently spared no efforts to dig themselves in. This they succeeded in doing to the detriment of the scoring rate, and over an hour’s painfully slow batting followed. Each run was . cheered ironically. Benson's dismissal was a most unusual one. A ball from Matheson just hit his bat, and travelled on in the direction of the wicket. He stopped it, or went to stop it, with his hand, and Auckland appealed successfully. Had he stopped it with any other part of his body but the hand from the wrist down, he would not, of course, have been out.