In-and-Out Cricket

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 895, 12 February 1930, Page 9

In-and-Out Cricket

LAST DAY OF M.C.C. GAME

0 Auckland Escapes With Draw

FOR the greater part of yesterday’s plaj- in the M.C.C.-Auek-land match, the tourists held the upper hand. For over after over Auckland batsmen were fighting hard for runs, and right up to the tea adjournment the local eleven were face to face with the possibilities of defeat. As it was they got out of it with a draw, and in doing so the wheel of fortune turned a bit in their favo.ur.

There were times when the touring captain might have reverted to his heavy artillery attack, but he was apparently content to let things go as they were. Right from the outset the wicket was doing things, as well might have been expected on the third day’s play. In the morning one or two balls went for altitude Avhen sent from the scoreboard end, while the other end saw many keep low. The day started tamely enough, and it was a forerunner of very slow cricket right up to five o’clock. Anthony and Mills were not quite at home under the conditions, the former being kept very quiet, finally to succumb to a last yorker from Allom. Mills was steady, and one weak shot, an attempt to hook Worthington, saw him have a narrow escape from being cleanbowled. Two overs later he repeated the attempt and this time it proved fatal. Worthington’s deliveries were consistently keeping low, and it was this, no doubt, that made the Auckland crack uncertain and ultimately brought about his downfall. At this stage two wickets had fallen for 28 runs, and the outlook tvas indeed black for Auckland, especially as the wicket was crumbling. SAVING THE SITUATION Then it was that Gillespie and Weir became associated, and despite the fact that the scoring was dead slow the uphill fight was in full progress. At the luncheon adjournment the score was two for 76, Gillespie 26 and Weir 20. The former had a life when he gave a hard chance off Woolley to Bowley close in at second slip, the ball flying a bit too high for the fieldsman —an exceedingly difficult chance. These 76 runs had taken about 105 minutes to gather, striking evidence of the pitch and the fact that the trundlers were making the most of their chances. Is there no alternative to the luncheon adjournment? On© is impelled to put that question, for as often as not it is fatal to the batsmen. As it was with that astute veteran, Woolley, on Monday, so too was it with Gillespie yesterday. The game was recommenced in rather sensational fashion. Barratt’s first delivery was a no-ball, and his second Avas a speedy one of good length Avell off the wicket that Gillespie snicked and Cornford’s sure hands got on to. Gillespie was Avell set prior to the adjournment, and his 26 was an invaluable contribution. Barratt finished his over by bumping one along and caught Avicketkeeper Cornford on the jaw’, Benson then going behind the sticks. The latter Avas an able keeper, too, and a Avorthy substitute. UP AGAINST IT With 13 runs still required to get the Auckland aggregate up to the M.C.CVs first inning's total of 423, and A Motor MoAver means neat lawns at low’ cost. Prices from £ 36 at Wingates. .8

Avith Anthony. Mills and Gillespie gone, the home side Avas Avell and truly up against it. Unless a good stand v/as made there was every prospect of an M.C.C. victory. It was left to Wensley and Weir to raise Auckland’s hopes of staving off defeat. Allom’s bcwling Avas still full of sting, but a ::our and a brace to Weir indicated that this bowler Avas due for a spell—and he got quite a long one soon after. Wensley was not quite at home early in his innings, but he soon got going. In the meantime Weir got \’ery little of the bowling, and his score stood at 27 for half an hour. AVensley batted freely Avhen he settled down, and at the end of 54 minutes BoAvley sent him doAvn a long hop that the coach played all over. It was one of the worst balls of the match, but “it’s alAvays a good ball that gets ’em.” Allcott’s first ball went round to the square-leg boundary, a snappy opening which he failed to live up to. In the meantime Weir had begun to score rather freely, and he reached his 50 by a drive through the covers. A few minutes later, with his score at 60 and the total at 177 he banged one back hard to Bowley. SOUND DEFENCE In topscoring in Auckland's tAA’O innings Weir displayed solid batting form, and stuck to his guns at critical periods of the game. His efforts in the test match later on this Aveek will be Avatched with considerable interest, for he now appears to be at his best. His only weakness Avas on the leg side, many good scoring chances going abegging from the many loose balls sent down. Indeed, this weakness was most marked throughout yesterday's batting. lDlliott shaped stubbornly in getting to double figures, and he assisted Allcott to bring the 200 up. Then the latter failed to get under a full toss from Bowley and Cornford at mid-on took a soft catch. Bowley’s average now* read three for 43. Six down for 200. and with McCoy and Badeley sporting much-bandaged hands the end of the innings appeared to be in sight. After tea Allom skittled Elliott with a stinger, and McCov was shaping promisingly when he tipped the same boAvler to Benson, standing Avell back. Badeley made a couple, and when he Avas beaten all the way by Allom the total Avas 236. Allom’s last three Avickets Avere captured at little cost, and the Avonder of it was that he Avas not brought on sooner. Instead Gilligan tried even Cornford and Duleepsinhji before Allom AA r as brought back after a spell of over two hours. At the fall of the ninth Avicket Auckland held a lead of 146. and it Avas a few minutes to 5 o’clock, so that nothing short of a miracle could prevent a draw. IN THE CLOSING HOURS Finlays on and Matheson made a fine stand, both batting brightly, and the score rapidly mounted. At 5.24 p.m. the end came, but the total then had soared to 306. the last wicket having

put on 70 runs—nearly 50 of them by j free batting, and the remainder prac- ! tically given them Avhen the A'isitors let-up on their task. The final 10 minutes’ play was not serious, but full credit must be giA'en j both Finlayson and Matheson for a good stand. With 216 runs in hand, and only 26 : minutes remaining, it AA'as a wise de- ; cision to call it a day. and stumps ; were drawn. Had the A’isitors been called upon to bat again in all prob- J ability the farce would ha\'e been con- ! tinued, for at this stage it could not j have been taken o\ T er-seriously. From the purely sporting point of view, it was regrettable that Auckland did not declare at about 4.40 p.m., when it was over 130 runs ahead. Of the A'isitors’ attack. Allom Avas easily the best yesterday. lie was always dangerous, and maintained speed and length throughout. Barratt and Worthington always commanded respect, solid defence alone keeping them out. BoAA'ley once more proA'ed himself a useful change boAvler, although after having three for 43 he finally wound up with ha\-ing 73 runs knocked off him Avithout getting another Avicket. Woolley Avas unlucky on a couple of occasions, but his bowling was rather disappointing, judged solely from results. Cornford and Huleepsinhji never looked like getting AA’ickets. The fielding A\*as even throughout the Auckland innings, except Avhen the A’isitors gave up being serious in the last feAV minutes. WHAT OF THE TEST? Aucklanders have seen the M.C.C. team in action and, taken in conjunction AA'ith its form in Southern matches, one could be pardoned for being outspoken, and say that the A’isitors arc by no means up to the standard of other teams sent out by the famous London controlling authority. In Huleepsinhji they have an artist, both at the crease and in the field, and in the forthcoming tests at Home one can forecast him being one of the hopes of England. But this' graceful exponent stands alone in the M.C.C. team. Their star boAvler, Nicols, Avas not seen here: he was being rested Avith a vieAV to the test match opening on Friday at Eden Park. The attack against which Auckland compiled 639 in two complete innings is not one that should preA’ent a New Zealand team getting more. And, at best, against the Dominion XI., the A'isitors should not get more runs than they did against Auckland, if as many. So it will be seen that the prospects of success in the final test are about 50-50, AA-ith an even break in the distribution of the smiles and frowns of the Goddess of Fortune.. That is the conclusion arrived at as a result of a close study of the visitors’ form to date. The English attack impresses one as likely to be much more formidable on a pitch affected by rain. Under such conditions their bowling might be particularly destructive. Apart altogether from this aspect, however, Dominion cricket enthusiasts haA’e eA’ery reason to view the outcome of the forthcoming test through glasses tinged with optimism, even if the three days allotted for play should prove insufficient to enable the game to be played to a decision. AUCKLAND

First Innings 333 Second Innings ANTHONY, b Allom S MILLS, b Worthington 15 GILLESPIE, c Cornford, b Barratt 26 WEIR, c and b Bowley 60 WENSLEY, b Bowley .. ...... .. ALLCOTT, c Cornford, b Bowley .. oU ELLIOTT, b Allom J} MeCOY, c Benson, b Allom 14 MATHESON. not out 32 BADELEY, b Allom .. ...... .. 2 FINLAYSON, c Duleepsinh ji, b AVoolley Extras *>&

\ AHorn .. .. BOWLING O. M. 6 R. W. 4 .... 16 .. .. 19.3 51 Cornford Duleepsinhji First Innings ENGLAND .. 423