England’s Big Lead

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 905, 24 February 1930, Page 6

England’s Big Lead

THE FOURTH CRICKET TEST

Hard Fight Ahead of N.Z.

BY amassing the tremendous first innings score of 540 runs and then dismissing the first four New Zealand batsmen for the moderate total of 174, England was in a commanding position at the drawing of stumps on Saturday on the conclusion of the second day’s play in the fourth and final cricket Test of the present series, England v. New Zealand.

The morning play, when England went on to complete its innings, was much brighter than had been the previous day’s effort. Legge had passed into three figures the night before and he continued to score in a polished manner and at quite a good pace. Gilligan assisted him to hold the fort for a time, but the Kent man played much brighter cricket than his captain, who was caught hesitating by Merritt and paid the penalty. Barratt played as though he meant to hit up a score. It took him some time to fathom the extent of Merritt’s wiles. On one occasion he skied the Canterbury bowler to the outfield, where Lowry dropped what appeared to be a certain catch, but did not long survive this let-off, for he repeated these tactics with Roger Blunt and Mills made no mistake in holding the ball. It looked then as though the end was not far off, but wicketkeeper Cornford made the tail kick heartily. At first he was content to let Legge do the bulk of the scoring, but he plugged away tenaciously himself later in the morning and lifted Blunt up on to the terraces for six in the afternoon. Legge’s long innings closed shortly after the resumption of play in the afternoon. He was well set and only four runs off his double century,, when Matheson took a great catch in the slips off Weir’s bowling. Legge’s innings was a most valuable ono for his side. He came in on Friday at a time when New Zealand was taking command of the position and by dint of patient, steady scoring he helped to turn the flow of fortune in the other direction. FINE STROKE PLAY OF LEGGE He revealed again on Saturday that tine stroke play on the off which Jiad brought him so many of his runs on Friday. He was quite at home to all the bowling and while it cannot be said that he scored at a quick rate, he lost no opportunities of punishing anything at all loose. England soon crumpled up after the departure of Legge. Allom, the last man, joined Cornford and opened promisingly enough, but just as he got into his stride Matheson brought oft another fine catch, this time at Cornford’s expense, and England’s first innings closed for 540 runs. Of the New Zealand bowlers, Blunt, with two wickets for 62, finished up with the best average. Allcott again bowled well on Saturday morning, but did not succeed in capturing any more wickets. In all, during England’s innings, he sent down 47 overs, 17 of which were maidens, and took two wickets for 102 runs. McGirr was again expensive on Saturday morning, but Merritt added another wicket to his bag and Weir was one of the agents responsible for the dismissal of Legge. Matheson was the only New Zealand bowler who failed to secure a wicket, and in some respects none deserved one more than he. BRIGHT BEGINNING, THEN . . . Dempster and Mills were faced with a big task when they opened New Zealand's first innings. After their display in the Wellington test much was expected of them. It was confidently hoped that they would Jo something to make up the big score standing against New Zealand. And both men stepped off the mark in their best manner and it appeared that all hopes were going to be realised. The pair lost no opportunities to score and put in some smart running between the wickets. It was then that disaster overtook New Zealand. Mills, who had been scoring at exactly the same rate as his partner (they were six together), opened out and ran into double figures. H€> then commenced nibbling at Ailom’s fast off stuff, and paid the penalty when Duleepsinhji brought off one of those catches in the slips for which he is renowned.

risks, they commenced the task of making New Zealand’s score a respectable one.

They soon succeeded in placing the bat to a certain extent in the ascendant and the dying moments of the day’s play were bright enough. The position had been retrieved in some measure, but still New Zealand’s fate depends on the time the Aucklanders can stay together when the game is resumed today. Too great credit for New Zealand’s recovery cannot be given to Weir. Had he failed anything might have happened to the remaining batsmen. But the Eden colt has the temperament for the big occasion. Calm, imperturbable, with a great eye and a powerful pair of wrists, he is the very essence of solidity in batsmanship.

Weir joined Dempster and soon showed that he meant to put a stop to the rot. Under the blow of the initial disaster the scoring rate naturally slowed up, but the batsmen took the total gradually past the half century. They were still together when the tea adjournment was taken, and looked equal to a productive partnership. But, as often happens, the tea adjournment brought about the dissolution of an awkward partnership, for Dempster only survived one ball from Allom on resumption. The second he touched and Cornford snapped up a good catch. WEIR’S DOUR BATTLE Two wickets were down for 71 and then Page came in to assist Weir in the dour battle against odds. Both men batted solidly, if somewhat slowly, and together they took New Zealand’s score into three figures. The Englishmen’s fielding was slackening up perceptibly under the pressure of a hot afternoon, but the bowling continued with plenty of sting in it. Gilligan put Woolley on in place of Worthington, and the tall Kent man’s fourth ball brought about the departure of Page. caught by wicketkeeper Cornford. Three wickets, were now down tor 127 runs and the landslide continued even further when Roger Blunt. the batting hero of New Zealand’s first innings in the first test, was beaten all the way and skittled by a fast one from Nichols, without having an opportunity to open his score. Four were down for 132, and the possibilities of New Zealand having to face a followon were freely discussed. This did not perturb C. F. W. Allcott when he went out to assist Weir in what had been a lone stand. Together the two Aucklanders set their backs to the wall and. treating every ball on its merits and refusing any undue

MATCHES IN CHRISTCHURCH

FINAL ROUND COMPLETED Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. The final round of cricket matches before the semi-finals concluded yesterday in beautiful weather. The wickets were in perfect order: The championship points now are:—Old Boys, 21; Riccarton, 14; Linwood, 10, Sydnehara, 10; Old Collegians, 9; St. Albans. 8; East Christchurch, 6; West Christchurch, 2. The first four teams will now play an elimination series of two matches to decide the championship. Old Boys, 261 for four wickets when play stopped the previous Saturday, could only draw with Sydenham. Old Boys went on to score 290. Sydenham batted out time with eight for 15C (Bellamy 39, Young 33). Bowling: Burrows, seven for 39. Linwood. playing Old Collegians, declared at five for 317 (Yates 109, McLaughlin 83, Boon not out 52>. Old Collegians were all out for 218 (Talbot 80, Pinckney 38). St. Albans were beaten by West Christchurch. St. Albans made 105 and three for 102, and West Christchurch 274 (Kerr 42, Alexander 52, Jarrett 37, Peake 39. Hawkes 34). Riccarton. seven for 327, declared, beat East Christchurch, 161.

MATCH IN BROILING HEAT

N.S.W. AND TASMANIA SYDNEY, Sunday. The New, South Wales cricket team opened the batting against Tasmania. The visitors were kept on the run all day in broiling heat until the home side’s innings ended for 477 (Bill 115, Hogg 57, Leadbeater 128, Henderson 101). Nash took three for 75. James four for 67, Hooper two for 81, Townley one for 97. Three wickets fell for 28, and It looked as if Tasmania was going to do well. Then Hogg joined Bill and when he went Leadbeater helped to break the heart of the attack. Bill ought to have been out several times. All the players were glad when the innings closed.

GRADE CRICKET

MATCHES AT SYDNEY SYDNEY, Sunday. In the grade cricket matches yesterday batting for Waverley against Gordon Kippax made 100. For Paddington against Western Suburbs Bettington made 73 not out. For Petersham against Glebe Andrews made 121 and Seddon 111. For Balmain against University Nutt 161 not out. For Manly against Randwick Gordon made 156. Bowling for Paddington Moore took 3 for 7 and Asher 4 for 29. For Marrickville against Cumberland Dein took 7 for 33.

CANTERBURY REP. TEAM

MATCH AGAINST OTAGO Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today. The following is the Canterbury team chosen to play Otago, beginning on Friday next:—Burns, Cromb. Jacobs, Kerr, Lester, Merritt, Page. F. R. Powell, J. L. Powell, Roberts, Talbot: 12th man, Harris.

DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS

Press Association DUNEDIN. Sunday. Cricket matches were continued yesterday in fine weather. Albion, 200, beat Grange, 185 (Elmes 55, Morris 33). Shepherd took five wickets for 60 and McHaflie five for 30. Albion, in its second innings, lost four for 39. Lemin took two for 4. Old Boys, 268 for two (declared), beat Christian Brothers, 85 and 143 (F. Toomey 52). Leader took three for 25 and Dickinson three for 39. Carisbrook. 132 and 110 for four wickets, declared (Priest 42), beat Dunedin. 104 and 118.