DEFENSIVE INNINGS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 388, 20 March 1937, Page 6

DEFENSIVE INNINGS

M.C.C.’S OPENING. Otago-Canterbury in Form. Press Association —Copyright. Christchurch, March 19. Those of the large attendance at Lancaster Park who expected cricket fireworks from the touring M C.C. team on the first day of the match against a. combined Otago-Canter-bury side must have been disappointed. Rather was to-day’s play of outstanding interest as an example of iiow Dominion teams can rise to the occasion when pitted against distinguished visitors.

The English team wias on the defensive throvghont its innings, and fine bowling on a wicket that gave little assistance, supported by keen fielding, enabled the combined eleven to dismiss England’s test players for the comparatively small score of 217. England’s fatt bowlers provided the only spectacular element in the play, but although the visitors’ attack, especially by New 1 Zealand standards. Was hostile and fiery, it was a little disappointing to tee three New Zealand batsmen get themselves' out by strokes and tactics unworthy of representative cricketers. At stumps the combined team had 70 on the board for the loss of three wickets, and as there is good batting strength throughout the eleven the home team has a reasonable chance of getting fairly close to England’s score. At one time it seemed that a much better start was going to be made, for J. L. Kerr and K F M. Uttley confidently put on 46 before the opening partnership w.-is broken. Copson, the Derbyshire fast bowler, then took three’ wickets with the addition of one one fun.

Home Team's Bowling, Most of England’s batsmen of reputation found themselves 1 in difficulty to the home team’s bowling, and of the established batsmen only the act-ing-captain, Wyatt, made a good score. The team hjad a rather longer “tail” than the best combination of the touring team usually has, but this time the bowlers came to light with useful innings when a serious collapse seemed likely. Sims, the Middlesex slow 1 bos'ler who did well as an ,all rounder with Holmes’ team in Australia and New Zealand last year, played a particularly valuable innings for 43, and the left hand fast bowler Voce contributed an extremely useful 21 not out.

The crowd was partly disappointed and partly pleased at the good showing of the home players v Ten such fine batsmen as Hammond, Worthington, Leyland, Ames and Fishlock were dismissed after more or lest brief innings. Worthington, one of the opening batsmen, was not hap'py at all and was soon out. Hammond, one of the greatest of post-war batsmen, came to the crease, showed a few beautifullyproduced and powerful scoring shots, and Was then clean bowled by a perfect ball from the Canterbury swing bowler Mulcock. Leyland, Ames and Fishlock stayed

hardly long enough to show their ability, and sit wickets were down for 129 when Wyatt’s patient, but verysound, innings ended. It Was left to the watchfil, but enterprising, Sims and the itocky wicket-keeper Duckworth to produce a saving partnership of 37 runs, and then Voce and Sims together took the score to 193. Copson had a brief, but merry, knock for 12 and the innings closed for the not very considerable score of 217. Details' of the scores are: M.C.C. First Innings. T. S. Worthington, c Crombs, b Roberts 3 R. E. S. Wyatts, c Mills, b Dunnings I .. .. 63 W. R. Hammond, b Murdock .... 17 M. Leyland, c and b Cromb .... 12 L. E. G. Ames, c Dunning, b Crom'h 7 L. B. Fishlock, c Mills, b Dunning 11 J ,M. Simms, b Mulcock 43 G. Duckworth, b Roberts .. .. .. 13 W. Voce, not out 2.4 W. H. Copton, st Mills, b Roberts 12 K. C. Fames, c Cromb, b Mulcock 0 Extras (byes 6, leg byes 6) 12 Total 217

CANTERBURY-OTAGO. First Innings. J. L. Kerr, c Voce, b Copson .... 18 K. F. M. Uttley, c Fishcock, b Copson 21 W A. Hadlee, not out 10 I. B. Cromb, c Fames, b Copson . . I) M. L. Page, not out 13 Extras (byes 77, leg bye 1) .. 8 Total (for three wickets) .... 70 Bowling.

Bowling. O. M. R. w A. W. Roberts .. . 27 8 59 3 E. T. Mulcock •. . 25.3 7 55 3 C S. Elmes .... 14 2 37 0 I. B. Cromb .... 13 1 3G 2 7. A. Dunning .. . 10 16 2 M. L». Page 1 0 2 0

O. M. R. W K. C. FVirnes .. . . . (i 1 20 0 W. H. Copson . ... 9 3 217 4 W. Voce 3 2 11 0 P. J. M. Sims . ... 3 1 6 0 L. E. G. Ames ... 1 2 2 0