THE FINAL MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 59, 11 March 1930, Page 14

THE FINAL MATCH.

AUCKLAND'S STRONG LEAD. A CENTURY TO MILLS. WELLINGTON TWO WICKETS FOR 76 (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. The third day's play in the deciding match for the Plunket Shield at the Basin Reserve to-day saw the Auckland eleven tighten their grip on the cricket honours of the Dominion by playing a brilliant second knock of 354 for four wickets before applying the closure. Mills and Anthony put .on 110 for the first wicket. Weir and Mills added 03 for the second, Mills and Gillespie contributed 65 for the third, and Wensley and Allcott capped a sterling batting display by rattling on 104 in 45 minutes for the fifth wicket, both having passed the half century when the closure was applied. Mills played a sterling innings for 105. This left Wellington with 505 runs to get~to win, and in the hour and forty minutes left for play Wellington lost two wickets for 76 runs. The fourth, and concluding day's play, should be full of possibilities, as Wellington now require 429 runs to win, and can either go for the runs or elect to hold possession of the wicketa for the whole of the day. Auckland require an outright win to take the shield, as a win on the first innings will be no good to them. There was bright sunshine throughout the day. The wicket is lasting well. A Great Start. With no wickets down for 34 runs Mills (20) and Anthony (13) resumed Auckland's second innings to-day. Henderson opened against a northerly breeze, and McGirr took up the attack with the wind. Mills cut the first ball of Henderson's second over crisply past point to the ropes. In Henderson's third over Foley dropped a sharp chance in the slips off Anthony's beat. Fifty came up with both men going strongly, after the innings had been in progress for 35 minutes. At 63 Gallichan took the ball from Henderson, whose six overs had 5 cost 23 runs. Gallichan was proving expensive, eight coming from his first over, and nine off the third. With the total at 90 Lowry took the ball from Gallichan, whose three overs had cost 18 runs. The hundred came up in as many minutes, both batsmen being 48. Here McGirr, whose thirteen overs had cost 44 rims, gave way to Massey. Anthony won the race to the half century by lifting Massey loftily to leg for three, Mills being 49. Anthony reached 56 by hooking Massey to the -fence at mid-on, but this was his last stroke, .as he played the next ball on to his sticks. Anthony had hit seven fours, and had assisted Mills to put on 110 for the first wicket in 75 minutes. Lowry's Bowling Tactics. Weir, the hero of the. first innings, came next. Lowry was' keeping the batsmen quiet with off theory, and calls came for the Wellington captain to bowl on the wicket. Mills reached his half century after having been at the wickets for 85 minutes. Lowry had 'bowled seven overs for four runs, but Weir hit one in his eighth over to the track at long-on. Weir reached doubles with a sweet leg glide to the pickets off Mas Bey. Lowry was now bowling leg theory, with all his fieldsmen to the on-side, and w&s keeping runs down, only 13 runs coming from the first eleven overs he sent down. A period of slow play was brightened by Mills pulling Massey for four, and four byes, off one from Lowry brought 140 up, while 150 came up for 115 minutes' play, Mills being 63 and Weir 21. Fourteen rims came from Lowry's fifteenth over, Weir twice banking him to the ropes at extra long-on. Weir now sparkled up,' banging Massey to the pickets at-square-leg. At 172 McLeod relieved Massey, who had bowled well m se- ding along thirteen overs for <J8 runs and one wicket. The luncheon adjournment was taken with the "score standing at 173 for one wicket, Mills being 68 and Weir . Hltting Up The Pace; This was fatal to Weir, as he was clean bowled by the third ball of Lowry's first over upon resuming.-. Weir had been at the wickets for CI minutes for his 38, which included five boundary strokes He had assisted Mills to add 63 runs for the second .wicket. Gillespie followed, and Henderson took the ball from Massey. After scoring a single Gillespie lifted one from Lowry high to square-leg, but Cameron lost sight of it in the sun, and what should have been an easy catch went begging. With a powerful off-drivo off Henderson Gillespie brought the second century up after 153 minutes' play. Elms were now coming faster. Gillespie swung Lowry to the ropes at long leg, and Mills punched MeGirr's first ball, after relieving Henderson, to the benches at extra long-on. After bowling 2L overs for ' 41 runs and a wicket, Lowry gave way to Massey. With his score at 17, Gillespie skied one from McGirr to cover, where Gallichan dropped the simplest of catches. At 225, Lowry came back with his leg theory, replacing "Massev. A beautiful hook sho l , for four off McGirr made Mills 99, and he dwelt here for quite a spell. At last, with a swinging drive to long-on off Massey, .ue reached his three figures, which occupied 184' minutes. After adding five, Mills let out at Massey, and was taken with a running catch by Gallichan at cover. Mills had given a sound display, for his 105, which included eleven fours. He did not give a chance. The Brightest Patch. Wensley joined Gillespie, who was 22, but after adding a couple, the latter was caught at square-leg by Henderson ofl Massey. The outgoing batsman had played a lucky innings, giving three chances, but had helped. to shove the score along. Allcott arrived, to see Wensley lift Lowry for six over the ropes at square-leg, and off-drive one for four in the same over. At 274 McLeod relieved Lowry, who had bowled 2J overs for 64 runs. Wensley placed the slow bowler's first ball through the slip' for four, and Allcott got him away for four, and then got a beautiful sixer ove r the ropes at long-off, fifteen coming from the over. Wensley waa swinging the long handle and hitting at every ball, and bore a charmed life, as he should have been stumped off Massey and w at! dropped at deep mid-off by Massey "oil McLeod. The Englishman, however, put some life into the play, and soon brought the third hundred up when the innings had been in progress for 225 minutes. The partnership produced the brightea'. batting of the match. Both men forced the pace and boundaries came frequently.

Allcott reached the thirties by hitting Massey to long-off, and banged McLeod to the fence at long-on. Thirteen camc from McLeod's fifth over, and 38 from the five overs he had sent down. At 232, ■ Gallichan had a try, relieving McLeod, but runs continued to come at a steady pace. Both men soon ran iuto the forties and Wensley reached his half century in 58 minutes, Allcott following him almost ; immediately. The tea adjournment was . taken with'the score standing at 354 fo'j the loss of four wickets, Allcott being oo and Wensley 51. The partnership had < put on 104 runs in 45 minutes. ; The innings was - declared r closed at . the interval, leaving Wellington wi the tidy total 0f'504 runs to/make in the ; fourth innings of the match to a\oid defeat. Wellington's Big Task. Cameron and Ross opened ..Wellington's, second innings to the bowling of Wensley and Matheson. The hdme team opened disastrously Matheson clean-bowling Ross before he had -opened, his account.' Hollings was next and twice forced Matheson, in his fifth over, to the pickets at square leg. With 1J up Allcott took the ball from AVemley, who changed to the other end. 'Cameron brought'2o up by banging one from Allcott to the ropes at extra long on. M ith the total at 23, the outcome of sixteen overs, Anthony relieved Wensley. An hour's play saw 39 runs on the slate, play being deadly dull. With the total at 44 Cameron, who had been at the wickets for 65 minutes, played one on to his pads from Anthony, and the ball cannoned on to the sticks. Foley joined Hollings, who was 19, and funeral play continued. Fifty vame up in 75 minutes, and ironical applause went up when Foley broke a long «pell of defensive play by getting two fours off Anthony. At 56 Matheson came on again, relieving Anthony, and at 66 McCoy had a try in Wensley's place. At drawing of stumps the score stood at 76 for the loss of two wickets, Hollings being 32 and Foley 13. AUCKLAND. First innings 433 Second Innings. Anthony, b Massey 56 Mills, c Gallichan, b Massey 105 Weir, b Lowry 38 Gillespie, c Henderson, b Massey .. 24 Wensley, not out 51 Allcott, not out 53 Extras 27 Total for four wickets (declared) 354 1 Bowling: McGirr none for 60, Henderson none for 39, Ross none for S, Gallichan none for 35, Lowry one for 64, Massey three for 83, McLeod none for 3?. " ~ Fall of wickets: One for 110,-two for 173, three for 238, four for 250. WELLINGTON. First innings . 283 Second Innings. Rose, b Matheson .......... 0 Cameron, b Anthony IS Hollings, not out 32 Foley, not out .. 13 Extras 13 Total for two wickets 76 Bowling: Matheson one for 19, Wensley mme for 8, Allcott none for 13, Anthony one for 21, McCoy none for 2. Fall of wickets: One for 5, two for 44. * MID-WEEK COMPETITION. Following is the draw for mid-week matches to be played under the control of the Auckland City and Suburban Cricket Association at Victoria Park to-morrow afternoon: —Post and Telegraph v. Combined Picture Theatres, No. 1, Messrs. Ball and Check; Pacific Cable Board v. Auckland Milk Company. TAIHAPE. The Sunday cricket competition was continued yesterday. Colts in the.first inmngs made 117 (Dripps 30, Cottier 23, cox 13). Chrysiall took six wickets. _ Moawhango in the first innings made 64 • (Chrystall 18, T. Chase 10).- McClure took six for 59. i ' ' . . " .'' .. Colts in the second innings made 144 (OJcClure 57,-. Cottier 21, Hancock 16); The. Taihape-Ngaurukehu match takes place'-next' Saturday.