THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 307, 28 December 1922, Page 8

THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

WELLINGTON V. AUCKLAND. A WIN FOR THE HOME TEAM. IJ3G-IK FOR THE SHIELD, (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON , , Wednesday. The Plunket Shield match, Auckland v. Wellington, resulted in a. win for the home team by 108 runs. With 446 wanted to win Horapool and Anthony opened the eecond innings for Auckland, Brioo and Bernau bowling. Ten appeared quickly, but at 14 Anthony was bowled by Bernau. 14 —I—s. Snedden went to the wicket, and after ■he had scored five survived a confident «ppeal by Cate behind the wicket. The pair raised the ecore to 39 before Horapool was bowled. 39—3—22. When Smith went to the crease runs came quickly, 50 appearing in 45 minutes. Tours vrere' frequent. .During the next 40, Grant ami McGirr replaced Bernau and Brice. and 15 came off Grant's second over. At 96, McGirr got Smith lb«". At the luncheon adjournment the score was 96 —3—33, Snedden being at

36. Dacre went to the wicket after lunch and the first over from MoGirr saw the 100 go up. The pair were still batting well when 150 appeared, Snedden being et 70 and Dacro at 2"». Bernau and Col line were now on the attack, but did not alter the rate of scoring.

When 180 wa» reached the batsmen were still getting rune steadily. With one under the hundred for the partnership, play was adjourned at 3 p.m. owing to rain. Both batsmen were going well, not being troubled by the bowling. On resuming Grant took the ball from Collin3, and, off his second ball, Snedden -was caught behind the wickets. 194—4 —88.

McLeod was the next man. and 200 was passed soon after his arrival. His stay at the wickete was not long. A hall from Grant passed the yicketkeeper, hut was stopped by Collins, and McLVod was thrown out by a smart return while two yards out of the urease. 214—5—4.

Garrard was the next man. The next 5(1 came quickly, 11 coming in one over off Grant and 13 in the following over off Bernau. At 259, Dacre gave a hard <-hance off Bernau, BTice accepting in Ihe slips. 259—6—68.

Five balls later Pateraon wa* caught in the slips by Bruce, substitute for "Kortlang. 2f>fl—7—o.

Whelan went to the wickets, and the new pair put hope into Auckland. This ■was the fastest scoring of the day. and 300 was soon registered. Fifteen came off one over sent down by Brice and 17 ( off the next over by the same bowler, 47 being taken off four overs by Brice and Bernau. McGirr changed with Bernau, but still the scoring was fast, six coining off the firat four balls, but off the last nail Whelan gave a chance to Bruce, who , took a. good catch in the slips. 321 , —8 —50. Whelan* got 50 in 25 minutes, in-; chiding 10 fours. f'he last two batemen, Aleott and Bowntree, did not give much trouble, the former getting 6 and the latter 2. Garrard carried his bat for a. patient 36. The scores are as follows: — WELLINGTON. First Innings 435 Second Innings 396 AUCKLAND. First Innings ....■ • .386 Second Innings. Horspool, b Brice ■ -.. 22 Anthonr, b Bernau ~ 5 Snedden. c Konaldaon. b Grant ..... 88 Smith, lbw, b MeGirr , 23 Dacre, c Brice, b Bernau 68 McLeod, thrown out 4 Garrard, not out 36 Patereon, c Bruce (subst.) h. Be rnfcu 0 Whelan. c subst.. b McGirr 50 Alcott, lbw, b Hiddle?tone " 6 Rowntree. b McGirr , , 2 Extra c 33 Tota l 337 Bowling Analysis.—Brice took one wicket for 81 runs, Bernau three for 95, Oanfc one for 55. McGirr thxee for 50, <'oilins none for 22, Hiddlestone one for one.

THE SHIELD RECORD. STILL A CHAXCE FOR AUCKLAND. UNDfcR THE NEW SYSTEM. The Plunket Shield has been contended rliiefly by Auckland and Canterbury, who have .both held it six times since the inception of the competition in 1906-7. It was not until after the war that Wellington was successful in lifting the trophy, though that province had regularly competed for it. Jjaet year the sudden death system of competition was dropped, and the shield cannot now be won on one game, 'but has to be won on the best Tecord of wins in the series of games among- the four chief centres. Under -this system "Wellington lost the shield to Auckland last season, but that province has made a good start towards recovering it by beating Auckland at full strength in the game just concluded. Auckland has now to play Canterbury and Otago when weakened by the selection of six men for the Xβ w Zealand team, while "Weilrnfjton ajrainst these provinces will be without Hiddleston and Brice. Should Auckland beat the other two southern provinces, and Wellington lose one of the games, making the two equal on wine, tbe holding of the shield will be decided T)T the averages of the teams over the whole series of games. The record of the shield to date is:— 1006-07 Canterbury 1007-08 Auckland 190S-09 Auckland ■1909-10 Auckland 10KMI Canterbury 19U-12 Auckland 1912-13 Canterbury 1913-14 Canterbury 1914-13 , Canterbury 1918-19 Wellington 1919-20 Canterbury 1020-21 '. Auckland 1921 Wellington 1922 Auckland During the war no Plunket Shield matches were played. Auckland has held the shield on six occasions, Canterbury on six, and Wellington on two. ROWNTREE INCAPACITATED. R. W. Rowntree, selected ac wicketkeeper for the New Zealand team, cannot play. He wa-s lame all through, the shield match and received several severe blows which further incapacitated him. It is understood ft Wellington, jnfft will ?«plact» Mm, "I_'_ ;".'._-'-'- ■•- -