Stern Struggle.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 18, 22 January 1929, Page 9

Stern Struggle.

Weir-AHcott Partnership Raises

Fallen Hopes.

Tlie last stage of the Plunket Shield match between Auckland and Wellington was commenced at Eden Park this morning with Auckland with nine wickcts in hand, requiring 260 runs to win. That it would be a hard task wus evidenced by the fact that the wicket, v although fast, was crumbling, and a vagrant cross wind, fitful and strong at times, was right into the hands of the scam specialists. Mills and Postles, the not out men, opened confidently to the bowling of McGirr and Henderson, Mills placing tho former prettily through the covers for three, while Postles back cut one for two. Henderson began to rock them in at top speed from the terrace end and there was a united appeal from the field when Postles touched one with the edge of his bat to send it into the safe hands of James at short stop. Postles had tried hard to dig in and was in possession 42 minutes for his contribution. 86—2—1). Weir was next - and Mills reached 50 with a ball deflected to fine leg, the result of 85 minutes' batting. Placing beautifully Mills turned Henderson into a gap for two, following it with a single on the leg side. Mills was getting most of the bowling and the crowd enthused when he swept McGirr to the fence. Weir survived an lbw appeal before he got going, opening with a push for a single. Keen Fielding. The century came up in 100 minutes, choci's greeting the fact that the home side was nearly a third of the way on their long journey. Henderson was getting considerable pace off the pitchy and was exploiting a lot of off theory, with a crescent of four slips and a backward point linked up fairly deep from the wickets. With the cross wind, McGirr was making the ball flight quietly and the batsmen were compelled to follow the ball right on to the bat. In the field the visitors were deadly keen and nothing was being given away. Eotherhani came on at the top end, to bo nicely singled by Mills. The Englishman disclosed a fair turn of speed and Weir could not connect with the rest of the over. The first ball of Henderson's next over kept low and flashed into Mills' on stump. The Eden left-hander had been in 1 hour 50 minutes and had played with the skill and grace which causcd , English critics to liken him to Palairet. 10W—'i—65. Gillespie came, but to the dismay of the crowd poked one into McGirr s hands at sillv cover without scoring. 109—4—0. Game in Visitors' Favour. The game had now definitely swung in Wellington's favour. Allcott came next and Weir survived a noisy appeal for lbw, the fieldsmen, including one in the deep, wringing their hands in anguish when the stolid umpire shook a negative head. Weir was playing the rock, coolly and imperturbably, and treated with disdain anything flung wide of the 1 off stick, where well behind the crescent five sat tense and alert in anticipation of catching trifles coming their way. It was slow batting, but an Auckland crisis had arisen and the occasion demanded it. Even Allcott was playing with ultra care, giving the full face of the bat to everything. On a fiery wicket Henderson's short ball was playing head high with a cloud of dust every time it pitched. Allcott steered a short one nicely to the on and Weir pushed McGirr for a brace. Lani berf fume on at the terrace end and tossed up ilow ones that carried unmistakable spin, Allcott hooking one neatly to the fence. As. Rotherham's one over had not been impressive in the matter of length Lowry brought McGirr hack, a striking quick change contrast to the handling of the Auckland attack. With a deep-set field Lambert was tossing up some very tempting stuff in an endeavour to lure the batsmen into hitting tactics. Rotherham again replaced McGirr to bowl a fast, long hop variety for an over which yielded a single. Allcott pulled Lambert hard for two, speed by Worker on the line cutting off the four. For an off day there was a surprisingly good attendance, the majority being juvenile Aucklanders enjoying their vacations, who did not hesitate to hand out gratuitous advice to batsmen and .fieldsmen alike. Weir reached double figures with a nice off shot for two.

Painfully Slow Scoring. Facing Rotherliam, Allcott had an ee('ape. He edged one fast aji<l '°, vv into the slips!, where Foley dabbed with one l:and, in an endeavour to grasp it. It fame into the category of chances but it was very, very difficult, Allcott emu-

ing blandly at Foley's expression of contrition. Lambert sent one of the submarine variety up to Weir which trailed the dust past the off stump and the bowler appealed for lbw., amid a chorus of dissent from the hillside. Neither batsmen would take the slightest risk and the rate of scoring w&s painfully slow. The crowd chirped brightly when Weir clipped Bother ham to the off for a pair, a nicely-placed shot ahead of extra over. Next ball Hiddleston earned a round of applause for a hot stop at silly mid-on. Lowry came on vice Rotherham and nearly gathered in Weir's scblp. The batsman lifted one uppishly close to the wicket, but James, who had lost sight of the ball, dived across in the wrong direction and the ball fell clear and 140 was raised in 100 minutes. Henderson returned at the terrace end and rocked in a very fast over, which included a gentle lbw appeal against Weir and a prettily-placed two by Allcott.

The score went along in singles, the average at this stage being a couple of runs an over. Lowry bowled round tho wicket, with a single man on the off and the rest of the field strung along the on side. It was a negative business, as Weir spurned the trap that was set and let the .ball go by. Henderson was still bowling with fire and abandon s and was whipping so sharply from the pitch that the batsmen found it difficult to time him. Weir reached 20 in 1 hour 35 minutes, playing with the knowledge that runs was the object and not time. From the spectator*' viewpoint the best feature was the fine ground fielding, Worker on the off picking up brilliantly and returning with fine accuracy. Allcott brought 160 up with a push for a single. The pair had put on 50 in 00 minutes' play by solid batting. Lambert replaced Lowry \nd Allcott turned tho third ball neatly for two, punching the following one to cover for a single. At lunch the score was 165 for four wickets, Weir being 25 and Allcott 30. This Afternoon's Play. The afternoon session started with Auckland requiring 169 runß to win with six wickets in hand, a difficult task on a wearing wicket, where the ball was coming at variable height. In Bother* ham's first over Allcott picked a two and Weir turned a three to leg. The next bafl hit Allcott high up, and when James threw his hands skyward and appealed the hillsiders got quite peeved. Henderson worked the pavilion end in a search for the crumbly spot which the Auckland bowlers had successfully

exploited, and an overthrow by Hiddleston sent the score one up. Both batsmen were playing with studious care in an effort to consolidate the position, Weir's attitude being so sternly defensive that Lowry posted an extra silly mid-on to him. Slowly, in singles, the score crept onward until Allcott turned Rotherham nicely to the on for three. The English bowler was disclosing a repertaire which ranged from long hops to full tossers, Weir glancing one of the latter variety to send 180 up. Allcott reached 40 with a leg glance off Henderson for a brace. The game had developed into a grim, dour struggle, with the batsmen fighting hard to get on top of the bowling. Hiddleston was the next bowling change, Allcott welcoming his advent with a crisply driven single, while Weir planted a two on the leg side. Amidst applause Allcott turned Rotherham for three and 190 was up. Hiddleston, in the next over, broke an invaluable partnership, Allcott play- ! ing back and deflecting the ball into the wicket. He had batted 2 hours 35 minutes, and had shown a wonder-, ful deefnce. 194—5—46. The incomer was Whitelay, and, by way of diversion, Rotherham sent along a wide. The colt moved off by placing a nice two- on the on. WELLINGTON. First Innings 403 Second Innings. I

BOWLING.

Fall of wickets: One for 74, two for 74 three for 80, four for 138, five for 145, six for 209, seven for 227, eight for 230, nine for 241, ten for 241.

AUCKLAND. First innings 311 Second Innings. Bowley, b McGirr 28 Mills, b Henderson 65 Postles, c James, b Henderson 9' Gillespie, c McGirr, b Henderson ... 0 Weir, not out 39 Allcott, b Hiddleston 46 Whitelaw, not out 6 Extras « 11 Total for five wickets 204

Dempster, c Whitelaw, b Bowley.. 22 Hiddleston, c Player, b Dunning... 51 Lowry, c Player, b Dunning 4 Lamason, b Allcott 21 Worker, b Allcott 73 James, lbw, b Dunning 4 Foley, lbw, b Dunning 27 Lambert, b Allcott 8 Rotherham, b Dunning 3 McGirr, b Dunning 11 Henderson, not out 0 Extraa *7 Total 24 1

o. M. W. R. Dunning .... 33 10 6 71 Allcott W o 3 40 Bowley 14 * J 26 Playe? 16 3 ® Weir 7 0 0 25 Postles 9 3 0 15