PLUNKET SHIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 46, 23 February 1929, Page 11

PLUNKET SHIELD.

CANTERBURY LEADS.

VISITORS REACH 300.

FINE LAST WICKET STAND. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DUNEDIN, Friday. At the close of the first day's play in the Plunkefc Shield match between Otago and Canterbury the visitors look likely to obtain a lead on the first innings. Otago were all out for 273, and Canterbury have scored 217 lor the loss of four wickets. Otago continued their innings after the luncheon adjournment Cavanagli opened out again with a line drive. He brought his score to 50 after fil minutes' batting, and 200 came up after 134 minutes' play. Galland gave Powell a great chance, skying the ball, but it was missed, and almost next ball he lifted Cunningham out of the ground for six. When he faced Harris next over, however, he was caught by Roberts. 228—7—32. H. C. Alloo joined Cavanagh, who was now 60 and was batting well.

The fielding of the visitors was exceptionally good, and roused continual applause. Roberts clean bowled Cavanagh with a break. 265—8—78. A. W. Alloo then went in, but the last ball of Roberts' over accounted for H. C. Alloo, who patted it safely into Cunningham's hands at mid-on. 265—9—20. Roberts bowled A. W. Alloo, and the innings dosed for 273. Roberts had taken three wickets for four. Canterbury Take Strike, Canterbury's opening batsmen were Page and Hamilton, who opened to the bowling of Dickinson and Eastman. Scoring was very slow, and at the tea adjournment Page was 21 and Hamilton !). After tea both batsmen settled down to some hard hitting, with frequent dull spells. Page never took the bowling seriously, and Eastman was not giving the batsmen much trouble. Alloo changed his bowlers continually, distributing the work bet-ween Dickinson, Eastman, Monk, Blunt and Shepherd, but the score mounted rapidly. A quarter of an hour after tea 70 went up, and 100 appeared after 60 minutes' play. The first wicket fell when Page snicked Dickinson into Heenan's hands behind the wickets. He had made 43 in good style. Roberts came in, and was soon at home. Ragged fielding was costing many runs. Hamilton was playing Alloo very carefully, and at last the Otago captain got him lbw after lie had played very soundly for 77. Harris did not 6tay long, Galland, at slip, catching him neatly off Eastman when he was four. Newman was next man in, and he and Roberts scored steadily, but in colourless fashion, with occasional fours. The score wa.-s just past 200 when Newman went lbw to Eastman. 207—4—15. With six minutes to go beforo stumps were drawn Allen joined Roberts, iyul the pair played out time. To-day's Play. Tho match was resumed at Carisbrook this morning in ideal weather, the wicket and outfield being in excellent condition. When stumps were drawn last night Roberts was 39 and Allen 7.1 Dickinson opened to-day with a noball, but with the last bail of the same over dismissed Roberts, Galland taking an excellent catch in the slips. Eastman took up the attack from the other end. Neither the newcomer., Jacobs, nor Allen was comfortable. With just half an hour gone, Jacobs was caught at cover by Eastman, then Merritt and Burns lost their wickets in quick succession, tho board showing 242 for nine. Powell and Cunningham carried on quietly, passing Otago's score, and Alloo made frequent changes in an endeavour to finalise the innings. Otago's fielding was nippy. When 300 was reached Cunningham started to run, but, being sent back, was unable to get there before Hccnan had the bails off. Otago's Second Venture. Otago opened the second innings at 12.30, with Shepherd and H. C. Alloo, Newman and Cunningham opening the attack. Shepherd gave a hot chance to Harris when four, but continued on in merry mood till lunch, when the score stood for 35 without Toss. The scores are: — OTAGO.—First Innings. Shepherd, st Burns, b Merritt 34 Blunt, c Bums, b Newman '.) McMullan, st Burns, b Merritt 2.") Eastman, c Jacobs, b Newman IS P. Monk, b Merritt 11 Dickinson, c Merritt, b Cunningham 25 Cavanagh, b Roberts 78 11. C. Alloo, c Cunningham, b Roberts 20 Galland. c Roberts, b Harris 32 A. W. Alloo, b Roberts 6 Hcenan, not out 0 Extras 15 Total 273 Bowling: Cunningham took one wicket for 64 runs, Roberts three for 4, Newman two for 83, Merritt three for 86, Page none for 14, Harris one for 9. OTAGO.—Second Innings. Shepherd, not on: 25 11. G. Alloo, not out 6 Extras 4 Total for no wickets 35 CANTERBURY.—First Innings. Page, c Heenan, b Dickinson 43 Hamilton, lbw, b Alloo 77 A. W. Roberts, c Galland, b Dickinson 39 Harris, c Galland. b Eastman 4 Newman, lbw, b Eastman IS Allen, c McMullan, b Monk 10 Jacobs, c Monk, b Eastman 10 Powell, not out 28 Merritt, c Hcenan, b Monk 0 Burns, b Monk 0 Cunningham, run out 1!) Extras 46 Total 300 Bowling: Dickinson, two for 46; Eastman, three for 82; Monk, three for 41; Blunt, none for 33; Shepherd, none for 20; Galland, none for 2; Aloo, one for 30.