PLUNKET SHIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 56, 7 March 1930, Page 9

PLUNKET SHIELD.

THE DECIDING MATCH.

AUCKLAND'S DISASTROUS

OPENING.

MILLS FAILS TO SCORE.

ANTHONY GOES CHEAPLY.

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.")

WELLINGTON, this day.

. The final Plunket Shield match of the season was commenced between Auckland and Wellington on the Basin Reserve to-day in fine, sunny weather.

■ Auckland won the toss and Mills and Anthony went into bat on what appeared to. be. a good wicket. McGirr opened the "Wellington bowling. from. the; southern end, and off his fifth ball he clean.bowled Mills before a run had been scored.

The vacancy was filled by Weir. The first over from the northern end\ was taken by Hollings, and from the second delivery... Anthony opened Auckland's account with a square cut to the boundary. -There were no further scores .in the over, after which McGirr sent down another maiden over. )■'

;■ A bowling change was then made at the northern end, Maesey being brought on in place of Hollings. A couple of singles were realised from Massey's first over. McGirr kept going with plenty of sting, and there was no scoring from his third over, but in Massey's second Anthony, who had been shaping like a stayer, wns caught close in on the leg side. The dismissal of both Mills and Anthony for eight runs threw a greater responsibility on the other batsmen. From Wellington's point of view the position was much better than was expected.

Gillespie joined Weir, and the pair settled down to defensive play. Few scoring strokes were made by Weir before Gillespie broke his duck with a stroke tbileg for two off Henderson. This bowler had taken over from McGirr when the score was 14, McGirr having taken one wicket for three runs in five overs, four of which were maidens.

•Steadier progress was made by Weir and Gillespie and the total reached 20 after 38 minutes' play. Massey continued to keep the batsmen quiet, but there was a fair amount of scoring froin Henderson. One of the latter's overs cost 11 runs. The batsmen made good use of gaps on the off, each registering a boundary as well as singles. Gillespie had settled down well and passed his partner's , score.

The next .'bowling change was made when the total was 42, McLeod taking over from Henderson (none for 19 in four overs). The slow bowler/s first over was a ; maiden, after which Gillespie reached ,20 with a stroke to; the on'for two." the same batsman followed up with a solid drive to the fence and in McLeod's next over he liYtect the ball to the outfield for a brace, bringing SQ. up 'for 55 minutes' play. , This made'the position a good deal better than at the fall of the second wicket, especially as Gillespie, who changed hie bat at this stage, was shaping very well. With the score at 51 Gallichan, the Manawatu left-hander playing in his first Plunket Shield match, relieved Maesey (one for 18 off nine overs). There was only a single from Gallichan's first over, the score at noon being 52.

The two slow bowlers were treated cautiously. McLeod was maintaining an excellent length and Gallichan was making pace off the pitch. ' It was in attempting to pull'the ball from the Manawatu player that Gillespie failed to connect and was clean bowled. He 'had batted, well for just over threequarters of an hour and in his score of 26 there were three fours. 54—3—26.

, The newcomer wae Wensley, the Sussex professional and Auckland coach, making his first appearance on the Basin Reserve . He started .right away with two to leg and added a couple of singles before lifting a ball from McLeod to lev, where it fell clear of two fieldsmen. Rune came steadily and with the total at 64 Henderson was brought back to the attack. The fast.left ihander relieved McLeod, whose six overs had cost only nine rmis. Except for a- drive _by Weir for four there was little scoring from Henderson. From the other end Gallichan was becoming more expensive, and in one over the Auckland coach made two -big hite to the boundary and another stroke, for two. These efforts carried Wensely's ecore over the 20 mark. The same batsman skied a ball from Henderson to the leg, but there was no fieldsman there. Wensley continued to open out to Gallichan, but after registering another four he gave an easy catch to Lowry at mid-on. Duiin* Ms stay of. 20 minutes Wensley had made 26 in an aggressive manner. ±lie score included four fours, pearly all his runs were made-on the on. 93-4—26 Weir's score at this stage was 31 and his runs had come mostly from etrokes to the off..

A Run a Minute. The Auckland captain, Allcott, was next, and played out the remainder of Galliclian's over without scoring. In .lie same bowler's next pver, however, Allcott made a splendid straightdrwe to the boundary. Meanwhile Weir had improved his account by a J cutting a ball from Henderson. These efforts brought 100. up, the innings then having been in progress 100 minutes. Just; afterwards McLeod was called upon to relieve Henderson (none for 43 in eight overs), and lie was credited by Weir with another maiden over. The batsmen thereafter kept the scoring moving steadily, although no liberties could be taken with the slow bowlers. The total was taken to 115, when Ross, the Hutt colt, was given a hand in the attack. He did not trouble the % batsmen, who were still fairly cautious in facing Gallichan. In the next over Ross kept Weir quiet, and there was no further scoring. At the luncheon adjournment the total was 122 for four wickets. Details: — . AUCKLAND.—First Innings. Mills, b McGirr 0 Anthony, c Cameron, b Massey .. Weir, not out • 44, Gillespie, b Gallichan .. 26 Wensley, c Lowry, b Gallichan .... 26 Allcott, not out 16 «•>£>;•• 5j Total for four wickets 122