MCGIRR AGAIN.

Auckland Star, 2 January 1931, Page 3

M C GIRR AGAIN.

CENTURY AT CHRISTCHURCH,

WELLINGTON WELL IN FRONT

LOWRY JUST MISSES HIS HUNDRED

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.")

CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Fine weather again favoured the Plunket Shield match between Canterbury and Wellington this morning. Wellington, who were on top at the end of the first day's play, continued their innings and soon, passed Canterbury's total of 214. H. McGirr, who scored a century against Otago on Saturday last, achieved further success by registering another three-figure score.

Cromb and Cunningham carried on the attack and the batsmen got to work right away, Lowry pulling Cunningham for a boundary and running to 50 after batting f/0 minutes. The double century went u') after the innings had been in prop-ress 150 minutes. McGirr ran to the" 3 seventies with a beautiful late cut off Talbot, who had relieved Cromb at the north end. The batsmen looked just as set as they did at the close of yesterday's play. Lowry also showed no hesitation with his crisp scoring shots. Merritt came on instead of Talbot in an effort to effect a separation. He appealed unsuccessfully against Lowry for lbw Later the same batsman ('rove Cromb powerfully for four, bringing 250 up. McGirr a Century. McGirr reached his century with powerful shots and was then caught and bowled by Lester. 2(39-4-101. His innings lasted 137 minutes. Lameson joined Lowry and was clean bowled by Lester with a beauty. Roberts and Kerr were earning deserved applause for their fielding m the deep field, where they saved many boundaries. . , , _„„ Crook was next man m and he survived an appeal for leg before from Merritt. Lowry cut Merritt to the fence and the third century went up after -14 minutes. Cromb took over from Lester Lowry was nearing his century and was playing with caution but he was not destined to reach his hundred He went forward to Cromb and missed, an appeal for lbw being sustained. 30461191. It was a characteristic knock marked bv hard hitting. . McLeod joined Crook, who was going well. Crook went when Cromb took a fine catch in the slips oft Merritt It looked as though the fieldsman had no chance, but he gather*! it in. 308— i—

"I A Massey joined McLeod, and before he bad scored be was clean bowled by Merritt. . J. Newman, tbe next man, signalled his arrival with a straight drive off Merritt to tbe fence, and then hit a fine six over square log. Newman and McLeod made a good stand, bringing the score to 343 before they were separated. Newman had put on 22 when he was caught in the slips by Cromb off Talbot. Blundell was last man in, and the innings closed just before the luncheon adjournment for 351. Scores: — CANTERBURY.—First Innings. Kerr, b Blundell 3 Hamilton, c James, b Massey 5 Roberts, b J. Newman 14 Talbot, b MdLeod 42 Page, c James, b Blundell 28 Jacobs, b J. Newman ' 0 Cromb, c McGirr, b J. Newman .. 58 Lester, bJ. Newman •■ 4 Merritt, c James, b Crook 33 Dorreen, c James, b McLeod 8 Cunningham, not out 0 Extras *9 Total • 214 Bowling: Blundell took two wickets for 94 runs; Massey, one for 21; Crook, one for 17; J. Newman, four for 36; McLeod, two for 17; A. Newman, none for 10.

WELLINGTON. —First Innings. Dempster, lbw, b Talbot 41 A. Newman, c Dorreen, b Cunningham 4 James, st Dorreen, b Merritt .... 32 McGirr, c and b Lester .............101 Lowry, lbw, b Cromb 91 Lamason, b Lester 0 Crook, c Cromb, b Merritt 14 Massey, b Merritt 0 J. Newman, c Cromb, b Talbot ...... 22 McLeod, run out .•.«..'. 14 Blundell, not out ;.:.......-. ~■ 2 Extras .. .<.>..-.. ....■*.. ■*:■.. . • • 30 Total .., 351 Bowling: Merritt took three wickets for 93 runs, Talbot two for 41, Lester two for 36, Cromb one for 61, { Cunningham one for 80, Roberts none for 6, Page none for 4.