PLUNKET SHIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 2, 3 January 1931, Page 9

PLUNKET SHIELD.

AUCKLAND ON TOP.

128 RUNS TO WIN.

OTAGO'S SECOND INNINGS

REALISES 323

RAIN INTERRUPTS PLAY.

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.")

DUNEDIN, this day,

The weather was dull but fine and warm for the resumption of the Plunket Shield cricket match between Auckland and Otago to-day. The wicket appeared in good shape for the Northerners' express bowlers. Matheson opened the day's attack against Alloo and Hawkesworth. The ball did not come tip so dangerously as it did yesterday, and Alloo increased his overnight sccre to 10 by pulling Cleverley'a .first ball around to the square leg boundary. Hawkesworth batted cautiously and Alloo. later added three with a neat late cut, also at Cleverley's expense. Hawkesworth hit. a no -ball from Cleverley into the hands of Matheson at square leg, but apart from this slight deviation from the routine there was little else worthy of note in the ensuing ten minutes' play. With plenty of time at their command and everything to gain by a determined stand, the Otago batsmen were hatting out at the loose stuff only. Then Alloo raised a cheer by pelting Clever ley twice in succession to the leg pickets. Hawke - worth, who was also batting well, livened up, and when 29 runs had been added in 25 minutes Wensley relieved Cleverley, Hawkesworth running a four off his fourth hall. Alloo Leg Before Wicket. At the other end McCoy came on in place of Matheson, and a little later a lee bye brought 300 up- The next moment Alloo, .who had fought through a determined knock, got his leg well in front to Wensley, and was out. 301—0— 37. * Lemin, the .last man in, broke his duck with a single off McCoy, followed by a vigorous high drive to the off boundary off the same bowler. _ The crowd became quite enthusiastic when the tail-enders carried the. score past 'the 310 mark, but shortly before noon, when the total was 323, a smart return from deep point-by Mills resulted in Lemin being Tun out, Hawkesworth again carrying his bat for 27. Auckland's Second Innings. Requiring 128 to win, Auckland went to the wickets at noon, Mills and Postles being the opening pair. Dickinson and Badcock had charge of the attack, and the latter was getting a bit of rip off the pitch. Mills showed something like his best form, batting much more confidently and with more freedom than" in the first inn>ng3. ' Alloo was ringing the changes much more frequently than usual, and effected a double change by bringing on Blunt' in place of Dickinson, and Elmes as a relief to Badcock. \ < . After being at the wickets 40 minutes Mills was clean:bowled by Blunt with his score 31, which included three fours. Blunt had taken' one for 13, and one wicket was down for Postles was batting soundly, and, after being joined by Weir, reached 20 with a single. Weir started with several singles., R^in. Heavy rain started to fall, and with the score standing at •50 for one wicket the players came, in at ten minutes to one for lunch, j <■ . . At 2.25 p.m.- the score was 75,f0r one wicket. '; . ;• . ' !/■">' . . T ■ . AUCKLAND. First innings ....... .v......... .. . 331 • Second Innings. - Mills, b. Blunt #31 Pfcstles; hot 0ut..... • ' •20 Weir, not out •.«A " Extras 1 ' .Total, for one wicket ■ ' OTAGO.—First Inningfi. ' ; Cep'ry,"b,Cleverley :«!■ .Cavanagh, lbw, b ; Wensley ...i,,;ljL Dickinson, b Matheson . .\.' f ....... f 5 Moloney, c Wensley, c Cteyerley... 1 Badcock,' b McCoy II Elmes,"lbw, b Wensley .......... ; 8 Blunt, b Cleverley •................ 40 Alloo., c Weneley, b Matheson. ..... 0 Galland, lbw, b Mathesoii... ...... ,10 Hawkesworth,. not out ."17 Lemin, 'b Cleverley ............ .. .- ; \1 Extras ■ .................... ••. *. .30 Total .......135 . , BOWLING. ' ■ . ' ' O. M. R. \W. Matheson ' ....... 21.. 7 26 3 Cleverley '..;..... 10.2 0 24 4 Wensley ....... 11 • 2 28 % ■ McCoy .......... 7 0 27 1 Clever ley bowled 15 no balle. ' Second Innings.Cherry, ,/b Allcott ............... i 14 Cavanagh, b Matheson 8 Blunt, c Thakabau, b Cleverley .... 43 Dickinson, c and b Weir ......' 59 Moloney, c Weir, b McCoy 18 Badcock, b Allcott 70 '■ Elmes, b Cleverley 16 Alloo, lbw, b Wensley 37 Galland, c Postles. b Weir ........ 0 Hawkesworth, not ouc 27 Lemin, run out 11 Extras ....... n». 20 Total ... :... 323 Bowling: Matheson took one wicket for 70 runs, Cleverley. two for 67, Allcott two for 29, Wensley one for 50, McCoy one for 52, Weir two for 35.