GREAT INNINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 3, 5 January 1931, Page 9

GREAT INNINGS.

FINE DISPLAY BY PAGE

WELLINGTON UP AGAINST IT,

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Tho Plunkct Shield match, in which it appeared that Wellington could not lose, now appears almost certain to be won by Canterbury. The third day's play was intensely dramatic, Canterbury carried their score from 236 for five wickets to 519, and when stumps were drawn Wellington had lost three good wicket,; for only 51 runs. It was Page's day. He made a splendid century, equalling Roberts' top score of 116, and at the end of the day had taken the wickets of McLeod anil Dempster for only five runs. But all the credit cannot be allotted to the Canterbury skipper. Cromb made 35, Lester 49, Merritt 38, and Dorreen 28 not out, an when Wellington went in the home team, conscious of a lead of 382, and a day to go, was on its toes, and gave of its best in bowling and fielding. Wellington were unfortunate in that E. D. Blundell, a steady and reliable stof'". bowler, who can take wickets with the best, sprained his thumb while fielding on Friday, and could not take the field, so that Lowry did not have his full range of trundlers, and the burden rested very heavily upon Massey, Crook and J. Newman. McGirr was tried for the first time in this Plunket Shield serie?, r d took two of the best wickets at low cost. McLeod, the slow bowler, was expensive,, his one wicket costing 103 runs. Attack Never Weak. It was notable that the Wellington attack and fielding did not let up right thought the long, hot day. Massey, Crook and Newman had a great deal of work to do, and they stuck to it throughout. It was not till the eighth wicket had fallen that the edge was worn off the bowling. Page and Cromb carried on the innings, and they settled down to score quietly. Both played safe cricket, and Cromb looked quite set when he went to a aatch in the slips that was extremely doubtful, the ball appearing to hit the ground as soon as it left the bat. Lester did not appear very safe, but lie kept the bowling out, and made runs with some pretty shots. His 49 came

just when it was wanted, and lie went out in an effort to speed up the scoring. Page made lis first Plunket Shield century in characteristic fashion. He was fighting for the runs all the time against accurate bowling, and his innings was practically chanceless. His placing was excellent, and his defence sound. He certainly has the gift of rising to an occasion. Merritt gave a sound display, though he took a few risks. His hitting was powerful and well-timed. Dorreen, with an injured hand, batted pluckily and well. He never looked like going out, and was 28 when the last wicket fell. The confidence in Canterbury's batting strength, heightened by the team's fourth innings against Auckland, was confirmed on Saturday. The big total included "ducks" by two of the best men 011 the side, but tlia.t did not prevent the others from rising to the occasion. It could not be said that the side merely flogged tired bowling, for even with Blundell out the attack was first-class all the time. Wellington's Bad Start. Wellington met disaster in their second innings. Talbot took a magnificent catch off Cromb's bowling to dismiss Lowry, one of the most dependable batsmen in the Dominion. Then the guile of Page sent two other good men, Dempster and McLeod, back to the pavilion. The Canterbury captain bowled from six feet behind the wicket to Dempster, who aimed his cut through the slips too soon, and tipped the ball to the wicketkeeper. The visitors will have to stage a great day's batting to-day if they would stave off defeat. Given good weather, Canterbury's chance looks rosy. Wellington, with three wickets down—and good ones at that—still need 332 for a win, and there is a whole day to go. Should rain stop play Wellington will get a win 011 the first innings, but that would be bad luck indeed for the home side, after their great display. In any event to-day's play will hold as much interest as the memorable last day of the Auckland match.