Plunket Shield.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 306, 28 December 1931, Page 5

Plunket Shield.

CENTURY TO VIVIAN.

Auckland's Second Innings Against Wellington.—Two Hundred Mark Passed.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Plunket Shield match between Auckland and Wellington was in a most interesting position when play was resumed in fine weather this morning. The visitors, who were 107 runs behind on the first innings, continued their second innings with three wickets down for 149 on a wicket that was holding well. A large attendance saw H. G. Vivian carry his overnight score of 82 not out to well past the century mark, and gave him unstinted applause. Against the bowling of, Massey and Crook, Vivian resumed his innings with Gillespie as though there had been no break since Saturday, quickly running into the nineties. In Crook's third over Gillespie was out leg before. 166—4 —14.

Hay followed. A lusty drive off Massey gave Vivian 99, and a single to leg off Crook, gave him his century in , even time, earned by brilliant and forceful batting. He had given no chances. It was the young batsman's first shield hundred, and he was warmly applauded.

With the score, at 177 Lambert replaced Crook, and his fifth bowl beat Hay. 178—5—5.

Lyon, the newcomer, adopted a purely defensive attitude, although Vivian kept the score moving, bringing 190 up by swinging Lambert to fine leg for his third six. Newman then relieved Massey, who had taken one wicket for 31 in 13 overs. McGirr also replaced Lambert, who had "captured one for 52 in nine overs. •

Vivian reached 120, and brought 200 up with a brace to. leg off McGirr.

Lyon reached 10 after batting 35 minutes. The cricket was slower than previously, Vivian seeing little, of the bowling, although continuing to execute scoring shots, most of which-were cut off for singles. An uppish shot over the bowler's head, off McGirr, gave the batsman two, the ball dropping clear of the fieldsmen. With the score at 237 Lambert replaced Newman, who had failed to take a wicket in 22 overs, including nine maidens.

The partnership was broken soon afterwards, having added 64 in 53 minutes. Though a slow scorer Lyon played a valuable part. 242—6—18.

Newman came on again, Vivian hitting two successive fours off his over. Another change saw Lambert relieve McGirr (three wickets for 48 in 20 overs, including eight maidens). Vivian Bowled. Vivian reached 150 after 195 minutes' hatting by pulling Newman for three, but the next ball accounted for Matheson. 255—-I—l. McCoy was out the same over without scoring. 255—8—0. Vivian then opened out, refusing singles except to finish overs. He lifted. McGirr out of the ground for his fourth six, the crowd enjoying his display. In attempting another big hit he was clean bowled. He received a great ovation for a chanceless display of vigorous batting, which lasted, 208 minutes and included four sixes, and eighteen fours. 209—9—165. Eowntree and Cleverley. batted stubbornly till lunch, when The score was 279 for nine wickets. AUCKLAND. First innings 164 Second Innings. Postles, c Crook, b Massey' 39 Whitelaw, b McGirr ..... 7 Weir, b McGirr ......: 1 Vivian, b McGirr 165 Gillespie, lbw, b Crook 14 Hay, b Lambert 5 Lyon, b McGirr ..... 18 Matheson, c Barnes, b Newman .... 1 McCoy, b Newman .. 0 Cleverley, not out 8 Rowntree, not out .....i 2 Extras 19 Total for nine wickets 279 WELLINGTON.—First Innings. Dustin, b McCoy 7 Dempster, c Matheson, b McCoy .. 40 Hepburn; b Cleverley 58 McGirr, b Cleverley 7 Lambert, c Rowntree, b McCoy .. 77 Lowry, b Cleverley 2 James, lbw, b Cleverley 0 Crook, b Weir 30 Massey, not out 20 Newman, b Cleverley 13 Griffiths, c Rowntree, b Cleverley ... 0 Extras 17 Total 271

WELLINGTON'S INNINGS. CLEVERLEY CAUSES TROUBLE. SATURDAY AFTERNOON'S PLAY. WELLINGTON, this day. The eecond day's play in the Plunket Shield match between Wellington and Otago on Saturday provided some interesting cricket. In reply to Auckland's 164, Wellington totalled 271. Dempster and Hepburn put on 59 for the eecond wicket, but here Dempster, who had reached 40,-stepped out and hit a slow from McCoy hard on the full, and was brilliantly cauglit by Matheson at mid on, Hepburn and Lambert carried

the total from 83 to 143 before who had been' at the wickets for 122f minutes for 58, was bowled by Cleverley, who was rocking them down with thq wind behind him.

Auckland's fast bowler caused a sensation by clean bowling Lowry and trapping James lbw in tho same over. Six were down for 155, when Lambert and. Crook added GO for the seventh wicket. Here Lambert, who had batted for 116 minutes for 77, was caught behind th® wickets by Rowntree of! McCoy. The tail wagged well, Crook, Massey and Newman all going for runs. Cleverley's Good Bowling. Cleverley bowled really well in capturing six for 70 in the 21.4 overs. He cleanbowled Hepburn, Lowry, McGirr and Newman, got James lbw, and had Griffiths caught behind the sticks. McCoy, the slow specialist, also did well in taking three for 43.

Auckland, at the drawing of stumps, had scored 149 for the loss of three wickets. Whitelaw and Weir were both bowled early by McGirr, but Postles was then joined by Vivian, and the pair put on 105 for the third wicket. After being at the wickets for 77 minutes for SO, Postles was caught in the slips by Crook off Massey. Joined by Gillespie, Vivian continued to paste the bowlers, and was left not out with 82 to his credit, which contained two sixes and ten fours. The youthful Parnell left-hander gave a delightful display of footwork, getting remarkable power into Ms drives »nd hooks.

BOWLING. O. M. R. W. Cleverley ........ 21.4 4 70 6 McCoy 14 0 43 3 Weir ............ 5 0 15 1 Matheson ........ 21 3 71 0 Vivian .......... 15 1 43 0 Lyon 4 2 12 0 Cleverley bowled one no ball.