SHIELD CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 1, 3 January 1933, Page 12

SHIELD CRICKET.

CANTABS' GOOD WIN. WELLINGTON OUTPLAYED. KERB'S GREAT BATTING. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star. ') CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Canterbury beat Wellington by ten wickets in the Plunkct Shield match at Lancaster Park, two days' play sufficing. Canterbury were the .superior team in every department, but Wellington were unlucky in being without three good bowlers —McGirr, Parsloe and Newman — although it is ttoubtful whether their presence would have Jiad any great effect upon the ultimate issue. When the first few Wellington bowlers were trounced, and Kerr was doing very much as he liked, Lowry had little material to 'work on. An outstanding feature of the game was Kerr's really magnificent innings. The Wellington attack was keen at the start. Blundell bowled well, keeping a good length and making them nip off the pitch. He was too much for Talbot and Roberts. Kerr staged a complete return to the top of his form after a lean period. Most of his scoring shots were on. the on-side, but his off-side play was just as perfect, his cutting and driving being, a. delight. He showed no fault in defence, and once the edge was worn off the bowling he gave a display of quick scoring that old timers ranked second only to that of .Victor Trumper as far as Lancaster Park is-concerned. His century was notched in 122 minutes —quick .time. for an opening batsman. His last .96 runs took only 40 minutes. He hit-with precision and tremendous power, - one six going within a foot of landing on the roof of the new pavilion. It was Kerr's power and stroke mastery that made the knock so remarkable.

Merr'itt found the wicket-to suit in Wellington's first innings, and took ; six wickets Tor 54 in 26.5 overs—a great performance. The pitch suited his spin, but-he made pace off it as well, and his length was immaculate.: He disguised his "wrong W and -the amount of spin, so that the batsmen were guessing all the time. - -

The Wellington batting was poor in the-first innings, Blandford and James top scoring with 30 each. O'Brien made 2(i with "some . forceful shots, while Dempster (23) was a little too eager to score. The second Wellington innings was saved from-disaster. by an.'excellent -stand of'9B by Dempster and James. They: batted.steadily all x .he time, playing the right game for a desperate position, but dealt with the loose balls like workmen. Dempster made 65, and it said -a -lot for Cromb that he completely boat'that batsman when he was well set. CroinTb also took James wicket, having him caught in the slips.- Cromb bowled finely, keeping a good length and making the ball whip away to the off dangerously. He also varied his deliveries well. He finished with five for 79.

While Kerr did most of the runmaking for Canterbury, Page, Cromb and Dunster all played excellent knocks. Page was with Kerr in a partnership which added 176 runs in the amazing timcof 65 minutes. Dunster went in at ■a critical time, when two were down for 30, and he played exactly the right.game, defending resolutely but not flattering the bowling. r • v

Canterbury looked a nrach better side against Wellington, even allowing for the. fact that in no department of the game was the opposition as' keen as against Auckland.- The bowlers were far ■ more [ consistent." The attack proved much, better than anticipated, and the bowlers deserve all praise. Scores:-— WELLINGTON—First Innings. Dempster, c Roberts, b Cromb .... 23 Blandford, b Merritt 30 O'Brien, st Burns, b Merritt 26 Du Chateau, st Burns, b Merritt .. G Lowry, c Merritt, b Cromb 0 Massey, b Merritt 2 Lamason, c Burrows, b Merritt ... 21 • James, run out SO Lambert, o Roberts, b Burrows .... 6 Keaney, e Kerr, b Merritt ........ 4 Mundell, not out ................ 1 Extras ....... .............. 2 Total ..„.«...............-< 151 Merritt six wiekete for 54, Cromb two for 53, Burrows Tone for 12, Lester none for 13, Roberts none for 17. Second Innings. • lilandford, b Cromb „. ..». 4 Lamason, e Roberta, b Burrows .... 1 O'Brien, b Burrows ...^........... 11 Dempster, b Cromb 65 James, e Page, h Cromb ....*....,.. 48 Da Chateau, b Merritt ............ 9 Massey, eßellamy, bCromb ...... 7. liOwry,« Cromb» b Merritt '19 Lambert, e Kerr, b Cromb ►... w *... 8 Reaney, b Merritt 13 Blundell, not oat 27 Extats ~ ..■■.. ,■,.... ,„-*~~~... 18 Total 230 Bowling: Cromb took five wickets for 79 runs, Burrows two for 38, Merritt three for 78; Roberts none for 12, Bellamy none for 5. CANTERBURY.—First Innings. Kerr, lbw, b Blundell ..-*.>. 196 Talbot, e Dempster, b Blundell ..... 11 Roberts, b Blundell ——. 6 Dunster, bLama50n.......*..»-....: 32 Page, e James b Lamason.. 45 Cromb, e Dempster, b Blundell ..... 33 Bellamy, run out 1 Lester, run 2 Merritt, st. James, b Blundell ..... 15 Burns, b Blundell 7 Burrows, not out ............—... 0 Extras ....►.........'..-.--.•• 18 Total 366 Bowling: Blundell took six wickets for 101 runs, Massey none for 70, Reaney none for 16, Lambert none for 75, Lamason two for 47, O'Brien none for 16, Dempster none for 23. Second Innings. Talbot, not out ................... 9 Kerr, not out 7 Totalfor no wickets .......... 16 I WAIPA V. WELLINGTON COLTS. Bain yesterday caused the game between Waipa and the Wellington Colts team to be abandoned. Batting first, Waipa was dismissed for 110 (Beechey 68 not out, L. Dalton 14). Wilson took four wickets for 17 and Wrigley six for, 31. Wellington made S4O (Wrigley not out 104, Edwards 32, Tnrabnll 24, McLean 23). McMahon took flVe wickets for 38, C. Tarr:two for 28, and B. Aehton two for 34. Waipa, In the second innings lost seven wickets for 102 (Beechey 44, Me*ted..l7,.C, Tarr .13), before rata, stopped, :Bjtw'' . <