CRICKET THRILLS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 18, 23 January 1933, Page 8

CRICKET THRILLS

AT EDEN PARK. AUCKLAND IN TROUBLE FOUR WICKETS FOR 66. AND' 31 BEHIND ON CTRST KNOCK. A distinct advantage was gained by Wellington over Auckland in this morning's plav of the Plunket Shield match at° Eden Park. Wellington's score was carried to 307 —a lead of 31 runs on the first innings—and at lunch-time Auckland had lost Mills and Postles in wiping off this small deficit. James and Parsloe were the not out men for Wellington who carried on when play was resumed this morning, with only 15 runs needed t»> top Auckland's score, and four wickets in hand. James (87) faced the bowling of Bush, playing a maiden,, his partner, Parsloe (22) doing likewise to Garrard. However, Hampton mi&sed an opportunity of stumping Parsloe. By hooking Bush twice for a brace, James started the scoring and next over from Bush he pulled another to the boundary. Parsloe, as on Saturday, did not appear comfortable and after poking at Garrard, he attempted to pull a ball from his wicket, missed, and was out Ibw. 364 —7 —24. When joined by Newman James wanted three for his century, and the total was two short of Auckland's. Three singles put the visitors in the lead and another made James 99. Keen to get the next run James twice tapped Bush down the pitch and started to run, but his partner was. not willing, and it was not until the last ball of Garrard's next over that James got a full-toss to leg—he reached out and swung it to the boundary. James continued to 'bat with restraint, Tefusing to be tempted by Bush's off-theory and treating Garrard's breaks with respect. The few runs, that did come were all scored on the leg side. James pulled Bush to the boundary, and later, in trying to repeat the stroke, his end came, Vivian accepting a catch at mid-on. 380 —-B—loß. > •

Freeman joined Newman and this partnership put on another 14 runs as the result of judicious placing and keen running. With. Bush (bowling Vivian slipped in to the edge of the wicket a few yards from Freeman. The latter tapped one along tTie ground to Vivian and then in attempting to pull the next round to leg played it on and his leg pin went flying. Blundell was. the last man in and got a -couple by -cutting Bush, ibut looked around with evident surprise wben he just escaped playing §. later ball on to his wicket. Blundell played defensively to a couple of Garrard's breaks, but missed them, so decided to have a hit. His second attempt was fateful, as Hampton caught -him out of his crease and smartly stumped him. The innings closed for 397, giving Wellington a lead of 31 runs. Garrard got the bpwling -honours—five for 69. .He trundled well on,a wicket on which he had to get a turn on the ball. ' Miila and Postles Dismissed. Auckland opened their second innings at 12.20 with the same opening pair, Postles and Mills, who were faced with the fast attack of Parsloe and' Blundell, Postles with a few nice shots for a brace or a single scored the faster and reached double figures by turning a full tosser from Parsloe to the fence at square leg. Parelie had five men in the slips, one more than Blundell, but the batsmen let the off-stuff alone, scoring mostly on the on. Postles went lbw in trying to , glide Parsloe off his wicket. 16— Mills was three only when joined by Whitelaw but he-got a couple more by gliding Blundell to leg, while his partner made a, start in a similar manner off Parsloe. The slips had had little to do, but Mills edged Parsloe through the quartet for a single to a fifth fieldsman at deep slip. Newman came on at Blundell's end and the fast bowler changed places •with Parsloe. The only immediate result of the change was that the fieldsmen appealed for a catch behind the wicket by' James, off Blundell, but the wicketkeeper failed" to . hold the ball. Newman bowled two maidens and then Mills reached double figures by turning Blundell for a single and off driving him to the boundary.. Newman sent down two more overs-for a single, and then Freeman replaced Blundell. His first Tjall brought success for his side, Mills swinging one to tamasonat square, leg. The luncheon was then taken with Auckland two l wickets ' down for. 35. Weir was Whitelarw's partner; whenthe game got going again after lunch. It was quiet cricket, until Whitelaw ohdrove Freeman nicely for a well-run three. When Weir swung Freeman smartly to square-leg, Blandford, on the rails, had to go all out to save the boundary, the batsmen running two. In the west dark clpuds were banking and there was a distinct threat of rain. Third Wicket Goes. The half-century came up for just over an hour and a half's play. Newman was the bowler at the other end, and the batsmen found In nr. difficult to score off. Whitelaw put Freeman hard to the onboundary, and followed this np by coverdriving the other bowler to the fence.. Sixty runs were up. The standard of fielding was excellent, and the spectators did not let the fact •pass unnoticed. With two more on the board, Weir lost his off stump to New-, man, 62 —3—B. Scores: — AUCKLAND. , First innings 306 Second Innings. Mills, c Lamason, b Freeman 11 Postles, lbw, b Parsloe 12 Whitelaw, not out Weir, b Newman o Extras Total for three wickets 62 WELLINGTON.—First Innings. Dempster, lbw, b Garrard 4S Cameron, c Garrard, b Weir 0 Tindill, c Vivian, b Garrard 100 O'Brien, c Hampton, b Garrard .. 23 Blandford, c Hampton, b Weir .... 0 Lamason, lbw, b Vivian .......... 20 James, c Vivian, b Bush ........ 10S Parsloe, lbw, Garrard 24 Newman, not out 10 Freeman, b Bush " Blundell, st Hampton, b Garrard 3 Extras •• * 4S Total 397 Bowling. M. ' O. Runs. Wkts. Garrard 42 17 69 5 Weir 30 9 62 Bush 40 13 79 2 Vivian 38 11 <3 Matheson ..... 15 1 66 —