PLUNKET SHIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 1, 2 January 1934, Page 12

PLUNKET SHIELD.

DAY OF DEFENCE. OTAGO SCORE 213. AUCKLAND IX GOOD POSITION. Defensive play was the feature of the second day in the Plunket Shield match between Aut" land and Otago, at Eden Park yesterday. The weather was fine, wicket and outfield were alike fairly fast, but the game did not reach spectacular heights. Badc-ock and Elmes carried on the Otago first innings score of GO, which had been obtained for the loss of three wickets on Saturday. Runs came slowly until 104 was reached, and then Elmes was beaten by Matheson. Badcock and Cox carried on to 137. The Otago captain was shaping well and appeared to be well set when he turned a rising ball from Bush into Whitelaw's hands at short square leg. Uttley proved a proposition for the Auckland bowlers, and sent the score along steadily. Cox, Chettleburgh and Dunning all went cheaply, until eight wickets were down for 180. Jolly* set out to stonewall, but at 203 lost Uttley, who cut a ball from Weir to Matheson. Uttley played an invaluable innings for Otago, blending extreme caution with an occasional hard drive. Jolly took 75 minutes to get 10 runs, and was the last man out, hitting a ball high back to Bush. The Otago innings lasted four hours and ten minutes. Through the morning the Auckland fielding was patchy and at times below interprovincial standard. Garrard was the best of the Auckland bowlers, keeping a good length, and turning the ball a lot from the leg side. Auckland's Second Venture. With a lead of 50 runs Auckland began their second innings with Mills and Whitelaw to the bowling of Jolly 9nd Badcock. The former kept up a fine burst of speed, and with Badcock keeping a length, the rate of scoring was slow. The Otago ground fielding was crisp and clean, with Uttley brilliant in the deep.

The Auckland opening pair reached .50 in even time. The partnership was broken at 77, when Whitelaw lifted one from Elmes in the direction of Badcock, who made a grept diving catch. Weir came next, and at 86 saw Hills go, beaten all the way by a perfect length ball from Elmes. Mills' contribution was faultless, but at a slower pace than is usual for him. With the Otago bowlers keeping the ball well up on the off side he had few opportunities for hooking a short one, and hifi characteristic off driving met a perfectly placed off field. Occasionally the left hander exploited the late cut, and more to the point, kept the ball down all the time. The early Auckland batsmen found both Dunning and Badcock very hard to score from. Dunning struck a wonderful length and held it all the time, while Badcock's well-known good length theory could not be trifled with. After Auckland's opening pair had gone, Weir and Vivian held up the Otago attack. Weir played hard on the defensive, and in three-quarters of an hour gathered five singles. When he hit a. sixth single the crowd on the terrace cheered ironically. Against remarkably accurate bowling Vivian had also to pick his way carefully, and he showed a restraint that is not usual with him. Both the batsmen found it hard to force the ball through a well-placed field. With his score at 16 Vivian had a life, Cox dropping a hard shot in the covers.

Near the end of the day Moloney was brought on to' bowl slow leg breaks, and the rate of scoring rose appreciably. The partnership was unbroKen when stumps were drawn for the day, Vivian being 32 not out, and Weir 15 not out. The position at the end of the second day's play was that Auckland was leading by 180 runs, with eight wickets still in hand.