SHIELD CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 2, 3 January 1934, Page 8

SHIELD CRICKET.

AUCKLAND WIN AGAIN 5 0-TAGO'S STUBBORN FINISH. DEFICIT OF 169 RUNS. Auckland enhanced its prospects of regaining the Plunket Shield, the symbol of interprovincial cricket supremacy, which it lost in the 1929-30 season to Wellington, by an outright victory over Otago at Eden Park this morning. The local side has now won two matches and will play the last against Canterbury at Eden Park, commencing on Saturday next. When the match was resumed this morning Otago had lost five wickets for 130 runs, and, being still 234 runs to the bad, the visitors' chances were poor. The not out batsmen attempted to dig themselves in, and though they defied the bowlers for three-quarters of an hour runs were coming too slowly to give the visitors a winning chance. The Otago hopes lay in Uttley, who carried his score from 30 to 54, before he failed to connect truly with a pull shot off Vivian, and he was caught by Garrard at square leg. His partner, Hawkesworth, soon after was tempted to try a forcing shot off the same bowler, and returned him a catch. The "tail" wagged for only half an hour.

The gate receipts for the match totalled £332. Yesterday Afternoon's Play. When Edmonds went out to join Garrard again in the last wicket combination he was applauded in recognition of his timely partnership of the first clay. Showing a solid defence again, and getting runs as well, the North Shore player raised hopes of another lastwicket stand, but this time the pair were separated after putting on 27 runs, Edmonds being stumped when he went out of his pitch to smother one of Chcttleburgh's breaks. Otago were set a formidable task to compile 381 to win. Except for a useful second-wicket stand by Cavanagh and Moloney, which produced 54 runs, the batsmen were struggling for runs, and when stumps were drawn five wickets were down for 130. Last Wicket Record. The 90 runs compiled by Garrard and Edmonds at the conclusion of Auckland's first innings has revived memories of previous tenth wicket partner* ships in Plunket Shield matches. The local players' performance, good as it was, is quite overshadowed by the record of Roger Blunt and W. Hawkesworth against Canterbury in the 1931-32 season. This pair added IS4 for the last wicket. On that occasion Hawkesworth, | the same player who is wicket keeping i for Otago this season, showed a stubborn defence, while Blunt continued a remarkable innings, and was unconquered at 335, when his partner was bowled by Merritt for 21. Blunt's innings is the record individual achievement in the history of the PlunlTet Shield. Stubborn Defence. Uttley (31) and Hawkesworth (1) resumed this morning to the bowling of Matheson and Vivian, and it was soon apparent that both were determined to play on the defensive. Hawkesworth in particular is noted for his stubborn defence. The fieldsmen clustered around the batsmen, and although on several occasions a soft pat stirred their hopes for a catch, none came within their reach. Postles, less than half-way down the pitch, had the most likely opportunity, but he was not quick enough to grab it. Runs were scored in singles and after half an hour 14 had been added, from as many overs. Garrard then replaced Mathcson and a little later Postles just failed to grasp another pat by Hawkesworth. The field spread wider for Uttley, who was applauded when he off-drove Vivian to the boundary and • reached his half-century. Shortly after he smote Vivian to square leg, but skied the leather to give Garrard an easy chance. 170 —0 —54.

With another two runs added Hawkesworth was tempted to force Vivian, and ho returned the bowler a catch. Attacking the Bowling. Cox and Chettleburgh were now partnered and they adopted different tactics, realising that if the big deficit was going to be wiped off the bowling would have to be attacked. Garrard, however, bowled Cox when he had made half a dozen, and the score board showed ISG for. eight.

Cliettleburgh wont down the wicket to Vivian and pulled one 011 the full for a brace and drove another for a single. Dunning made his first score, two past point,, when Busli replaced Vivian, but two balls later the new bowler got his middle pin. Jolly was the last man, and he saw Cliettleburgh bring 200 up with a boundary off Garrard and a three off Bush. The end came at 12.30; when Jolly was caught at the stumps off Bush, the total being 211, Chettleburgli carrying his bat for 22. Following are details of the scores:— AUCKLAND. First innings 263 Second Innings. P. E. Wliitelaw, c Badcock, b Elmes 32 J. E. Mills, b Elmos 4(i G. L. Weir, c Molone;-, b Dunning.. 23 H. G. Vivian, c Cox, b Badcock..,. f>3 R. H. Cleave, b Elmes 11 A. J. Postles, Ibw, b Elmes 40 M. Wall."ee. e and b Cliettleburgh.. 211 K. G. Bush, c Hawkesworth, b Dunning 11 D. I\. Garrard, not out 3<i A. M. Matlieson, b Elmes 1 D. Edmonds, st Hawkesworth, b Cliettleburgh 1 <> Extras 19 Total !, 330 BOWLING ANALYSIS.

OTAGO. First innings..... 213 Second Innings. V. G. Cavanagh, c Edmonds, b Bush 34 A. Kniglit'. b Matliesoli 3 D. A. K. Moloney, b Garrard 22 C. Klines, c Wallace, b Matheson.. 23 F. T. Badcock, b Bush 2 Uttley, e Garrard, b Vivian 54 'Haivkesivortb, c and b Vivian 12 Cox, b t.-ariard 0 Chettleburgli, not out 22 Dunning, 1) Bush 2 Jolly, c Edmonds, b Bush 2 Extras 29 Total 211 BOWLING ANALYSIS.

O. M. E. W. Jolly , 17 1 40 — Badcock 44 15 09 !• Dunning , 4S 19 90 2 Elmes 30 12 40 5 Chettleburgh 11.1 1 4L 2 Moloney ...... 8 — 25 —

• \ - 0. M. E. W. Matheson 22 S- 30 2 Weir 7 — 26 — Bush 17.1 4 35 4 Garrard 24 1 0 44 2 Vivian 21 8 47 2