By Two Runs.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 307, 28 December 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

By Two Runs.

Dramatic Finish — Wellington Bowlers Win the Day.

(By Telegraph. —Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

Assisted, by a worn wicket) Merritt and Cromb ran through Wellington in the second innings for 112, leaving Canterbury 187 to get for a win in the Plunjct §liield match. The match was eontinued in fine, but unsettled weather and a slow attack was kept up, the batsmen scratching. 'Merritt and Cromb took nine Tickets between them for 78 runs— Jlerritt five for 49, Cromb four for 29. With one down for IS, Wellington lost nine wickets before lunch for 112. Moloney and Ell took the score to 78 lefore they were parted and thereafter the batsmen were not comfortable and the bowlers kept the procession going. Jaekman, at the wickets, was responsible for three of Merritt's victims. Moloney lad top score with 34 and Ell was next •with 33. : Kerr and Bellamy opened for Canterbury. Both got to work, scoring freely against Blulidell and Parsloe. At 20, Griffiths went on and Kerr played round lis second ball, Blandford whipping off the bails. At luncheon the score was one for 22. ' Bellamy was joined by Hadlee and attempts at aggressiveness were kept flown to twos and singles. At 29 Hadlee 'ras given a life at second slip by Griffiths off Parsloe, but was taken by Parsloe off Griffiths next over. Griffiths at this stage had taken two wickets for 10. Cromb enlivened the batting with lonfc singles. Blandford fumbled and missed stumping Bellamy off Griffiths. Cromb was apparently well held by Ward at square leg and given out, .but Ward signalled "no catch." The scoring rate, slackened against Blundell and Kewman. Cautious Batting. Treating the bowling over-respectfully, Bellamy and Cromb continued to score tt a funeral pace. An occasional single Taj greeted with ironical applause from the crowd. Neither was making any attempt to force the game, and when Bellamy went after a perio'd of lifeless tatting, Canterbury's outlook was dimmed. He steered a fastish ball from lamason into slips, and the catch was leld by O'Brien, who rose for a_ one,landed catch. He made 28, and the*tally jras 12. Shortly after he was joined by Roberts," Cromb clumped a full-toss from Griffiths to mid-on, and was dropped by Eainbird on the boundary. A few overs later, in a belated attempt at brightening up the game,'Cromb missed hopelessly a ball from Griffiths. 80 —4—25. Cobden, batting confidently, brightened Jhe proceedings, and with a smash to the mid'On fence brought up the hundred, Tdrieh had taken 121 minutes. AVith the score at 105, however, he put his leg in front of a straight one from Blundell. Roberts was partnered by O'Brien, and at tea the score was 133 for five Wickets. ' Game Lost and Won. After the adjournment Eoberts and O'Brien collared the bowling with stylish and forceful batting, and when'they passed the 150 mark Canterbury ap* geared to have the game in the bag. Both men were playing fine, aggressive picket, but the complexion of the game changed when three wickets fell in rapid succession. Eoberts lifted his foot to Newman and was stumped by Blandford With the total at 162. O'Brien carried on brightly with Butterfield, but With an excellent drive Blundell took Butterfield off Griffiths Jfhen the score was 107. • Excitement rose to fever heat when Jlerritt, the newcomer, was skittled first "all by Griffiths. • Again Canterbury seemed to have a dance when O'Brien and Jaekman advanced the total to 180. Seven runs >ere needed with one wicket to fall, and the crowd was seething. Graham scored a single and O'Brien took the tally to 184. Then O'Brien was beautify stumped by Blandford off Griffiths, Wellington winning by two runs. The crowd went over the ropes to greet the players. Scores:— WELLINGTON. fcrst innings 191 Second Innings. Moloney, b Merritt 34 O'Brien, lbw, b Graham .....* 2 EH( b Cromb 33 wd, st Jaekman, b Merritt 13 Kaiiibird, e and b Cromb ; 0 Blandford, b Cromb ..<••' 4 Wsloe, not out l 4 Griffiths, st Jaekman, b Merritt .... 4 Newman, b Merritt ° Bluhdeli, b Cromb ] •tafiJason, st Jaekman, b Merritt .. 0 Extras ••• 7 Total 112 Bowling: Merritt took five wickets for ?' funs, and Cromb four for 20. CANTEEBURY. Fir at innings •••• 122 Second Innings. er f, st Blandford. 1) Griffiths .... 11 Mttmy, c O'Brien, b Lamason ... 23 tfadlec, c Parsloe. I> Griffiths ' SM b Griffiths 2-J Jjoferts, st Blandford. 1» Newmnn . 34 lbw. b Blundell \» st Blandford, b Griffiths . . 4.) futterfield, c Blundell, b Griffiths' . . 3 b Griffiths ° pinian, b Parsloe } not out 1 Extras 13 Total ' 184 IBowlihg: Parsloe took one wicket for *!• Blundell one for 30, Newman one for f- Griffiths six for 55, Lamason one for