PLUNKET SHIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 306, 26 December 1936, Page 11

PLUNKET SHIELD.

VIVIAN IN WICKETS.

Page and Roberts Top Scorers For Canterbury. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The Plunket Shield cricket match between Canterbury and Auckland was commenced at Lancaster Park yesterday afternoon, the home team winning the toss and scoring 175 runs for six wickets (Page 73; Vivian five for 55). The weather was fine and warm, but owing to too frequent rain there had been difficulty in preparing the wicket. This morning the conditions were perfect and the wicket appeared to have rolled out fast and true, in striking 1 contrast to yesterday's "glue-pot" surface. Cowie bowled aggressively in his opening overs, but Roberts (17) and O'Brien (1G), the not out batsmen from the previous day, opened confidently, and scored steadily with neat placements. Vivian replaced Matheson at the pavilion end. after three overs, but tlie partnership continued steadily, 200 coming up at 11.30. Roberts was then 31 and O'Brien 21. A moment later Eoberts drew applause with a smashing off drive off Matheson, but the slow outfield kept scoring down. On Vivian's next over Eoberts cracked a short ball to the square leg pickets for the first boundary of the day, taking his own score to 40. With 210 up, Cowie, who had been spelled by Matheson, returned to the attack. O'Brien prettily turned the first ball to leg for a brace. Matheson replaced Vivian at tlie north end. The Auckland captain continued with rapid changes in an attempt to break the stubborn partnership. Roberts, however, was in brilliant form, reaching a chanceless 50 with a crisp square cut to tlie fence off Vivian. O'Brien was playing a rock-like innings, being content to keep his wicket intact. The batsmen had now well collared the bowling, scoring rapidly, yet without | taking any risks; 250 came up at 12.20 p.m., and the partnership had added 105 runs. Vivian Injures Leg. At this stage Vivian, the Auckland japtain, left the field with a leg strain. Roberts turned one sweetly to leg to reach 74, and became the top scorer for Canterbury. O'Brien began to hit out, but just before lunch his long and patient innings terminated when a vicious leg spinner from McMalion just clipped his leg stump. The partnership had ad'ded 124. Canterbury at lunch had lost seven wickets for 2G9, Roberts being not out for 75. Scores; — CANTERBURY—First Innings. Kerr, c Wliitelaw, b Vivian 17 Page, c Matheson, b Vivian 73 Oliver, c Carson, b Vivian 35 Hadlee, c Wallace, b Spring 0 O'Brien, b McMahon 49 Cromb, c Carson, b Vivian 2 Menzies, c Marshall, b Vivian 5 Roberts, not out - 75 Extras — 13 Total for seven wickets 269