BIG VICTORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1937, Page 13

BIG VICTORY.

PLUNKET SHIELD. ! AUCKLAND BEATS OTAGO. j INNINGS AND 175 RUNS. I I KNIGHT TOP-SCORES WITH 81. I (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Monday. The Plunket Shield cricket match between Auckland and Otago finished to-day in a victgry for Auckland by an innings and 175 runs. Auckland made 550 in its first innings for five wickets, declared, and Otago's two innings realised 181 and 194 respectively. Knight batted nicely for 81 in Otago's second innings, and Elmee, 4a, and Uttley, 37, were the only others to make any kind of a stand under conditions which were favourable to the batsmen. Cowie and Vivian secured most of the wickets. In spite of two days' play the wicket was in good condition when Otago resumed its innings to-day with no wickets down for 5, although the outfield was a good deal slower than" on the first day. Both Knight and Uttley, the opening batsmen, pla3'ed confidently, although without much dash, and they refused to be shaken by frequent changes of bowling. Carson,. : Cowie and Matheson shared the greater part of the early attack, but they made little impression on the batsmen, and it was not until Weir was brought on that any wickets looked like falling. The first 50 appeared in 69 minutes, and before another 20 runs had beon scored three chances were given off Weir in the slips, where Dunning, Cowie and Wallace in turned failed to hold the ball. Dunning's chance, which injured his finger, was a difficult one, but the other two should have been accepted. Knigbt took 116 minutes to reach his 50, but shortly before lunch he lost Uttley, who fell to a good catch in the slips by Whitelaw off Cowie. With one wicket down for 95, it looked as though Otago might at least be able to play out the day, but the next two

wicket* added only 24 runs, and it wag not until Elmos camc to join Knight that the game steadied up again. The pair put on 49 for the fourth wicket, but when Knight wa* 81 he wae bcrwled by an off break from Cowie. Four wickets were down for 168, and from that time the game rapidly deteriorated, and the whole side was out for 194. N r "As on the second day, Auckland's bowling, although accurate, was never dangerous, and no excuse could be found for the* failure of t-ho Otago intßmen. Although his figures were less impressive than Cowie's, Vivian was probably the beet bowler on the day. He mixed his deliveries well, and kept the ball well up to the batsmen, who were never at any time inclined to take risks with him. Cowie bowled very consistently, and turned the ball well on occasions. Maintaining a good length, Weir was unlucky, as he should have taken at least two wickets if he had received adequate support from the field. Scores:— AUCKLAND. First innings, five wickets (dec.) . . 550 OTAGO. First innings 181 Second Innings. Knight, b Cowie 81 Uttley, c Whitelaw, b Cowie 37 Kerr, b Carson 3 Badcock. c Mathoson, b Cowie .... 6 Elmos, lbw, b Matheson 43 Mills, b Vivian 1 Chettleburgh, c Weir, b Vivian 0 Dunning, c Marshall, b Vivian 0 McGregor, c Spring, b Matheson ... 0 Groves, run out 0 Silver, not out 5 Extras 10 Total 104 Bowling: Cowie took three wickets for 19, Vivian three for 42, Matheson two for 29, Carßon one for 47, Spring none for 13, Weir none for 34.