SHIELD CRICKET FINAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1937, Page 8

SHIELD CRICKET FINAL

WELLINGTON BATS.

GOOD START MADE.

117 RUNS BEFORE LUNCH.

HALOHEY DEFIES BOWLERS

The final Plunket Shield cricket match of the season, as far as Auckland and Wellington are concerned, was commenced at Eden Park to-day in typical summer sunshine, conditions conducive to big scoring. The game has a vital effect on the provincial cricket supremacy as Auckland has a two-point lead over Canterbury, which is io play its final match against Otago later in the month.

Winning the toss, of course, gave Wellington an advantage, and they made a sufficiently good start to indicate that they might <Io justice to the opportunity presented for big scoring. One of the opening batsmen, Moloney, was still there at lunch having played attractively, though not aggressively, for a!); at that stage only two wickets had fallen with the total at 117.

With the wicket in perfect condition for batting and the outfield fast, the winning of the toes was an important advantage to Wellington, who opened their innings with Moloney and Tindill. Moloney is a former Otago representative now living at Palmerston North, where a fortnight ago he made 185 for ManaAvatu in the Hawke Cup match against Wairarapa. Last year he represented New Zealand against the M.C.C. side in the third Test. Tindill, wicketkeeper for the visitors, was a member of the 1935 New Zealand representative team and is regarded as likely to go to England next month with the tKominion side. Quiet Opening. The initial attack was in the hands of Cowie (fast) and Matheson (medium), the opening being quiet. The last ball of Cowie's third over was a good one, beating Moloney to hit his pads and slide past the wicket. Matheson, too, beat Tindill in his third over and appealed confidently for Ibw. However, the umpire disagreed. Tindill was out in Cowie's next over in trying to turn one which came back a little to take the leg stump. 9 —1 —3. Cowie had only Weir on the leg side and Moloney placed successive balls past the fieldsman for a brace and a single. Later he pulled the fast trundler to square leg for three to reach 15 and make the total 21 in 35 minutes' play.. The first boundary of the game came to Du Chateau, who snicked one from Matheson wide on the off side, the leather racing Weir to the pickets. Next l>all the batsman had a life, Garrard failing to hold a fast low one. Moloney was now confident to Cowie, but his partner was almost bowlted by that trundler, the ball getting up over his stumps. The next Du Chateau edged through the slips to the boundary.

After bowling seven overs in threequarters of an hour for 21 runs Cowie the ball to Garrard. The total was iio\y 40, Moloney being 21 and Du Chateau 16. Moloney continued to exploit his leg shots off Matheson, taking five off his ninth over. After an hours play the half century came up. Second Wicket Falls. Fourteen came off Garrard (slow break) in three overs and Vivian put himeelf on in place of Matheson and brought Cowie back vice Garrard. The second wicket partnership was broken at 77 when Marshall accepted a chance behind th« stumps to give Vivian Du Chateau's wicket. The retiring batsman had mSde 32 and mos,c of his runs came from shots on the leg side. Kll joined Moloney (41) and was early beaten by Cowie. but then placed one prettily through the slips to the boundary. Garrard came on again and it looked as if he had got Moloney, for the batsman lifted one towards mid-off, the bowler moving across, only to let the ball go through his hands over his head. The single which resulted gave Moloney his half century in ten minutes under the two hours.

Just before the luncheon adjournment Mather on replaced Vivian to be picked off the leg stump by Ell and nicely sent to the fence, making Ell 20. ' From Matheson's next over, the last before lunch. Moloney gat three more, making the total Hi, of which he had contributed 59.

Play was very quiet after lunch against the bowling of Vivian and Garrard. The batsmen gradually got going and at 144 Spring was tried. Ell drove him twice to the fence to send 150 up. At 103 ho gave a sharp chance to Garrard at fine leu, but two runs latei Garrard clean bowled Ell with a hall that came in on the leg side. 105—3—51. O'Brien was the next batsman. O'Brien was not too happy to the slow bowlers, but he began to* hit out and soon reached double figures. Moloney carried on steadily and was quite at home to the bowling. At 2.- r >s Wellington had lost three wickets for 193. Scores:— WELLINGTON.—First Innings. E. W. Tindill, b Cowie 3 Moloney, not out 93 V. H. Du Chateau, c Marshall, b Vivian 32 J. Ell, b Garrard ol O'Brjen, not out 12 Extras •> Total for three wickets 193 N.Z. TEAM MANAGER. T. C. LOWRY APPOINTED. Mr. N. C. Sneddon, one of the New Zealand selectors, announced this afternoon that T. C. Lowrv, who was captain of the 1927 and 1931 New Zealand teams which toured Britain, has been appointed manager of the team about to be selected to visit Britain this year.