Struggle

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 28, 3 February 1939, Page 8

Struggle

AUCKLAND BAT.

A TAME START.

" " ' FOURTH WICKET STAND

WEIR AND WHITELAW.

PRITCHARD, FAST BOWLER, MAKES THEM KICK.

Judicious handling of his bowling ljy the Wellington skipper, Lamason, when Auckland won the "toss and batted in the Plunket Shield match at Eden Park this morning, countered the advantage that the home team was expected to get from an apparently easy and listless wicket. In two hours. of play before lunch the home side, except for one break of twenty minutes, were strug-

gling to get the runs, and at the firs; adjournment there were only ,7. runs scored —and three wickets down.

Spectators saw the fast bowler, Priteliard, for the first time in Auckland and it was the general opinion that he had a bit more pace, particularly off the wicket, than the local fast man, Cowie. Further, Priteliard got a decided kick off the wicket, some of tliem bouncing head high.

It was the fast trundler and Ashendon, medium-paced right hand, who opened tlie attaelc. They kept at it for all hour with the opening batsmen, Postles and Whitelnw, subdued. Just before noon Postles was bowled, at 8, by Asliendcn, whose oir spinners required watching. The one that beat the Auckland skipper just took the otr pin. Thirty were on the board at noon when Wallace joined Wliitelaw, and then Pritchard was given a rest. Galliclian, who succeeded him, was driven and cut hard ; by AY allace, and only good fielding prevented him getting 22 runs quicker than ho did. But Wallace was dismissed when Galliclian was sent up the other end to replace Asthenden, playing a weak shot to be caught in the slips. Two wickets were then down for G3. Wliitelaw had been playing his usual opening gamo and was sound, but li p soon lost another partner. This was Vivian, and his early dismissal was a Wow to the home side. It was when Vivian came in that Pritchard was brought back to tlie crease. This was a good move as tlie wind had dried the ■wicket further. Vivian had a life off a drive to tlie outfield before he turned Pritchard round to log for an easy ciiough catch. v The board read three for OS when Weir came in, and he was nearly out early in protecting his head from a bumper from Pritchard. However, he and Wliitelaw held the fort.until lunch... Plav was still cautious after lunch, but Wliitelaw and Weir were getting command and they took the score along to 132 just before 3 p.m. l'he positionfor Auckland then looked much brighter. Sixteen in' 30 Minutes. With half an hour's play there were--10 runs on. It was slow scoring, but not out of keeping in the general conditions, as tho outfield was heavy, and a very hard, shot was necessary to reach the fcnce. Wliitelaw was tho first into double figures, and raised 20 by turning Asliendcn' for two. lloth Auckland batsmen wore trying to consolidate the position for their side. They were playing defensively. Ongley, the itaniiwatu player, earned applause for a couple of brilliant stops at cover when Wliitelaw slashed Asliendcn hard on the x off. Asli-

eiulcn was swinging in to tlic batsmen, anil was forcing tliem to follow, the flight of the bull all the way. Postles* square cut Pritcliard hard in the gully, aiul there was applause for a good return by Sheffield, the English coach, who, at third man, whs right oil tlie, fence to save boundaries. The Auckland score reached 24 for three-quarters of an hour's - play. With 25 runs oil the Auckland partnership was broken. Postles did not sight a swinger from Ashenden, and the bull canic in to hit his wicket. Postles had held tip the Wellinutoii attack for fifty minutes for Ills eight runs. 25—1— S." Then Wallace came, and there was sparkle in his play from the outset. He began with a couple of singles. An hour's play yielded 32 runs, Whitclaw's score at this stage beinsr IG. Then tlio first Wellington "bowling change was made, Gallichan, the Jlanawatu left-hander, taking Pritchard's place. Then Whitelaw hit the first •boundary of the match, a perfect cover , drive to the fence. Fifty Goes Up. Wallace was soon into double fitrures with enterprising batting, and the Auckland score reached 50 in 70 minutes. Uotli batsmen .began to open out at Gallichan, and a deeper field was set to save the runs. Laniason, the Wellington captain, camo on in place of Gallichan and bowled a leg theory round the wicket. Gallichan was transferred to the other end to spell Ashenden, who had been bowling for an hour and 20 minutes to. have 27 runs scored off him and, incidentally, obtain the Auckland captain's wicket. Wallace jumped out to La mason and drove him straight and hard to the fence, following it with a brace ncatlv placed down the gully. With the score at 03, Wallace's adventurous innings came to an end. He went forward to a spinning ball by Gal- ■ lichan, edged it, and Ashenden gathered the ball as it flew low into the slips. Vivian followed and started with a forced single to fine leg. Lamason made another quick bowling 1 change, replacing himself with Pritcllard, and the Uanawatu man again disclosed great , speed. He was occasionally short, but the batsmen were letting the ball fiv through to Timlin at short stop. At the other end Gallichan was gettiii" appreciable turn on the ball. Vivian lifted the left-hander high to long on. Ouglev dashed in from the fence, but misjudged a hard catch. >' Vivian Goes Cheaply. \ The Parnell left-hander's end soon 1 came. He played a ball from Pritchard t to the leg side, and Rainbird, close in, : gathered the - caich. -cloee ;tp -the - ground. 1