tricky wicket.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 30, 6 February 1939, Page 10

tricky wicket.

AUCKLAND'S LUCK IN

WELLINGTON OUT FOR 239,

IKEBT ikjuked early in THE FOLLOW-ON.

Heavy rain during the night appeared to have settled Wellington's chance of fighting back against the odds facing them in the Plunket Shield match with Auckland when the game was resumed to-day. Though the wicket had been covered, the rain got underneath the tarpaulin at one end, and the centre of the pitch was also very wet. After the captains had twice inspected the wicket and found that a delay was necessary because its condition would have prevented a foothold being obtained, the game restarted at noon, an hour late.

The conditions were all in favour of the spin bowlers, and the anticipation that Wellington would be in trouble was fulfilled. In the hour they lost four more wickets, Vivian taking a spectacular catch with the last ball before lunch off his own bowling. There were then eight wickets down for 223 and it appeared certain that the visitors would have to follow-on. They needed 117 more runs to prevent it. It was thought when the game started that Vivian would be the destructive force, but it was not until the end of the hour that he got a wicket. Meantime, Matheson had broken the valuable partnership of Saturday by the youths Eainbird and Ongley, and Postles had captured two more. Honours to Vivian. There-was a quick termination to the Wellington innings when the game restarted after lunch. In 10 minutes the remaining two wickets fell and Vivian got them both.

Matheson had the first success. - He 'had placpd Vivian and Weir close in on the leg side, and, though Ongley cleverly placed one forward over Vivian's head for a brace in Matheson's 6econd over, he skied the next; Cowie slipped across from slip to take an easy catch at fine-leg. 189 —77—5. Vivian had meantime bowled two maidens, but Lamason the next batsman, broke the sequence by pushing one pa*t Postles at silly mid-off. Postles made a judicious change when he took over from Matheson after three overs. The Auckland skipper almost bowled his rival with the first ball, which also beat the 'keeper and. a bye was run. Next ball Rainhird played across, touched it, and gave Skeet his second success, behind the sticks. Rainbird had added only three to his score. 197—6— 54.

Next over Postles got another ticket —again after he had narrowly missed it. Gallichan lifted the ball to squareleg, but short of Carson who was standing deep. A single was run and the following ball Lamason hit all over and was bowled. 204—7—7.

Vivian bowled six ovens for 10 runs and with his next subdued Gallichan, who had run up 13, including a strong off-drive to the fence off Postles. Four overs before lunch Matheson took over from Vivian, who went down to the other end vice Postles. Browne was playing confidently in front of the wicket, while Gallichan, mostly in singles, increased hia score to 20. Then he drove hard at Vivian, sending a hot catch back to the bowler who held it spectacularly. The adjournment was then taken.

Pritchard immediately decided to go for the runs and he wa« rewarded with a boundary off both Vivian and Postles, who took over from Aftitheson. Next over, however, Vivian got him caught in the slips by Cowie. Two more balls sufficed to get rid of Ashenden and close the innings. Ashenden missed the first ball and put the next up towards Postles at short mid-off, the fieldsman jumpin o, to take a good catch. His three wickets on end gave Vivian the bowling honours, six wickets for 49 runs. Injury to Skeet. Dried a little since the morning the wicket was piaying all sorts of tricks when Wellington were compelled to follow-on. The opening pair were soon parted, Sheffield being dismissed for one. There was a sensational incident when the score had reached 16. Matheson bowled a ball that kicked and hit Skeet the wicket-keeper, on the head and he tell to the ground. The Waikato representative had to be assisted from the field. Sale then took over the wicketkeeping and Burke went into the field. Scores:— AUCKLAND. First Innings 4§g WELLINGTON.—First Innings. E. W. Tindill, c Matheson, b Cowie 4 J. R. Sheffield, c 'Carson, b Vivian 2ti T. L. Harpur c Skeet, b Vivian.. 10 J. Ell, c Postles, b Vivian 14 J. A. Ongley, c Cowie, b Matheson.. 77 W. G. Rainbird, c Skeet, b Postles.. 54 •T. R. Lamason, b Postles 7 N. H. Gallichan, c and b Vivian .... 20 M. G. Browne, not out 11 T. L. Pritchard, c Cowie, b Vivian . 8 J. G. Ashenden, c Postles, b Vivian . 0 Extras 8 Total ~, 239 Bowling. O. M. R. w. Vivian 31.3 13 49 6 Postles .... 9 — 32 2 Slatlieson .. 15 2 45 1 Cowie 13 — 72 1 Weir 8 2 14 Carson .... 7 — 19 Second Innings. E. W. Tindill, not out jq J. R. Sheffield, c Whitelaw, b Matheson 2 T. L. Harpur, not out ............ 4 Extras * j Total for one wicket 16