Missed Century By Three Runs

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 304, 26 December 1939, Page 11

Missed Century By Three Runs

SALE'S FATE.

BOWLED AT 97.

PEARSON COMES OFF.

A FAST FIFTY BY WEIR

PRITCHARD'S FINE DOUBLE.

(By Telvgriiph. — Prtus Association.! WELLINGTON. Monday. I lie bowlers wore in the ascendancy when the I'lunket Shield cricket match between Auckland, the holder of the trophy, and \\ ellington opened on Saturday iit the Basin Reserve on a firm wicket and a last outfield. The weather was tine, but a estrong north-westerly wind enabled the bowlers to owing the ball. During the day 21 wickets fell for 316 runs. It was the weakest display of batting ever ween 011 a firm wicket in a I'lunket Shield match at Wellington. When Wall ace, the Auckland captain, won thu toss from McLeod l.a former Auckland and New Zealand representative) the 3000 spectators settled down confident of seeing some bright batting. I'hey were dumbfounded when the side was dismisned just after the luncheon adjournment for the paltry total of 134. Wallace was the only batsman to shape with confidence. He hit the first ball he received past cover for four and scored rapidly with forceful driven and hooks, but when 47 he spooned one from Lamaeon to Du Chateau at cover. Pritchard and Ashenden bowled well for Wellington and Tindill took three catches behind the sticks. Wellington 30 Ahead. It was expected that Wellington would pile up a respectable score, but the home team only managed to head the Auckland total by 30 runs. Du Chateau and Hep'bui n gave the nide a good start by putting on 44 for the first wicket, but Cleverly and Weir then made a good bowling spurt and it was only resolute hitting by McLeod and Pritchard in the dying (stages that j enabled the Wellington score to leach 104 — a first innings lead of 30. Auckland staged a great batting recovery when play was resumed in perfect weatlfer at '2 p.m. to-day. Resuming Auck-

land's second innings with one wicket down for 18 runs, Sale and Pearson made a magnificent stand for the second wicket, which put on 146 runs. Sale was the more enterprising of the pair, but Pearson was soundness personified. After having been at the wickets for 12? minutes, Pearson, who had hit a six and three fours, played one from Pritchard 011 to the stumps. Wallace, who had done well in the first innings, was very subdued, taking half an hour to score seven mingles, and was then caught by McLeod in the slips off Pritchard.

A Brilliant Knock. Sale played- a masterly innings lasting 135 minutes, sending the ball to the boundary 12 times with powerful off and cover drives, and brilliant hook and pull shots. The tea adjournment was fatal to him, as he was clean bowled by Pritchard shortly after the resumption. He scored 1)7 in bright fashion and the crowd of about 4000 was sorry to see him miss his century. Weir played an enterprising innings, which included one six and five fours, lie wan at the wickets for 77 minutes for his even half-century. The other batsmen failed to stay and when stumps were drawn at six o'clock nine wickets were down for 254 runs. It was a disappointing 'batting effort after the splendid start made by Pearson and Sale. Pritchard enhanced his reputation as the best fast bowler in the Dominion by capturing five for 61 off 19 overs. He kept up il good pace and made the ball lift at times, catching Pearson a severe blow over the heart on one occasion. He clean bowled Pearson, Sale, and Weir, and had Wallace caught in the slips. He also took a brilliant catch in the slips to dispose of Blandford. This gave Pritchard nine for 106 in the match up to the end ot the second day. Ashenden was always doing something with the ball in securing four for 68 off 17 overs. The other bowlers tried were not impressive. Detailed scores:— AUCKLAND.—First Innings. P. K. Whitetyw, c Wilson, b Pritchard . 2 H. T. Pearson, b Ashenden 6 V S. Sale, c Tinditl. b Lamason 14 W. M. Wallace, c Du Chateau, b Lama80n 47 O. L. Weir, b Pritchard 10 V. J. Scott, c McLeod. b Lamason .... I A M Matheson, c Wilson, b Asbenden 8 i C* E.'Burke. c. Tindtll. b Pritchard 8 .?. A. R. Blandford, not out ••••••• ••• *4 D. C. Cleverley, c Tindlll, b Pritchard J. Cowle, run out 0 Extras Total - • 134 Bowling: Pritchard four for 45. Lamason three for 24, Ashenden two for 29, Wilson none for 15. Second Innings. P "E Whitelaw, lbw, b Ashenden 0 H. T. Pearson, b Pritchard sji V. S. Sale, b Pritchard ••■•••••• •• •*: W M. Wallace, c McLeod, b Pritchard J G L. Weir, b Pritchard •*> V. J. Scott, c Wilson. I) Ashenden .... 11

A. M. Matheson, b Ashenden 0 C. E. Burke, b Pritchard ........ •••••• •» J. A. K. Blandford. c Pritchard. b Ashenden D C. Cleverley, not out * J." Cowie, not out » Extras ™ Total for nine wickets 254 WELLINGTON. —First Innings.. V H. Du Chateau, c Cowle, b Weir .. 19 W. Hepburn, b Cleverley 26 W G. Kainblrd. lbw. b Cleverley 1» E. W. Tindtll. b Weir 1 J. A. Oagley, b Weir J J R. Lamason, c Pearson, b Cleverley 2.i W. F. Alrey, b Cleverley 11 E. G. McLeod, not out M D 8 Wilson, c Blandford, b Matheson 12 X* L.' Pritchard. c Wallace, b Matheson 2<> J." Ashenden, c Cleverley, b Cowie 0 Extras *0 Total » 184 Bowling: Cleverley four for 45, .Weir three for 33. Matheson two for 39, Cowle one for 36, Burke none for 1.