THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 306, 28 December 1939, Page 6

THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

It is rate indeed that a Plunket Shield series is concluded without the weather taking a more or less i decisive part in the argument, and [in this season's matches it has already, with only two matches decided, played a vital part in both of them. Almost certainly it robbed Canterbury of an eight-point win against Otago, for the plainsmen were well on their way to completing their victory when a downpour sent the players home. In the AucklandWellington match the position was more even when the weather sounded lights out. Wellington were assisted by a squall on the third day, which made the wicket easy, and when the final day broke, with their captain undefeated and three wickets in hand, they still had a chance for the runs, while Auckland's eleven were very happy about their chances of an eight-pointer. The storm swept up from the south, however, and five inches of rain gave Wellington a win on the first innings. The general standard of play in the first games was fairly good, despite Auckland's unaccountable first innings failure. The side is a better one than its figures in that strike indicate, and in the "home" matches against Canterbury and Otago it may be expected to give a much better account of itself. Wellington has produced a fine fast bowler in Pritehard, who has maintained his promise of becoming the next fast bowler for the New Zealand XI., and his performances in this match rather put him in a position to challenge Cowie, who has had the first place in New Zealand's shock attack for the past four years. J