UPHILL FIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 309, 30 December 1940, Page 8

UPHILL FIGHT.

FIRST-WICKET STAND. Good Opening Partnership By Canterbury. Faced with the heavy task of getting 444 rims to head the opening score put up by the Auckland Rrabin Cup team, the Canterbury juniors made a pood start on a fast wicket at Eden Park this morn-

mg. Their opening batsmen were D. W. Monaghan. the Christ College left-hander, and A. Anderson, a right-hander. The pair quickly got going, and scored all round the wicket. Monaghan gave a chance in the slips at 14. The first 50 was up in 37 .minutes, and an hour's play realised SO runs. Monaghan disclosed a free style, and a beautiful forcing off shot that was perfectly timed. Bowling changes had no effect on the Canterbury pair, and the score was carried to 139 before the partnership was broken, Kelsey petting a good ball through Monaglian's defence.

The next stand carried the score to 150, when Anderson snicked a ball from Kelsey, and was taken at the wicket by Sherer.

Smythe and Smith made the next partnership. and the scoring rate slowed down. The Auckland bowling was steady, and the fielding was keen and crisp. The pair settled down to play good cricket, and Smythe hit a sixer off Pike to bring 200 up for just under two hours' play. The third wicket fell at 209. when Smythe was caught by Kelsey at mid-on. At lunch Canterbury had scored 224 runs for the loss of three wickets. Scores: — AUCKLAND. First Innings CANTERBURY. First Innings. D. W. Monaghan. b Kelsey *70 G. Anderson, c Sherer, b Kelsey 71 N. C. Smythe, c Kelsey, b Noakes 43 F. B. Smith, not out 91 G. L. Anning. c Sherer, b McKay 10 V. Smith, not out 9 Extras 11 Total for four wickets 315

COUNTRY WEEK.

! Leaders Meet In The Hellaby Shield Competition. The final day's play in the Auckland Country Week cricket tournament is in progress on the Domain to-day in fine weather. Pukekohe, holders ot the Hellaby Shield, and leading country team in the competition. is engaged against a Hamilton side, while Rodney is playing Thames. The points prior to play to-day were:—Pukekohe 16. Hamilton 13, Rodney 11 and Thames 3. A win by Pukekohe to-day enables them to retain the shield. Their opponents, Hamilton, have been weakened by the inability of the captain. J. Aitken. a good all-rounder, and Pedrotti, the team's best slow bowler, to take part in the game through business elsewhere. Batting first, Hamilton opened badly, but made a recovery and at hinchtime had 130 runs on for seven wickets.

Rodney made runs fast against the Thames bowling, and at lnnchtime had put on 185 for four wickets. A feature of the innings was a vigorous knock by E. Guj r for 99.

The match between Suburbs and the Wellington colts' Brabin Cup team was concluded. The latter, who had lost three for 27 on Saturday, in reply to Suburbs' score of 287, again started badly and eight wickets were down for 92. Thanks to a fine innings by the skipper. B. Clarke, assisted by R. Gray. tiO runs were added for the ninth wicket, and the final score was 186. Clarke carried his bat for a wellplayed 88. Wellington followed on, and had lost two wickets for 9 when time was up. The Wellington lads caught the afternoon express for home. Scores: — PUKEKOHE V. HAMILTON. HAMILTON.—First Inninn. Hebden. c . b Burgess 9 W. Munroe. run out 0 Lowe, b Frew 0 Choat. st Vallance, b Johnson 37 D. Munroe, c . b Burgess 7 Stowers. c Burgess, b Johnson 5 Wheeler, c , b Frew 29 Branton. not out 27 Burchell, not out 7 Extras 9 Total for seven wickets 130 RODNEY V. THAMES. RODNEY.—First Inninrs. W. Dunning, b Cleave 21 R. Dunning, c Cleave, b Lusby * 53 E. Guy. b Strange 99 J. Kooper, c Laurence, b Lusby ............II 6 H. Hooper, not out 1 N. Reid, not out .......I***** 0 Extras ..IIIIHII! 5 Total for lour wickets 185 SUBURBS V. WELLINGTON COLTS. I , SUBURBS. | First innings 287 I WELLINGTON COLTS.—First Innings. W. Burton, b Hoskins 10 I T. Barber, b Hoskins * n f* s * er v_ st . Wyberg. b J. Hetherington 6 J. Muir. b J. Hetherington 11 H. Simm. b F. Bell 8 R. Metcalfe, st Wyberg. b Hetherington 5 B. Clarke, not out 00 E. Wilson, lbw. b Kennedy !!!!!! 14 R. Gray, b Hetherington 07 ! E. Alexander, b Hetherington v> iL. Woodger. run out n 1 Extras ].'[" 5 | Total 18g 89 B £mi n ' Hethcri , n ston took five wickets for Hoskins two for 12. Bell one for 39. Kennedj one for 13. Williams none for 28. ! Second Inninp, 1 Burton, b Kennedy i Alexander, b Williams { Fisher, not out T. 1 i ! not .out 11 - • Z Extras ■■ ■ ■ -*'". '. * Ji I Total for two wickets - - ~. a "Ji ' *** tickets- tori''