CRICKET.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16405, 27 December 1918, Page 5

CRICKET.

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH.

CANTERBURY v. WELLINGTON;

The weadher was beautifully fine for the resumption of the Plunket Shield match between Canterbury and Wellington yesterday. The attendance was much smaller, the sum of £59 10s being taken sut the - gates, as •gainst over £90 on Christmas Day. The wicket .wore fairly veil, though towards the end an occasional frumpy one mode it appear that the pitch was crumbling'in places. The cricket yesterday was of a very mixed description.' ' Wellington, by a very solid display of; batting, yot a lead of 121 on the first innings. To make matters worse from a Canterbury point of view, the earlier Canterbury batsmen.seemed to be quite outclass- . Ed by tho bowling, and when the fifth wicket ' —Guihey's—fell with the total at 80, a one innings defeat seemed probable. But then a fmo partnership by Jones and Gray ensued, and the pair, by adding 120 for the sixth wicket, gave Canterbury still a fighting chance. Canterbury are now 109 runs on ■with three wickets still to fall, so that today's play should be interesting, even though it is much in Wellington's favour. Wellington gave a good all round display >; ' of batting, only two men on the sido failing \ J to get double figures. Lambert was in the van, y?ith 51, made by stylish and forceful batting. He played all the bowling with confidence, and there was hardly an unattractive stroke in his innings. His driving and cutting were alike beautifully timed. CoirJ- »- liffe's was a much more laboured effort, but it woe exceedingly sound.' . Hiß defence was patient and/lie picked out 'tile/ball I • to. hit witjf-unerring''iudginent, and "a' four invariably resulted. -. . His. scoring Vstrokea I were quite first-class. Burton gfive a bright display. of "aggressive cricket, his cutting especially being powerful and , well-timed,' • whilst Baker got the same number—33—by a ■bunder, even if . slower, display. . ; • Mcßeth and Thomae bore thejbrunt of'the bowling, and were steady, though Thomas ■ ww,not quite so accurals ae usual.. It was left-to Patrick t# get the best figures, and he bowled very well. The Canterbury fielding was. ragged, and the -throwing in committed most unfavourably with' Wellington's work in this department. • 'Canterbury's batting in the second innings, u already mentioned, was a curious mixture. There is ■no doubt that Brice and Hiddlestone both" Bowled veiy well, the for-. Bier's fast deliveries on the fiery wicket worrying the 'batsmen considerably. But they were tiring, and 1 some solid batting by Jonejs" and Gray left Brice with half, his pace and Hiddlestone with very: little ©ting. Gray was top scorer .with an unbeaten 73. He was not too confident at first, but after three or. four overs he played the bowling wiih exemplary patience and correctness, and made his runs by fine, strokes all round the wicket. Jones's was affeWieounder exhibition. He •wentj'in .when- the-.bowling was at its; beet, f" .but .so confident was" ' his- defence, that he never looked- like -getting out. " His runs, too, wero made by capital strokes, and it was an excellent innings for a first appearance in big cricket. Patrick got" his 33 by brilliant ■coring strokes, ' and the onlookers would Siave.been pleased to see more of him. Brice was certainly the. best'bowler on the Wellington side yesterday, and until he tired the batsmen could do nothing with him. At the end of nine overs he had < three wickets for 8 runs, but -finished up with, three for ' 48. Hiddlesione's one wicket cost '52, whilst Mama's two cost 49. t Going on towards the oloso, Hutching® got one for 15. The Wellington fielding, .as in tho first innings, *06 firat-cl^ss." Ploy waa resumed shortly after 11 o'clock, Dind accompanying tho not out—Lambert— to the wickets. After some«cautious play Lambert put Thomas to tho off fence and sent. 80 up.. Four runs later Lambert tried to glide one to leg, and, just touching it, Brunton brought off a clever catch on the .• leg eido. -84—2—51. Baker went in, only to eee Dind bowled by a beautiful length ball from Mcßeth. 84—3—2. Burton was the ingoer, and play, was quiet, the bowling being very. accurate. Burton sent the century up with a four, and a loose over from Mcßeth cost 12 runs. A couple of beautiful outs by Burton brought 4 each, and 120 wont up. Tho eamo batsman was so nearly bawled by Mcßeth that the wioketkeegcr let the ball go, 4 byes resulting: It "made little difference, as Thomas cloan bowled him next over. 137—4—33. MoGirr was next, and opened with a fine cut for 4, a similar stroke to Baker Sending 150 up. MoGirr hit Thomas to. Guiney at short' leg, but the catch was difficult and was missed, and 4 resulted. Two' more fours came • from' the over. Patrick replaced Moßoth. Three fours came from the second, third, and fourth balls, but the next one Baker touched into the slips, where Thomas held it at the second attempt withm an inch or two of tho ground. 175—5—33. Allardyoo joined MoGirr, but the latter was clean bowled in Patrick's next over. .176— 6—19. Bribe followed, and after Allardyce —y had got a four past third man, he made a mishit, and Brunton just, got to the'catch 187—7—5. Hatchings'joined his captain, and the later hit Thomas for.-two fours'in one ©per. This brought Mcßeth.on in his place.A lofty hit' to square leg ,by Hutchings eent the second century up. In Mcßoth'a next over Brice lifted one high over point's head, ' but Wood, with a fast sprint, just got there •nd held. a really, difficult eaten. 209 8 18. Condliffe was next, and with the total at 216 i the players adjourned for lunch. On resuming Thomas, from tho south end, and Mcßeth had charge of the bowling. Singles and a couple of fours to Condliffe •ent 230 up. The batting was very steady, J and at 246 Perrin bowled an over to allow of ' Thomas and Mcßeth changing ends. A fine on drive to Condliffe sent 250 up, but Hutch- i ings -then'went out for a hit and wae smartly \ sumped. 254—9—18. Marris was last man, j and the total was taken steadily to 266 when , Patrick relieved. Mcßeth. Condliffe- got Thoinaa for two : foura, and 280 went up. ' Gray relieved Thomas, and in his eecond over. ; ' bowled Condliffe round his legs, tho innings l « closing-for 288. I Canterbury staxted their seoond innings with-an uphill task before them—a deficit of 321.' As before, Blunt-and Wood opened, and Hiddlestone Mid ; Brice • were the bowlers. Blunt'poked two balls up to leg, but they fell harmlessly. With only 16 op he tried to • cut a straight ball, and was bowled. 16—1— 1 6. Thomas followed,; and was palpably un- ( happy to Brice's' fast deliveries. __ After to { had scored 6 singles Brioe. bowled himwith j a fast-yorker. 22—<5—5. Jones joined Wood, and a period of very slow play followed. At , 31 Bnoe beat W«od all- the way. 31—3—9. ' Patrick followed, and singles and. pairs took

the total slowly and painfully to 46, when tie teat adjournment was taken. On resuming Patrick lifted Hiddlestone for 4--the first boundary for over an hour's play. A four to leg off each bowler livened up the play considerably, and 60 went up. At 63 Marris replaced Hiddlestone, and Patrick lifted him over the square leg boundary. Tho next one he put to the on ropes, but tho noxt ont— almost -a long hopr-he swung round ■ at, arid was bowled round his legs. 80—1—33. Guiney' went out to his first ball, and Condliffe had the bails off in a twinkling. 80 —s—o.5 —0. Gray joined Jones, and the latter go I a ccup'e of nice fours. Some singles sent up 100, and singles to each and a couple of well placed fourn to Jones 6aw the first innings' deficit wiped off. At 130 Hiddlestone replaced Harris, and Lambert took the ball from Brice. Eleven came from Lambert's first over, and with 150 up McGirr relieved Hiddlestone. Huns came fairlv fast, and at 171 Marris relieved McGirr, who went on at tho Other end. Jones broke a succession of singles, and passed the SO mark with _ a lovely leg stroke for 4. . Gray did likewise in Marris's next over, and passed Jones's score. The bowljnt?" appeared well collarcd, and Hutchings Khd a turn. The second century went up' amid applause, which was renewed a moment later when Jones went out to Hutchinsrs, and was smartly stumped. 200 —45—57.. Perrin partnered Gray, and Brice took the ball from McGirr. ' At 216 Hiddlestone went on at the other end, and Perrin got his first two to leg for 4 each. The next ball, however, clean bowled him. 22-) — 7 —12. Brunton then went in, and helped Gray play out time. Scores: — CANTERBURY. First Innings. B. B. Wood, 142114141121111222, c Marris, b Hiddlestone .. .. •.. 38 R. C. Blunt, 1111412411, b Hiddlestono 17 N. Jones, 8, b McGirr .. ... .. 3 W. R.' Patrick. 221414, b Hiddlestone .. 14 C. E. Guiney, 1, c Mnrris. b Hiddlestone 1 E. G. Perrin, ..b Haldleetone .. .. 0 J. Gray, 14112441111242114, o. Baker, b Hiddlestone/,;. ■■■':. . .. 85 : A. W,'- b Hiddlestone - .. 1 J. McEwin, 1111112141,. b Marris ' .. 14 L.-li.' Bruhton, 111 1142411,- not out- .. 17 D.' Mcßerth, c and b Hiddlestone .. 0 Byes, 142244 .. .. 17 Leg byes. 4111 ;. .. ... 7 -No balls, 111 .. .. 3 Total .. .. .. .. 167 • Bowling Analysis.—W. S. Brice, 15 overs, 1 maiden, 45 runs, 2no balls; J. S. Hiddlestone, 25.1 iveia, 5 maidens, 69 runs, 8 wickets; H. McGirr, 11 overs, 34 runs, 1 wicket; B. Marris, 1 over, 2 runs, 1~ wicket, 2 no balls. ■ • . Second Innings. B. B. Wood, 11111121, b Brice .. 9 B, C. Blunt, 2211, b Brice . .. .. 6 A. W. Thomas, 11111, b Brice .. .. 5 N. Jones, 11122112111114441114411111111 4141, st Condliffe, b Hutchings .. 57 W. R. Patrick, 11124142141161, b Marris 33 C. E. Guiney, st Condliffe, b Marris . 0 J. Gray, 112111154141112144414141411413 411, not out .. .. ■.. 73 E. G. Perrin,'444, b Hiddlestone.' .. 12 L. R. Brunton, 31, not out .. .. °4 , Byes, 44444 .. .. 20 Leg-byes, 9111221 ■ ... ' .. 10 No-ball, X .. .. .. 1 Total for seven wickets ;.» _ ». 230 • WELLINGTON.

First Innings. H. N. Lambert, 141644141414421144, o Brunton, S Thomas .. .. .. 51 J. S." Hiddlestone, U11111444U22, e Jones, b Patrick .. .. •• •• 25 M. J Dind, 2, b Mcßeth .. .. 2 W. Baker, 1148111144444, o Thomas, b Patrick •• •• ' •• 83 H. E. Burton, 14141414414121, b Thomas S3H. M. McGirr, 4444111, b Patrick ..19 I. Allardyce, 14, c Brunton, b Patrick .. 5 W.- S. Brice, 11214441, o Wood, b McBeth •• •• •• •• 13 J . Hutchings,- 114231111111, st Brunton, b.Mcßeth •.. •• " „ •• If J. W: Condliffe, 114442414144444, b Gray 40 B. Marris, 244, not out .. .. •• 10 Byes, 1414414 V •• •• Leg-byes, 41112 • •* •• 9

Total •• •• •• *• Bowling Analysis.—D. Mcßeth, 32 overa, 15 maidens, 71 runs. 3 wickets; J. Mcßwm, 4 overs, 86 runs; A. W. Thomas, 81 overs. 5 maidens, 106 runs, 2 wickets; W. R. Patrick, 12 overo, 2 maidens, 42 runs, 4 wickets; fc. G.-Perrin, 1 over, l run; J. Gray, 1- overs, 4 runs, 1 wicket. Plav will be resumed at 11 o'clock this morning,"" and the luncheon adjournment will be from 12.15 p.m; to 1.45 p.m.

INTER-STATE MATCH. (jJy Cable.—Press Associat ion.-rCopyright ) MELBOURNE, December 26. The first inter-State cricket match since the war broke out—New South Wales v. Vic-toria-S being played . here. Noble reappeared against Victoria after an abcenoe of tcnyears from big cricket. Rain spoked the play to-day, the. wicket being slow. Vi> tnria has lost 7 wickets for 2-0, the chief ££es being Baring 131, Armstrong 68.