CRICKET.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18265, 26 December 1924, Page 15

CRICKET.

> ♦ plunket shield MATCH.

CANTERBURY V. AUCKLAND

I The annual Canterbury-Auckland ti.ttaro is always looked forward to with letn interest, in Christchureh. and tho jjLiatch commenced at Lancaster Park -jlfcesterday afternoon wa« no exception vftlfoio rule. 1P N<i'thrrncrs wore, not ,oite at f |J " s*''"cnß<'lb f°r players liko guedden liowntree, ft. If. Garrard, and Antliony Trcro. ttnahlc to make. tbo. trip. ffowever, (.antf-rhurv is generally <"onmjercd io bo weak this year, and this, jk was thought, would even up tho . dlgnccs of the frame, and make, it more. interesting. The Canterbury sido was jOßjidcrcd to br- fairly .strong in howljjij for Mc-Ucth, Read, Cuiininprham, i'; y„j Sandman are a ;;»"d ipiartotK:. The V u(gmen, however, i-«nld not be, con'l ,\faed a very inspiring lot, lor tho | ; of many of them has boon very oltphy in grade matches, this wmso,.. The weather ycbterday was anything ■-''.' bat summer-like. Tho sky wa.s heavily i dii orercast all day with rain threatening, i •*i ilid a cold easterly blow across the 1 eft/and. The piteh and ontfirld alike ' 1 *erein good ordor. though the. wicket 1 '«i|. not hard enouph a. -hats- * ono ' l^' ol ''' wa s 3 ' f a ' r attend- j ~| 2vgnd it would probably have been nof!) larger but for the ire gther. Messrs Cos and Brisl onwe.ro ami the scorers vero Mr i {■&. lt.«Tayler and Master Erie rearei-. I I under whoso Kur>errision the scoring | I] wsus kept promptly posted. j f ■;■ The cricket for the most part, was i iot of a very exhilarating ehara'-ior. , } In the early staftes Blunt and Ga.sson j iplaTcd very sound cricket, hut. they j •both let off "many balls that should have ' 'been punishel, and neither of them j i -(ibald bo accused of running sharp ruits. | I On tiio contrary, they lost many a n 1 j»ay single. Thor both, however, hatfl W .very soundly, and their partnership, *: ja-hen the bowling was at its host, gavn *llh« innings a. good start. Oliyer }<avo ithe beet batting display of the, afternoon. Ho plaved the good bowling v in faultless style, and pickod out the ,| Jiittabt© halls with unerring precision. ; His scoring strokes were quite- firsr- •>; class, being powerful and well-timed. I :;l;P«trie.k and Hayes both shaped well, I "ell to impatient strokes. > Aueklandcrs' out-cricket was ot average merit. Their first pair of T3—Alcott and Wilson—were T, and at no time could liberties | ken with them. Smith was steady tricky, but tho earlier batsmen ed hiin with far too much respect. Auckland fielding was of a high lard, several of tho side doing brilwork in their returns to tho wicket, trick having won the toss from l, the Aucklanders filed on to tho a, few minutes after two, and were tco followed by Blunt and Gasuanterbury's first pair of batsmen, t, from tho south end, and Wilson •hargo of tho bowling. The former our scored off his first over, but bowled four maidens in succession, tho last, four for byes were run, i sent 20 on the board. A moment Garison and then Blunt reached cs, tho latter's coming from a h cut. The 30 went on the board o result of a fine square cut to m which went to tho pickets at ss .speed. In Alcott's next over ; was badly loaten by a ball just missed'the wicket, and went ,vo byes. Ho survived an appeal jw next ball. With the total at mith replaced "Wilson, and Gaseached 20 with a single. A lovely jut by Blunt was well fielded by pie; and only three, were run. i's next was n, maiden, and then t was relieved by Elliott, a im right-hander, with a projed leg break action. A single off tho over, and in Smith's Blunt got one prettily to leg for making himself 20. Ho sent 50 r'ith a lovely on drive to the off Elliott, after 55 minutes' plav. Gasson sent a full toss from Mto th© leg boundary, and in tho bowler's next over Blunt sent up th a lovely off-drive for four, but m was "then lbw. 63 —I—2<.1—2<. ford followed and opened with a Blunt, with a similar contribution, rig hipiself 30. Seventy went up ly after, but then Blunt tried to a leg ball, and was caught at nckct. 70—2—32. Oliver joined ford, and Smith bowled his fourth cutive maiden. Oliver opened his nt with a pair to leg off Klhott, then Alcott replaced Smith. In rst over Oliver gave a hot chanco lliott in the slips, a three resultOrawford relioved somo slow play itting Alcott to tho square leg , and 80 went up. The same bats■»pt another four to leg next over, ife into doubles. Four for . byes DO up, and Elliott made way for pool. Oliver pulled him to the ihoe, reaching doubles, and then ,himto the off fence, 100 going jr an hour and 40 minutes' play. i>e camo off the over. Wlson red Alcott, the latter replacing pool. Oliver passed the 20 mark a fine lato cut off Wilson, and lcott's next over Crawford was r to escape being run out, for he half tho length of the pitch, and to go back tho return missing wicket. Crawford reached 20 a pair to the off.' With tho total tho tea adjournment was taken. »tt took un the bowling, on reigand Crawford on-drovc him pretfor four. Smith was the otlwr , wnior, and sent down his third maiden • % succestion. Oliver relieved some ~'tiry slow plav with a beautiful straight •I drivo to tho fence. In Smith s next ''l'ww Crawford lifted one to Frater at : point, and the board read 126—3—<• I > Cunningham joined his club mate, and tho latter sent 130 up, and himself < reached 30 with a four to square leg • In tho samo over ho mado h.mselt top , fewer Mith a lovely off drive for four LiKht rain now necessitated n supply ■ of sawdust. Oliver sent 110 up with Ithcr fine off drivp for four. In th's next over Cunningham went foi "lash," and. was ibw. 1-M)—4— l. th had now sent down 13 overs 9 runs, 8 maidens, and 2 wickets. res followed, and Oliver, who was ing finely, got two pairs off AiTlavcs late-cut Smith for three. "off drove him for a like number , hundred and fifty went tin for - ra 40 minutes' plav. 1 hen Oliver i«ht drove one, high and hard, and >tt took a fine one-handed catch. _o_46. Tat rick was the ingocr, h© sent a short ono sweetly to square leg fence. Hayes was going to Smith, and presently lie lifted nearly to tho fenco m front ot new members' stand, where Dacro ight off a well-judged catch. -3>_7. Sandmau joined his sktp- , hut the latter was tempted, and ng one high to the outfield, Gillesmade no mistake about tho catch. —7—l2. Boon joined Sandman, , 170 went tip as the result of a square cut to Sandman off Smith. in Rent a very hot chanco back to >tfc, which the bowler did well to >. Tho samo batsman then on «> Alcott nowcrfullv for three, but Smith's next lto was missed by wicketkeencr. 'Hicn Sandman ire cut Smith twice in succession. four. One hundred and eighty wont and then Boon got Alcott to fine leg three. Tho bowler had his reZfi bv clean bowling Sandman with »od one. 187—8—14. Head joined elub mate, and gave a chance at A man two resultinc. Ho then not

A'eott to tho fine log boundary for f"iir ; liiw.ii rear-hod double figures bv on-hitting Smith for four, and a fine late, nit. to K.cad went to tlio fence, and -vmt 200 up tor 3-1 hours' plav. Tl>n same batsman then had a la.sh at. Smith, and was' easily caught bv Elliott at midon. 204—9—10 r Mi-Beth was last, man, and got, a lucky snick for four. He then sent Alcott, to tho, off boundary, and with the total at -14- for ninn wickets, stumps were drawn for tTi.-i day. Scores:— rA.XTKRF.rRT. Kir?*. limiitH. i K. r. Rl-.ir.t. ]±?:2\2-r,l~.\V±-2. c Oirirfr* b Klliotf .. "2 E. a. cu??n n , r.M;m;:nim, '.inr, b Elliott ' .. ..27 I". 0. C'r.v*fnrd, 21 ■ it! 0111-21411, c Fratrr o Srrelb . .. C 7 ('. O'ivrr." 2-;:->)«t!!!tt{<U«CI, r. and b A'coi.i .. .. .. .. -C. TV. f'unrun-Vam. 1. Ih-.r, b Smith .. ' W. TUves, .T.l, ■-. Dar-rc-, b Smith .. 7 W". ?!.. ' Patrick, H2IMI, c (iiilc-'pir, b Smit.h .. .- •. 1T). M. SandmnTi. 1 HU, b' Alcott .. 14 M. Hivin, .1:134211. nnt n.;> ..17 T,\ TtraH. -314, r F.lliott.. b 5-';ni!h .. ~>« T). .1. McHrtli, 4( r"' fiii .- * liver. !•?,< •• . .. K-i.'-.-r b-r:-, ;i] . .. .. " Tola' for 0 -wickets •• -^ l'.cwliiK, -.\lroft, -2 for f-7: ATilfon. 0 fe.r ■2'<: Smith, f. fo<- 4S; Klliott, 2 icr H: llni-spnol, (i ior 1-. The taking at the ga'cs yesterday were £l.">(>. Play will be resumed at 31 n'.•lock this morning, find the Imifhoon adjournment will br from 1 to 1.15.

IN SOUTH AFRICA. FIRST INOFFICIAL TEST. (BT CASLI -PRISS ASSOCIATION— COFTHJGHt) (rECTER's TILKSBiMS.) CAPE TOWN, December M. llio first, -unofticat (est, match between South Afrira. snd .Tori's English teim was romirifjnn'H at J--'h:innc*bi]r£. Thr> visitor?, in the. first innin;e, made 138. The Fmif.h African howlinf was pood, an'l fhoir fiflrlin- was excellent. .N'upen took five wickets for 51 runs, tkorcs: F.XGUSIT XL First Inn ipse.

,1 f. .[.. McF.rv.-m .. 6 v.. Ty!dt>?.ler .... .9 .. H V. li. Bnwlry 57 TT. A. T. Kcr.ncdy .. r; r» rv .. at r. .. i K. T,. h. .I'amr.iou U. Tminvgon Ba-rtlrv P. Jfamoft .. l .. sv C. 11. Parker, not out 1 Total ... IDS SOUTH AFRICA. First InnLDS*. TT. YT. Taylor 3 M. .7. Suaakind, not out '. '. 14. C. 7-.1TUJ lixlras Total for two wickets w. 4 .. 54