PLUNKET SHIELD.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19872, 8 March 1930, Page 16

PLUNKET SHIELD.

AUCKLAND'S GOOD SCORE. WEIR SAVES THE DAY. j iPRSSS aSSOi'UTIOR tblkgrau.) WELLINGTON, March 7. After losing two wickets for 8 runs in the deciding match for the Plunket Shield, the Auckland eleven, holders of the trophy, made a splendid recovery, and wound up the day with 432 on for the loss of nine wickets. The day was saved for Auckland by G. L. Weir, who, by the soundest of defence, set out to wear the Wellington bowling clown, which he did to such purpose that he later batsmen took heavy toll of tirea bowlers. Weir went on to compile a Sid score of 140. With the exception of Mills and Anthony all the northern batsmen contributed useful scores, and the two colts, McCoy and Matheson, put the seal on a really good batting display by adding exactly one hundred runs for the ninth wicket. The Wellington bowling was distinctly (rood right up to the tea adjournment, but heavy toll was taken of it m the last two hours. The two country representatives, Massey and Gallichan, carried off the bowling honours, and botn. got through a day's hard work with credit The wicket was firm and tne outfield fast. There was bright sunshine throughout the day. Auckland won the toss, and batted. Mills and Anthony opened the innings at 11.5. MeGirr started bowling from the Newtown end, and with the fifth ball of the over clean-bowled Mills with a 'slow swinger. G. L. Weir, who did so well in the Fourth Test at Auckland, followed. ,■*«,« Hollings took up the attack at tne other end, but after sending down one over was replaced by Massey. The day was going disastrously for Auckland, as with 8 runs on the slate as the result of five overs, Anthony popped one from Massey into Cameron's hands close in at square-leg. MeGirr had taken one for 0, and. Massey one for o " Gillespie came out to stop the rot, and a period of slow play saw 14 come up for twenty-five minutes' play. Henderson here took the ball from MeGirr, whose five overs had resulted m one wicket for 3 runs. Half an hour saw 20 up. Both men sparkled up, and doubled the score with confident strokes. At 42 McLeod relieved Henderson, whose four overs had cost 19 runs. After bowling nine overs for 18 runs, Massey gave way to Gallichan. The half-century came up in as many minutes, Gillespie being 26, and Weir 16. With' the total at 54, Gillespie, who had scored 26, including three boundary strokes, was bowled by Gallichan ! with one that made pace off the pitch. Wensley, the Sussex professional, followed, and the total was .taken to 64, when Henderson relieved McLeod, off whose six oy.ers only 9 runs had been scored. Up to now the Auckland batsmen had been strictly on the defensive, but the Englishman was after runs. Hitting 10 off one over from Gallichan with lusty pulls, the Auckland coach reached 26 in twenty-two minutes, and then put one from Gallichan into Lowry's hands at mid-off. Allcott, the Auckland captain, joined Weir, who was 31, and brought a hundred up after 100 minutes' play by slamming one from Gallichan to the sight screen. At 115 Ross, was given a trial in «plac« of McLeod, sending down slow right-hand .leg-.*breaks'. The luncheon adjournment was taken with the score standing at 122 for four wickets, Weir being 44 and Allcott IC. On resuming, Massey and MeGirr took up the attack. MeGirr had bowled six overs, five "of which were maidens, for one wicket, and only three runs. After he had: been batting for 119 minutes Weir reached his half-cen-.tury with a powerful off-drive off MeGirr, which went through both Cameron and Boss.

' At 150, which had taken 145 minutes, Qallichaii took the ball from Massey, and at 158 Henderson relieved McGirr, who had bowled fourteen overs for 20 runs and a wicket. The Auckland captain twice got Henderson away to square-leg for four, reaching the forties. This was the end of him, however, as Gallichan beat him badly with one, which whipped back with pace from the off. The Auckland captain had been at the wickets for 68 minutes for his 41, which included four fours. He had assisted Weir to add 77 for the fifth wicket.

Eliott partnered Weir, who was 65, and McLeod had a try in place of Henderson, whose eleven overs had cost 44 runs. Weir reached 70 by stepping out and hitting McLeod to the long-on boundary; -At 190 Ross came on in Gallichan's place. The Mana,watu left-hander had bowled remarkably well in taking three wickets for 47 runs off 23 overs, eight of which were maidens. Weir reached 80 by stepping out and powerfully off-driving Ross for four. Eliott brought 200 up for 195 minutes' play by putting Hollings through the slips for four. ' This was the signal for Massey to relieve Ross, and for McGirr to take the ball from Hollings. Ten came from McGirr's fifteenth over, Eliott and Weir both getting him away to long-leg. Runs were now coming fast. In Massey's next over Weir swung one to the fence at square-leg, reaching the nineties. Another four -to long-leg off McGirr made Weir 99, and he reached his century with a single to mid-on off the next ball. He had been at the wickets for 196 minutes. The Aucklanders were now aggressive. Eliott slammed one fromt Gallichan to the long-on boundary, bringing 230 up. Massey came on at the southern end,- and at once had Eliott caught in the slips. He had shaped, brightly for his 30, which helped Weir to put on 68 for the sixth wicket.

Badeley, the Waikato representative, joined Weir, who was 105, anfl the scoring continued. . With a slam to the fence .at long-on off Gallichan Weir brought 250 up for 220 minutes' play After scoring a couple Badeley hit one hard to McLeod at mid ; off off Gallichan, but the chance was too hot to hold. The score stood at 264 for six wickets at the tea adjournment, Weir being .122 and Badeley 4. On resuming Gallichan and McLeod took up the bowling. Runs came at a steady pace, Weir running to 130, and bringing 280 up with an off drive for a couple off McLeod. At 293 Massey relieved McLeod. The "pair went on steadily, and 300 appeared! after 260 minutes' play. At 4.30 Weir's long innings of 251 minutes camo to an end. With his score at 140 he was cleverly "taken on the leg side by James behind the wickets off lyiassey. His sound defence had redeemed the Auckland innings. He did not give a solitary chance during his long stay at the crease. He found the boundary fourteen times'.

McCoy arrived to see Badeley bang ono from Gallichan to the pickets at square-leg. The bloom had now been taken 6ff the bowling, and runs were coming fast. McCoy brought 320 up by swingnig one from Ross to tnid-on. After reaching 32 Badeley returned one to Boss. The partnership had added 30 runs.

Mathesdn came next, and arrived to see McCoy reach the twenties by lifting one from Ross almost over the ropes at extra long-on. The score was 350 after the innings had been in progress .for 300" minutes ; 'The two Auckland colts carried on in resohite fashion, and

soon ran the score to 370. The bowlers were getting tired, Gallichan starting upon his fortieth over at 5.30. To relieve his bowlers Lowry took,the ball himself, but ten came from the. first two overs he sent down. McCoy was applauded upon reaching hi? half-cen-tury with a swinging on drive off Ross. The applause was renewed when 400 was hoisted for 325 minutes' play. The colts went on serenely, not only play-, ing, but punching the bowling. Matheson presently returned one to Massey. Ho had shaped very confidently for his 47, which included five boundary strokes. Hunt, the last man, joined McCoy, who was 67, and the pair played out the remaining few minutes until stumps wero drawn, when the score stood at 432 for nine wickets. McCoy had been at the wickets for. ninety minutes for his 68 not out, which included seven boundary strokes. Scores: —

AUCKLAND. ' First Innings. J. E. Mills, b McGirr . . O A. Anthony, c Cameron, b Massey .. 5 G. L. Weir, c Jnraes, !> Massey . . 140 H I>. Gillespie, b Gallichan . . . . 26 A. F. Wensley, c Lowry, b Gallichan . . /*56 O. \V. F. Allcott, b Gallichan . . . . 41 WL. Elliott, c Rollings, b Massey . . 30 S. A. R. Badeley, c and b Ross ..32 A. V. McCoy, not out 6S A. M. Matheson, c and b Massey .. 47 H Hunt, not out • ' .. 0 Extras . . • • • * 17 Total for nine wickets v . .'. 483 Fall of wickets: One for 0, two for 8. three for 54 four *° r 93, fife for 170, six for 238, seven for 301, eight for 331, nine for 481. Bowling Analysis. o. m: e. w. McGirr • • .!<> ' 7 J*7 1 SKIS?' :: ::■»■!» ■?« ■ K n :: \l 1 ■•xSf: : Lowry .....*..* 0 M • '