CRICKET

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21356, 26 December 1934, Page 14

CRICKET

i flunket shield MATCHES # v CANTERBURY V. AUCKLAND VISITORS BEGIN WELL That cricket is steadily gaining in popularity was proved by the large attendance at Lancaster Park yesterday, when Canterbury commenced its first Flunket Shield match of the seaeon. This was not surprising. The Saturday matches in the last season or two have been attended by increasingly large crowds, and this is bound to be reflected in the attendance at representative matches. More interest attaches to the Plunket Shield matches this season, at any rate for Christchurch followers of the game. Canterbury has not held the shield for several seasons now, and tfhe reputed strength of the Canterbury side in batting adds greatly to the interest in this, the first shield match of the season. Canterbury bowling is commonly supposed to be weak this year, and the selector has consequently concentrated on a strong batting side, depending on the batsmen-bowlers to get the opposition out. No fewer than nine of the < selected 11 are batsmen, and even the other two, Andrews and Graham, are capable of making runs. There was every prospect, therefore of a high scoring match, and that is the sort of cricket spectators like. The Aucklanders, winners of the shield last season, have come with the reputation of being a very strong, though young, team —as strong, in fact, as Auckland has fielded for many years, and it is generally expected that the match will be not only a high scoring game, but an interesting one. So far as it has gone, the scoring has not been high, and it has been very slow.

M. L. Page and H. G. Vivian were the captains of Canterbury and Auckland respectively. Messrs Forrester and Burgess were the umpires. The gate takings amounted to £l5O.

The weather, though fine, was more or less overcast, and a strong easterly made conditions rather unpleasant. Towards the end of the afternoon it reached almost gale force and raised no little dust from the embankment.

Auckland Batting Not Impressive The Auckland batting was not very Impressive. Early in the innings Whitelaw, Edmonds, and Tovvnsend made the bowling look first class, and Roberts and Andrews frequently beat the batsmen with balls that were very near the stumps. Whitelaw's was an innings that was more useful than impressive. Many of his runs were made from shots that went anywhere but where they were intended to go, and, on the whole, his batting was lifeJess and uninteresting, with few really good scoring strokes. Vivian, on the other hand, played cricket that, from his reputation, one would have expected to see. His defence was quietly confident and though he did not always connect when he tried a big hit. this only showed that he lacked nothing in enterprise. He was always looking for the runs and generally got them from any loose ball. His scoring shots were made in true batsman-like style. Weir was the sound and careful batsman that Canterbury players know him to be, and his very sound and careful defence was varied at intervals with some stylish and forceful scoring shots. Wallace impressed as a stylish batsman with high class strokes all round the wicket, whilst his defence was very sound.

Canterbury Bowling Canterbury's out-cricket; in most respects, was as good as it was expected to be. Roberts fully justified his place as Canterbury's first bowler. He kept a uniformly good length, and sent down very few loose balls. He frequently beat the batsmen with balls that only missed the wicket by the narrowest margin. Graham was a little erratic in his length in the early stages, but later kept an end going by very steady and accurate bowling. Andrews, perhaps more than any other, worried the batsmen in the early stages, and sent down many most difficult balls, but his length and direction were a little erratic, and he was not persevered with as much as perhaps he might have been. The Canterbury men gave quite a creditable display in the field. There ■was :little or no slackness, and the batsmen took few liberties in going for short runs. Allen had a day off as wicketkeeper, and a total of 30 byes must have been a new experience for him. THE PLAY Vivian, having won the toss, the Canterbury men took the field punctually at 2 o'clock and were quickly followed by Whitelaw and Edmonds. Each batsman took a single from Roberts, who bowled from the south end. Graham, the other bowler, suffered to the same extent, and Roberts then bowled a maiden, V/hitelaw letting most of them go by. The first boundary came when Whitelaw in Graham's second over chopped one through the slips. Roberts in his next over beat Edmonds with a ball that \yent perilously near his wicket. A single to Edmonds sent the first 10. up, and he then hit Graham away to square leg neatly for two. After bowling three overs for nine runs, Graham gave way to Andrews, who at once kept down the scoring. A late cut of? the last ball gave Whitelaw a pair, taking him into doubles. Edmonds scored two for a square cut, and 20 went up. Andrews beat Edmonds with a ball that almost grazed the leg stump, and it went for four byes. Whitelaw turned Roberts into the slips for what looked a difficult chance to Andrews. Whitelaw ran three for a flukey shot to leg.

The First Wicket Thirty went up for 25 minutes' play And then Andrews, who was bowling really well, beat Edmonds twice with successive balls. It made no difference, for in the next over Edmonds v/ent for a very doubtful single, which Whitelaw refused, and Edmonds was run out. 37—1—11. Townsend joined Whitelaw and the latter hit the only loose ball of the over from Andrews to leg for three. Roberts's hands went up to his head as a ball completely beat Whitelaw and missed the wicket by the proverbial coat of paint. Townsend had a somewhat similar experience in Roberts's next over, and looked uncomfortable to all six balls. Neither batsman was playing the bowling confidently at this stage, and a three to leg by Townsend was quite a lucky shot. However, this sent 50 up for 50 minute* play. bad bowled seven •J* lor 14 runs, was replaced by total was 53 - In ? ver Whitelaw turned but the next ball

Vivian Agrgressive Vivian followed and played an over from Roberts aggressively, but witnout doing much damage, and then iour byes sent 60 up. Graham relieved Roberts then, and play was uneventful for several overs. Vivian sent 70 up with a four to the gully fence. Whitelaw survived a confident appeal for Ibw, and two good shots by Vivian brought the Auckland captain a pair and a single. The total was 76 when Bellamy replaced Lester. The latter had bowled six overs for 10 runs. Vivian had a swing at Graham, lifting him to long on for four. There was r)o fieldsman there. This brought 80 on the board. Vivian reached 20 and raised the total to 90 with a four to leg off Bellamy. In the same over the Auckland captain hit a full toss to the fence, and a pair to the on made 10 off the over. Roberts replaced Graham, and his first ball, a short one, Whitelaw cut square to the fence. Tliis sent 100 up for an hour and 38 minutes' play, and Whitelaw was past the 40 mark. The same batsman took another four from a full toss from Bellamy. Four for byes sent 110 up, and the tea adjournment was then taken. After Tea Andrews opened the bowling from the north end when play was resumed and the extras reached 20 when a ball on the leg side went to the fence. Roberts was the other bowler. In Andrews's next over Vivian put a smart catch into the slips, but Bellamy let it througn his fingers. In Andrews's next over Vivian drove a half-volley to the oft-fence —the best stroke, so far, of the innings. Singles took him to 40, and Whitelaw reached 50 a few minutes later.

Lester replaced Andrews at 130, and Vivian put his first ball to the leg fence. Once again Roberts completely beat Whitelaw with a ball that almost grazed his off stump. Vivian reached 50 with a pair to leg, and then came another four for byes. Another four to Vivian and then three more byes took the extras to 27, and brought 150 up. Runs were now coming fast. Whitelaw reached 60 with a four to leg, and then scored a lucky four through the slif>s. He then gave Roberts an easy catch in the slips. 167—3—65. Graham bowled in place of Roberts as Weir joined his captain, ana Vivian reached 60 with a straight drive for four. A beautiful square cut gave Weir four. Vivian swung another, four to the on pickets and 180 went up. A quiet spell followed until at 182 Page bowled in place of Lester. Vivian late cut him for a nice four, and in Graham's next over Weir gave Allen a difficult stumping chance. The same batsman reached doubles with a three to the on, but then Vivian had a swing at Graham and gave Hadlee an easy catch at wide rpid-off. 194 4 70.

Wallace was the in-goer, and he put one from Page past the slips to the boundary. Roberts replaced Graham at 198, and two singles sent 200 up for three hours' play. Andrews replaced Page, and Wallace with a late cut off Roberts, went into doubles. Singles and pairs came fairly frequently, and 220 went up. Lester replaced Andrews, and Wallace sent 230 up by offdriving a full toss for four. This made him 20. Bellamy spelled Roberts, and in Lester's next over Weir hit a beautiful four to leg. Two pairs to Weir sent 240 up. Graham bowled in place of Bellamy, but both batsmen seemed to be well entrenched against bowling that looked rather worn. Page also had another turn with the ball, and Wallace hit a full toss to the on fence. With only cne over to go, Page got Wallace lbw with his third ball. Scores:—

AUCKLAND First Innings P. E. Whitelaw, 114122122313121311111114141111111111414, c Roberts, b Lester .. •. W5 R. Edmonds 111121211, run out .. 11 L. S. Townsend, 12131, b Roberts 8 V. G. Vivian, 111412114] 144211111411114111241144114, c Hadlee, b Graham .. "0 G. L. Weir, 1411311111122214122, not M. Wallace, 141214214114, lbw, b. Page . • • • • • Byes 444443214, leg byes 11, no-balls 11 • • • • _ Total for five wickets .. 246 To bat—R. G. Bush. V. S. Sale, D. R. Garrard, A. M. Matheson, and J. Cowie.

OTAGO OUT FOR 133 WELLINGTON NEEDS 112 TO WIN ALL WICKETS IN HAND (FEBSS ASSOCIATION TELBpBAM.) WELLINGTON, December 25. Weak batting marked the opening of the Plunket Shield cricket match between the Otago and Wellington elevens, although weather conditions were perfect both yesterday and today, Otago scored 255 on Monday, to which Wellington responded with 176 for nine wickets. Resuming this afternoon, Lamason and Symes made a great stand, which ®6 for the last wicket, and brought the Wellington total to 242, 13 short of the Otago score. The southern eleven m second innings collapsed for J L33,and at the drawing of stumps this evening Wellington had 35 on for the* loss of no wickets, which means that it re quires 112 runs to win with all wickets m Features of the play were Elnies's 94 for Otago in the first innings ,?nd Lamason's 103 in Well mgton s ijs strike. The bowling was good throughout, but not good enough to a cc °unt for the low scoring. Some notable bowling performances were recorded, E. D. Blundell, the Wellington captain, capturing six for 82 and five 48, and W. Tricklebank, the youthful Wellington fast bowler, taking two for 58 aK F. the Otago captain and coach, bowled very ably in Wellington's first innings in accounting for six wickets for 98.

Wicket Not Good The weather was ideal when the match commenced on Monday morning Otago won the toss and batted first but it was soon apparent that the 'wicket was by no means good. Blundell's deliveries were rearing up in disconcerting fashion. _ With the total at six, Cavanagh tried to turn one to leg and was caught in the slips. Another soon after struck Leader a sharp body blow. When Moloney, who replaced Cavanagh had reached 14 he turned rising ball from Symes to Ell in the slips. Tricklebank claimed the next two victims, clean bowling Leader and Saxton at short intervals. Four wickets were then down for 56. Badcock had a brief and merry career until a ball from Blundell rapped sharply on his gloves and went softly to Ell in the slips Elmes shaped soundly, and with Uttley moved the score along until the latter fell lbw to Morgan. At luncheon six wickets were down for 127 (Elmes 31). The wicket played better after the interval. Elmes and Chettleburgh made a fighting stand which greatly improved Otago's position. Both went boldly for runs. Comparatively easy catches from both men were missed by Riley, Wareham, Hepburn, and Tricklebank, owing to the glare of the fierce sun. After the partnership had realised 77 for the seventh wicket, ChettJeburgh was bowled by Symes. Dickinson did not last long; but Dunning c gry j-ge

century, the latter fell to a particularly good delivery from Blundell. A good fighting innings had occupied 102 minutes. The innings closed at 3.1 a for a total of 255. Blundell's Good Bowling Blundell had bowled well, capturing six for 82. The Wellington fielding was poor. _ . .. The Wellington innings opened disastrously. With the at 3, Tindill was caught by Clark off Dickinson. With 15 up, Hepburn was beaten all the way by a leg-break from Badcock. Ward shared the same fate after reaching double figures. Ell took sometime to get going, but he soon began to pick up runs. With 50 up, Wareham was caught by Clark off 33ad.coclt. Ell then stepped in front of the wicket and fell lbw to Badcock More trouble came for Wellington when Morgan was foolishly run out through a smart return by Badcock to Dickinson. Six wickets were now down for 100. Lamason and Tricklebank stopped the rot, and commenced to gather in runs with confident play till the latter was well beaten by Badcock. Riley assisted Lamason to put on 36 for the eighth wicket. At 168 Riley was run out. Blundell did not open his account, and Lamason and Symes were together when stumps were drawn, with the board showing 186 for nine, Lamason 62 not out. Wellingtons downfall was due to masterly bowling by Badcock, as the wicket was much better in the afternoon than in the morning. When the match was resumed this afternoon, in very hot weather, Lamason and Symes made a spirited stand for the last wicket. Mostly through Lamason's enterprise the score was run rapidly to 242 before Lamason was caught by Dunning off Badcock.

Otago's Collapse Otago collapsed badly in the second innings. Leader started the debacle by stepping out of the crease after making his stroke, and was smartly stumped. The best score was Saxton's 23. Badcock, intent on stealing singles, paid the penalty after shading well for a start. Blundell's bowling was a feature of the innings. Opening Wellington's second innings, Tindill and Hepburn were unbeaten at stumps, for a total of 35. Scores: — OTAGO First Innings Cavanagh, c Morgan, b Blundell 4 Leader, b Tricklebank .. .. 20 Moloney, c Ell, b Symes .. 14 Uttley, lbw. b Morgan .. ..20 Saxton, b Tricklebank .. .. 8 Badcock, c Ell, b Blundell .. 18 Elmes, b Blundell .. .. 94 ; Chettleburgh, b Blundell .. 35 Dickinson, c Tricklebank, b Blundell .. ■ ■ 1 Dunning, c Lamason, b Blundell 17 Clark, not out .. .. 6 Extras (byes 11, leg byes 6, noball 1) .. -.18 Total .. ..255 Bowling—Blundell, six for 82; Symes, one for 60; Tricklebank, two for 58; Lamason, none for 9; Morgan, one for 20; Riley, none for 7; Hepburn, none £or 1. Second Innings Cavanagh, c Riley, b Tricklebank 9 Leader, st Tindill, b Blundell .. 0 Moloney, b Tricklebank .. .. 19 Uttley, c Tindill, b Symes .. 11 Saxton, c Tricklebank, b Blundell 23 Badcock, run out .. .. 15 Elmes, b Morgan .. .. 8 Cheftleburgh, c Ell, b Blundell .. 6 Dickinson, lbw, b Blundell .. 21 Dunning, not out .. .. 12 Clark, c Ward, b Blundell .. 2 Extras • • .. 7

Total .. 133 Bowling—Blundell, five for 48; Symes, one for 25; Tricklebank, two for 19; Riley, none for 17; Morgan, one for 17. WELLINGTON First Innings Tindill, c Clark, b Dickinson .. 1 Hepburn, b Badcock .. .. 8 Ward, b Badcock .. .. 10 Ell. lbw. b Badcock .. .. 41 Wareham, c Clark, b Badcock .. <? Morgan, run out .. .. 1 Lamason, c Dunning, b Badcock .. 103 Tricklebank, b Badcock .. .. 22 Riley, run out '.. .. 17 Blundell, c Badcock, b Dickinson •• •• 0 Symes, not- out .. .. 13 Extras (byes 12, leg-byes 0, noballs ;•) •• -.20 Total _ .. -.242 Bowling—Badcock. six for 98; Dickinson. two for 53; Dunning, none for 36; Elmes, none for 35. Second Innings Tindill, not out .. .. 16 Hepburn, not out .. .. 17 Extras .. • • 2 Total for no wickets .. 35 HAWKE CUP TARANAKI PLAYS MANAWATU (FHISB ASSOCIATIOK TELEGBAM.) NEW PLYMOUTH, December 25. The first challenge match for the Hawke Cup opened this afternoon in very hot weather. Taranaki's batting was not impressive .(though the wicket was good), the side being out for 190. Gallichan was the chief destructive agent. It seemed that Manawatu had a good chance of a first innings lead, but the side had lost two -wickets for 33 when stumps were drawn for the day. The scores are:— TARANAKI First Innings Nasmith, c Ongley, b Gallichan .. 38 H. Barker, bR. J. Hatch .. 20 Birch, bR. J. Hatch .. •• 0 Betts, c Monteith, b Gallichan .. 9 Donnelly, b Gallichan .. 4 Giddy, c Cutler, b Gallichan .. 7 Dormer, lbw, b Cutler . ■ 8 Eden, c Robertson, b Gallichan .. Barlow, run out .. "on Parkinson, not out .. .. 30 Christiansen, c Cutler, b Ongley 0 Extras • • ■ • .. 14 Total .. .. 190 i Bowling—R. J. Hatch two for five, K. Hatch none for 37, Berquist none for 33, Gallichan five for 26, Ongley | one for 19, Cutler one for 13. MANAWATU First Innings Olliver, lbw, b Christiansen .. 12 Robertson, b Naismith .. • • Cutler, not out .. " i Norris, not out .. • • ] Extras .. • • 4

Total for two wickets .. 33 TESTIMONIAL TO HENDREN (TJ*ITSI> PHBSS ASSOCIATION —BT ELSCTBIO TELIOBAPH —COPTSTGHT.) (Received December 25, 8.20 p.m.) LONDON. December 24. The "News Chronicle" says that Middlesex has agreed i to set aside the Lord's match against Sussex on June 10 as a testimonial to E. Hendren in recognition of his participation in four tests in 1934 at the age of 45. MALVERN ASSOCIATION DARFIELD v. SHEFFIELD A The playing of the match previously abandoned on account of rain, Darfield v. Sheffield A, at Darfield, on ""Saturday, resulted in a draw, thus making Hororata the winners of the association shield for the ensuing year. The scores were as follows: — Darfield 104 (W. Summerville 21, J. Gunn 29, F. Forsyth 12, J. Milliard 19), Sheffield 104 (L. Jenkins 10, H. Ferguson 32, Q. Wright 12. W. Hicks Ussher' 15). Bowling for Sheffield, H. Ferguson took fotir for 37, R. Townsend, four for 23, <}. Wright, one for 13; for Darfield, L. Wfstwood, fivfl for 46, uj. Giwn> foe 48, - - j