RAIN STOPS MATCH

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25388, 10 January 1948, Page 4

RAIN STOPS MATCH

CRICKET

AUCKLAND 79 FOR THREE

MCLEAN BOWLS WELL FOR WELLINGTON (P.A.) AUCKLAND. January 9. Rain marred the first day of play in the Plunket Shield match between Auckland and Wellington, which was started at Eden Park this morning. Auckland batted from 11 o’clock until 12.30 p.m., during which time it lost three wickets for 79 runs. Rain fell heavily during the adjournment, and stopped at 2.30 p.m., when the captains, H. T. Pearson (Auckland) and C. S. Dempster (Wellington) inspected the wicket, •which had been covered. Water had seeped through tne tarpaulins and run on to the wicket In patches. One end was particularly waterlogged. The captains agreed at 3.30 p.m. that there should be no further play for the day. Conditions at the start of play were favourable for batting, and a strong easterly wind was of advantage to the bowlers, who were able to exploit it.

There was a fair attendance, and the gate takings amounted to £l3l. Although Pearson and Wyatt, Auckland's opening batsmen, did not make their usual good start, their scoring rate was quite good. Wyatt was settling down well until with his score at 13 he failed to get over a delivery from Dumbleton and O’Neill took a good low catch just behind square-leg. Pearson was dropped at four by Tindill, the wicket-keeper, off Murray, and went on to 16 before he was bowled by McLean, who was Wellington’s first change bowler. Two wickets were then down for 47.

W. M. Wallace failed to score, and was kept subdued by McLean for three overs until he was caught behind the wickets. McLean at this stage had taken two wickets for two runs. Scott, who was unbeaten for 34, and Taylor 7, carried on until rain caused the postponement. Auckland was by no means in a happy position when play was adjourned, and if Dempster had accepted a difficult chance off Dumbleton with Scott’s score at 14, it would have been precarious. In the circumstances, Wellington was unfortunate that there was no further play. A favourable impression was made by McLean, the Wellington medium-pace and right-hand bowler, who finished with two wickets for 19 runs. McLean made full use of the wind-. Dumbleton was always very steady and had to be watched carefully. Scores:— AUCKLAND First Innings L. Wyatt, c O’Neill, b Dumbleton 13 H. T. Pearson, b McLean .. 16 V. J. Scott, not out .. .. 34 W. M. Wallace, c Tindill, b McLean 0 D. D. Taylor, not out .. .. 7 Extras .. .. .. 9 Total for three wickets .. 79 Bowling R. Murray, no wickets Tor 15; D. Dumbleton, one for 29; A. McLean, two for 19; R. S Chailies, none for 7. OTAGO-SOUTHLAND GAME ABANDONED (P.A.) DUNEDIN, Jan. 9. The cricket matc.i between Otago and Southland was abandoned to-day because of the weather. Rain held up play yesterday and continued intermittently during to-day, and the resumption of the game never seemed likely. The match was drawn, the honours resting with Otago, which had lost three wickets for 209, in reply to Southland’s 205.