PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27235, 30 December 1953, Page 9

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH

CRICKET

First Innings Win To Auckland i FINE CENTURY BY O’MALLEY Determined batting by the later batsmen enabled Auckland, after facing an outright defeat by mid-afternoon tn gain a first innings win over Canterbury when the Picket Shield match was concluded at Lancaster Park yesterday Canterbury batted until 2.20 p. m . f or a total of wi and thus set Auckland the task of scoring 214 runs'in 190 minutes to secure an outright win. By 4.30 p.m. Canterbury had taken six wickets 66 runs and at that stage appeared to have some prospects of defeating Auckland outright but a partnership between E. Child and T. S. Hambrook added 37 runs m 40 minutes, and a further partnership between Hambrook and D. B. Clarke added 35 runs Tn 50 minX Th ese partnerships were of great value to Auckland, not so much for the runs scored as for the time they took defying the many changes in the Canterbury bowling. Hambrook, who scored 48 runs in the first innings, was a totally different batsman on this occasion. He went on to the defensive for long periods to play the part required of him, and in doing so proved his all-round ability.

A feature of the Canterbury innings was the century scored by P. W. O’Malley, who carried his overnight total to 102, his highest score in plunket Shield cricket. J. A. Hayes, the Canterbury fast bowler, gave a good performance during the afternoon in taking four Auckland wickets and it was largely through his efforts that the side broke through the Auckland batting and for a time at least appeared to be in a winning position. The gate takings amounted to £l7O, making a total of £772 for the four days of the match. The wicket was again in good order • and wore well after four days’ play, land the outfield was again fast. ' The total of 214 runs set by CanI terbury for Auckland to score in a little over three hours’ play should not have proved an impossible task and in fact Canterbury could have taken the total a further 30 or 40 I runs ahead with advantage, and allowed Auckland a little less time to bat. Time was, of course, a vital 'factor and several Canterbury batsmen lost their wickets towards the ’ close of the innings in attempting 1 to force the pace. Seven wickets fell in 70 minutes in scoring as many runs, but the side had no option but to adopt such tactics. The Auckland innings was notable for the quick dismissal of most of the side’s regular batsmen, most of whom failed to reach double figures. Auckland made a poor start when the first wicket fell for five runs, but an attempt was made to keep pace with the clock until D. D. Taylor was dismissed. With five w’ickets down for 63 runs at that stage Auckland made no serious effort to score the necessary runs, the task of the following batsmen being primarily to play out time, but on occasion the batsmen, particularly Hambrook, produced some good scoring shots. At the end of the day the scoring rate was not far behind that of the previous day’s play.

„/• G - L«Bgat, in adding 20 to his nrevious day s total, played most of his scoring shots with more power and pSh?c se ; th ? n he did in the early stages of excel k^t ng H ’ h? IS <- 61 *£ uns c, ompleted an excellent double for the match and took nis total of scores of more than 50 runs innin ® s to 14 - His innings was again a very sound one, and he appeared to be quite at home with all the bowlers used against him. O Maliey scored 36 runs on the day, but ?>w « ot P r °duce all the sparkling shots of nbHi,A reVlO k S i da /‘ He batted with some caution while in the 80's, but did not ”1* <i£ a n} ls take until he gave a chance m" 97, rY ,lth a str °ke that brought four runs. It was a notable innings, however, by r> a batsman who has all the strokes. P. Z. Harris and S. C. Guillen added some much needed runs when CanterSJhZ forci .nK the pace. Guillen, when batting with Hayes for a period before lunch, was tied down by some accurate Auckland bowling against which they were not prepared to take any risks. In a rearranged batting order P. Arnold batted at number seven, and he scored some good runs when the other Canterbury batsmen were getting themselves out. He scored his 32 not out with correct strokes and was at his best with some hard hit drives.

Five of the Canterbury wickets were taken by the fast bowler, Clarke, who troubled several batsmen with a ball that went away to leg. O’Malley and others made repeated attempts to get him away on the leg side, without much success. Although his length was sometimes erratic, Clarke deserved his wickets. Child again bowled 30 overs, but took only two wicketa. He bowled steadily for long spells, but in the later stages the batsmen found little difficulty in scoring off him. Hambrook, after bowling six overs for eight runs, Wvas more expensive in his next spell and was not used as much as in the first innings. Taylor Impressive The most impressive of the earlier Auckland batsrfien was Taylor, who, as in the first innings, was eager for runs. He produced a wide variety of shots, hit with precision, and While he was at the wickets Auckland appeared to have some chance of getting ahead of the clock. Child, after scoring 41 runs in the first innings, played a defensive innings for 50 minutes and made little attempt to score runs until shortly before he was dismissed. His was a good effort and the right one at that stage of the game. The

aggressive Hambrook restrained himself * mo , st . P art to Quiet, careful cncket, and to him must go much of the ci edit for the side’s success in playing out time. He batted for 90 minutes and ne must have been sorely tempted at times to attack the bowling. Generally “ e Played his defensive strokes very correctly and scored many of his 46 runs with singles, but when he received a loose ball he drove it hard through the covers. Not the least important innings was played by Clarke, who batted for 50 minutes with Hambrook to score 6 not out- His broad bat defied some rapid bowling changes, but he could not be tempted into making anything resembling an attacking shot. The best of the Canterbury bowlerS was Hayes, who bowled 18 overs during the afternoon in several spells. In his earlier overs he brought the ball up sharply to have two catches taken by Guillen, the wicketkeeper. Hayes bowled, with determination, and it was not surprising that towards the end of the day he lost some of his accuracy. D. J. Reid bowled more accurately than in the first innings. He moved the ball to the air and frequently came fast off the pitch. He had the batsmen in trouble in many of his overs, and had the bad luck to have a catch dropped in slips at a critical stage of the innings. I. Sinclair did not take a wicket, although his 13 overs were bowled at a cost of one run each. He again threw the ball well up to the batsmen, who refused to take the initiative against him. T. B. Burtt was also inexpensive and for the most part the batsmen played purely defensive strokes against him. Burtt had the batsmen thinking all the time, and it was only in his last spell that three boundaries were taken from him. The Auckland fielding was hardly up to the standard of the first innings. The returns to the wicket were again good, but several chances were not accepted, and more than once overthrows cost runs. For the most part the Canterbury fielding was good, most of the fieldsmen picking up the ball quickly on the move and returning it to the wicket accurately. It is many years since a better run out has been seen at Lancaster Park than when Harris, fielding at extra cover, returned the ball at lightning speed to break the wicket and run out Taylor. The Play Leggat and O’Malley had no sooner resumed the Canterbury innings than Leggat square cut Hambrook to the boundary and O'Malley scored two with a neat shot to square leg off Clarke. There was an immediate bowling change. Clarke went to the south end and Child bowled from the north end. batsmen took singles and twos off both bowlers before six leg byes came from an overthrow. Leggat then reached 50 with a rather uppish shot through slips. Runs were coming steadily, and Leggat brought 150 up in even time with a cover drive for four off Child. O’Malley had a rather uncomfortable spell facing Clarke, but reached 80 with a cover shot. Both batsmen scored with singles, until Leggat with his score at 61 touched a ball running away to leg from Clarke to give the wicketkeeper an easy

catch. The partnership had added 157 runs in almost even time.

Harris’s first scoring shot was a lofted off drive for four, and a further boundary came with a midwicket shot off Clarke and the first ball of Child's next over was on driven to the boundary. Harris was most aggressive, but O’Malley at this stage was scoring few runs. Harris gave Canterbury a lead of 100 after 180 minutes’ batting, when O’Malley reached 90 with a late cut for four off Child. Burke replaced Child and a single off his first ball brought 200 up after 192 minutes’ batting. O’Malley moved to 97 with three singles and reached his century with a boundary that passed through Taylor’s hands at slip, Harris almost immediately pulled a ball from Hambrook to Burke at mid-on, and two wickets were down for 213 runs. A minute later O'Malley was caught in the covers by Hambrook off Burke. Guillen and Hayes were keen for runs, but could not score off bowling that had tightened up considerably. Hayes had scored five singles before he was run out with the total at 225 runs for four wickets. Gearry lasted only a few minutes. Guillen and Arnold were together at luhch when the total was 256. On the resumption Guillen scored more freely, and had reached 26 when he attempted a big hit off Child and was bowled. Reid and Sinclair were bowled off successive balls from Clarke in a good bowling spell. Haworth survived one ball from Clarke, and then was caught by Clarke at fineleg off Child. Burtt scored two boundaries off Child, before he gave Clarke his fifth wicket with an easy catch to Carrington at square leg. Auckland’s Second Innings Auckland opened its second innings at 2.30 p.m. with E. C. Petrie and B. Graham, but in Hayes's second over Petrie gave Guillen, behind the wickets, a good catch, and one wicket was down for five runs. A partnership between Graham and Taylor brought the runs freely, with Taylor doing most of the scoring. With the total at 43 Graham was out leg before wicket to Reid, who was bowling well at this stage. Coleman, after scoring three, lifted a ball from Burtt head high to Hayes at mid-on, and Canterbury had taken three wickets for 51 after 63 minutes’ batting. Taylor and Morris were together when Canterbury broke another formidable partnership when Harris broke Taylor’s wicket with a beautiful return. Postles and Morris were bowled by, Hayes within minutes of each other, and six wickets had fallen for 71 runs. Auckland was definitely on the defensive, and only 10 runs had been scored in the 35 minutes following Taylor’s dismissal. From Canterbury’s point of view mueh depended on breaking the partnership of Hambrook and Child, but they withstood several bowling changes with dogged defence for nearly 50 minutes, and gave Auckland a valuable gain in time. Child had played a most careful innings when he gave the Guillen-Hayes combination its second wicket. A further 50 minutes of play remained, and although the Canterbury bowlers tried hard to separate Hambrook and Clarke, the pair batted with the confidence of veterans until stumps. Both players well deserved the ovation they received .from the crowd.

Scores:— CANTERBURY First innings .. .. .. .. 192 Second Innings J. G. Leggat, c Petrie, b Clarke .. 61 P. W. O’Malley, c Hambrook, b Burke 102 P, G. Z. Harris, c Burke, b Hambrock 34 S. C. Guillen, b Child .. ..26 J. A. Hayes, run out .. 5 G. Gearry, c Coleman, b Clarke .. 0 P. Arnold, not out .. ..32 D. J. Reid, b Clarke .. ..0 I. Sinclair, b Clarke ..0 B. Haworth, c Clarke, b Child .. 0 T. B. Burtt, c Carrington b Clarke .. 9 Extras (byes 8, leg byes 16) .. 24 Total .. .. ..293 Fall of wickets: one for 157, two for 213, three for 215. four for 225, five for 240, six for 280, seven for 281, eight for 281, nine for 282, 10 for 293.

AUCKLAND First Innings .. -.27? Second Innings E. C. Petrie, c Guillen, b Hayes .. 2 B. Graham, lbw, b Reid ~ ~ 11 D. D. Taylor, run out .. ..34 D. D. Coleman, c Hayes, b Burtt .. 4 J. B. Morris, b Hayes .. ~ 8 B. J. Postles, b Hayes .. .. 2 E. Child, c Guillen, b Hayes .. 21 T. S. Hambrook, not out .. .. 44 D. B. Clarke, not out .. .. 6 Extras (wides 1, byes 3, leg byes 6, no balls 3) .... 13 Total for seven wickets .. 143 Fall of wickets: one for 5, two for 43, three for 51, four for 63, five for 66, six for 71, seven for 108.

Hayes bowled one wide and three no balls The umpires were Messrs E. G. Brookes and E. D. Milne. WELLINGTON TEAM CHOSEN (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. December 28. The Wellington cricket team to play Canterbury in the Plunket Shield match at Christchurch will be the same as that which met Central Districts with two exceptions. D. W. Crowe and T. Malloch, who are not available, will be replaced by T. Meale and M. Giles. J. Moorhead will be the twelfth man.

Bowling O. M. R. w. D. J3. Clarke .. 22 2 64 5 E. Child .. 30 6 86 2 T. S. Hambrook .. 14 3 48 1 R. Carrington .. 6 1 18 C. Burke .. 14 -—- 45 1 D. D. Taylor .. 2 8 —

Bowling O. M. R. W. J. A. Hayes ..18 2 43 4 D. J. Reid ..12 2 34 1 I. Sinclair ..13 6 14 — T. B. Burtt ..15 5 34 1 P. G. Z. Harris .. 2 — 5 —