Prospects Of Shield Victory Now Remote

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28480, 9 January 1958, Page 11

Prospects Of Shield Victory Now Remote

("'AN 112RBUR Y'S prospect of winning the Plunket Shield this season all but disappeared with the defeat at Napier by Central Districts, and it would require an extraordinary set of circumstances for Canterbury to come into the picture again. But in the defeat there was much to commend; it was a fine game clearly played in the best of spirits, and the form of some of the newer Canterbury players was most encouraging. It may be felt that M. E. Chapple's declaration 20 minutes before lunch on the last day which left Central Districts with no more than a run-a-minute task, was a little premature. For the sake of a few minutes at the opening Central Districts batsmen, which might have brought a wicket he lost the 10 minutes between innings which would have been saved with a lunch-time declaration. Further, had he batted a further 20 minutes, and scored perhaps 30 more runs. Central Districts would have had to take a few more risks and would therefore have been in greater danger of defeat. The Decision

But only Chapple, on the field at Napier, could be in full possession of the facts, and many apparently unimportant details can contribute towards the d eterm ination of the best time to close an innings. Chapple has led Canterbury with such distinction this season that it is a safe assumption he was not far wrong with his timing.

So a team which has led on the first innings in each of its three matches has so far scored no more than first innings points against the weakest team in the contest. It is disappointing for the players and the Canterbury cricketing

public, but the two outright losses have been sustained in matches which have produced excellent cricket At least some of those who say it doesn’t matter which side wins, if the cricket is good, mean it Improved At Napier, the form of nearly all the Canterbury players showed some improvement. M. B. Poore made his best score in the series so far. J. W. D’Arcy, with 90 runs for the match, displayed welcome aggression. Chapple himself, remains at peak form, and B. A. Bolton fully justified his retention. His batting was good, he bowled usefully, and his fielding won the highest praise. S. C. Guillen made another good score, B. A. Bayley vindicated the faith some of cricket’s elder statesmen have in him, and R. C. Motz again did remarkably well fbr a lad of 17.

Bayley, a beautiful field, thrilled spectators at Napier with the strength and style of his driving, and cricket can do with more front-of-wicket strokes. Motz did not repeat his startling success of his first match, but his batting and bowling were admirable, and he seems certain to retain his place when A. R. Mac Gibbon conies back into the side. ' Canterbury, second last in the competition, still has to play Otago, on January 17 at Dunedin, and Wellington, a week later at Lancaster Park. These are the teams which seem most likely to be on top at the. end. Canterbury’s bowling still looks thin— Chapple has disguised its deficiencies with all the skill of Percy Fender with his Surrey team, years ago—but Canterbury must be given every chance of upsetting one, or both, of the teams it has yet to play.