Wellington 392 For Nine; J. R. Reid Scores 165

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29101, 13 January 1960, Page 12

Wellington 392 For Nine; J. R. Reid Scores 165

lNew Zeaiana Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January 12. A magnificent innings of 165 by the New Zealand and Wellington captain, J R. Reid, led his team to the formidable total of 392 for nine wickets declared on the first day of the Plnnket Shield match against Auckland at Eden Park today- In the four overs before stumps Auckland scored 14 without loss. The pitch was plumb, the day beautifully fine; and to make the day even better Reid’s batting was superb. This was easily the best batting he had shown at Eden Park, and if he has batted better on any ground it must have been an exceptional innings. Until Reid came to the crease Wellington was struggling rather vaguely for runs against the steady Auckland bowling. L. S. M. Miller held the top of the innings together before lunch, but when he departed, for 51, in the first over after the break, Wellington was 106 for four, and not very happy against the spin of J. T. Sparling and the accuracy of K. W. Hough and C Renwick. Immediately Reid arrived he gave Hough a stinging chance at silly mid-on, which crashed into Hough’s left hand and dropped out If the Aucklander had held it it would have been a miracle. At 20 Reid snicked Hough, but R M. Harris missed the low catch at first slip No Other Chance Thereafter Reid gave no semblance of a chance and began to dominate the whole scene. At no stage did he attempt to i hammer the cover off the ball He batted steadily for the ones and twos, and occasionally, and always safely, unleashed a crushing boundary stroke. With Reid in such form, the Wellington score bounded along until A. H. Preston, after a long and patient sheet-anchor innings, and R. A. Vance were both out in the 170’s. However, any chance of Auckland achieving a break-through was arrested by Reid and P. T Barton, in an excellent stand of 146 in 116 minutes for the seventh wicket. Barton batted faultlessly, and Reid cruised serenely to his century in 113 minutes. Barton eventually fell at 323, to a very good ball from Sparling at the start of his third spell. Reid went on until, with his timing slightly affected by tiredness, he skied an attempted big hit and W R. Playle took the catch 15 yards behind the bowler Reid batted for 211 minutes. He hit 20 fours, received 220 balls, and scored from 84 of them

After Reid’s departure, L. C. Butler, R. E. Reid and J. Bray scored quickly ana merrily until Reid closed the innings and gave Auckland 10 minutes at the crease.

The Auckland openers, Harns and Playle, survived easily against some indifferent bowling from R. E. Reid and Bray. The pitch seems certain to be plumb again tomorrow and Wellington, without R. W Blair and B. D. Morrison, might well have some leather-chasing to do. The attendance was 4000, and the gate takings £4OO. Scores: — WELLINGTON F irst Innings L S. M Miller, c and b Hough 51 T. G. McMahin, b Hough .. 18 B W. Sinclair, c Ritchie, b Norman .. 3 A Roberts, c Hough, b Sparling 14 A H. Preston, c Taylor, b Renwick .. 29 J. R. Reid, c Playle, b Renwick 165 R. A. Vance, low, b Sparling .. 3 P. T. Barton b Sparling .. 47 L. C. Butler, not out .. ..22 R E. Reid, c and b Sparling .. 16 J Bray no! out .. .. 7

Total tor nine wickets declared .. .392 Fall of wickets: one for 43, two for 51, three for 75, four for 75, five for 170, six for 179, seven for 323 eight for 349, nine for 379

Bowling O. M. R. w R E. Sutton .. 10 1 33 0 W B Noinian .. 25 5 68 1 K. W Hough .. 32 6 97 2 C Renwick .. 24 6 80 2 J T. Sperling 36 11 88 4 R M Harris 1 0 9 0 AUCKLAND ’■'irst Innings R. M. Harns, not out 10 W. R. Playle. not out 0 Extras • * 4 Total without loss 14 Bowling O. Nl. R. W J. Bray .. 2 2 0 0 R E Reid .. 2 0 10 0