SPIRITED ENCOUNTER EXPECTED

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31277, 25 January 1967, Page 11

SPIRITED ENCOUNTER EXPECTED

JpOR the statistician, tomorrow’s Plunket Shield match between Auckland and Canterbury Is more than passing interest—it is the 400th shield game since Auckland thrashed Canterbury at Hagley Park In 1907. But for cricketers generally the match will be of particular interest because it promises to be a much more spirited encounter than several of this season’s earlier shield games. Auckland’s games with Canterbury have given New Zealand cricket some of its brightest days, and many of the flnest New

Zealand players have been in this long parade. The most successful batsman in the AucklandCanterbury series was the popular Auckland player, V. J. Scott. In his 19 innings against Canterbury, he scored three centuries, six half-centuries, and had four other scores of over 30. In all, he made 1069 runs at an average of 66.8. The only other batsman from either province to exceed 1000 was W. M. Wallace (1019 at 53.6) but second to Scott in averages was S. G. Gedye, who made 585 in nine completed innings. Other outstanding Auckland

batsmen were L. G. Hemus (871 at 45.8), S. G. Smith (581 at 52.8), G. L. Weir (753 at 44.3) and D. D. Taylor (640 at 40). Canterbury’s top scorer was M. L. Page, who nude 865, followed by W. A. Hadlee (760), I. B. Cromb (680), J. L. Kerr (667), J. G. Leggat (646) and A. W. Roberts (632). Leggat has the best average for Canterbury—49.7—followed by Hadlee, 40.

Canterbury’s popular lefthand spinner, T. B. Burtt, heads the bowling list with 57 wickets. After him come J. Cowie (Auckland) and S. G. Smith, with 52, R. J. Read (Canterbury) 48, D. McK. Sandman and A. R. Mac Gibbon (Canterbury) with 39.