Auckland side all out for 97

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33730, 31 December 1974, Page 18

Auckland side all out for 97

(A T Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. Helped by variable early bounce and some poor Auckland batting, the Wellington Plunket Shield team bowlers swept aside the Auckland first innings for a remarkably low total of 97 at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

Mike Coles finished with five for 22, easily his best return in his 22 shield matches since the 1966-67 season, and Ewen Chatfield and Brian Cederwall also had fine figures. Auckland’s batting debacle left Wellington with the best part of two sessions to ram home the huge advantage given it by Coles and company.

If a little too slow at times, Wellington finished the day for 155 for five, with John Morrison following up his century against Northern Districts with 75.

Wellington’s innings started as if it were going to continue the day’s procession — Robert Smith going to the very first ball thrusting forward to young Gary Troup to be'caught behind from an inside edge to Ross Dykes.

But Morrison and Bilby methodically righted the innings, putting on 81 in 129 minutes before Bilby was stumped from the left-a,rm spin of Hedley Howarth for a sound 36.

Jeremy Coney went immediately, giving Howarth a return catch, but Morrison found able allies in Bruce Smith and Brian Cederwall to see Wellington to its first batting point in the fortyninth over. Morrison took 147 minutes and 138 balls to reach his 50, but he hit nine 4s. Just when he seemed on the verge of his second century in consecutive matches, Morrison was out 13 minutes from stumps, well caught by Rodney Redmond at fine leg. For Auckland only John Kasper, Graham Vivian, and Jim Riley, who was stunned early by a blow to the ribs from a sharp, rising delivery from Chatfield, reached double figures. There was certainly life in the pitch, but for its misfortune Auckland really had only itself to blame.

» Cross-country. — Bronislav Malinowski, of Poland, the European 5000 metres champion, comfortably won the 9km Houilles cross-country race, in 26min 07sec. The French runners, Jacky Boxberger (26min 34sec) and Noel Tijou (26min 39sec) were second and third.