SHIELD CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1009, 27 December 1910, Page 7

SHIELD CRICKET.

■•■•.■■. i A GREAT STRUGGLE. h ■ : '--f-' ; SPLENDID RECOVERY BY OUR MEN SAUNDERS IN FORM. ••(By Telegraph—Press Association.). Auckland, December 24. •-.". The first Plunket Shield match 01 tho .season was commenced to-day tic twecn tho representatives ~of Wei '< .. lington (challengers) and ■Aucklani V (holders). Wellington won tho toss, bul failed to make much use of the batsman; \ wicket, and were all out for 188. Tin ; bowling of Pearson, the EneKsli professional coach, was very deadly to tin "tail." Ha secured tho last- three wicket; in oho over, narrowly missing the hal trick, one ball intervening. Altogether h< . took six wickets for 54 runs. Auckland played out time Retting five (no balls) foi no wickets. The attendance, to-day wa; about 2300. • Midlanc' and Naushton were the openin? batsmen, tho former taking strike tc Hidden. A brace to'leg. and a late cut to tho boundary by Midlnne was the're '■ suit of tho first oyer. Howden took uy' the bowling at-the other end, and sent down a maiden over to Naughton whe Was not comfortable. The next over was fatal to Jlidlane who_was caught in .the slips by. Hemus off Ktulden. The board then read 6—l—o. The vacant crease wa£ ■-;. -.filled by Mahony, who scored a boundary , .'-.-by a nice late, cut, but shortly! after, hit ■■ ;• -round to let, and was. caught by Haylif .ward.. 17—2—6." ; •-'■ Stand by Gibbes and Blacklock. Blacklock' came in, and had a "life-' without scoring. He- went out to hit Howden, and missing :the ball, gave Hayward a chance of stumping. After this let-off he. very soon got to work on the bowling, and when 50 was hoisted, Pearson was put on to bowl. .Much interest was evinced in the' appearance of the (English professional.- He is of medium height, and very methodical and easy in his manner of delivery. His, second ball—a good-length one, which broke in from the off-beat Naughton all the way. The retiring batsman had played a'stubborn innings at a critical period. 59— \,. B—ls. , - Gibbes came in, and. ployed Kerr's bowling very carefully. A period of slow .' ' play was relieved by a-square-cut to the '■■" boundary by Blacklock oft Kerr. Pearson, and Kerr.were bov;ling'well, but ths . j batsmen were taking no risks whatever. i ' Blacklock presently brought up the total to 70, and his own score to 30—the latter as the result of 35 minutes' play. Hay- !■• ward missed a chance of stumping Gibbes I . off Kerr when the latter's score was two. In Pearson's next over Hadden, in ;•'■ the slips, failed to accent a warm chance ';• from Blacklock, BlockloaVs score then be- ;' ins 32. Gibbes scored a boundary by, a ; , snick 'over the wickets off Pearson, and '■i. . in Kerr's next over, the bowler refused :';' an easy chance'by-Blacklock, the latter's [' . score being then 39."; • . Play had now; become decidedly dull, the only rousing incident in a long period of slow play .being a late cut by Blacklock ,'•' ■'. to the boundary, which brought that plav..er's half century up as-the. result of 75 '■:■' minutes' batting. Two balls'later the century came up ninid applause—the result of one. and-three-quarters hours' S play. Tho batsmen scores then were:— Blacklock 51,- Gibbes 13. Olliif relieved KeiT, and his-fourth delivery was fatal ;■,;. to Blacklock, who niade a terrific swipe j at a-ball which broke in n foot from the !-. off. He had played a fair, but lucky in- ; -lungs for bis runs.- 1 ..The afternoon tea ■■• adjournment- was ' then made, Gibbes bsing 14 not out. Five bowlers had been tried,.and four had taken a wicket each. The partnership had produced 42 runs, and the board now read-101—t—51. Wellington Mown Down. J, Brice took Blncklock's-place after Hie tea adjournment, and Gibbes .opened his ' . ■ 6houlUers to Pearson; and' scored two : ! boundaries off his first- over. ' Brice opened his account'with a straight carpet drive off' OHiff ti the' boundary. Howdeirroplaced Olliff, and-Gibbes showed an J-' inclination to open., cut, but'he was soon steadied, and played the rest of the over carefully. He drove the last ball hard, and. a brilliant field .and smart return bv. Sale saw Brice' run out. US—s—B. ; Monaghau was the next batsmau, and Gibbes faced 'Olliff, who had relieved Pearson, and at once pulled'a full-pitched ball to the square-leg boundary. Hadder replaced Howden,'and in'the first over. "Sammy" Jones no-balled him twice. The batsjued seemed to find Olliff easy to play, and \"pasted" Hadden. In the next over .Gibbes scored' a boundary from ft straight drive,'and three from a boo!; to square-leg, white Monagiinn pulled one to the deep-leg boundary; ' Kerr replaced Hadden, and 150 came.- up as the .'-result of 2 hours 25 minutes' play: Pearson replaced Kerr, and Menaghan gave OUii! a hard chanco in the slips, his score being then 23. He followed with a verj nice straight-'off drive to the boundary. A Gibbes's end came in Pearson's next over, ho being cleaned bowled with an off break. He had opened very scratchily, and was very l.ucky at this outset, but he afteri wards showed.some nico strokes. He was at the wickets sixty minutes for his runs. Saunders, .the Australian, was next man. and he was" dismissed, Hayward .taking him • behind the stumps first ball. 173—7—0. Hickev came in and spoilt Pearson's chance for the hat trick, and also scored a boundary off the Englishman's next over. Two.balls.later, however, he skied one, and Hemus at point ." accepted the chance. .187—7—48. Findlay ;* camei in, but ''succumbed to the profc--sional's first ball, and Schmoll,' tlio last man, fared likewise. ' Kerr and Anthony opened for Auckland, with five'minutes to play, the former taking strike to' Findlay, the Wellington fast howler. He was no-balled twice, and a.boundary of byes was scored off one of these deliveries. Scores:— Wellington. First Innings; Midlane, c. Hemus," b. Hadden ( Naughton, b. Pearson ]= Mahony c HaywaTd, b. Howden" '.'.'. ( Blacklock, b. Olliff ......,.; 5 j Gibbes, b. Pearson !""'!!!"""" iBrice, run out ..;..., \...J,.'.".".'.'.'.'.'. { Monagkan, not out '.....!"!"" i Saunders, c. Hayward; b. Pearson,"!!!!!', f Hickey, c. Hemus, b. Pearson ; - Findlay, b. Pearson....... !!!!.! ( ,' •■Bchraoll, b. Pearson ....... ( . Extras ..;..:;... -. ..............1 i; Total ! ~^,, Bowling Analysis. Pearson took six wickets 'for 54 runs v Hadden one for 31; Howden, one for 29 ' : Olliff, one for 28; Kerr, .nono for 28. SECOND DAY'S PLAY. GREAT BOWLING, BY'.SAfXDERS. (By Telegraph—Press,J Association.) ~:.-'■■■ Auckland, December 26. Tho match was ■ continued to-clay ii bright,weather, and a fairly.strong south west breeze assisted the Wellington bowl erg. In tho afternoon, tho 'attendant was about 3009. The fcaturo of the day' play was ,the collapse of' the Aucklani batsmen, who, after'startingWell, wen ail disposed of for 154, Wellington thin ;; having a lead of 34 on the-first innings Saunders, the ex-Victorian, taok'.sjx'wic ,kets for 61 runs. Wellington has startcc badly in the second innings, having los four wickets for 68 runs. The not-out batsmen of-Saturday, Ken and Anthony, again took strike, the lat ~J ter facing Saunders. Both batsmen op ened carefully, but Kerr, after a close cal of being run out, got his leg in fron to Saunders, and retired. 22—1—!). Sail was next man in, and he immediate!} started to score boundaries by nice oris] .'. strokes.' Fifty appeared as the rosul of an hour's play. Brice relieved Mona gkan with the ball, and, at 01, Hickei 'replaced Saunders, the latter gqing oi ' again a few overs later at the other end The howling at this stage' was good. AVith 82 up, Findlay, Wellington's fas ; bowler,- went on with a fairly stroiij south-west wind in, place'of Hickey. Hi: first was placed to. leg'for three by Sale but, with 88 up, Anthony stepped acrosi ;v his-wickets to glide a fast one, and, miss 1 ing it, was out l.b.w. 88—2—31. Pearsoi H took Anthony's place, and Gihbes re placed Saunders, at the bowling crease Sale scored three off Gibbes, and thei Pearson hit his first ball softly up ti Jlidlane at -mid-off, and retired. An ad journment was then, made for luncheon the board reading 1)1—3-0. Sale at thi: ■ stage was 43 not out.

Sneddon accompanied Sale to the wickets on , resuming after luncheon, and the century appeared as the result of two hours four minutes' play. Sale then cut one from Saunders for two, and was top' scoro for the match, but tho next ball from Saunders came down on tho leg stump. Sale made a great swipe, and, missing it, was out l.b.w. Hemus followed, and was clean bowled first ball from Saunders, the board reading five wickets for 102. W. Brooke-Smith, the next batsman, missed his first ball from Saunders, but it passed the'stumps, and the Australian thus just missed tlio hat trick. Sneddon, who was at the wickets 30 minutes without scoring, was finally clean bowled by Gibbes without adding to the total. Hadden was applauded on going to tho wickets, and he broke the spell by hooking tho first ball to leg for a brace, but Saunders's second ball was fatal to him. He hit out at tho Victorian', and was clean bowled. 107—7—2. The Auckland batsmen were now completely demoralised, the averages of the Wellington bowlers being:'—Saunders, four for 40; Gibbes, two for 5; Findlay, one for 3. Olliff was next man in, and showed confidence when opposed to Saunders. Smith also started to hit out, and, scoring a couple of boundaries, dispelled to same extent the gloom which had settled on the crowd.. Olliff had a "life" in the slips off Gibbes, a high ball being reached but not held by Saunders. Next over from Saunders Olliff stepped across to hit one to leg and paid tho,penalty. 129— 8-4. When Howden went to the wickets the crowd was in a. state of tension, every scorihg stroke being applauded. . Smith scored 9 off one over, and was playing a daring game, the only one justified in the circumstances. Howden with a straight drive for a single- brought 140 .up, and Gibbes was relieved by Jlonaghan. Findlay replaced Saunders,- and a few ■minutes later Monaghau clean bowled Smith, who was in. 65 minutes for his runs. He played n most determined innings, and greatly improved the situation. The end was in sight when Hayward went to the .wickets. Saunders went on in place of Findlay, and Hayward lifted his third ball softly ' into -Naughton's< hands at mid-on, and the innings closed. Following are the scores:— Auckland. First Innings. A. Kerr, l.b.w'., b.- Saunders 9 A. Anthony, 1.b.w., b. Findlay 31 E. V. Sale, 1.b.w., b. Saunders 53 F. A. Pearson, c. Sfidlane, b. Gibbes 0 N. C. Sneddon, b. Gibbes 0 L. G. Hemus, b. Saunders 0 W. Brooke-Smith, b. Jlonaghan 33 A. Hadden, .b. Saunders 2 C. Olliff, 1.b.w., b. Saunders J A. M. Howden, not out 7 G. Hayward, c. Naughton, b. Saunders 1 Extras .....;.. 14 Total J ....\., 154 Bowling Analysis. Findlay took one wicket for -4 runs; Saunders, six for 61; Monaghau, one for 20; Brice, none for 16; Hickey, none for 9; and Gibbes, two for 30. Wellington, Second Innings, Jfidlune, b. Kerr 5 Naughton, b. Kerr g Mahonv, not out 29 Blacklock, b. Olliff 3 Gibbes. b. Hadden 25 Monaghau, not out : 7 :Extras iq Total for i wickets 88 t Bowling Analysis. Kerr took two wickets for 25 runs; Pearson, none for 14; Olliff, one for 22; Howden, none for 13; Hadden, one for 4. OUR B TEAM AT BLENHEIM. ■ GOOD INNINGS SY GEACE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Blenhehn, December 28.' The representative cricket match, Wellington B and Marlborough, was played to-day in perfect weather, and on a good wicket. Wellington B won the toss, and batted first, making 252. , Marlborough, at the end of the day's''ploy,' had lost four wickets for 124. Scores-.— Wellington B. Burton, c. Chisholm, b. Fisk 25" Wills, b Horton 50 Crombie, 1.b.w., b. Horton 21 Bruce,, c. Fisk, b. Hyltoh '. 20 Grace, not out ...-. 79 Roberts, b. Fisk .' 1 Aldersiev, b. Pist ..,'....; 6 Finlaysou, c. Mills, b. Horton 6 Wilkinson, run out 'o Grimmett, c. Chisholm, b Horton ... 6 Hales, run out ;........... „... 2fi Extras '. , ..„.„.„ '12 Total „.. "050 Bowling Analysis. . Cragg, no wickets for 38 runs; Hylton, one. for 53; Fisk, three for 67; Eobinson, none for 13; Horton, four for 56; Martin, none for 13. Marlborough. Chisholm, run out .• 30 Whitely, b. Finlayson 4 Mills, b. Bruco 35Armstrong, not out 20 Fisk,' c. Roberts,-'b. Bruce 4 W«dde, not out is Extras 13 v Total for four wickets .....121 Bowling Analysis., Hales, no wickets for 30, runs; Finlovscm, one for 35; Grimmett, none for 18; Bruco, two for 13; Grace, none for 9. Grace played- a brilliant.inmni":. nn.l •

uiau« piajea a orimaut.innings, and, with Hales, put on Gi for the last wicket. Br.ueo was bowling well. THE HAWKE CUP. MANAWATU ,V. NELSON. (By. Telegraph.-Specisl Correspondent.) ' Palmerston, December 26. ( The first round of , the Lord Hawke Cup cricket matches was commenced hero to-day, Manawntu playing Nelson. The visitors were disposed of in tho first innings for 71 runs, batting one man short. Cobbo and Goldspring took most of Hie wickets, the latter having tiie fine average of four wickets for 13 runs.- The only Nelson plovers to reach double figures were Fau-lv (IS), Mead (15), and Cook. (11). Mamiwatu made a- better showing in the first innings, and piled up 17-1. Hemus accounted for 53, Roberts- 43, and, at 30. Gohlspring was given out l.b.w. In their second innings Nelson had no wickets down for 70 runs when stumps wero drawn. matches~7n~australia. n.s.w. second xi v. queensland. Dy TelCEraph—Press AssoCiation-Copyrißht Sydney, December 21. ' Playing against Queensland, the .NewSouth Wales second eleven, in their first innings, made 207, Barnes. 02, Watson 38, and Makin 71 being the chief scorers. In their first inniiigs, Queensland has Inst seven wickets for 122 runs. (Marshall 31 Fenelly 27, and M'Cloy 15). . (Kec. December 27, 0.20 a.m.) Sydney, December 2f>. Queensland's first innings produced 182, M'Larcn. (17) and Lewis (22) being the only others lo make a stand. ' New South Wales, in their second innings, made 107 (Cranney 15, Watson 23, Minnett 15, and Hordarn 18). Queensland, in their second innings, have lost three wickets for 93 runs (Fenelly not but 53, and Hutcheon 19). N.S.W. V. VICTORIA-BAJtDSLEY BATTING WELL. Melbourne, December 24. The weather was fine and tho wicket good for the commencement of the imitch between Victoria and New South Wales. Going first to the wickets, New South Wales put together 331. Bardsley made 121, Trumper 52, Macartney 13, M'Elhone 20, and Collins 32, not out. • Layer captured four wickets for SO runs, and Kyle four for 70. Victoria has made one run for no wickets. Bardsley gave a splendid exhibition of all-round batting, hij innings lasting over two hours. (lice. December 27, 0.15 a.m.) Melbourne, December 20. ' Victoria's first innings totalled 252 (Laver 4.2-, liansford 33, Kortlang SH, Kenny 20, and Matthews 29). Cotter look four wickets for CO runs; Kollewny, two for 58; Emery, two for 10; and Banluur, two for 01. New South Wales, in llioir second innings, have two wickets down for 70 runs (E. Waddy 20, and Macartuov. 30).