SHIELD LIFTED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1362, 13 February 1912, Page 6

SHIELD LIFTED.

BY AUCKLAND. GREAT FINISH IN BAD LIGHT. TWO-WICKET WIN. IB; Tjkcraon.—Pr«« Association.l Christchurch, February 12. The fight for the Plunket Shield ended to-day in one of the most inexorable and exciting finishes over seen at Lancaster Park. Cnnterbnry's batting collapse in the first innings practically lost them the match, but there was an even more sensational collapse by the Auckland team to-day, when they only had to mako 50 in the second innings to win, and this nearly cost them the match. The. weather was again fine, and the wicket much improved since Saturday. Auckland's last pair butted excellently, putting on 37, though Jlason gave on easy chance before the partnership had made a run. As it subsequently turned out this was the disastrous let-off. Canterbury batted much better in their second innings, though several were disappointing, iieese gave ono of his best displays, showing a much better defence than on Saturday, whilst his scoring strokes were forcetul and beautifully timed. Sandman also played aggressive and orthodox cricket, his defence anil scoring strokes being alike good. Patrick kept up his fine form of this season, playing all his strokes like a master batsman. Of the others Hickmott nlono shaped as though in for a score, but most of the others were very disappointing, playing as though they were impressed with the importance of the occasion. Thompson bowled . steadily for Auckland, but was not at his best in regard to length, many of his deliveries being overpitched. Oliff got .Uio best figures, and UHil' plenty of headwork in varying bis pace and length. The Auckland fielding was iirst class all tliroujrii.

Auckland, requiring 49 to win, collapsed in a remarkable manner, and tho excitement as man after man went out was almost indescribable. Reeso and Bennett bowled splendidly, whilst no better fielding has been seen on Lancaster l'ark. The attendance was over a thousand, thte takings boing £58.

At 11.31 the not-out man, Mnsont, was accompanied to thet wicket by OliiV. Reese and Bennett had charge of the bowling, and, in the former's second over, Oliff gavo a fairly easy chance at slip, which Lusk dropped. Mason then got each bowler to leg, a three and a two resulting, and then got Reese to the on for three. Hayes distinguished himself by a fine bit "of fielding at third man, and Sandman replaced Keose, who then bowled from the other end. Oliff at once cut Reese for a pair, sending 200 up for three hours and twonty minutes' play. At 205 Carlton replaced Sandman, and Mason reached 20 with a late cut for two off Reese, lifting tho next ball to square-leg, where it landed on the picket fence.

Mason reached 30 with a four to squareleg, but, in tho same over, Carlton bowled him with a long hop, which broke in from leg. Tho innings closed at 12.15 for 220, having lasted three hours and thirty-five minutes.

During the interval the pitch was cut and rolled, and, at 20 minutes to 1, Lusk and Hayes went out to open Canterbury's secoud innings. Thompson opened to tho latter from the south end, a single coming to.each. Brooke-Smith was the other bowler, and Lusk lifted him over point's head : for. four. \ bvo sent 10 on the board, but Lusk was bowled with a ball that ho tried to hit to leg. Cariton followed, but, after getting a couple of singles, he was smartlv caught at tho wickets. Hickmott followed, and Olift replaced Smith ;it tho crease. The newcomer sent a full toss to tho squareleg boundary, and, with 22 on the board, the players adjourned for lunch. On resuming, Oliff and Thompson each howled two maidens, and Haves then got the former, to leg for a ■ .pair. A- '"trio" to- Hickmott sent 30 up, and the same batsman got a pair to leg, but he was then out 1.b.-w. Norman filled the gap, but, with the scoro unaltered, Hayes put a tricky one up to In Id ' lol ' iUSt rcachctl

Reese joined Gorman, and the latter late-cut Oliff uppishly for 3. Tno same bafeaian .got a lucky two to fine-log, and then gave llorspool a very difficult chance at point. Thompson then bowled his third no-ball. Fifty went up for an hour and 25 minutes, and Norman reached double- figures with a sharplyrun single. Mason replaced Oliff at 53 Alter a number o{ singles, Brooke-Smith replaced Jhompson, and Reese late-cut him prettily for 4, and off-drove Mason to the lence. A sharply-run single gained Norman a 5, through the return going to the fence, and Reese got Smith to the on for 3.

lhe runs were now coming fast. Norman got a full-toss prettily to tlie offfence, and good fielding by Mason saved a boundary. At 88 OlifF relieved Smith, and Mason, in his next over, bowled Norman with a good one. Patrick joined his skipper, and at once, drove Oliff nicely for 3, while a fine cut to Recso for 4 sent 100 up for 3J hours' play. Tho same batsman presently reached 30 with a nice 3 to leg. Thompson then took tho ball from Mason, and Reese hit a no-ball to leg for 2, and offdrove the professional grandly for i. Patrick treated Oliff to tho same dose, and then lifted one which Sale just touched. Reeso reached 10 with a lovely straight drive, and Patrick late-cut Thompson, prettily for 3, and lifted Oliff to the on-boundarv.

After an adjournment for tea, Taylor bowled an over, to allow Thompson and Oliff to change ends. ".In tho lattcr's second over, Reese jiff-drove one hard to Thompson, who took a very difficult catch low down. .

Sandman opened with a single which wiped off the first innings deficit. Patrick cut Oliff-or -3 and later drove Thompson grandly, for 4, sending 130 up for 3 hours and 5 minutes' play. This was his. last, however, Thompson bowling him with a beauty. Seven lor 152.

Thomas was. next and got. 3 for a straight drive, a single giving Sandman double figures. At 103 Thomas played back at Oliff and hit his wicket. Boxshall went in, and Sandman, with a tremendous lift landed OlilF over tho fence for six. Further applause came when Boxshall got Thompson to the leg bound- , ary and Sandman sent 180 up with a nice square cut for 4 off Oliff, and then back cut Thompson for another quartet. Boishall next lifted Oliff for a pair to tho on, but trying to repeat tho stroke, made a mishit and w.as caught behind tho wickets by Wallace.

Bennett was the last man, and opened with a pair to leg. He thon got Oliff to square leg for 3, but Oliff bowled Sandiiian in the same over, the innings thus closing for 192. Auckland requiring 59 runs to win, commenced with Hoinus and Sale at 25 minutes to 6. Reese opened from the north end, Bennett bowling from the other. A pair to Sale and 3 to Honms to fine leg were chiefly responsible for sending 10 up, and Sale straight drove Kceso finely for 4, repeating the dose 'the same over. With 20 up Reese bowled Salo with a good one. Horjpool followed, and after getting a couple of pairs off Keesc, hit liennett to the off fence. Ucmus reached double figures by lifting Ueoso to the on boundary, but in Kec.so's next over, Hcmus hit'a high full-toss into Thomas's linnds at short leg. Snedden filled tho gap, but .Unrspool was at once out l.b.w. BrookeSmitU was next, but after scoring n 1 single, was well fallen at the wieketH. ! Taylor followed, and Sneddon should have been run out, but Norman's return j was wild. The"light was now pretty I bad, but it had been ngroed to play I he same out. Snedden was sninrtly caught in the flips by Xusk, and 'Remus came out to appeal against (ho light. Thy umpires, however, decided to go on. Wallace went in, and play was slow. With a single, on Bennett bowled Taylor with a fast one. Six for forty. Mason joined Wallace, and, after sW play, the latter drove a full toss for four. Heiinis again went out, and appealed against.going on, and then Wallace got , a two to the off, nnd then gave. Uecso a possible chance high up, the Canterbury skipper making o good attempt. Fift,went up for an honr and five minutes' play, nnd Wallace got Koese to leo for three. Tim left only six to *et. Each ronn "ot a single and then Mason off-drove Rec Se

for « pair. WaUaoo got another single, and then Mason wont for a close rin|£ but Wallace stayed at home, and the former was rnu out, \nth the eoorcs oven, Thompson was the ingoor, but, with-' bowled Wallace with n good one, Ellis was next, and took tho roet of the over. In Bennett's next over a sbnrply-rnn sinplo paw Ellis nearly run out, Boxshall failed to take off the bails and Kllis pot home, the gamo thus endinc at ten minutes to eeven. Canterbury—First Inningj, H. B. Lusli, c. and b. Thompson 27 A. Norman, b. Thompson (| W. Hayes, b. Thompson 5 W. Canton, l>. Thompson jo : D. lieose, c. Thompson, b. Oljff 18 n. G. Hickmott, b. Oliff u W. Patrick, c. lTcnius, b. Oliff n D. Sandman, c. Horspnol, b. Oliff ... 1 A. W. Thomas, b. Oliff „ 1 C. Boxshall, st. Ellis, b. Oliff 0 J. H. Bennett, not out 5 Extras „ 5 Total 60 Bowling Analysis. G. J. Thompson, four wickets for 32 rung; C. Oliff, six for 37j F. E, Mason, nono for 12 runs. Fall of the Wickets. 123156 7 8 9 10 5 21 « 55 73 75 80 81 81 88 Canterbury—Second Innings. IT. B. Lusk, b. Brooke-Smith 9 W. Hayes, c. Taylor, b. Thompson ... 8 W, Caflton, c. Ellis, b. Thompson ... a It. G. Hickmott, 1.b.w., l>. Oilrf 12 A. Norman, l>. Mason 'S! 13. Reese, c. Thompson, b. Oliff 45 W. Patrick, b. Thompson 39 D. Sandman, b. Oliff .'. 20 A. W. Thomas, hit wicket, b. Oliff ... 5 C. Boxshall, c. Wallace, b. Oliff ,;.... 9 J. H. Bennett, not out 5 Extras H Total 103 Bowling Analysis, G. J. Thompson took throe wicketa for 57 runs; W. Brooke-Smith, one for 28j 0. Oliff,'five for G7. ' . Fall of the Wickets. 123456 7 8 9 Iβ It 18 3G 36 89 133 152 IG3 187 132 Auckland. First innings .'..■».. 224 Second Innings. E. V. Sale, \>. Iteesp 14 L. G. Hrnius, c. Thomas, l>. Reese ... 11 E. Horspool, 1.b.w., l>. Reese .:.... 9 N. C. Snedden, c. Lusk, b. Bennett ... 3 W. Brooke-Smith, c. Boxshall, b. Benlicit. ; ~.. ..„. 1 L. Toylor, b. Bennett 0 A. Wallace, l>. Reese- 13 F. R. Mason, run out 6 G. L. Thompson, not out 1 W. H. Ellis, not out 0 Extras , 1 Total for eight wickets ._ 59 Bowling Analysis. D. Keese took four wickets for 35 nma; J. H. Bennett, three for 23. Fall of the Wickets. • 12 3 15 078 20 35 35 36 39 10 58 59