SENSATIONAL SHIELD CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 100, 22 January 1927, Page 10

SENSATIONAL SHIELD CRICKET

WELLINGTON BATSMEN FAIL TO STAND UP TO AUCKLAND BOWLING SIDE ALL OUT FOR 182 BRICE THE HERO OF THE INNINGS Fielding what was conceded on all hands a first-class batting side the Wellington cricket eleven failed badly in their first strike against Auckland yesterday. Brice was the hero of the innings, going in eighth wicket and making top score. No particular reason can be assigned for Wellington’s failure on a good wicket; they simply went under to good bowling, excellently handled.

' JJl’ TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Auckland, January 21. Brilliant weather prevailed lor the final I’lunket Shield cricket match between Wellington and Auckland. The wicket was in excellent order, and apparently all in favour of the batsmen; when, therefore, Wellington with its great team of batsmen was dismissed for 182, the feat was invested with a touch of the sensational. At one stage Wellington had lost six for 94, and it remained for flrice, the Wellington captain, who came in at the fall of the eighth wicket, to make, the stand of the innings. He made top score (61), and his partnerships with James and Headersoi; were instrumental in lifting the score to 182. Bowley (four for 27), Matheson (three for 73), and Player ■ (two for 24) were the principal Auckland bowlers. When stumps were drawn for the day Auckland had lost four wickets for 146, ' Mills being top scorer with 63. Caere (13) and Allcott (4) are the not out men. A Cautious Opening. When Hiddleston and Worker commenced playing cautiously to the bowling of Matheson and Allcott, no one ■expected a sensational opening. Both bowlers struck a length early and Matheron was getting a lot of life into his deliveries. However, Hiddleston scored off mi occasional erratic ball from him, but Allcott kept Worker strictly on the deft fensive. The score was taken slowly to 25 before Worker took his first strike to Matheson having faced three maiden overs from Allcott. A ball from Matheson. who was swinging them down well, kicked up a little; the batsman tipped it and Rowntree took a beautiful catch. ■ Two of the finest batsmen at present playing in New Zealand—Kortlang and Hiddleston—were next associated, and the crowd settled down in anticipation of patient cricket. Hiddleston was slow but sure; he demonstrated a fine shot through the slips and occasionally forced one round to leg in good "Style. However, it was this shot, combined with the astute generalship of Dacre, which resulted in the loss of his wicket. The Auckland captain made a sudden change in his bowling, replacing Allcott with Player. Plaver appeared to be pitching the' ball somewhat short, but he was swinging a little. Hiddleston tried to force' otic rounfi to leg, but the stroke was a little uppish, and a roar from the crowd signified that Anthony at short leg had snapped up a brilliant catch. Lowry joined Kortlang, and welcomed the next change in the bowling. He went out to rhe leg-breaks of Snedden, who relieved Matheson, and with clean shots to the leg boundary, hit 11 oft one over; but his career was also a short one. Player had been sending them down swinging from leg a little, but he swung in one that came from the off. Lowry played all over it, and three of Wellington’s best batsmen were down for 63. Four Best Batsmen Go for 78. A period of slow cricket followed, when James joined Kortlang. The batsmen, intent on improving their side’s poor position, declined to take any risks, and Dacre decided on a double change, reverting to Matheson, and giving Bowley his first chance with the ball against the Wellington side. Once again his tactics met with success. Bowley threw up a full toss, spinning a lot, to Kortlang, and the batsman forgot his stonewalling and hit out at it. He miss-hit the spinning ball, which went right up in the air for Snedden to take a catch. The impossible had been accomplished, four of the team’s best batsmen were out for 78. The next pair, James and McGirr, have a considerable reputation in Wellington for. smart running between the wickets, but an attempt to sneak a single saw James nearly run out. McGirr was not comfortable to Bowley, and James, although he was on the whole sound, was making far too many miss-hits to score well. Crowd and Players Worked Up to Concert Pitch. The crowd, as well as the players, was keyed up with excitement, and a shout went up as McGirr joined what was degenerating into almost a procession. A ball from Matheson made pace from the wicket, and went away a little. The batsman put it up into the slips, and Anthony, who with Bowley had been fielding excellently, took his second catch. ► Further Disaster. Just before the luncheon adjournment further disaster befell Wellington. Badcock was inclined to go forward and fell for Bowley’s breaks. He did this once too often, for one spun sharply from leg; the batsman tipped it, and Rowntree lived up .to his reputation. Six wickets had fallen for 94, Badcock hav- 1 ing scored 6. After lunch the procession continued. Lambert went in with James and made a single before driving one from Bowley hard to Allcott at deep mid-off. The fieldsman took a perfect catch. James seemed the only one who could play with restraint. For Hollings lost his wicket almost immediately through being too impetuous. He dashed out to hit Bowley, but the coach had flighted the breaking ball beautifully; the batsman missed and Rowntree whipped off the bails. Eight wickets had fallen, and the score was still four short of the first hundred. Bowley had been bowling with excellent judgment, mixing his deliveries well and flighting them beautifully. However, the Wellington captain (Brice) used his long reach to go out to the coach and hit him hard. He 1 played some crisp off drives, but it was his forcing pull shot that met with most results. However, he could not hit Bowley cleanly, and some of his shots might easily have been catches before Dacre took the coach off. James was I playing with rock-like defence, but oc- I, easionully ho flashed out with a pretty , cover drive. Brice was manifestly im- i easy to one over from Matheson, tho young university player making the ball hip disconcertingly, and ho sent np a catch to Snedden; it was not an easy one, and the Ponsouby player missed it after getting two hands to tho hall. Another change was tried to break fho ■ most productive partnership of the

match, Player relieving Matheson. Separation was effected by Allcott, who terminated James’s hour and a half stay by getting him l.b.w. Tzfil Continues to Wag.

Wellington’s tail continued to wag with the advent of Henderson. He was content to leave most ot the bowling to Brice, and the veteran too.c any opportunity of scoring that presented itself He reached 50 with a neat shot through the slips. The final partnership was an excellent one, with Brice standing up to the bowling, and putting all his power behind his shots < lhe p«ur showed good judgment in running between tho wickets. Anything on tho short side was treated with scant respect, but with the total at. 181 a bright and forceful innings .was brought to a close when Brice played Matheson on o his wicket. Ho had made Gt in a style singularly refreshing.

Auckland's Innings opens. It did not tako long for Mick »nd * opening pair, Bowley and V'! settle, down. The former opened bi g illy, using his beautiful forcing .eg shot to get Badcock’s second ball io the leg boundary. He continued in tho sai-ie style scorin'- easily BadCoCA <■.)<! McGirr and "putting plenty of force behind his back shots. Henderson 'as swan brought ou m place of 1>« Ir H OC '?. but lie could not reduce the late ot scoring. Both batsmen w .U c n ' n v h,s ,7 plenty of freedom into then play. «“'• although ho was making his runs chiefly behind the wicket, was beltei on the off than his partner. .Once he showed a powerful shot in swinging ll'nilcrson to tho leg boundary. A double change was tried in the bowling. IJitUlle ston and Badcock coming on. . o formet put a temporary check to the rate of scoring, but runs eontmued t come. Badcock was not difficult, anil Brice replaced him tor an over bonne the tea adjournment, but was not successful. The scoring slackened dow n somewhat on resumption. 4 1,r "".8 |, 9! ,t Bowlev had experienced some -difficulty h, Lotting on to off balls cleanly, and Mills’s best shots could not hud B a P i , the well-placed field. The s £. or ? ?. c ”bow 69 before a separation was effected. Bow lev did not look like going out; ho played forward to an over-pitched onofiom Badcock, straight dnw i bowler took a beautiful catch low down. Century Hoisted. ti^^ n^il? a Mii^as nice glance to the leg boundary off cock He was batting well, his cuttin„ bein'" a feature, but with his score at e.s he did not put enough power behind a full toss from Lambert and was caught by McGirr at deep square-leg. Mi ls was joined by Cooper, and. brought his half century up by swinging Lambert to leg, but then lost Ins club mate. Cooper drove Bollings hard to mid-on and Brice took a great one-handed catch turning round to get the bull Lei ore it reached tho ground Three wickets had fallen lor 116 whe.i Dacie came in. He was unusually cautions to start, but when Henderson came on he attempted t" force the pace. He miss-hit one to mii-'ia. but lowiv was standing a little too deep. Both he and Hollings rushed for the ball but collided, and the catch went begging. In the same over he gave Badcock a chance iu the slips, but the fieldsman failed to hold a hard catch. Henderson was now bowling well, if a trifle erratically, and in his next over he puzzled Mills with several balls that appeared to be swinging from the batsman’s off. One of these Mills missed and it went off his pads on to his wicket. With four wickets down for 138, the promise of a big first innings' score made by the good opening did not look like being realised. Allcott, tho next man, was not comfortable. The light was not exceptionally good, but the score was taken to 146 without further loss before stumps were drawn for the day. The following are the scores:— WELLINGTON—First Innings. Hiddleston, c. Anthony, b. Player ... 27 11. de R. Worker, c. Rowntree, b. Matheson 8 Kortlang, c. Snedden, b. Bowley ... 19 Lowry, b. Player 13 James, 1.b.w., b. Allcott 25 McGirr c. Anthony, b. Matheson ... 4 Badcock, e. Rowntree, b. Bowley .... fi Lambert, c. Allcott, b. Bowley ... G Hollings, st. Rowntree, b. Bowley 9 Brice, b. Matheson 61 Henderson, not out 13 Extras 5 Total 182

AUCKLAND—First Innings Bowley. c. and b. Badcock 33 Mills, b. Henderson (»l Snedden, c. McGirr, b. Lambert ... 28 Cooper, c. Brice, b. Lambert 0 Dacre. not out * ( 13 Allcott. not out 4 Extras ® Total for four wickets 146 HAWKE CUP CHALLENGE TARANAKI BOWLERS ROUT WAIRARAPA BY TBLEGKAPn.—I’T'iSS ASSOCIATION. Hawera, January 21. A match for the Hawke Cup took place here to-day in glorious weather, Taranaki successfully stalling oil a challenge by Wairarapa, winning by the loss of only one wicket in the second innings. Wairarapa won the toss and, batting first, made a disastrous start, six wickets going down for seven runs. Logan and Whitburn then made a stand, adding 22 and 13 respectively; thev were the onlv players to reach double figures. The innings closed with the’total at 59. Cole and Clarke were the most successful bowlers, the former securing five for 13 and the latter four for 25. Taranaki compiled 116 ill the first innings after a bad start— Lav 31, Cole (not out) 22, Kingston 18; did best with the ball. Wairarapa’s second strike produced 70, Renner (26) being the onlv double. figure scorer. Bottrill and Clarke divided

the bowling honours. Taranaki were left with 14 to win, which they easily secured, the innings closing at the loss of one wicket. Details are as follow: —

WAIRARAPA. First Innings. Gee, c. Lash, b. Clarke 3 Burt, b. Clarke 1 Hoar, c. Kingston, b. Cole 0 Judd, c. Eggleton, b. Cole 0 Fox, 1.b.w., b. Cole 0 F. Hoar, c. Bottrill, b. Cole 2 Logan, 1.b.w., b. Cole 22 Whitburn, c. Grayson, b. Clarke ... 13 Renner, hit wicket, b. Clarke 0 Beech, b. Penny . 8 Balloon, not out 4 Extras 6

Bowling analysis.—Cole took live wickets for 13 runs; Clarke 4 for 25, Penny 1 for 15. Second Timings. A. Hoar, c. Grayson, b. Bottrill ... !> Gee, c. Eggleton, b. Bottrill 1 Whitburn, b. Clarke 4 Judd, c. Grayson, b. Bottrill ( Logan, run out 9 Burt. b. Clarke •’ F. Hoar, run out ( J Fox. not out J Balloon, c. Kingston, b. Clarke ... •> Renner, c. Eggleton, b. Clarke ... -6 Beech, li. Clarke 9 Extras 0

Total . Bowling analysis.—Clarke took five wickets for 26 runs; Bottrill 3 for 33, Eggleton 0 for 5.

TARANAKI. First Innings. Smith, b. F. Hoar 1 Gravson, b. Beech u Lash, b. Beech - Kingston, b. Renner Penny, c. Renner, b. Beech Jl Lav, c. Burt. b. F. Hoar ■>[ Bottrill, c. Whitburn, b. Beech ... T> Cheevers, c. A. Hoar, b. Beech ... 1 Clarke, c. Balloon, b. Beech Cole, not out -- Eggleton. c. Logan, b. I. Hoar ... Extras ’

Total D 6 Bowling analysis.—Beech took six wickets for 35, F. Hoar 3 for 28. Renner 1 (or 9. A. Hoar 0 (or 14, balloon 0 (or 11, Gee 0 (or 13. Second Innings. Lav. c. Judd. b. Beech ” Gravson. not out Lash, not out Total for one wicket ... 19

TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. The following will represent the Y.M. C.A. to-day:— , t. Senior: E. Ilnughey, L. }\lnte, R. Westbrook. A. Birch L. 1 urnei. J. Smith, L. Browne, J. Virtue. H. Lamason. J. Laina.con. L. Atkinson. I mior 4: F. Thoinns. F. Swain. S. Tnmiam F. Smith W. Boh, D. Virtue, C Hooper. E. Andrews, H. Ihom, D. Reynolds, T. Ferguson. junior C: Franklyn, Aspen. Armstrong, Green. Pearson. Bridges. I engellv. Hall. Arcus, 'looley, Pearman. Third A Grade A team: Matthews (2), Hawker (2). Peddie (2). Sivenson. Rolling, Hylton, Robinson, Roberts, beamer, Gaudin. Midland teams:— . Senior: W. Baker. Hutchings (2), Doneghue. Dind, Clark, Judd, Hester, Patrick, Spence. Titrvcy. Junior A: Watson, Allen, lidman; Nicholls, Burlier. Bezzant. Cooper, Walker, N. Iliitchimts. Fanthorpe, FosterBrown, Rodgers (twelfth man). Junior C: McKinnon, Bromley, Harrington, Heard, Benjamin. Williams, Mooney, Smith (2), Thiiwley.

Bawling Analysis. 0. "W. R. Bowlsy . 6 •1 27 Matheson . 19 .3 7.3 Player , !). 2 24 Allcott . 12 1 8.3 Snechlen 0 20