CRICKET DEBACLE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 104, 27 January 1931, Page 10

CRICKET DEBACLE

Wellington Goes for 71

BATTING COLLAPSE Auckland’s Easy Win By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, January 26. Unexpected batting failures saw the conclusion to-day of the Plunket Shield cricket match between Auckland and Wellington at Eden Park, the home team winning by 167 runs. The Auckland batsmen failed in the second innings, and tiie 'side was dismissed for 174, J. E. Mills (50) and G. L. Weir (58 not out) being the only batsmen to score confidently. Wellington was set 239 to get (for victory, but failed dismally before the bowling of A. F. Wensley and C. F. W. Allcott, and was all out for 71.

Mills and Postles resumed the Auckland second innings to the bowling of Massey and Blundell. Mills hit the first ball of the day for four and. the half-century appeared in quick time. Crook was then brought on to enable the bowlers to change ends, and, bowling into a light breeze, Blundell managed to reduce the rate of scoring. After the innings had been in progress for 50 minutes Postles edged a ball from Blundell which was swinging in and was caught by Crook at first slip. 59 — I—l 9.

Weir joined Mills, and, as the batsmen settled down, Newman came on, changing ends with Blundell after one over. With smartly run singles Mills reached 50 in 80 minutes, and then was unfortunate in being dismissed. He played a ball from Newman on to. his pads and from there it rolled on to the wickets with just sufficient force to dislodge the bails. 78—2—50. Well Placed Field. With the advent of Vivian McGirr came on. The ball was keeping low and the scoring rate .slackened considerably. A well-placed field also kept the runs down. The first century appeared after 110 minutes, when Weir flashed Blundell through covers to the boundary. A double change was tried, Massey and Lambert relieving Blundell and Newman. Lambert kept the ball well up, and Vivian, playing back to the ball and trying to force it, gave Lowry at short mid-off an easy catch. 112—3 — 16. Anthony did not start confidently, and, playing back to a good ball from Massey, was badly beften and bowled. 115— Allcott started off well with a backcut off Lambert to the boundary. Then he played one forward and Lowry, still at short mid-off, took a brilliant catch--120—5—4.

Wensley joined Weir and made an effort to force the pace. Weir was batting steadily, unruffled by the fluctuating fortunes of the innings, but in the last over before lunch,, the coach went across to play Lambert, and was out. leg-before. 138—6—4. Weir had batted 105 minutes for 39 not out.

Bowlers Frequently Changed. , Frequent bowling changes were made after lunch. The total reached 150 after 180 minutes’ play, and Weir reached 50 shortly after, having been at the wickets for 130 minutes. Blundell and Newman came on, but Weir and Matheson seemed to be settling down for another prolific partnership. Then Newman, who was making little pace off the wicket, successfully appealed for caught behind against Matheson. The wicketkeeper did not appeal. 160 —7 —9. Finlayson started off steadily, and was unlucky to be dismissed. Weir played a ball toward cover, and started to run, but then stopped arid sent Finlayson back. Unfortunately the latter slipped and fell in trying to turn, and Massey had plenty of time to remove the bails. 172—8—6. Cleverley was next, and Lowry immediately whipped Crook on in place of Massey. The change was successful, Cleverley snicking the ball to James, who held the catch. 173- —9—o. Weir added a single, and then Hunt was badly beaten by a ball from Lambert, which nipped through quickly. 174—10 —0. Weir had batted 163 minutes for a chanceless 58. Wellington Require 238.

Requiring 238 for victory, Dempster and Cameron -opened Wellington’s second innings at 3.15 p.m. to the bowling of Matheson and Wensley. Dempster was playing Matheson confidently, and placed him to leg for several neat singles. Allcott went on himself, and the scoring rate slackened. In the last over before the tea adjournment, after 47 minutes’ play, Dempster had the misfortune to step in front of a shooter from Allcott, to be dismissed leg-before wicket. 33—1—19. Shortly after the resumption Cameron survived a confident appeal for leg-be-fore wicket. Facing Wensley shortly after, he tried to force the coach to the on, and gave Cleverley at short mid-on an easy catch. 35 —2—l. Joined by McGirr, Lambert got Allcott through the gully fp the boundary, but in the same over was beaten by a beautiful ball, and clean bowled. 39 —3— 5. Lowry and McGirr. Lowrv and McGirr, batsmen, who have saved Wellington on so many occasions, were now together, and the former backcut Wensley for two. The next ball he did not attempt to hit, but played with his pads. A shout went up, and the appeal was succesful. 42 —4 —2. James and Crook held Auckland up for a while, but the bowlers were frequently beating the bat. James was dropped bv Hunt off Wensley in the coach’s next over. He made the third leg-before victim of the innings. 68—6 —9. With the addition of only two to the score Crook snicked Allcott, and Hunt took the catch. 70 —7 —2. > Browne failed to survive an over. He skied a ball from Allcott. and the bowler took the catch. 70 —B—o8 —0 Newman played one ball from Allcott, but off the second from Wensley he also returned a catch to the bowler—<1 — Blundell, the last man. was clean bowled by Wensley’s first ball, and the innings., ‘which had occuped 122 minutes, closed for 71.

Detailed Scores. AUCKLAND. . 1 First innings ..... Second Innings. A. .1. Postles. c. Crook, b. Blundell ... JJ. E. Mills, b. Newman

G. L. Weir, not out IB H G. Vivian, c. Lowry, b. Lambert .. IB A. H. Anthony, b. Massey .•••••••■--1 C. F. W. Allcott. c. Lowry, b. Lambert io A F Wenslev. 1.b.w.. b. Lambert ’ A. M. Matheson, c. .Tames, b. Newman . C G. Finlayson, run out ■••••• n D. Cleverley, c. James, b. Crook H. Hunt. b. Lambert 7

First innings 2a3 Second Innings. q Dpiunster. 1.b.w., b. Allcott ••••••••• D. Cameron, c. Cleverley, b. Wensley . 12 H. Lambert, b. Allcott •> H. M. McGirr. b. V enkley IB T. C. Lowry, 1.b.w., b. Mensley 2 K. C. James, 1.b.w.. b. Weasley 9 R. Crook, c. Hunt, b. Allcott 2 H. B. Massey, not ont * t. v. Browne, c. and b. Allcott ■•■•••• o J Newman, c. and b. Wensley 0 E D. Blundell. b„ Wensley 0 Extras J

Extras Total . 174 Bowlins Analysts. 0. M. R. W. Blundell i<> r> 28 1 14.2 3 1 Mas sp.v 36 4 Lanibeit < 7 2 17 0 Dempster 1 0 6 0 ■ .... 4 1 8 1 ... 14 0 16 WELLINGTON.

Total Bowling Analysis. O. M. R. Matheson 4 1 12 0 21.5 5 34 6 Allcott , —IS 9 4