BY EIGHT WICKETS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 80, 28 December 1940, Page 11

BY EIGHT WICKETS

Auckland Too Strong For Wellington ONE-SIDED CRICKET

Maintaining superiority in every department of the game, Auckland beat Wellington- in the representative cricket match at the Basin Reseryp yesterday by the convincing margin of eight wickets.

Though scheduled for four days, the match was all over in less than two days, and it is doubtful if ever a weaker batting display has been given by a Wellington eleven. There was some excuse for the Wellington side falling for 143 on Christmas afternoon, as they were sent in to bat on a drying wicket, but there was no excuse for them being dismissed for 150 on Boxing Day on a firm wicket and fast outfield. The batting failure of 'the Wellington team only goes to show up the weakness of the bowling in club cricket. Week after week Wellington batsmen score heavily in senior championship games, but when they were called upon to face good length bowling by the Aucklanders they failed signally in both innings, though Auckland was without the services of their star fast bowler, J. Cowie, and their best spin bowler, H. G. Vivian. Auckland scored 222 in their first innings, which was only a moderate batting performance.

All Over in An Hour. With no wickets down for 10 runs, and requiring 62 runs to win, Whitelaw (5) and Burgess (5) resumed Auckland’s second innings at 11 a.m. yesterday. Parsloe opened the attack with a light southerly breeze behind him, five coming from the over. Downes bowled from the other end. Runs came steadily, but. with 28 on. Whitelaw. who had reached 17. was 'taken by Norris at short-stop off Parsloe. Scott joined Burgess, and there should have been a run-out from a pat by Scott to cover, but a wide return by Osborn to 'the wrong end enabled the batsmen to scramble home. An ondrive by Scott off Downes went sizzling to the pickets. With 46 on, Rabone relieved Downes, nine coming from the over, bringing 50 up in 48 minutes. Wilson then 'took the ball from Parsloe, three coming from his first over. With the total at 67, Burgess, who had shaped -brightly for 26. was well taken by Norris behind the sticks off D. S. Wilson. Pearson arrived 'to see Scott make the winning hit to give Auckland a victory by eight ■wickets at noon after the Innings had been in progress for 68 minutes. A First-Class Wicketkeeper. Auckland’s ordinary bowling was strengthened -by brilliant wicketkeeping by Blandford, particularly in the second innings. In the first innings, the Auckland stumper caught P. D. Wilson, and only allowed one bye. and in the second innings lie stumped Standidge and Lamason, and caught D. S. Wilson and Rabone, aud only allowed four byes. If a New Zealand eleven had to be selected this year, Blandford would be the natural choice for wicketkeeper. He is worthy to be compared favourably with K. C. Janies and E. W. Tindill. Details

The attendances at the match were satisfactory. The sum of £Bl was taken at the gates on Christmas Day, and there was an even larger attendance on Boxing Day. Only a handful of spectators saw the finish of Hie match yesterday morning.

Match With Canterbury.

'rhe Wellington 'team will leave by steamer express ou New Year's Eve to play a three-day match with Canterbury at Christchurch. The Wellington team will be strengthened by the inclusion of L. T. Pritchard, the Manawatu fast bowler, and M. P. Donnelly, the Taranaki all-rounder, who were unable to play in the match against Auckland. Mr. J. D. Hewitt will accompany the Wellington team to Christchurch as manager.

WELLINGTON. First Innings 143 Second Innings 150 AUCKLAND. First Innings '. 222 Second Innings. P. E. Whitelaw, c. Norris, b. I’a rsloe 17 G. W. Burgess, e. Norris, li . D. S. 26 V. J. Scott, not out 28 II. T. Pearson, not out 0 Extras—Byes 2 - Total for two wickets Fall of wickets: One for 28, two for 67. Bowling Analysis. 0. m. It. W Parsloe 6 0 20 1 Down eg 5 0 25 0 Rafbone 3.2 0 19 0 D. S. Wilson ... 3 0 7 1 Umpires: Messrs. A. W. Alderslev and C. Moore.