PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 155, 28 December 1918, Page 4

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH

WELLINGTON DEFEATS CANTERBURY.

(IT lILESR.VPH.— fRISg ASSOCIATIO.f.)

CHRISTCHURCH, 27th'Dec.

The Canterbury-Wellington match was resumed to-day. Wellington won by two wickets after an exciting day's play, and thus takes the Plunket Shield from. Canterbury Wellington has never had the honour of holding the shield before, ■whilst Canterbury has held it for so long that the whereabouts of the coveted trophy was a matter of some doubt until a few days before the match. ' It will be generally admitted that the best side won, but the two wickete victory probably fairly represents Wellington's superiority The luck of the gama was fairly evenly divided. The conditions to-day were again ideal, and the wicket wore surprisingly well. The attendance was very good. There was a sensational commencement to the game to-day. Gray (73) and Brunton (4) were not out men, and after each had taken a single off Brice, Hiddlestone took the balUat the south end. Brunton tipped the second delivery back to Marris at short mid-on. The latter held the ball unmistakably, but in attempting to throw it back smartly to the bowler he dropped it. 111 the circumstances it was entirely a question for the umpires -whether the catch had been held long enough, and they gave th& benefit of the doubt to the batsman. Brunton was actually walking, back to the pavilion, but the crowd, shouted fo him to go back," and he showed he hod not lost his nerve by laying wood on to the next delivery. Canterbury's fine recovery to-day was largely due to Gray's' great display of batting. It was really under tho circumstances a wonderful innings. Requiring 225 to win, Wellington had five good wickets down for 89, and the game was then decidedly in Canterbury's favour, but Burton then came to the rescue with an innings that was wortn. a lot more than the actual runs he made wouia indicate. He played the game to get the runs. Brice,'s 50 was essentially a match winning innings—that is to say he played the "rock" -game to the good bowling, and his defence was soundness itself. Canterbury could have done with 'another good bowler, though the attack was not by any means weak. The Canterbury fielding was a marked improvement on that of the first' innings. Following' are the scores :— 'Canterbury,, first innings .. 167 Wellington; first innings ..'.. 288 ' Canterbury.—Second Innings. Wood, b Brice.. 9 Blunt, b Brice .' 6 Thomas, b Brice 5 Jones, st Condliffe, b Hutchings ■'. . 57 Patrick, b Marris „ <*>3 Guiney, st Condliffe, ,b Marris 0 Gray, 0 M'Girr, b Lambert 100 Perrin, b Hiddleston .■ 12 Brunton, b Hiddlestone 39 M'Ewin, b Marris 27 i M'Beth. not out 11 j Extras 46 ! Total .; 345 Bowling Analysis.—HidiJiostone, two . ■■■■■■'ckets for 'PS,, Brice three for 57, Marris fc.nil. for 83, Lambert none for ,39, M'Girr ; none for 23, Hutchings one for 15. Wellington.—Second Innings. Baker, c Brnnton, b Thomas ......... 14 Lambert, c Patrick, \i M'Beth ......... 16 M'Girr, c Brunton, b Thomas 19 Hiddlestone, b M'Beth .t 7 Barton, b M'Beth „.. 66 Dinrt, c Wood, b M'Beth 17 Condliffe. b M'Ewin 12 Alhrdyee, c Brunton, b M'Beth ... 4 Brice not out 50 Hatchings, not out •....../....... 13 i Extras ........; ....1...' 8 Total for eight wickets' 236 Bowling Analysis.—Thomas two wicke's for' 63, M'Beth five for 86, Gray none foi ten. Patrick none for five, Perrin none for 19, M'Ewin one for 30.