AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON

Evening Post, Volume 148, Issue 148, 20 December 1923, Page 3

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON

Great interest ii being- taken in ths match Wellington against Auckland, to be' played on the Wellington College Ground on Christmas Day and the two following days. Although, circumstances have compelled a change-of venue, the public may rest assured that no pains will be spared to make the surroundings I worthy of the contest. The college § ground lends itself admirably to the § viewing of the game by a large crowd, | and preparation of a first-class wicket is 1 assured. . ..--. .../.-. .., „■ The last two. Wellington v>: Auckland matches were stirring contests, the details of which are still fresh in the public memory. The .1921 match is chiefly remembered for Auckland's great effort to knock off the 442 required to win. At the tea adjournment the score was 247. for three wickets ; with Smith going" strongly. On resuming, however, _Brice was so difficult that the seven .wickets added only 88 runs ~,and Wellington won by 105 runs. Brice in this match took in all 13 wickets for 176 runs, . Last year's match is notable for th«large aggregate of runs compiled—over: 1500. All four innings were between 300 and 450, and after a close struggle, in which the local team always had a little in hand, the visitors were beaten by 108 runs. Some fine batting was provided by Sneddon, Dacre, Kortlang, Collins, Bernau, M'Girr, and ~ Dempster—four | centuries being recorded. Throughout § the bat always beat the -ball. ' r; The Auckland team for the forthcom-. mg match has been selected, and con-i tains, most of those in last year's teami? Snedden, Dacre, M'Leod, Garrard," Smith, Alcott, and Rowntree' befng^ amongst the number. As all these play-;-ers are in fine form this season, the visi-* tors' team will be very strong in bat-; ting. The local team, not yet having 7 been picked, it is not possiblex'at this' stage to measure its "chance of success; against the players above mentioned.! rhe batting should not be deficient withff men of the calibre of Hiddleston, Kort-fl lang, Collins, M'Girr, Dempster, Baker,! and Lambert to choose-from. The bowl-1 ing talent available is more of an un-J known quantity, and this would also ap- 1 pear to be true of the. visitors. -.1 There^ is every prospect of this year's! match being as stern a fight as lastS years, and with so many likely candUS dates for Test match honoursrtaking tha'J field, _the public are ■ assured" of- seeing-' some fine cricket. . , gk