SPECIAL MATCH

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 5, 7 January 1927, Page 9

SPECIAL MATCH

§ 3ECKLAND v. WELLINGTON

■ ! C4MCKCT AT BASIN RESERVE

-; • PRELIMINARY TO BLTJ-NEET SHIELD FINAL.

On their, way back' to Auckland after fe successful tour in the South Island, the Auckland cricket representatives are remaining, in "Wellington for a special match with the local cricket representatives, and this was commencjed at the Basin Reserve this afternoon nnder ideal conditions. The weather was perfect, and the-wicket and outfield in splendid order. Considerable interest attaches to the' match in view of the fact that "Wellington and Auckland, by thoir successes over Canterbury and Otago, are the finalists for the Plunket Shield, the deciding match for which is to be played at Auckland later in the month. Oh, both sides there are players who are r'egardeoL as having favourable chances of selection in the New .Zealand team for England, and on this.account, too, the match-has a special-interest." It also affords local followers of the game their first opportunity of seeing the Sussex professional, E, H. Bowley, in action., Tho fact that the Plunket . Shield is not at stake should tend to make, for. cricket of an even brighter order 'than that shown in the recent representative matches. At the same time, players will no doubt keep the English -tour in mind , and endeavour to further advance their candidature, ■ while 'a line, should also be formed -as to prospects in the final Shield match at Auckland. The presjence in both teams of a number of young players, who are being given, an opportunity of winning, their spurs in big cricket, also adds. interest to .the fixture. The match will be .continued on Saturday and on Monday, play commencing at 11 a.m. each day.

The teams are as follow: — Auckland: —C.' C. 'Dacre (captain), E. H. Bowley, I. Cooper, J. Mills, H. D. Gillespie, A. M. Matheson, H. Wilson,. Scott, Smeeton,,Postles, ana A. S. Player. Mr. Dow is manager of the jteam. % • , ■Wellington:—!). 0. Collins (captain), • G. Orr, H. M. M'Girr, B. J. Kortlang, E. Mitchell, H. M. Lambert, W. J. E. Christopherson, K. C. James, T. C. Lowry, A. M. Hollings, H. B. Massey, and W. Airey (twelfth man). Umpires':—Messrs. W. B. Bock and , p. Webb. AUCKLAND BATTING. The spin of .the coin'favoured Dacre, and Auckland took first strike, Bowley 1 and Mills opening at 2.10 i.m. In the Wellington team Airey fielded 1 as sub- . stitute for Christophersen, andf Lowry was behind the wickets, as James had v injured a finger in Canterbury. M' Girr. , started the attack for Wellington, bowli- ing from thejioutti with the assistance | of the wind. M'Girr's first delivery ,]■ was driven by-Bowley through the i, 'covers for- three, and Mills saw out i. ,the remainder of the over without scor- ?, ing. Massey bowled from the northern end, and off his fifth delivery the Engk : lish coach, made a splendid drive to the ;' boundary. There was no other product }i from the over, but in M'Girr's next y t Mills opened his account with a stroke I • to~ leg for two, -subsequently snicking, a ;" ball through the slips for a single. Mas- \\ sey's second over was a maiden, alf<: tliough the score was helped along with V a couple-of leg-byes. Matters remain- .| ed quiet during M'Girr's • third over, .'.__ one delivery costing a couple of runs, \ but in Massey's'third* over Bowley had a "life,'*"Air*ey"missing'>-\vha't appeared to be an. easy chi,nce between mid-off and cover. Bowley's score was 9. Three : ; luns in M'Girr's , fourth over made the total 18, and a good shot to leg by - Mills off Massey brought 20 up for 20 ... minutes' play. , "' X 1 '

Massey's next!"over wa^",S, maiden, :i after which' Cooper opened'lLis shoulders - - to Mitchell to start his acSJount with a boundary hit: 'In three Snore strokes • off the same bowler, Coopor added' 7 ' •'. runs, making a total of 11 for the over. „-■ Still bowling well, Massey''kept the -'■' batsmen fairly quiet, only one scoring ;•* stroke being made in his/.mghth over. ». ; The shot was a good ciiePby Cooper, - clear of third slip. In Mil'chell's next "; over Mills passed the 20 mark by bang- -, ing a ball to the picket, 'arid the half- ■ century appeared for fifty minutes' play. Another boundary was register- .' t ed by Cooper at Mitchell's expense. ? ' Smart fielding by M'Girr prevented i', any addition to the score from a goooV \- stroke by Mills, but the batsman many aged a- single off 'Massey just aftori wards, and added another with a neat ''• shot into the "gully" off M'Girr. Now \ having more of the bowling, Mills was "" able to catch up to" his partner, though ? t the bowlers were not expensive, ten ; overs costing 22 runs. Bowley's next . scoring effort was a stroke to leg for -, two, after which Mills played a fore- . . ing shot to notch his first boundary. <. Two more to the left-hander made the total 32.. Mitchell (Hawkes Bay) was then brought on in place of M'Girr (none for 14 in six overs). The change '", had the desired result. Bowley bangod,, the slow bowler's first delivery to „ square leg, where Hollings brought off a good catch. ' Bowley had not done

;..' much scoring, but while at the crease ;' he-had shown a rango of good strokes."----32—1——13. , ... ' ■; Cooper was the next batsman, and he ' '.. played out the remainder.of Mitchell's ;. over without scoring. Two byes, how- «. , ever, were recorded. The total was 56 wlicn Hollings took °< over from .Massey (none for 18 in eight \, overs). Mills cut one ball for two and -'. added a single off . Hollings. ,M( Girr • then came on again, replacing Mitchell k (one for 20 in three overs). A~"Tfttlc > more scoring brought the total to 62 at 3.15 p.m. Details:— ; .' ' AUCKLAND. ;' First Innings. \ ' Bowleyyc Hollings, b Mitchell 13 ,- Mills, not out ».....' 27 Pooper, not out 18 Extras 4 t _ ' ' Total for one wicket 62