PLUNKET SHIELD

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 20, 25 January 1927, Page 10

PLUNKET SHIELD

WELLINGTON'S COLLAPSE

"GLORIOUS UNCERTAINTY"

(By Telograph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

The not-out batsmen of Saturday did not remain long together. James stayed to see Lowry secure a fine century, and then, with 6, tipped Matheson into Bowntree's hands. Soon afterwards Lowry, tempted by a full-toss from Bowley, failed to get under it, and sent the ball high to Anthony at deep midon. His 110 had taken nearly three shours to compile, and was a fine display, in which there was but one real chance. He hit thirteen boundaries, and undoubtedly pulled his side out of a difficult situation. None of the seven bowlers tried troubled him at any stage of his innings.

With M' Grirr partnering Badeoek there came, another valuable stand. M'G-irr got little of Bowley, to whom he was uncomfortable, but the slow bowler was taken off, and the other changes were met confidently. In fact, the batsman looked set for his half-century when Bowley was brought back again, and sent up a tempting one, to which M'Girr came out with a fullforce drive. The crowd were astounded to see the bowler .tossing the ball in the air. He had \ taken easily a wonderful catch, driven full at him. Lambert stayed till lunch, playing very cautiously, but on resuming he was badly beaten by Allcott, who took his middle stump. Hollings, too, had a brief stay. He shaped quite confidently to Alleott and Matheson, but miss-hit one in attempting to pull the latter to the boundary, and gave Player an easy catch. ' ... ,

UMPIRE'S MISTAKE,

It was strange that through a miscount by the umpire there were again fourteen balls in an over, Hollings being caught off the twelfth. ; Badcock, who had come in on the^f all of Lowry 's wicket, played all- through the morning . a masterly innings. He scored freely with beautiful Iff drives, and time after time placed the ball beautifully, wide of.mid-on. His half-century came as prettily as, and more forcibly than, that of Mills, and while Lambert. held his end up the coach carried the score past the first innings total of Auckland. The wicket, dead during the morning, cracked up with the heat of the sun, and during the afternoon it suited Alleott, who was turning them well j and was treated very respectfully. Badcock, after a faultless 77, tried the same stroke that had brought Hollings's 'dismissal, and put the ball up to Matheson. Brice was 'in a quarter of an hour for his none not out, and saw Henderson bowled by one of Alltiott's that broke right across from the off and took his leg stump. Before lunch it. looked as if Wellington were certain to reach 400, but four wickets went down for 15, and the hbme side was left with 199 runs to get.

AUCKLAND'S TASK.

Could they do it for a fourth innings against a strong bowling side? Even keen Auckland supporters wer i dubious, but became more hopeful when. Mills opened brightly and confidently, scoring with shots all round the wicket, off both Henderson and Badcock, while Bowley at first; played cautiously and not too comfortably. Then Brice rang a double change; .putting, on, M'Girr vice Henderson and taking over from Badcock himself. He trapped Mills into putting his bat round to a leg one, and James took a haTd chance. One wicket for 38. Twenty runs later Snedden, after making 7, tried to leg glide Lambert, and' James . accounted for, him also. Cooper, after the tea adjournment, took to Lambert, who had came on in place of Brice, and 10 runs came off the over, but the batsman was too eager, and, going out to Lambert in the next over, sent a catch back to the bowler. With three good batsmen out for 82, Wellington's chances were still good, but the Bowley-Gilles-pie /partnership gradually lessened them. Lambert was no-balled twice in one over, and Brice relieved him, try-ing-other quick changes with M' Girr, Hiddleston, and Badcock. Bowley reached his half-century with a boundary through the slips. Then Badeock found Gilespie with Ms leg in front, and the board showed four for 126. ,

■With Dacre's adyent, Brice replaced Hiddleßton by Henderson, who was no-: balled three times in his first over. Henderson, apparently dissatisfied, demanded re-whitewashing of the crease, and play was held up while this was done. Then the spectators roared "no-ball" for the next delivery. Badcoek at this stage was kicking and troubling Bowley. In the next over Henderson, dismissed Dacre, the ball hitting his front pad then the other one, and rolling on to the Wicket. Sixty runs were wanted by Auckland with five wickets in hand.

EXCITING- CRICKET.

Worker came in to very silly mid-on in the hope of snapping Bowley, but when the batsman banged one past his ear to the boundary he stood back farther. Allcott had: added only six when Badeock clipped his bails, and the home side' still wanted 00 runs. It was indeed exciting cricket, every moment being tense. Auckland's chance of victory seemed to depend on Bowley, who knocked ten of an over from Henderson, while tha veteran Anthony gave Badcock a maiden; Brice took the last over of the day, and Bowley was content to play it without attempting to score. A wonderful day's cncket finished with Auckland 32 behind, and four wickets in hana. Without Rowley's magnificent knock the Northerners would have gone far short of the required runs. Wellington's ground fielding was not so good as on the first day, and several players gave away runs through over- +? g6T S!i U must be saia f°r them though that the outfield at Eden Park is decidedly rough.