TO-DAY'S PLAY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 11

TO-DAY'S PLAY

W£UNGTON'S BIG TOTAL GOI/LAPSE OF AUCKLAND ".' A heavily-clouded sky gave conditions a threatening appearance for the resumption of the Auckland-Wellington Plunket Shield match at the Basin Heservo to-day. The weather, however, was warm, and the wind was light compared with that in evidence yesterday. Wicket and ground were in excellent order. Play, however, had been in progress for only six minutes when light rain commenced to fall, but this was only of brief duration. With a big total of 576 runs for eight wickets, Wellington were heading well for a record score for Plunket Shield cricket, and there were prospects of the remaining two wickets producing the runs necessary for the achievement. Auckland holds the Tecord with a score of 643, made against Canterbury in January, 1920. On that occasion S. G. Smith made 256 (the record individual score for Shield cricket), Hemus 140, Horspool 92, and Anthony 63. Canterbury were beaten by an innings - and 150 runs. Wellington's hopes, however, were not realised this morning, as the innings closed for 595 runs. Still, this is Wellington's best achievement in Plunket Shield cricket, and, whatever the strength of Auckland's reply, it should place Wellington in a position of Becuring this season's Shield honours. Auckland's task is a formidable one. PLAY IN DETAIL, Play commenced to-day at 11.5 a.m., Massey facing Matheson, who opened the bowling from the southern end. The batsman placed the first ball to leg for a single, after which Lambert, with a shot through point, realised two runs (one from an overthrow). From the same bowler Lambert registered a boundary, cutting a ball through the. slips to the pickets. Playdr took up the attack from the northern end, and Massey notched another single' from the first ball, . Lambert following up. with a stroke to the on for two. Neat cuts by both batsmen helped matters along,, as did a shot by Massey to leg for' three. The score was within five runs of the 600-mark when Massey, who had been shaping well, chopped a ball from Player on to his wicket* Lambert meanwhile had carried his total to 40. 595—9—10. The last man was Brice, the Wellington captain, and with his appearance there was still qujte a good prospect of Wellington topping the 600-mark. Before the captain had a chance to contribute, however, th.c innings was terminated, a ball from Matheson glancing from Lambert's leg to the wickets. Lambert had played well in compiling 40, and four of his scoring shots realised boundaries. 595 —10—-40. Wellington had put up one of the finest batting performances on record in Plunket Shield cricket in compiling 595 runs, and the rate of scoring was good, the innings occupying just over 6i hours. The Auckland attack rarely had any terrors for the batsmen. Matheson and Player each took three wickets, and Mills and Anthony two apiece, Mills finishing up with the best average. Details:— WELLINGTON. First Innings. Worker, c Matheson, b Anthony .. 23 Dempster, b Player, 71 Foley, lbw, b Amthony .0 Badcock, b Mills 91 Lowry, b Matheson 181 James, c Bountree, b Playqr .. 108 M' Girr, oG. Weir, b Matheson .. 5 Taylor, c Anthony, b Mills 61 Lambert, b Matheson 40 Massey, b Player 10 Brice, not out '. 0 Extras (Byes 4, leg-byes 1) 5 Total 595 Fall of Wickets.—One for 85, two for 41, three for 101, four for 308, five for 411, six for 425, seven' for 526, eight for 567, nine for 595, ten for 595; 9 for 106; 10 for 121. Bowling Analysis. O. M. E. W. Cooper 3 , — 21 0 G. Weir 12 1 77 0 Dacre '.. . 8 — 54 0 Bowley 10 — 34 0 Matheson 27.3 1 109 3 Anthony 32 6 109 2 Mills 13 — 57 2 Player 36 7 129 3 AUCKLAND STAETB BADLY. To commence Auckland's big task, Mills and Bowley took the crease at 11.39 a.m., and opened quietly against M'Girr and Massey. After six overs had produced only 3 runs, Massey's three overs being scoreless, M'Girr disposed of Millß, and this started a sensational collapse on Auckland's part. Both trundlers were bowling in fine style, and the visitors made a very poor showing. Four wickets fell for only 17 runs, and two more batsmen had been dismissed when the total was 57. Bowley started Auckland's score with a stroke to leg for two off M'Girr, and it was not until M'Girr's third, over that another run was scored. Massey had sent down two maiden overs, and his third was also scoreless. In M'Girr's fourth over Bowley got a ball away to leg for three, but he then lost Mills, who was clean bowled by M'Girr—a good wicket at small cost. 7 —l—l. Anthony joined Bowley, who drove a ball from Massey through to the sightscreen. Another set-back to Auckland came when Anthony was beaten by the first ball of M'Girr's fifth over. 11— 2—o. Cooper came to stem the tide of disaster, but it was no easy matter with Massey and M'Girr both bowling in splendid form. Bowley had reached double figures, but he got no farther, a good ball from Massey getting the Sussex professional's wicket. Auckland were thus in a poor plight with three wickets lost for a matter of 13 runs. 13—3—10. x Hendy was next, and he opened confidently. Cooper, however, was unable to stay with him, as, after snicking a ball to the boundary, he was bowled by M'Girr. 17—4—4. FIVE PO» 35. . The appearance of the Auckland captain, Dacre, was greeted with applause. Matters then took a turn for the better, Hendy sending the score along by realising 10 runs from one of Massey's overs. Dacre also showed his usual confidence, and made some good scoring strokes, mainly to leg. The pair had pnt on 18 runs when Hendy, who had batted well, fell to a brilliant catch by Worker off Massey. 35—5 —16. Dacre continued to bat aggressively, but did not reign very long, being smartly caught by Foley in the slips. 57—6—15. When A. Weir filled the vacancy, Player helped matters along by banging a ball from Massey to the ropes. After this Weir defended stoutly against M'Girr, and, flicking a ball for a single, he changed over to face Massey. Weir notched anothor single, and subsequently cleared point for a brace, following up with a single. Meanwhile Player had done no more scoring, but he then sent a ball to the on for a couple of runs. Weir, now adopting forcing tactics, lifted a ball from Massey to the boundary, carrying Auckland's scored passed the 70 mark. In M*G!rr^ next over, however, Weir

was caught at point, and this gave M'Girr a total of 100 wickets in Plunket Shield cricket. The only other players to achieve this distinction are S. G. Smith (Auckland), W. S. Brice (Wellington), and B. J. Bead (Canterbury). M'Girr also shares with Smith the distinction of scoring over 1000 runs and taking 100 wickets in Shield cricket. The next batsman was G. Weir, who opened with a single, and then credited Massey with another maiden over, though three byes were registered. With the total at 77, Massey, who had taken two wickets for 27 runs in thirteen overs, was relieved by Badcock. Player got the Wellington coach's third delivery away for three and Weir added a single. Only one run came from the next four overs, and when the score was 82 M'Girr (five wickets for 42 runs off sixteen overs) was relieved by Taylor. The batsmen were not disturbed by the change, and Player put some life into the proceedings by making two boundary hits off the Nelson coach. Weir had also made a hit for four off Badcock, who was replaced by Brice when the score stood at 96. 100 UP. A single was scored from Brice's first over, and then Weir brought the Century up with a boundary hit to leg off Taylor. The innings had been in progress for 104 minutes. Before the luncheon adjournment was taken Lambert was given a hand in the attack in place of Taylor. This change was effective, the second delivery by Lambert disposing of Weir—caught by Briee. With the fall of this wicket the pre-lunch session ended. Player was not out with 26. 105—8—14. AUCKLAND ALL OUT. After lunch Matheson accompanied Player to the crease, but he had scored only a single when he lifted a ball from Brice to give M'Girr a running catch behind the bowler. 106—9—1. The last man was Bowntree, who "broke his duck" by lifting a ball from Brice to the on for a single. Subsequently he banged a ball from Lambert to the fence, and hit another ball hard for a single. Facing Briee again, the Auckland 'keeper ran to double figures with a leg glance to the boundary. Player then made a hit to leg for two, but the batsmen ran one short. After another leg hit for two, Bowntree sent a catch off Lambert to Massey at short leg, and with this, Auckland's batting debacle was completed. Player, who- carried his bat fbr 28, was the best contributor to a total of 121. M'Girr came through with a splendid bowling performance, and Massey also took a prominent part in Wellington's stinging attack. Lambert's two wickets cost only nine runs. Details: — AUCKLAND. First Innings. Mills, b M'Girr 1 Bowley, b Massey 10 Anthony, b M'Girr ( « ■ 0 Cooper, b M'Girr .'. 4 Hendy, c Worker, b Massey 16 Dacre, c Foley, b M'Girr 15 Player, not out 28 A. Weir, c Massey, b M'Girr .... 10 G. Weir, c Brice, b Lambert 14 Matheson, c M' Girr, b Brice 1 Bowntree, c Massey, b Lambert .. 12 Extras: Byes 7, leg-byes 3 .. 10 Total 121 Fall of wickets:—One for 7, two for 11, three for 13, four for 17, five for 35, six for 57, seven for 73, eight for 105. BOWLING ANALYSIS. O. M. B. W. M'Girr 16 5 42 5 Massey 13 7 27 2 Badcock 4 2 9 0 Taylor 3 0 15 0 Brice 4 0 9 1 Lambert 3 0 9 2 WELLOTGTON BAT AGAIN. Although Wellington had a lead of 474 runs on the first innings, they elected to bat again. Dempster and Worker. opening 7to the bowling of Matheson and G. Weir. Buns came freely, the first two overs realising 13 runs, including a boundary from a leg glance by Dempster. When the innings had been in progress for 10 minutes (at 3 p.m. Wellington's score was 17 (Dempster 12, Worker 5).