DECIDING MATCH

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 56, 7 March 1930, Page 11

DECIDING MATCH

AUCKLAND'S FIRST STRIKE

DISASTROUS START

The last important representative match in a season of big cricket was v commenced at the Basin Beserve today, when Wellington's representatives set put to improve their Plunket Shield record for the season, and Auckland's elect started their final bid to retain possession of the trophy, which was awarded to them last year on averages. The. state of this season's matches made it necessary for Auckland to score an outright win in this match in order to- keep, possession of the 'Shield. To this end, howover, the visitors made a poor star.t. Winning the toss, they had first use. of a good wicket, but encountered a severe loss early in the game by the dismissal of both Mills and Anthony before the score had reached double figures. For the match the weather brightened Tip splendidly, and.with the ground in excellent order there were prospects of bright cricket. The teams are:—, Auckland.—C. F. W. Allcott (captain); J. E. Mills, A. Anthony, G. L. Weir, H. D. Gillespie, A. F. Wensley, W. L. Elliott, A. W. M'Coy, S. A. B. Badeley, A. M. Matheson, and H. Hunt, with P. E. Whitelaw as twelfth . man. Wellington. —T. C. Lowiy (captain), H. Foley, D. Cameron, B. E. Boss, A. M. Hollings, E. G. M'Leod, X C. James, H. M. M'Girr, N. Gallichan, H. B. Massey, and M. Henderson, with W. A. Baker as twelfth man. • Messrs. L. T. Cobcroft and C. Webb are the umpires. . The Auckland captain was successful in winning the toss. PLAY DESCRIBED., A start was made at 11.5 a.m., Mills and Anthony being the opening batsmen for Auckland. M'Girr was entrusted ivith the attack from the southern end, and had the assistance of a breeze. Mills took strike to M'Girr, but after Seeing out four balls he ' was clean bowled—a disastrous beginning for the ghieia holders. o—l—o. The vacancy was filled bjj Weir. The first over from the northern end was taken by Hollings, and from his second delivery Anthony opened the Auckland account with a'square cut to the boundary. There ivere iio further scoring strokes in the over, after which JM' Girr sent down his successive maiden over. A bowling change was then made at the northern end, Massey being, brought *on in place of Hollings. A couple of singles were realised from Massey Js first over. M'Girr kept his attack going with plenty of sting, and there was no scoring from hiß third over, but in Massey's second Anthony, ■who had been shaping like a stayer, was caught close in on'the leg side. The fiismissal of both Mills and Anthony for 8 runs threw greater responsibility on the other batsmen. From Wellington's point of view, the position was much better thanwas expected. B^-2—5. Giflespie joined Weir, and the pair settled down to defensive play. A few scoring, strokes were made by Weir before Gillespie "broke his duck" with a stroke to leg for two off Henderson. This bowler had taken over from M' Girr when the score was 14, M' Girr having taken one wicket for three runs in five3overs, four of which were maidens. ■ ■:.-•::•"*.!-.-.■-■••"■ FIFTY UP. " ':; Steady progress, was made by Weir and Gillespie, and the total reached 20 after 38 minutes' play. Massey continued to keep the batsmen quiet, but there was a" fair amount of scoring from Henderson. One of the latter's overs cost 11 .runs, the batsmen making good use of gaps on the off and each registering a boundary as .well as singles. Gilespie ' had settled down well, and passed his partner's score. The next Bowling change 'was made when the total was 42, M'Leod.taking over from Henderson (none for 19 in four overs). ,The slow bowler's first over was a maiden, after which Gillespie reached 20 with a stroke to* the on for two. The same batsman followed up with a solid jdrive to the fence, and in M'Leod's next over he lifted a ball to the outfield 'for a brace, bringing 50 up for fif ty:^ve minutes' play. This made the position a good deal better than at the iail of the second wicket, especially as Gillespie (who changed his bat at this stage) was shaping very well. With the score at 51 Gallichan, the Mana*vvatu left-hander, playing in his first 3?lunket Shield match, relieved Massey [(one for 18 off nine overs). There was only a single from Gallichan's first ovor, the score at noon beiiig 52. The two slow bowlers were treated cautiously. M'Leod was maintaining an excellent length, and Gallichan was 'xnnking pace off the pitch. It was in .attempting to pull a ball from the iLJanawatu player that Gillespie failed IS connect and was clean bowled. He had batted well for just over threequarters of an" hour, and in his score of 26 there were three 4's. 54 —3—726, WENSLEY AGGRESSIVE. The newcomer was Wensley, the Susses professional and Aueldand coach; making his first appearance' on the Basin Eeserve. Ho started right away with a two to leg, and added a couple of singles before lifting a ball from At'Leod to leg, where it fell clear of two fieldsmen. Euns came steadily, and with the total at 64 Henderson was brought back into the attack. The fast left-hander relieved M'Leod, whose six overs had cost only 9 runs. Except for a drive by Weir for four, there was little scoring from Henderson. From the'other end Gallichan was becoming more expensive, and in one over the Auckland coach made two big hits to the boundary and another stroke for two. These efforts carried Wensley's score over the 20 mark. The same batsman skied a ball from Henderson to leg, but there was no fieldsman there. Wensley continued to open out to Gallichan, but after the registration of another four he gave an easy catch \to Lowry at mid-on. During his stay of twenty minutes Weusley had made 26 in aggressive .manner, his score including four fours. Nearly all his runs were mado on tho on , 93 —4—26. Weir's score at this stage was 31, and his runs had come mostly from strokes to the off. 100 UP. The Auckland captain, Allcott, was next, and played out the remainder of Gallichan's over without scoring. In the same bowler's next over, however, Allcott made a splendid straight drive to the boundary. Meanwhile Weir had improved the account by four by cutting a ball from Henderson. These efforts brought 100 up, the innings then having been in progress for - 100 minutes. Just afterwards M'Leod was ■ called upon to relieve Henderson (none for 32 in eight overs) and he was credited by Weir with another maiden over. The batsmen thereafter kept the scoring moving steadily, although no liberties could be taken with the slow bowlers. The total was taken to 115, when Boss,1 tho Hutt colt, was given a hand in tho attack. Ho did not trouble the batsmen, who were still fairly cautious in facing Gallichan. In bis next 'over Boss, kept Weir quiet and there was no further scoring. At the lunch-

eon adjournment the total was 122 for four wickets —Weir 44, Allcott 16. WEIR'S HALF-CENTURY. Plunket Shield play was resumed at 1.50 p.m., Mas'scy and M'Girr being tho bowlers. Except- for a' leg-bye there was no scoring from the first two overs, neither batsmen taking any chances with the off deliveries. In Massey 's next over Allcott notched two singles through slips, and Weir got one to leg. A good stroke to fine leg off M'Girr realised two, and made Allcott's total 20. The same batsman added a single with a well-placed shot. Except for these • scoring strokes matters were quiet, Massey being credited with "another maiden over. In M'Girr 's next over, however, Weir made' a good drive, the ball going through Cameron and Boss to the boundary. Weir added a single, and this gave him his half-century. Weir had occupied 126 minutes in reaching this mark. MATTERS QUIET. Sound play with but little scoring was tho order for some time, another maiden over going to each bowler's account. At length Allcott turned a ball" from Massey neatly to leg and three runs resulted, Weir following up with a drive for a. single. M' Girr had the assistance of a good breeze, and continued to keep the batsmen quiet. 3?rom one of Massey's deliveries Weir realised a four, the ball going through fine leg to the boundary. The total had reached 150 for as many minutes' play when Gallichan was brought on 'in place of Massey. The latter had bowled 16 overs, five of which were maidens, and had taken one wicket for 32 runs. Galliehan 's first over after lunch was a maiden, and M'Girr followed up with another. At this stage M'Girr had had thirteen .overs, seven of which were scoreless. He had taken one wicket for 15 runs. The play was exceedingly quiet,- and tho first run in four overs was notched by Weir off M'Girr. At 2.30 p.m. the score was 151 for four wickets (Allcotf: 25, Weir. 62). Just afterwards Allcott improved his account with a 4. ALLCOTT OUT. Weir and Allcott were proving a hard pair to shift, and at 158, Henderson waa brought on in place of M'Girr (14 overs, 7 maidens, 1 wicket, 20 runs). Henderson was heading well for his first maiden over wlien Weir drove the last'ball to the off for a single. Soon afterwards > Allcott cocked up a ball from Gallichan to the off, but it dropped clear of the fieldsman at cover. The same batsman later made two legstrokes off Henderson, and each of them yielded four runs. These strokes made Allcott's total 40. The Auckland captain, never really comfortable facing Gallichan, was bowled by the Manawatu player just afterwards. In sev-enty-eight minutes at the wickets, Allcott made 41 runs, including four 4 's. The Allcott-Weir partnership put on 77 runs. 170 —5 —41. Elliott filled the vacancy and started off with a single There was another bowling change just after his appearance, M'Leod being br.ought on in. place of Henderson (nono for 44 off 11 overs). Proceedings were still1 quiet, but Weir at length stepped out and drove a ball from M'Leod to the bqunddary. There were other scoring shots off M'Leod, butGallichan was respected to the extent of getting maiden overs in succession. In Gallichan's nest over Elliott lifted a ball to the on just out of the fieldman's reach, and it travelled to the fence. The score then was 188, and Hollings was called upon, to relieve M'Leod (nono for 28 off 12 overs). Weir scored a single through the gully from the new bowler and Elliott did likewise. The total at 3 p.m. was 190 for five wickets, Weir in 75. Elliot in 9.

Still another maiden over went to Gallichan who was ■ keeping a fine length. Weir was inclined to bo aggressive when facing Hollings, but could not place his strokes clear of tho fieldsmen1 so that Hollings, too, had a maiden over. Ross was, then given another trial and took over from iGallichan, who' had had 23 overs, eight of which were maidens, taking three wickets for 23 runs. The Hutt colt was met with confidence, although only three singles came from his over. Hollings's next over realised a single, and in Ross's next over the score was brought within one of the 200 mark with four runs from a solid drive by Weir. A snick by""Elliott brought 200 up for 205 minutes' play. At 3.15 p.m. the score was 210 for five wickets'"( Weir 84, Elliott 20). A double bowling change was made, Massey and M'Girr being brought on. Weir turned a ball from M'Girr to leg for three. Elliott did the same thing and then Weir repeated' the stroke, this time for four, making ten off the over. Another good boundary hit was made by Weir in Massey's next over, the ball being dispatched hard to square-leg. Weir was getting near his century, and a subsequent'leg shot for four of£ M'Girr made fhe batsmen's total 99. A single to the on gave Weir his 100. The achievement was, greeted with applause. Weir had been at the crease for 205 minutes. At 3.25 p.m. score was 233 for five wickets. . >■ Details:— AUCKLAND. First Innings. Mills, b M'Girr 0. Anthony, c Cameron, b Massey .. 5 Weir, not out 100 Gillespie, b Gallichan 20 Wensley, c Lowry, b Gallichan 26 Allcott, b Gallichan 41 Elliott, not out 26 Extras ..-...■ 9 Total for five wickets 233