FINAL DAY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 59, 11 March 1930, Page 11

FINAL DAY

SHIELD CRICKET MATCH

WELLINGTON'S FIGHT

ON TEE DEFENSIVE

In more ways than one prospects for the final day of the Plunket 'Shield match wero not very promising. Wellington, having fourth strike on tho wicket, were faced, with making ,428 runs to reach Auckland's grand total, and they had eight wickets iv hand. This was a big hurdle, but there was also tho alternative of playing out time, another six hours. This, too, was a big proposition. The weather,. though fine, was keen,-with a fairlj' strong southerly wind in evidence There had been some- rain overnight, but it had had little effect upon tho wicket. In tho uafly play this morning, however, it •was noticed that some of the deliveries lose sharply, and this state of affairs made Wellington's problem greater and improved Auckland's prospects of dismissing Wellington before the end of +he day. This was necessary for Auckland to retain possession of tho Plunket Shield. Wellington were, determined to uattio hard in their effort to deprive Auckland of an outright win, but after half-an-hour's play to-day two more wickets had been lost. At stumps yesterday Wellington had made 76 runs for the loss of two wickets. Lbwry and M'Leod were associated in a good partnership before lunch, and when tho adjournment was taken they had improved the scoro by 80 runs, without being beaten. Wellington, however, still'had a long way to go. During his innings to-day T. C. Lowry, tho Wellington captain,- com-, ploted his 1000 runs in Pluukct Shield cricket. This is his fourth season in Shield cricket. PLAY IN DETAIL. Play was commenced at 11.5 a.m., ■Hollings (82) taking striko to Allcott, who bowled with tho wind from the southern end. The first delivery was cut for a single, after which Foley saw out the remainder of the over. Wensley was tho other bowler, and Hollings played- him confidently without scoring. No runs went against the bowler in Allcott's next over, but a leg-bye and four byes went to Wellington's account. - Foley survived an appeal for Ibw'in Wensley 'a nest over, from which he netted two runs. For a defensive stroke by Hollings off Allcott tho batsmen ran a single and in doing so took a big risk. Another of Allcott's deliveries wont right through to the boundary- without being touched, and a iurthor addition to tho score was a three l.iv Foley from a stroke through the slips off Wensley. Although tho batsmen were on the defensive runs were coining steadily, and Foley reached J) with a single to tho on. Tho proceed-, ino-s were- slow, but the local players we playing the game for their side. Hollings's resolute stand came to an onci, however, when he was beaten by a ball from Allcott and bowled. Hollings hnd kept his end up for nearly two hours, in which time he made 34 runs. ' Lowry was next and he soon made a couple of singles, while Foley also added to tho score. Tho .latter was then tempted by Wensley, and m hitting out he was caught by Gillcspio at cover. Foley'a inuings had lasted fifty-five mm UtTho ntxf batsman was M'Leod, and both he and Lowvy found that matters were none too good with balls using With tho score at l<w a uowjmt, £*"X 30" Wellington's score at this stago was 120. 150 UP Without taking risks the batsmen tiliii maidens Allcott's first over against he w nd was scoreless, and after- it 150° for 195 minutes' battmg. Each lmtsman scored another smge Horn Mathcson's first over of the day, and there was a smartly-run single m Allcott's next over before tour more byeb went to the account. In Malliesou s next'over, there was an appeal tor a catch behind the wickets when Lowry made a stroke, but no answer was necessary as Iho wicketkeeyar dropped the ball. GOOD HEADWAY. A beautiful cover-drive by Lowry sent a ball from Allcott speeding through cover to the boundary and with another stroke to cover the Wellington captain reached 40. M'Leod turned a ball neatly to leg and passed the 20-mark. Tho partnership^ was cloiu" well, and it had produced Jo runs when Lowry made a fine carpet drive to the boundary- The pair had been puttin"- 011 runs at the rate of one per: minute. A shot to fine-leg by Lowry, effi Matheson, yielded two runs, and M'Leod collected tour with a hit to leg, off tho Auckland captain. There were other strokes for singles, and in one case M'Leod had to move speedily! 5n getting to the crease. The last over befovo the luncheon adjournment was taken by M'Coy, who replaced Matheson (one for 40 in fourteen overs). Lowry scored a single from the last ball of the over, making the total 184 for four wickets —Lowry 49, M'Leod 26. ' CENTURY PARTNERSHIP. J • After the interval Anthony resumed the attack from the northern end. -Lowry made a single, which gave him j his half century. He had been batting just over an hour and a-half and during the pre-lunch session, ho had succeeded in topping the 1000 mark for Piunket Shield cricket. The other bowler was Allcott. Both batsmen carried the score along steadily, Lowrjr getting one j

ball from Anthony away to leg for four. The captain was placing his shots well and from each of two strokes to the on he scored two runs. M'Leod scored two runs from a stroko to cover, ono of tho runs coming as tho result of an over-throw. This accounted for a century partnership, the pair having been associated for 95 minutes. Just afterwards tho total reached 200. Tho innings had then been in progress for 235 minutes. Four more byes were realised from ono of Allcott'a deliveries, and with tho score at 204 Wonsley took up the attack from Anthony, who had had 19 overs, taking one wicket for 39 runs. Lowry was unable to score from Wensley's over, although one ball was driven hard, and was well stopped by the bowler. M'Leod was battling along cautiously, and made occasional scoring strokes.. Wensley kept Lowry quiet, and was credited with another maiden over. M'LEOD OUT. Allcott kept going at the southern end and fvoin his thirty-fourth over M'Leod made a single in deflecting a ball to fine- leg. There was still no scoring from Wensley, and he bowled his eighteenth maiden over out of a total of 30 overs. Another maiden over was sent down by Allcott and in Wensley's next over the partnership, which had given a good deal of -trouble to Auckland, was broken. M'Leod gave a chance in the slips, where M( Coy made the catch. The outgoing batsman had been at tho wickets for 115 minutes, making a splendid stand for'his side. His scoro of 35 included three 4's. Tho partnership improved Wellington's total by 112 runs. 210—5—35. The «iext batsman was M' Girr, who -.vas also compelled to act cautiously through some of the deliveries kicking. Stone-walling was again the order, runs now being few and; far between, but M' Girr broke the spell with a splendid cover drive off Weusley to the boundary. Ho skied another ball clear of the slips and netted two more runs, following up with a stroke to leg for two. Lowry then lifted a ball from Allcott clear of tho square leg fieldsman for 3. After a further quiet period Lowry opened out and hit a ball from Wensley hard to the boundary. A DOUBLE CHANGE. M'Girr was kept quiet by. Alleott, and no runs were recorded in Weiisley's thirty-fifth over. A leg-bye w Tas snatched in Allcott's fortieth, over during which 'Lowry reached 70 with a single to third man. Auckland wero fighting hard to secure their outright win, and Wellington wero doing their utmost to confine the decision to the. first innings.. At 2.45 p.m. the total was 233, and there were still three hours of play left before the drawing of stumps. Soon afterwards Allcott gave way to M'Coy. Allcott's figures were:—4l overs, 14 maidens, C 2 runs, 1 wicket. From the new bowler Lowry made some good forcing shots to the off, one of them, sending the ball through to tho fence. At the other end Wensley was relieved by Elliott. Wensley's figures were:—37 overs, 23 maidens, 44 runs, 2 wickets. Lowry also met this change well, getting the ball away to leg for three. M'Girr, however, went close to being caught in cocking a ball up to the off. At 3 p.m. the score was 244 for five wickets —Lowry SO, M'Girr 10, extras 46. Lowry,'s next scoring stroko produced four runs. The captain was awaiting his opportunities, and with another solid hit for 4 he brought Wellington's total to. 250 for 300 minutes' batting. Fours were becoming quite numerous, Lowry getting another to leg and M'Girr one with a good off drive. At 3.15 p.m. the score was 269 for five wickets. Lowry 96, M'Girr 19. . Details:— AUCKLAND. > First Innings 433 Second Innings 334 (Declared closed, for four wickets.) WELLINGTON. First Innings 283 Second Innings. Cameron, b Anthony IS Eoss, b Matheson 0 Hollings, b Alleott 34 Foley, c Gillespie, h Wensley .... 21 Lowry, not out 96 M' Girr, not out 19 M'-Leod, c M'Coy, b Wensley 35 Extras 40 Total for five wickets ..: 269 The report of yesterday's play appears on page 15.