WELLINGTON'S TAIL

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 21, 26 January 1931, Page 3

WELLINGTON'S TAIL

AUCKLAND IN THE LEAD

SECOND DAY'S PLAY

(By "The Post's" Special Reporter.)

In Wellington's batting display on the second day of the Flunkct Shield match with Auckland at Eden Park, under very ' favourable conditions, there were several : disappointing features, chief of which '■ was the development of a "tail" bigger than ever. It was expected that the side would show up to better advantage than ■ previously in batting, even though the need of still more body on the side was apparent. The fact that the players were on trial for the New Zealand team also gave rise to prospects of an all-round improvement with the bat, while more reliance could be" placed in the opening pair for this match, since Dempster had evidently benefitted by his brief rest from cricket and Cameron was known to be a solid batsman in form. The early play, though slow, was satisfactory, and when the tea adjournment was reached there were excellent prospects of Wellington gaining a good lead on ;the first innings. Up to that time four wickets had fallen. The first was Dempster's, and it fell in such a way as to make this loss one of the unfortunate features. Dempster appeared to be set for a big score when he was run out through an attempt to record a single when there was little chance of a run. Cameron, in his first Plunket Shield game in Auckland, played right through to the tea adjournment, and, although lucky at times, he made a stand that was invaluable. His resistance ; gav.e cause for a great deal of barrack, most of which was quite unfair to the batsman. It was after the tea adjournment that Lowry practically threw his wicket away, and with that a %>t set in. The result was that AVellington finished up 61 runs to the bad on the first innings. .The bright Fights of Wellington's batting were the hands placed by Lowry and M'Girr. The Hutt captain's form this season has been consistently good, and if anything more, than he has shown is needed to gain A place in a New Zealand team then it is an exceedingly difficult matter to win that place. On form M'Girr hhould lly into the New Zealand team, and, moreover, lie is a batsman of the right temperament for a big occasion. It seems, however, that M'Girr is likely to be left behind, as an age-limit is expected to be imposed. There was room in Wellington's' display for more of the Lowry-M'Girr type of batting. A little extra enterprise and Wellington would have probably fared much better. Auckland's bowling did not look really dangerous until the rot set in. For all that Auckland accomplished a good day's work, and Wellington's players had only themselves to blame for the bad strokes which accounted for several of the wjekets. The best balls which took wickets were those sent clown by Allcott. THE LOSS OF DEMPSTER. A total of 207 by Auckland did not appear to be a particularly difficult obstacle for Wellington in setting out on the second day of the match with five runs already credited to the account. Much depended upon the start which would be given by the opening pair, Cameron and Dempster. The Wellington coach was due for a return to form, and Cameron was recognised as a solid batsman. From the commencement it was apparent that the opening men were out to pave the way for a. big score, and they contented themselves with taking matters very quietly. Matheson and Cleverley were the opening bowlers, and there was particular interest in Cleverley. It came as a surprise to find that the exWellington boy did not show anything like the pace expected from him. He did not appear to be as fast as the Old Boys' bowler, Parsloe, and certainly not as'fast as Henderson, who might have had a further successful run on Eden Park had he been chosen for this match. As thfi prelunch play progressed on Saturday Dempster showed evidence of a return to form, though going along slowly, and Cameron was playing like a rock. For the spectators it was slow cricket, and bowling-changes did not improve matters. There were some deliveries from which the batsmen could not help but score, but neither Dempster nor Cameron (who had a couple of "lives") were in a&v hurry to make runs. Some of the spectators bad just started to become impatient and were barracking the batsmen when a foolish attempt was made to run a single. This accounted for Dempster's dismissal, and it was a valuable wicket lost. Forty-seven runs had been made in an hour and three-quarters: CAMERON AND M'GIRR. James did not last . very long, and Cameron gave two. more chances in one of Anthony's overs. With M'Girr as his partneT- Cameron become more aggressive and made a series of good forcing shots which brought him in quite a few runs. M'Girr was also going well up to the time that the luncheon adjournment was taken. A good display of forcing cricket was given by Cameron and M'Girr for a time after lunch on Saturday. The Rangitikei player was well tuned up after his sohd resistance in the pre-lunch period, and with M'Girr full of confidence, aa is usual with him, runs were put on at a good rate. For over half an hour Cleverley and Wensley maintained a fairly solid attack, the latter bowling with a little more pace than previously. Wensley was getting a fair amount of turn on the ball, and occasionally had the batsmen thinking, but it could not be said that these bowlers were on top. Smart fielding accounted for numerous forcing strokes having little value, but well-placed shots kept the account moving. , The total reached the 100 mark when the innings had been in progress for 160 minutes, and just afterwards Cameron reached his halfcentury. The player was holding the fort at one end in a most capable manner, and was now making more use of scoring opportunities, while . M'Girr was meeting almost everything that came his way with plenty of force. It was good cricket, and the tit-bits- included some neat late cuts and forcing strokes dowu the gully. M'Girr's off-drives were well covered, but the Hutt captain was able to place the ball suitably for scoring purposes. When Anthony and Allcott were brought on there was a gradual slowing down' of the rate of scoring, and Cameron had a couple of narrow, escapes in one of Anthony s overs, Hunt and Finlayson both failing to take catches. Cameron was having some luck, but for all that he was playing aV'eat knock for his side. The fact that he had given chances did not make him reckless; he was quite prepared to carry on steadily and soundly, and was not disturbed by the barrack from « section of the spectators—those who did not appreciate the value of this type of batsman to a. side. ALLCOTT GETS M'GIRR. Eighty-two runs had been put on by M'Girr and Cameron in seventy-nine minutes when Allcott turned a ball just sufficiently to beat M'Girr and connect with the off pin. The batsman was just aa surprised as many of tho spectators. There were not a few people who considered that the ball had broken the ' wicket in rebounding quickly from the ; wicket-keeper's pads. Even Umpire Cave ; at the bowler's end could not see what happened, and he appealed to Umpire Cobcroft, who had no hesitation in giving the batsman out. M'Girr played his usual game, and for attractiveness his effort was ' one of the best to date in the match. The appreciation of M'Girr's forcing play wa£ shown iv the ovation which the batsman was accorded on his way to the 1 pavilion. M'Girr had given another : sample of that batsmanship which should • earn hint a place iv the New Zealand team. It will be a pity if an age limit ; keeps this player out of the touring team. : At M'Girr's dismissal Wellington's score was 135, M'Girr's contribution being 37, including four boundary strokes. '. Lowry filled the crease vacated by M'Girr, and a Rangitikei partnership was formed. It was a very serviceable one. - Cameron continued to defy the bowling, > and came in for a great deal of barrack I from a section of the spectators. He had

become very restrained once again, although his play was not purely defensive. Many correct strokes were made by him, and these were covered. The difficulty so far as Cameron was concerned was that : lie could rarely send the ball through : the gaps in the field. For all that, he ; was doing a job which was worthy of - commendation instead of the ironical : cheering and applause which greeted each : stroke. Those who barracked evidently : overlooked the fact that one of the most ■ valuable efforts in Auckland's first innings J was Cleverley's score of three runs in en ■ hour, and another effort praised aa a meritorious one was Vivian's 24 in an hour and a half. FINE KNOCK BY L.OWRY. Whereas Cameron played the rock, Lowry wasted no time in measuring ,up the attack. No sooner had the captain reached double figures than he began to smite the bowling, being very severe on Matheson. In one of Matheson's overs Lowry registered three boundary hits, the first per medium of a square cut, the second by clouting a ball hard to square leg, and the third with a beautiful straight drive. Previously lie had lost a four through the ball being driven straight back to the wickets at the bowler's end. Bowling changes made little difference to Lowry, who showed but little respect for the trundlers, among whom Finlayson was about the least impressive. Lowry hit up 45 runs in as many minutes, and his display, in marked contrast to that of Cameron from the point of view of scoring, was relished by the spectators. : The total had reached 175 when Vivian was given his first chance to do something with the ball. The young lefthander at once demonstrated that he was not to be treated lightly. He bowled headily, varying flight and length to such effect that no liberties could be taken with him. Lowry was 46 when he stepped right out to Vivian, missed, and was badly missed by the stumper (Hunt), whose performance to date had been well below the standard expected in representative cricket. His failure to.» stump Lowry accounted for calls from the barracke'rs for Rowntree, the veteran 'keeper, wlio, Jiy the way, has a son giving every promise of following in his father's footsteps. Cameron and Lowry looked like being unbeatable before the tea adjournment, just prior to which Weir, the eighth bowler to be tried, was given an over.| Vivian was .the last bowler before tea, and he brought about the dismissal of the rock-like Cameron, who stepped in front to one delivery, missed, and waa out lbw. The removal of this stumbling-block was a very satisfactory termination to the session so far as the Aucklanders were concerned, and it gave rise to new interest in the 4.15 p.m. to 6 p.m. session.- Cameron's patient and sound innings occupied four hours twenty-three minutes, in which time the batsman made 71 runs, of which ','2 were from bouiidary strokes. He had been the sheet-anchor i? Wellington's batting, and it was well for Wellington that they had a player of this type to keep an end up for so long. The slow rate of scoring "was adversely criticised in most quarters, but it was not a. great deal slower than Auckland's up to the same time on the first day, and it had given Wellington's position a stronger appearance than that of Auckland. At ,tea on the first clay Auckland had lost eight wickets for 207 runs, (whereas at tea on Saturday Wellington had lost four wickets for IS7 runs. REST ACCOMPLISH LITTLE. In the previous Shield matches this season Wellington had had a batting "tail," and, while tlicra. was still an uncertainty about the ability of the tail-enders to rise to the occasion, it was expected that a tidy addition to the score would be made by the remaining batsmen. Lowry, right in form, was still to be disposed of, ami there were Crook, Browne, Lambert, Massey, Newmau','. and Blundell also to bat. It came as a" big surprise, therefore, to find Wellington all out well before the end of the day's play for a total G4 short of that made by Auckland. Crook started off well with Lowry, and helped the score along with some nice strokes. A full toss from Vivian was promptly dispatched by Crook to the boundary, and this took Wellington's score over the 200 mark for 279 minutes' batting. Meanwhile Lowry had reached the half-century after having been at the creases for an hour and a quarter, and he looked' good enough for a much bigger score. A sensation was created, however, when Lowry jumped right out of his crease, made a somewhat wild effort at a big hit/ and was skittled by Matheson, who up to this stage had not appear-*1 ed at all dangerous. It was a fine wicket thrown away, as Lowry had batted like a real tradesman. His score of 61, made in 94 minutes, included nine 4's.

It was not loDg after a new ball had been brought into use that Lowry was dismissed, and more good work was accomplished with this ball. Lowry's .departure started a rot, and the five remaining wickets were bagged for IS runs —an unexpected run of success for Auckland and a most disappointing experience for Wellington. Browne made a confident beginning, and played the bowling with a splendid straight bat until he snicked a ball from Matheson to the wicketkeeper, who this time accepted the chance. The score was then 221 and another likely scoring partnership was broken without any addition to the score when Crook (now partnered by Massey) was bowled off his pads by Wensley. Lambert was next— a very low place for him in the batting order. He soon lost Massey, who fell to a very loose ball from Wensley. Massey swung to leg for a boirodary hit, but just tipped the ball. The 'keeper stepped across, stetched out his hand, and the ball stuck in the glove just long enough for the decision to go against the batsman. Lambert might then have gone hard for runs, but played rather cautiously, and did not make the most of taking the bowling when'he was partnered by Newman and then Bliindel!, both of whom were bowled by Mathesou in hitting out in their usual manner. The play since the tea adjournment had provided another surprising turn of events in a game of fluctuating fortunes. Wellington's total of 233 was made in "just under five and a half hours. THE AUCKLAND ATTACK. The Auckland attack had been fairly consistent, although at times it did not appear to be handled to the best advantage. Cleverley and Matheson were on at the same time, as were two of the left-handefs. Matheson's success was achieved late in the innings. Forty-five runs had been scored from him before he took a wicket, and he finished up with four for 53. Cleverley was not very costly, but did not take a wicket. He was not as fast as had been reported, and on form in this match could not be regarded as a fast bowler good enough for a place in the New Zealand team. The fact that Matheson can make runs will probably count against Cleverley when the claims of the two Auckland bowlers of pane are being considered by the New Zealand selectors. Allcott bowled effectively and bagged two good wickets when the position was pointing decidedly Wellington's way. Wensley also took two wickets later on, but neither Finlayson nov Anthony had any success. In the last-named's case, however, the bowling was worthy of a better result. Some good chances were missed off Anthony, whose figures were such as to indicate that he had the batsmen tied up. Certainly most of his overs were taken by Cameron, but it is worthy of note that there were only eight scoring strokes from the 350 balls which Anthony delivered. His twentyfive overs included fifteen maidens. Auckland performed well in the field, except that at times the throwing-in was wild. Hunt, thn wickelkeeper. was poor until late in the innings, when he retrieved himself somewhat with two good catches. James is many classes'above this keeper, although the Wellington player also had a lapse during the first day's play, but otherwise kept well. . Auckland had twenty-four minutes use of the pitch before stumps were drawn, and Lowry gave the opening batsmen a varied supply of bowling, Blundell, Massey, M'Girr, Lambert, and Dempster all having a turn with the ball. The day's batting was given an attractive finishing, touch by Mills, who batted gracefully and lqgt no opportunities of scoring. He was not to be cau K ht as 'in the first innings, and he finished up with 25 runs, Postles completing the account with five runs—3o for no wickets. Details:— AUCKLAND. First innings ■ s" Second Innings. A. -T. Postles, not out 5 J. K. Mills, not out , 25 Total for no wickets , 30

WELLINGTON. First Innings.

C. S. Dempster, run out 24 D. A. Cameron, lbw, b Vivian 71 K. C. James, b Alleott 2 H. M. M'Girr, b Alleott 37 T. C. Lowry, b Matheson 01 R. Crook, b Wensley 14 L. V. Browne, c Hunt, b Matheson .. 3 H. R. Massey, c Hunt, b Wensley .... ' 1 H. Lambert, not out 4. .T. Newman, b Matheson „.. 7 JE. D. Blundell, b Mathesr-n ......... 0 Extras 99 Total 233

Bowling Analysis. 0. M. E. Matheson 20.3 5-53 Cleverley 15 5 31 W. P. Wensley ..27 7 38 Allcott U 6 15 Finlayson 16 5 45 Anthony 25 15 25 Vivian 9 4 11 Weir 4.1 6 W. 4 0 . 2 : * \