PLUNKET SHIELD

Evening Star, Issue 18832, 5 January 1925, Page 3

PLUNKET SHIELD

OTAGO’S GOOD WIN. AUCKLAND BEATEN BY 146 RUNS. BRIGHT CRICKET SHOWN. With the catching of Elliott by Dickinson at 5 o'clock on .Saturday came the end of tho Auckland second innings, and Otago had won their first Plunket match of the season by the respectable margin of 146 runs. Tho side deserved to win, for our local boys played better cricket nil round than did tlie visitors. Their batting, on the whole, was brighter, their bowling had a little more sting and more variety, while their fielding was at least equal to that shown ns by the northerners ; in some respects it was better. ATTRACTIVE CRICKET, j The play on Saturday was full of incident, and it was a pity the attendance was so meagre. It has been proved, however, that big crowds cannot be drawn at s holi- * day time in Dunedin. The exodus from I tho city more than counterbalances the j number of visitors; and, in any case, few 1 visitors can be expected to put in their j lime at a cricket ground, j When play was resumed on Saturday j morning it was “anybody's match,’’ for, had Auckland managed to dispose of our tail quickly, they would have had a great chance to win. But our tail, like that of j live visitors in their first innings (only more so), wagged vigorously. George Dickinson certainly enhanced his reputation in this match as one of Otago’s best all-rounders. Following np his fine first inning’s display witli bat and ball, ho played a splendid second knock, making 57 (the highest scored in the match) by bright, attractive cricket, and highly delighting the crowd. Ho made a few uppish strokes, but all his hits were powerful, and the majority of them crisp and batsraanlike. His two sixers landed in front of the smokers' stand, and he hit seven 4’s as well, the 57 being compiled in forty-three minutes. 'the veteran, Dick Torrance, also played a highly attractive innings, despite the tact that it was marred towards the close by three easy chances. Tho popular Dick times the ball beautifully as a rule, and iiit.s it hard with the full face of tho bat. His first let-ofl was at 9, when the usually safe Dacro dropped a “twopenny” at midotf. Then towards the end, when he was forcing the pace, ho was missed by Fra ter

at point and Montcith at extra cover. In between the chances, however, his batting was good to sea. THE USEFUL ALLOO. Alloo played an extremely useful innings, Ho was at the wickets ninety-three minutes for 21, but his carefulness was justified by the state of tho game. He helped Dickinson to add 66 for the seventh wicket, this partnership really making tho game safe for Otago. Alloo was out in a peculiar manner. He had been using his pads (as lie frequently docs to break-bowling) to Allcott, and this time slopped too far across. The ball whipped in a trifle from log, and, to the batsman’s chagrin, hit the leg pin while ho stood with bat raised. Chadwick again failed to roach double figures, Smith catching him off a. fairly hard return. Douglas stayed while 24 were added for the last wicket, his contribution being 8. Some of his scoring strokes were of the very best kind. Otago’s innings lasted 232 minutes. AUCKLAND’S GOOD START. Set 545 to win, Auckland had a big task. But they began in valiant fashion, Horspool, Gillespie, and Smith batting

solidly and making the Otago bowling look simple. Gillespie especially was well worth watching, his 56 being made by all-round cricket in eighty-one minutes. His score included eight 4’s. His only weak stroke was the one from which he mot his fate. He cocked Alloo up, and was easily taken by Dickinson close in at mid-on. It would not bo too much io say Hint Gillespie’s display was easily tbo most versatile on, his side, his score being got from strokes on all sides of the wicket. Smith gave a characteristic display in getting his 29, his easy stylo being much admired. His dismissal was rather dramatic. Dickinson sent him down a slow full toss, which he promptly sent over the leg fence for 6. Next ball was a straight fast one, and Smith played altogether too lato for it, and was bowled neck and crop. Horspool was again on the slow side in gelling his 20, but, as in .A 1 loo’s case, the state of the game justified caution. Young Mills showed a glimpse of the promising form that earned him a place in the touring team in making 17. He made some nico shots to third man, and was crisp and lively in his methods. He fell to a smart hit of stumping by Chadwick, who had previously missed catching him. GALLAND INJURED, Allcott’s 25 were well and patiently got. He and Smith are two very useful, allround players, and are really the mainstay of the Auckland loom as at present constituted. Alleott hit one 6 (off Douglas) and two 4’s. Allcott’s sixer brought greater disaster to the Otago side than the more adding of so many runs, for Galland, in trying for an impossible catch off the stroke,’ backed heavily against the boundary rail and badly hurt his back. The Grange man writhed on the ground in pain, and was quickly attended to by his team mates, lie had to be assisted off the ground, Raker (Otago twelfth man) coming on to held in his place. Fortunately Gallaml’s injury, though painful, was not serious. It might easily have resulted in a dislocation, or oven a fracture. OTAGO'S OUT-CRICKET. Dickinson, though not bawling so consistently well as he did in the first innings, got in some clinking balls, and came outwith the creditable average of three for 68—or eight for 114 in the match, in which his all-round performance was a feature. Douglas was given a chance this time, and acquitted himself well, his two for 23 being a useful performance at a time when it was essential that Auckland batsmen should not bo allowed to get going, j Alloo '(two for 30), Torrance (one for 18), ; and Galland (one for 41) also helped’ though the last named sent down a lot of loose stuff in his last couple of overs. The folding was again good. Blamires made two fine catches, the ono which disposed of Dacro being especially brilliant. The Auckland star batsman had just- got going and looked well set when he glanced a fast one from Dickinson. The ball came like a flash low to Hlamircs, who was field-j ing very fine, and was snapped up in a i style worthy of Gregory. The Auckland j innings lasted 175 minutes. j SCARCITY OF “DUCKS.” j It is satisfactory to note that not one | Otago batsman in the match made th# j dreaded “ blob.” There were only two on ! 1 the Auckland side, both in tbo first in- | j nings. There was what might be, described ; j ns a New Year shortage of ducks. Another I pleasing feature was the fact that only two j batsmen succumbed to that nearly always unsatisfactory Jbw decisionfl There were plenty of appeals, but, except in Hie cases of Smith and Horspool (both Aucklanders), the umpires’ replies were always in the; negative.

A PROMISING COLT. During iho afternoon tea interval a presentation was made to young .Mills, of the Auckland team, by a few Dunedin supporters of the game. This took the form of a bat, and Mr J. J. Clark (president of the 0.C.A.), in banding it to the,nincteen-year-old colt, said that-it was a gift, from .some of those who remembered with pleasure the recipient’s father when ho was caretaker of the Carisbrook Ground, where the youngster was born, and as something to mark the latter’s first appearance there in representative cricket. The gate receipts for the match totalled £l5O, £3l being taken on Thursday, £6l on Friday, and £SB on Saturday. This will leave a small margin of profit, though a very small one.

GILLESPIE AGGRESSIVE. Smith came in and drove GaUand crisply to the on for 3, Knight throwing in well Fifty came up with' a cut for 2 by Gillespie, and a wild full toss from Galland was sent to the leg boundary by the same batsman. The next went dose to Gillespie's stumps, two byes resulting. A short ono from Torrance was hooked) crisply to the grand stand pickets by Gillespie, a, lovely cover hit from the next ball) ’being well fielded and returned by Cherry. Alloo's pace saved two runs from a leg bit by Gillespie, who was batting attractively.' At 66 Alloo was brought on in place of Torrance, who had: taken one wicket for 18. His last was a bit short, and it was despatched to the square leg fence by the aggressive right-hander. Galland. tried a slow one, but it was too far up, and Smith drove it for 4. Alloo then bowled a maiden to Gillespie. Smith drove a single, and a bumpy one went for four byes. Gillespie brought up 80 with a flashing shot to the fence through the covers, following it with a 1 in the same direction, all oft Galland. Runs continued to come from this bowler, who was “ mixing them ” with good results —to the batsmen. SMITH MISSED.

Thirteen came off one of his overs Smith walked out to Alloo and missed But Chadwick also missed, and Smith ha< a life. The two i>yes that came from tin ball brought up 100 in eighty-ono minutes Alloo bowled his third successive maiden and then Dickinson went on at Gallandk end. Gillespie placed him to leg ami through the slips for 2 each. Gallant saved runs by a diving stop at mid-off. When wanting 1 to equal top score of tin match, Gillespie cocked one of Alloo’s tc Dickinson at close mid-on, and retired. 5-56—108. Garrard followed and opened his account with a 4 to the open spaces at fine leg. A leg-trap with four men clustered close in, was set for Dickinson's bowling to Smith, but the fast bowler had scarcely the command of the ball necessary for this move, for his deliveries to the left- ' hander were all on the off. However, Otago got out of it with a 1 run debit, which Garrard increased to 5 by tipping a lofty ono over the slip fields’ heads to the fence. Smith added another ouartet to the on off Alloo, after which lie “swiped” an off ball of Dickinson’s to leg for a single. With the total at 126 Garrard put ■ one of Alloo's up to Blamires at .short slip, and, the fieldsman held it nicely, 4—9—126. “OVEH TH E FEX C E AX D OUT.” -Mills took the vacant crease and played the remainder of the over. In Dickinson's next over Mills was missed by Chadwick, but he got one through the slips for a single, and then Smith lifted a slow full toss over the leg rails for 6. Dickinson had his revenge, skittling the Auckland skipper with the next hall. 6 —29 —134. BRAMUS US’S BRI ELI AXT CATCH. Dacre was the incomer, and he opened his account with a single, off Dickinson. Mills placed Alloo through the slips for 4. A scries of singles, and Dacre played a nice forcing shot to the on for 2. When it looked as though Dacre was set for one of his brilliant innings he leg-glanced Dickinson very fine, and Blamires took a splendid catch low down. 6—5—146. Allcott tilled the gap, and' consistency missed the first three balls from Alloo, all of which were on the leg. Two leithanders were now in, an.d Mills reached doubles with a neat pat “ down the gully.” Allcott brought up 150 (made in 2h 6min; with a couple to leg. Mills jumped out to Alloo and off-drove him for 4. With 108 up and one over to go before the tea adjournment, Douglas was given the hai, at Alloo’s end. Allcott hit him through Cherry’s hands for 2 and to cover for 1. Mills missed the next, and was smartly stumped. 7—17—161.

xkarinu r:xi). After the 4 o'clock adj oiinimont Wilson accompanied Allcolt to the wickets and helped himself to a 4 oil Douglas's seventh ball, which ho despatched over G'alland’s head at deep mid-off. Two to leg to Allcott off Dickinson, whoso next was a no-bail. One to Allcott, and then Wilson hopped a leg-bye, the ball ha ving si nick him hard on _tho foot. Allcott, placed another single to leg, but. was watching Douglas's slows closely, and the youngster registered a maiden. A single to each batsman, and then Allcott. cover-hit Douglas for 4. Allcolfc then hit Douglas clear over the square leg boundary for 6, (lalland being hurt in attempting to catch the ball. There was n. stoppage of play on this account, and on resuming Wilson straight drove Dickinson for 3. Allcott brought 190 up with a square cut to the fence off Dickinson, but that howler scattered his stumps with the next ball. 8—25—130. Elliott was next, and Wilson added a single, oil' Douglas. Hakor did a bit of smart lidding, and then Wilson, in attempting a. short run for a stroke hv his partner, was run out, Worker returnin''' well. 9—9—192. Alonteith was last man, and began with a single. Elliott got another, and followed it with a 4 to tile, on off a full toss from Douglas. Dickinson finished the innings by catching Elliott close in at mid-ou off Douglas, and Utago had won by 146 runs. Scores:—

Bowling Analysis.—Dickinson, 136 bails, 68 runs, 3 maidens, 3 wickets, 1 no-ball; Torrance, 64 balls, 3 maidens, 18 runs, 1 wicket; Gailand, 64 balls, 1 maiden, 41 runs, 1 wicket; Douglas, 49 balls, 1 maiden, 23 runs, 2 wiokels; Alloo, 80 balls, 3 maidens, 30 runs, 2 wickets.

CANTERBURY V. WELLINGTON. VISITORS’ UPHILL FIGHT. .Lancaster Park on Saturday was in I first-lass order, and the wicket had worn ; remarkably well. There was a big at- | tendance of the public, no less than £165 ; 17s being taken at the gates, making a 1 total of £594 10s for tho match so far, } which is a record for an intcrprovincial ; game. | Tho remaining Canterbury batsmen had I to bo literally dug out, end though the | batting was slow it was very sure. Bei fore they were done with Canterbury bad left the northerners the formidable total of 580 to get in a fourth innings. Two very fine stands were responsible for Canterbury's satisfactory position. When Sandmen had gone rather cheaply six wicket wore down for 162, but then Patrick and Boon combined in one of the soundest partnerships ever seen in a representative match at Lancaster Park. Tho bowling was distinctly good, but both men played it with tho utmost soundness and restraint. Boon surprised everyone by the confident way in which ho kept his end up. After Patrick’s departure Bead assisted Boon with another fine stand, which added 50 for the eighth wicket, a very useful contribution. Read showed very solid defence, curbing his desire for a hit. with commendable patience. The out cricket of the northerners was again of a high order. Bndcock proved a great asset to the Wellington bowling. To send down thirty-eight overs for 50 runs and seven wickets was a performance that stamps Ba-dcock as a bowler of great merit. Henderson and M’Girr also performed exceedingly well, and at no time could the Wellington bowling bo said to have been collared. Tho fielding was again first class, but it was made to look better by the lack of enterprise on the part of the Canterbury _ batsmen. As in the first -innings, runs innumerable were lost, and in this department the Canterbury representatives showed shocking laxnesa.

When Wellington wept in with 380 to got few people thought that the run» would be made, "frut the first partnership —that between Hiddieston ana Collins—piled up the score at such an alarming rate that Canterbury had an anxious time; but the batsmen were taking risks, and before Collins had got very Tar his forcing tactics thought about his dismissal. Then the fall of two more wickets in quick succession bucked Canterbury up, but Hiddieston was still hitting in masterly style, and it was recognised that while he was there Wellington had a good chance. It was one of the moat sensational catches ever seen at Lancaster Park that dismissed him. Ho had given a brilliant display of stylish and forceful batting. After this M'Girr, Ranks, and Badcock made useful contributions by thoroughly good batting, but by this time Canterbury’s bowling was very tired, and the drawing of stumps must have been very welcome to them.

Bead’s fine, bowling was largely responsible for Canterbury’s success on Saturday afternoon. Besides getting his four wickets, he several times completely beat the batsmen with balls that almost grazed the stumps. M‘Beth was not quite so accurate as usual, but still he bowled well, whilst Cunningham was handicapped by a heavy blow on the leg from one of Hiddleston’s hard drives. In running a short single, Dempster further injured his foot, which he had hurt fielding earlier in the day. Ho was carried off the field, and M'Girr replaced him. It is to he hoped that Dempster’s injury will not prevent him assisting his side to-day. His fine fielding at cover-point was a feature of the play, and made him quite a favorite with the crowd. The only fieldsman on the Canterbury side to compare with him was Sandman. Scores:— CANTERBURY. First innings 290

OTAGO. First innings ... 256 Second innings ... „ 257 AUCKLAND. First innings ... 169 Second Innings. Horspool Ibw b Galland ... ... ... 20 Fraler b Torrance ... 3 Gillespie c Dickinson b Alloo ... ... 5fa Smith b Dickinson ... ... 29 Garrard c Blamircs b Alloo ... ... 9 Mills st Chadwick b Douglas ... 17 Dacro c Blamires b Dickinson 5 Allcott b Dickinson ... 25 Wilson run out ... 9 Elliott c Dickinson b Douglas ... 6 Monteith not out .„ .„ 1 Extras „ ... „. ... ... 18 Total ... ., ... 198

—Second Innings,— Blunt c M'Girr b Badcock ... 39 Gasson b Badcock ... 7 Crawford c Hiddleston b Henderson ... 25 Oliver b Badcock ... 0 Hayes c and b Badcock ... 9 Patrick c James b Henderson ... 95 Sandman c Hiddleston b Badcock ... 12 Boon b M'Girr ... 62 Hoad b Badcock ... 58 Cunningham Ibw b Badcock ... 1 D. M'Beth not out ... 1 Extras ... ... 26 Total ••• ... 315 Bowling Analysis.—Badcock, seven for 50: M'Girr. one for 48; Henderson, two for 102; Holland, none for 21; Grant, none for 20 ; Collins, none for 37 ; HiddleEton, none for 11. WELLINGTON. First innings ... 226 —Second Innings.— Hiddleston c Cunningham b Read ... 56 Uullins c Blunt b Bead ... 14 Holland b Read ... ‘ 0 Burt b Read ... 0 Dempster (retired hurt) ... ... . . 0 M'Girr Ibw b M'Beth ... 30 Banks not out ... 21 Badcock not out ... 22 Extras ... ... 13 Total for five wickets ... ... 156