CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 19441, 27 December 1926, Page 2

CRICKET

PLUHKET SHIELD CANTERBURY V. AUCKLAND NO PLAY FIRST DAY. [P&r United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 26. Christmas Day was probably the wettest day of 1926 in Christchurch. On Friday afternoon a steady easterly rain began to fall, and it continued without ceasing until this morning. The only sports events scheduled for the day were the Plunket Shield cricekt match, Canterbury v. Auckland, and cvcling sports on Saturday evening. Both were postponed. For the cricket the prospects are now good. The weather to-day is fair, with a drying breeze. The wicket, however, has been soaked. OTAG3 V. WELLINGTON The representative match between Otago and Auckland will be played at Carisbrook on Saturday and Monday next and Tuesday of next week. More than usual interest is being taken in the Plunket Shield matches this year, owing .to tho fact that a New Zealand team is to be selected to tour England, and naturally every player is playing for a place in this team. Additional interest will bo added to this match by the presence of E. H. Bowley, the English ericketter, who has been acting as coach to 'the Auckland Association, and who will be playing, in the visitors’ team. He is a very high-class batsman and a good bowler, and should considerably strengthen the Auckland eleven. The Auckland team also includes C. W. F. Allcott, who proved to be one of the best all-round men in the New Zealand team which visited Australia last season, C. Dacre, captain, of the team, is a fine batsman and a brilliant field. R. W. Rowntree is considered to he tho best wicket-keeper in New Zealand. The team also includes R. E. Frator, J. P. Gerrard, H. D. Gillespie, A. M. Matheson, J. E. Mills, and A. S. Player, most of whom have previously represented Auckland in Dunedin. The visitors will arrive on Thursday and will ’stop at the City Hotel. The new score board which has been erected at Carisbrook will bo used for the first time in this match, and should help to increase the public interest in the game. The board will show each batsman’s score, and the bowlers’ averages will be put np on the board; also all other details. SHEFFIELD SHIELD HEW SOUTH WALES V. VICTORIA Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, December 24. New South Wales commenced a Sheffield Shield match against Victoria, losing six wickets for 188 (Phillips 32, Andrews 42, and Kippax 36). The weather is fine and the wicket, good. Liddicntt was in great form with the ball, capturing four wickets and keeping the batsmen constantly on the defensive. The batting was very slow. Phillips, Andrews, and Kippax were the only men to show flashes of freedom. The others went cheaply. VISITORS ALL OUT, 221. MELBOURNE, December 25. New South Wales made 221 (Hogg not out 40, Mai ley 20). Bowling, Lidclicutt took four wickets for 50 and Ryder three for 32. The display was a wearying one, _ the score taking 304 minutes to compile.