PLUNKET SHIELD

Evening Star, Issue 19442, 28 December 1926, Page 7

PLUNKET SHIELD

OTAGO BATTING [Pbs, United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, December 28. There was a marked improvement in the weather conditions for the continuation of the Plunket Shield match, Wellington v. Otago, to-day. Knight (0) and Green (0) resumed the visitors’ first innings on a good wicket. Brice took up the attack, Green clearing the field for a couple off his fourth ball. Badcock bowled against the wind, sending down a maiden to Knight, who was disinclined to take any risks with the coach’s leg theory. In Brice’s next over Green again cleared the field for a couple. Knight opened his score with a single off Badcock. Then he got the same bowler away for 3, Dempster failing in fielding the ball. This brought 10 up. Knight scored the first boundary of the innings, glancing / Brice to the fence at fine leg. Soon after Green was dismissed, Kortlang taking a great catch close in off Badcock. 19— I—B. . Blunt was next, and opened nicely with a 3 through the slips. In facing Brice ho had a lucky escape, cocking one up just clear of the field. Misfielding by Lambert allowed Blunt to get a couple off Brice. Knight continued, but with great care, and gave Brice a maiden. Blunt cut Badcock' nicely for 3, and this brought 30 up. A little later he sent Brice to the fence, a nice shot. The ex-Canterbury man was shaping well. At 38 M'Girr went on in place of Brice (none for 21), Blunt sending his first delivery for 2. Two singles brought his total to 20, Knight being 13. Blunt continued to hit attractively, placing M‘Girr nicely for 3. With the total at 47, Hollings was given a trial in place of Badcock (one for 16). Blunt was not disturbed by the change, bringing 50 up with a shot through the slips to the houndary. At noon ;he score was one for 54 (Blunt 30 not out, Knight 14 not out, extras 3). There was no check in the scoring rate so far as Blunt was concerned, and he reached the 40 mark with good strokes off Hollings, who proved expensive. At 69 Badcock was brought on again, and he succeeded in keeping Blunt fairly quiet for an over. Knight in the meantime was playing the i eck very efficiently. With the total at 11 Blunt hit out at one from Badcock, but he edged it, and Kortlang brought off another fine catch. 77—2—45. Shepherd filled the vacancy. At 79 Lambert replaced M'Girr (none for V2). Shepherd did not have a verj* long life In feeling for one from Badcock he M'Girr a catch at point. 81—3—2. A. W. Alloo was next, and the rate of scoring became very slow, both Lambert and Badcock bowling several maidens. Eventually Lambert, who was bowling well, got one past A'loo. c)2—4—s. Blamires filled the vacancy. With 100 on the board Hiddloston replaced Badcock (three for 27). At lunch the score was 107 for 4. Details : WELLINGTON. First innings ». 448 OTAGO. First Innings, Knight not out ... 26 Green c Kortlang b Badcock S Blunt o Kortlang b Badcock . . 45 Shepherd c M'Girr b Badcock .. 2 A. W. Alloo b Lambert 5 Blamires not out ... 5 Extras Jd Total for four wickets ... 107 AUCKLAND V. CANTERBURY NORTH’S GOOD POSITION NOT MAINTAINED [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 28. ■ The Plunket Shield match Auckland v. Canterbury was resumed this morning. The wicket had rolled out nicely, and was faster than on the first day. Cooper (42) and Alcott (0)_ resumed Auckland’s innings, Bead taking up the attack. Alcott “ broke his duck ” with a nice glide to leg for a couple. Cooper had just passed the half-century when Cunningham clean bowled him. Dacre followed. He scored a single, and then Cunningham surprised Alcott with a ball which completely beat him, knocking the stumps flying. Gillespie was the newcomer. He brought about Dacre’s downfall. He played Read straight to Cox, at square leg, and called for a run. Cox threw the ball smartly to Boon, who had the bails off before Dacre could dive in. With six Auckland wickets down for 172 and three of the northern cracks disposed of for an addition of 23 to the overnight score, Canterbury’s prospects began to look brighter. Talbot (Canterbury’s twelfth man) replaced Crawford, who left the field ill. At midday Auckland had scored 197 for six wickets.

Gillespie sent a ball from Cunningham up, and Burrows held the eaten. 195—7 —21. Matheson placed Cunningham to leg for a couple. The third ball rose up and struck him on the abdomen, the fourth beat him and shaved the off-stump, and the fifth sent the bails flying. 197—8—2. Wilson was run out through a misunderstanding with Player. Rowntree, the last man in, brought up the second century with a skier into the deepfield. Player lost his leg stump to Sandman, the innings closing at 12.35 p.m. Details: —

CANTERBURY. First innings 128 AUCKLAND. First Innings. Rowley Ibw b Sandman 34 Mills c Patrick b Sandman 55 Cooper b Cunningham 51 Prater Ibw b Read 12 Alcott b Cunningham 10 Dacre run out _ 1 Gillespie c Burrows b Cunningham 21 Player b Sandman 11 Matheson b Cunningham 2 Wilson run out Rowntree not out 12 Extras 11 Total 220