PLUNKET SHIELD

Evening Star, Issue 19443, 29 December 1926, Page 9

PLUNKET SHIELD

—— OTAGO’S CHANGE SLENDER A GRUMBUHG WICKET [Special to the ‘ Star,’] WELLINGTON, December 23. Pleasanter weather conditions prevailed for the third day of the Plunket Shield match between Otago and Wellington at the Basin Reserve. The wicket, though greatly improved, still enabled the bowlers to got some work on the ball, and Otago lound Badcock a difficult proposition. The Englishman employed the off theory to effect, pitching his deliveries on the off pin, and making them go sharply away from the bat. He trapped Blunt and Shepherd in , this _ manner, and altogether took live wickets at trilling cost. M’Girr swung the ball with the wind, and the Otago men did not shape comfortably to him. Otago could only total 207 in their first innings, but made amends by dismissing four Wellington batsmen cheaply in the second innings, duo to a brilliant sustained bowling effort by Arthur Alloo, who was almost unplayable on the crumbling wicket. Though Otago are fighting hard, their hopes of victory are slender, as the wicket will become more difficult as the game proceeds. At close of play to-day Wellington had lost four wickets for 103 runs in their second innings, which means that they are 344 runs on, with six wickets still in hand. OTAGO’S INNINGS. With no wickets down for no runs the not-out men, Green and Knight, resumed Otago’s first innings to the bowling of Brice and Badcock. Both men were bowling the leg theory, witn four men close in on the leg side. Though not'too happy at first to Brice Green, who is not supposed to be a batsman, opened out and drove Brice twice into the country for a 3 and a couple. Knight back-cut Badcock for a couple, and double figures came up in as many minutes. Knight then sweetly glided Brice to the fence. Off the first ball of Badcock’s fourth over, Green attempted to get the ball away to the on, but was’brilliantly caught by Kortlang a few yards from the bat. Blunt, the star batsman of the side, came next, and deftly placed Badcock through the wide gap on the off side for 3. Blunt tried to flick Brice to leg, but mis-hit the ball over Hiddlestone’s head at slip for a couple. Misfielding by Lambert at inidoff gave Blunt a couple off Brice. A sweet late cut by Blunt off Badcock brought 30 up. The Otago crack batsman then prettily back-cut Brice to the pickets. Knight was stonewalling as determinedly as Worker had done at tiie start of the Wellington innings. Worker was doing good work at deep long leg, returning the ball from the boundary right into James’s hands on the full. Knight tapped Badcock past point for a couple. • With 33 on, Brice, who had sent clown eight overs for 21 runs, gave way to M’Girr, Blunt bringing 40 up by square cutting the new howler’s first ball for a couple, 5 coining from the over. Blunt turned M’Girr neatly to square leg for 3. He was showing a nice variety of shots. At 47 Badcock, who had secured one wicket lor 16 runs off ten. overs, was relieved by Hollings. The score was now 48 tor one wicket, and Utngo wanted the little matter of 400 runs to reach Wellington's total. Blunt tapped the sixth ball from the ’Varsity colt through the slips to the track, 6 coming from the over. The goodly crowd of spectators were now privileged to watch a batsman in action. This was Blunt, who next square cut Hollings to the benches. Knight followed suit by tapping one through the slips for 3. Dempster called up applause by brilliantly picking up a hoi ground shot by Blunt at cover, and causing Knight to gallop to get home for the single. Blunt then Hashed M’Girr past cover for 3, bringing 60 in sight. Hollings, whose two overs had cost 17 runs, was replaced at 69 by Badcock. Badrock inis time abandoned the leg for the off theory, and troubled Blunt with deliveries just outside the off pin. A faster one from Badcock was snicked past Hlddleston by Blunt to the track, placing the batsman in the forties. James' let' one from M’Girr on the leg side through for four byes, bringing 70 up. At 77 Blunt, who had reached 43, tapped one from Badcock sharply to Kortlang in the gully. The retiring batsman had given the most finished baiting display of the match, making crisp strokes to all parts of the field. Sliepherd arrived, to sec Lambert take the ball from M’Girr, whoso six overs had cost 12 runs. A wag on the benches started to ironically cheer Knight’s stonewalling tactics. _ Badcock’s off theory was meeting with success, as, after scoring 2, Shepherd popped one from the Englishman-into M’Girr’s hands at point. Badcock had now taken throe for 23 off fourteen overs.

A. W. Alloo joined Knight, who was 19, and opened with a sharply run single to cover. Lambert caught the leg theory infection, and brought four men close in on the leg side. The failure of Alloo to respond to a call by Knight for a single to cover saw both men eventually at tho one end. A side return saw James fail to field the ball, and Knight was luckily enabled to travel safely to tho other end. This placed Knight in tho twenties, after having been at the wickets for two hours. Four byes off Lambert helped the score along. This brought 90 itf). Lambert was getting a good deal of turn on the ball, and the batsman were not shaping comfortably at him. Kortlang claimed a catch at silly point after taking the ball on the first hop, but be did not get away with it. With the total at 92, Lambert cleanbowled Alloo with am. off break. The retiring batsman had never been at home.

Blamires, tho Otago captain., came in to stop the rot, and opened with a single to cover. Knight got a couple for a square cut off Lambert, and four byes brought tho 100 up for two hours’ play. Knight leg-glided Lambert for a couple, and Hiddleston then took the ball from Badcock, who had _ taken three wickets for 27 runs off eighteen overs. Blamires lifted Hiddleston loftily to mid-on for a couple, and the luncheon adjournment Was taken with the board showing four wickets down for 107, Knight being 26 and Blamires On resuming at 1.45 M'Girr howled with the southerly breeze behind him, 2 coming from the over. Badcock still trundled from the other end, three coming from his first over. After a period of slow play Blamires off-drove M'Girr for 3, Dempster cutting off the boundary. At 121 Brice took the ball from Badcock, who had now three wickets for 32 runs off twenty : one overs. The second ball of M'Girr's eleventh over clean howled tho Otago captain. H. C. Alloo joined Knight, who was 29. and was lucky, as ,he_ snicked one in the' same over between Hiddleston and Badcock to the fence. After having been at the wickets for 160 minutes Knight reached 30 with a single off M'Girr. The Hutt bowler found H. Alloo’s sticks with the next ball. Dickinson filled the breach, and saw out the over. After a spell of slow play Knight glided Brice through the slips for 4, all run out. At 138 Badcock took the ball from Brice, Dickinson back-cutting the first ball for 2, which would have_ been 4 but for a good one-handed pick up by Lowry on the boundary. Knight, who had been at the wickets for three hours,' at last fell Ibw to M'Girr. He bad shown the soundest pf .but revealed few

scoring shots, allowing the ball to hit the bat. He lost a lot of runs through not forcing the pace when well set, while the field were clustered round the bat.

Cherry was next, and arrived to see Dickinson slam Badcock to mid-on for a couple. Cherry opened confidently, driving M’Girr past mid-on for 2 and 3 off successive strokes. Dickinson late cut the next ball for 2, 8 coming from the over. Dickinson then opened put, and banged Badcock to tho sight screen. At 155 Lambert relieved M’Girr, who had captured three wickets for 38 runs off sixteen overs. At 158 Hollings had another try. Dickinson let out at Lambert, and was robbed of a boundary through the umpire (Steele) not being able to get out of the way in time, only a couple coming off the white-coated official. Four byes helped the score along, 160 going up. Cherry got 3 to long leg off Lambert, and Dickinson banged the next ball past cover to the pickets, bringing 170 m sight. Dickinson, who was now going well, repeated the stroke off the next bail. Twelve came from this over. , At 180 M’Girr took the ball from Lambert, and Badcock relieved Hollings. The fourth ball of the Englishman’s twenty-fifth over clean bowled Cherry, who had just reached double figures. Zimmerman joined Dickinson, who was 28, but after scoring a single M’Girr spread-eagled the Oainaru man’s sticks.

Torrance, the last man, nearly went first ball, cocking one dangerously close to Dempster close in at mid-on for a single. Dickinson turned the next ball to leg for a couple. Torrance off drove Badcock for 3, and Dickinson squarecut the next ball for 4, 8 coming from the over. Torrance showed his team mates that runs could be got by banging M’Girr to long-on for 4, and offdriving him for a couple. This placed him in double figures, and brought 200 up. Torrance, who was going well, drove M’Girr to Lowry at mid-on, and went for a run, but had to scamper back, and only saved his wicket by getting a sharp rap on the calf of the leg from a hot return. Next ball Torrance nonchalantly hooked to the square leg boundary. After he bad got another single Torrance, who had played as bright cricket as any man on the side, was caught at mid-on by Brice off Badcock. The innings, which had_ lasted for 203 minutes, closed for 207. Tho last wicket had nut on 26 runs, of.which Tojiriince claimed IS. Dickinson, who had played a good knock, was left not out with 36 to his credit. Badcock and M’Girr both bowled well, the Englishman being particularly effective with his off theory. The Wellington fieldsmen, who had never been bustled, did their work well. Dempster, Lowry, Kortlang. and Lambert showing up well. % t WELLINGTON’S REPLY.

Worker and Hiddleston opened Weilington’s second innings at 4 o clock, Dickinson and A. Alloo having charge of the attack. Hiddleston’s luck was in, as in Dickinson’s _ second over he (lew one to Blamires in the slips, hut tho Otago captain was too slow in getting to it, and the leather flashed through to the fence. In Dickinson’s next over Hiddleston square cut one to the pickets. Alloo was bowling well, his first three overs being maidens. A. Alloo let a cut by Hiddleston off Dickinson pass between hie legs to the fence, which brought 20 up. Worker let out at Alloo, and spooned the ball high to extra forward cover, but no one could get to it. The wicket had started to crumble, and Alloo was getting a good deal of turn on tho leather. With 23 up Blunt took tho ball from Dickinson. Zimmerman was applauded for stopping a very hot ground shot by Hiddleston at mid-on. "Worker reached 10 after being at the wickets for thirtyfive minutes. Hiddleston reached 20 bysweeping Blunt to long leg for 3. The first ball of A. Alloo’s seventh over saw Hiddleston pop the leather back into the bowler’s bands.

Kortlang followed, but before scoring popped Alloo into Blamires’s hands at forward short leg. Arthur Alloo had now taken two wickets for 1 run off fifty-five deliveries. Dempster then partnered Worker, who off-drovo Blunt past Dickinson at cover for 3, and a little later got 3 off the same howler with an on drive. Alloo had now bowled eight overs for 2 runs, and two wickets. He had the batsman Well tied up. After a period of very slow piny Dempster lashed out at the last ball of Blunt's sixth over, and was’ clean bowled. Lowry, who had given such a bright display in the first innings, joined Worker, who was 18, and the field spread out. Worker, who .had been batting for seventy-one minutes, reached 20 by off-driving Blunt for 3. Worker opened out to Alloo, and lifted him to the benches at mid-on, but the next ball was snapped up behind the sticks by Green. He bad been at the wickets for seventy-five minutes for his 25. Lambert joined Lowry, and the pair were together, who had made the stand for 114 in’ the first innings. Lambert drove Blunt past cover to the fence, and Lowry powerfully banged Alloo to the pickets at extra long-on bringing ■7O up. Dickinson here relieved Blunt, who had taken one wicket for 35 runs off nine overs. Lowry was going well. Slamming Alloo to the fence with a powerful off-drive, he next . turned Dickinson to leg for 3, reaching the twenties. Lowry, who was shaping like a batsman of class, powerfully off-drove Alloo to the boundary, bringing 90 on the board. Shepherd called up applause by stopping a very hot drive by Lowry off Dickinson at mid-off. At 94 Torrance took the ball from A. Alloo, who bad bowled splendidly for nn hour and three-quarters, during which he had captured three wickets for 26 runs off fifteen overs. Blunt also relieved Dickinson at this stage. A sweet late cut by Lowry off Blunt made him 30. The first hundred came up in 115 minutes. With a few minutes to go the Otago captain gave H. Alloo a trial, 3 coining from his over of slow leg breaks. Stumps were then drawn for the day, with the board showing four wickets down for 103 runs, Lowry being 35 and Lambert 15. The pair had put on 47 for the fifth wicket, and, as in the first innings, they gave the best batting display of tbo match. Lowry, in particular, stood out as a. batsman of distinction, his runs being made by finished strokes, and experience showing out in every movement he made. The position at the close of play yesterday was that Wellington had 344 runs to the good, with six wickets in hand. Otago’s chance of saving the match is hopeless as the wicket yesterday had crumbled rather badly. The Otago fielding was again first class, and 'Green did not allow a solitary extra. Details;—

OTAGO. First Innings

L. Green c Kortlang b Badcock ... 8 A. Knight Ibw b M’Girr 37 R. C. Blunt c Kortlang b Badcock 45 J. Shepherd c M’Girr b Badcock 2 A W Alloo b Lambert ... 5 b! 0. Blamires b M’Girr 17 H. C. Alloo b M’Girr 7 G. R. Dickinson not out 3b R. Cherry b Badcock 10 H. Zimmerman b M’Girr 1 ii. Torrance c Brice b Badcock ... 18 J Extras (byes 14, leg byes 7) ... 21 Total - - 207 Bowling Analysis.—Badcock, 3 wickets for 53 runs; Brice, 0 for 29; M’Girr, 4 for 52: Hollings, 0 for 21; Lambert, 1 for 26; Hiddleston, 0 for 4.

WELLINGTON. First innings 448 Second Innings. J. S. Hiddleston c and b A. ,W. Alloo ... 21 11. De It. Worker c Green b A. W. Alloo ••• 25 R. J. Kortlang c Blamires b A. W. Alloo 2 C. vS. Dempster b Blunt 6 T. 0. Lowry not out 35 H. N. Lambei't not out lo Extra (no ball) ... 1 Total for four wickets ... 103 AUCKLAND V. CANTERBURY SOUTH’S POSITION IMPROVED [Pfcß United Press Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, December 28, Auckland’s score of 140 for three wickets seemed to give the northerners a commanding lead in the Plunket Shield match against Canterbury, who were all out for 128. The Auckland batsmen failed to-day, however, and the side was dismissed for the modest total of 220. The not out men, Alcott (0) and Cooper (43) added 19 more runs, when Cooper misjudged a yorker from Cunningham. The retiring batsman had just passed his half-century. Dacre followed and added, a single, and then saw Cunningham wreck A - cott’s wicket with a good-length hall, which broke back. Gillespie joined Dacre, but 3 runs later Dacre was run out. 172—6—1. Player followed, and with Gillespie scored fairly freely, until Burrows sent Gillespie back with a brilliant catch at point off Cunningham. 195—7—21. Matheson’s stay at the crease was short. He glanced Cunningham for 2 and then a change of pace heat him, and he was out. 197—8—2. Wilson was run out through Player refusing to come when called. 197 9—o. Rowntrco smote hard ,at everything within reach, and succeeded remarkably well. Player, in trying to play Sandman with his pads, missed the ball, and the innings was over. Cunningham, who had been unable to get a wicket yesterday, was almost unplayable to-day, his figures (for to-day only) being four for 34. With a deficit of 92 runs Crawford and Gregory opened Canterbury’s second innings to the bowling of Alcott and Player. Both batsmen were extremely cautious, until, the partnership was dissolved by Gregory being run out. 12-1-6. Cox followed. Dacre made a double change, putting on Bowley and Cooper to bowl slows. The batsmen kept their wickets up. till the luncheon adjournment, when the score was 27. Player took the ball at the pavilion end on resuming after lunch, and Alcott bowled again at the other end. Cox, who had Just leached double figures, put up an easy one into Cooper s hands at short square leg. 33—2—10. Page, the top scorer in the first innings, was the next batsman, but he soon lost Crawford, who drove one back to Alcott. 33—3—15. Again Canterbury had begun badly, and worse was to follow, for Oliver was sent back without scoring. Patrick helped Page to stop the rot. Page again played an invaluable knock. He plated himself in carefully, but later met' all the bowling conhdently. Patrick kept his wicket up while Pag© scored the runs. Eventually the Canterbury captain was dismissed by a sensational catch by Gillespie at deep cover point, almost on the boundary, the fieldsman falling as be took the ball. Sandman joined Page, and was much more restrained than usual. At the tea adjournment the score was 95 (Page 41 and Sandman 10, both unbeaten). When the total was 112 Sandman drove one over Bowley’s head, but the bowler took a brilliant one-handed catch, causing the crowd to gasp with surprise. Boon came in, and was at once uncomfortable facing Bowley. Both batsmen were more vigorous, however, until Page went out log before to Bowley, with the score 161—7—78. Page had been at the wickets 166 minutes, and his innings gave Canterbury a fighting chance. Boon and Read took the score to 216 before stumps were drawn, both hitting freely. Boon reached. 50 in seventy-two minutes. Scores; —

AUCKLAND. First Innings. Bowley b Sandman 34 Mills o Patrick h Sandman no Frater Ibw b Read 12 Cooper b Cunningham 51 Alcott b Cunningham JO Da ere run out 1 Gillespie c Burrows b Cunningham 21 Player b Sandman H Matheson b Cunningham 2 Wilson run out 0 Rowntreo not out 12 Extras H Total 220 Bowling Analysis.—Read, one for 54; Cunningham, four for 80; Sandman, three for 48; Patrick, none for 8; Burrows. none for 19. CANTERBURY. First innings ... 128 Second innings. Gregory run out 6 Crawford o and b Alcott 15 Cox o Cooper b Player 10 Page Ibw b Bow 7 ley IS Oliver b Alcott 0 Patrick c Gillespie b Bowley 8 Sandman c and b Bowley 15 Boon not out 5Read not out 26 Extras 6 Total for seven wickets ... 216 AUCKLAND V. OTAGO THE NORTHERN TEAM [Pss United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 28. The following players avill_ represent Auckland in the Plunket Shield match against Otago, commencing on Saturday;—Dacre, Alcott, Player, Cooper, Mills, Gillespie, Bowley, Matheson, Rowntrce, Wilson, Gerrard, and Fraier. Considerable interest is being manifested in the meeting of these mostsouthern and most-northern Plunket Shield teams. The Otago eleven will doubtless be much the same as that at present engaged in the struggle with Wellington, and, given anything like favorable weather conditions, it should show- much improved form, particularly as the match will bo played on its home ground. Blunt and Dickinson are looked upon as Otago’s most pvomising candidates far inclusion in the New Zealand team for England, and the performances of these two will b® keenly watched. There are several very attractive batsmen on the visiting side also, and altogether the criefejt should be of the kind that will thoroughly satisfy the regular enthusiast as well as please the casual patron, whose chief anxiety is to “see something; bright. The Auckland team arrives to-morrow, and will stay at the City Ho’jei.