PLUNKET SHIELD

Evening Star, Issue 19474, 4 February 1927, Page 6

PLUNKET SHIELD

OTAGO V. CANTERBURY VISITORS' BAD START The last Phinket Shield match of the season was commenced at Carisbrook this morning, between the “wooden Spooners,” Canterbury and Otago. When play started the outfield was holding, the wicket being slow but easy. THE TEAMS. Canterbury: M. L. Page (captain), 1. M. Hamilton, W. E. Merritt, C. G. Crawford, D. C. Nixon, W. Cunningham, M. Boon, C. E. Evans, C. Oliver, R. Reed, R. 0. Talbot, A. Cox (twelfth man). Otago: E. 0. Blamires (captain). G. Dickinson, R. C. Blunt, A. W. Alloo, A. Knight, J. M'Mullan, J. Shepherd, Al Symonds, J. Blair, R. Torrance, S. Duncan, C. E. Elmes (twelfth man). Green, who broke a rib in the Auckland match, was not able to take the field, and his place was taken by A. Svmonds, Dunedin’s keeper. "The umpires are Messrs Downes and Butler. A BAD START. Nixon and Talbot opened for the visitors, the former getting Dickinson’s second ball to the fence. The fourth ball from the Carisbrook man proved fatal to Nixon, who stopped a. good one with his feet. 4—l—4, Crawford was the newcomer. Dickinson sending down a very erratic one to the St. Albans colt, a bye being run. Talbot did not sight the first one he received from Dickinson, and a little more varnish on the off stump would have settled him. Torrance went on at the pavilion end. Talbot getting a brace off the fifth. Talbot opened his account with a couple off Dickinson, and brought 10 up with a sing e. Crawford pulled Dickinson gracefully to the leg fence, hut he was not very comfortable to the next one. He was caught by Blair at deep mid-off, without adding anything to the tally. 15—2—6. A GOOD STAND.

A “swinger” from Torrance gave Talbot an uncomfortable moment, but ho got the next away for a single. Rage, the new man, played out the remainder of the over, bringing his pads into operation more than the bat. Dickinson was no-balled in his next over, but the bowler struck a better length and kept the batsmen quiet. Four singles were collected in Torrance’s over. Page, who was displaying some excellent shots, nearly pulled one from Dickinson on to his wicket, the some batsman having two narrow escapes from being run out, Torrance s fourth over produced nine, most ot these being credited to Page, who slammed one to the pickets, bringing 40 up. Play had then been in progress for thirty-eight minutes. At 41, Blunt relieved Dickinson (one for 17). Page was again fortunate that the Otago fieldsmen were not showing their usual marksmanship, as ho appeared to bo well out of his crease when Blamires essayed to shatter his sticks after the batsman had played Blunt. Four singles came from the slow bowler’s first over, and two from Torrance's. Talbot lashed out to a no-bail from Blunt, but lie had to be satisfied with a single. The rate of scoring continued to he brisk, the halfcontury taking forty minutes. Canterbury were making a fine recovery from the disastrous start, and at this stage both Page and Talbot were playing line cricket. Alloo took the hall from Torrance (one for 18) with the score at 63, play having been in progress for about an hour. The new bowler’s first over was a maiden. Talbot played the first ball from Blunt’s fifth “over on to his wickets. 03—3—26. WICKETS FALL STEADILY.

Oliver filled the vacancy, tlio newcomer pulling Blunt for 2, good fielding by Knight on the boundary saving ft couple. Blunt beat Canterbury's crack with the next. When G Oliver clipped one from Alloo into Blamires’s hands, the chance not being accepted. Oliver's favorite shot was a sweep to leg, but twice he was robbed of boundaries by magnificent fielding by Knight, who scooped up both onehanded. Dickinson returned to the bowling crease at BG. A little later Oliver appeared to touch one from Alloo that the wicket-keeper failed to hold. The century went _up after eighty-six minutes’ play. Oliver hardly played up to his reputation, many of his shots being uppish, and he was eventually caught by Blunt at square leg. 106—4—19. Blunt, at short square leg, crept in close for Hamilton, who opened with a single off Dickinson. His partner was content, to pat everything but the slackest ball back, but his effort was an invaluable one for his side. Torrance returned to the fray at 117, and Blunt went on at the other end. Hamilton played all over one from Torrance, who was bowling splendidly, and departed. 123—5—8.

At the luncheon adjournment the score was 125 for five wickets.

Scores at 2.30 p.m.;— CANTED,BURY. Eirst Innings. Talbot b Blunt 26 Nixon Ibw b Dickinson 4 Crawford c Blair b Torrance ... 6 Page not out 63 Oliver c Blunt b Dickinson 19 Hamilton b Torrance 8 Boon not out 17 Extras 23 Total for five wickets ... 166 THE MELBOURNE TEAM FIRST MATCH-AGAINST AUCKLAND LATTER OPEN CONFIDENTLY. [Peb United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, February 4. The Melbourne cricket team began its first match of the New Zealand tour this morning in bright weather on a fast wicket. Rowutreo hit cl (cooper were not available lor Auckland, and were replaced by Scott and Butler, while Dakin stood out ct the Melbourne eleven. Auckland batted first, and opened with Bowley and Anthony to the bowlinor of Ebeling and W. Armstrong. Bowley got a single off the fast bowler first over, and soon reached double figures, including two 4’s off Ebeling. Armstrong’s length was as perfect as ever and the batsmen were content to play’ him. At limes Ebeling kicked dangerously. At 17 Anthony survived a confident Ibw appeal from Armstrong. He drove tin* next ball crisply through the covers for 3, also hooking the skipper for 3, bringing 30 up in half an hour, both batsmen playing freely and confidently. Anthony survived another Ibw appeal, this time from Ebeling, and drove Armstrong for a single. T. Armstrong (slow right-hand) replaced Ebeling, Anthony scoring a single off his first, delivery. The next was a no-ball, which Bowley lifted high to the fine-leg fence. Anthony mishit the last ball of the over, and (narrowly escaped being caught at short leg. It was the second nine-ball oyer. Rodgerson (medium _ fast righthander) succeeded Warwick Armstrong, and Bowley brilliantly square-cut him to the linej and with a lifting shot got him again to the fence on the leg side, jhe Melbourne fielding was clean, and

the stopping of crisp ground shots frequently evoked applause. Three-quar-ters of an hour’s play saw 50 up at noon. Both Bowley and Anthony were then shaping confidently. At the luncheon adjournment Auckland had scored 108 without loss: Bowley (35, Anthony 39, extras 4.