WON BY 11 RUNS

Evening Star, Issue 19760, 10 January 1928, Page 4

WON BY 11 RUNS

CLOSE GAME AT EDEH PARK AUCKLAND, January 9. After one of the finest cricket struggles ever witnessed on Eden Park the Canterbury bowlers to-day triumphed over the Auckland batsmen, and won for their side a second victory in Plunket Shield games this season by 11 runs. It was great cricket, with the result in doubt right until Scott was bowled by Read. Although the home team put up a great fight, its batting was patchy, and Canterbury would have been distinctly unlucky to lose. As it happened, the visitors were at a disadvantage in having the first use of the wicket. Had Auckland batted this morning, with Merritt bowling on a tricky wicket the margin between the teams must have been greater. Three facts combined to rob Auckland of victory on its home ground—first and foremost, there was the keenness and the accuracy of the Canterbury attack, led throughout the day by Read; then there was the failure of the Auckland opening pair to give the side a good start this morning; and, finally, when Matheson foolishly threw away his wicket when he and Player were batting soundly and only 25 runs were needed for victory. The Auckland team was set the task of securing 298 runs to win. Mills was caught by Page off Read when he had made 7. Rowley and Cooper made a determined effort to improve the position, but with Rowley’s dismissal, and then Anthony’s, Auckland’s hopes sank very low. Gillespie stayed with Cooper for a while, batting soundly, but it was the partnership between Cooper and Dacre that gave Auckland a good fighting chance. The pair put on 95 runs in a very short time. Cooper had two lives before the innings closed. Hayes missed an easy stumping chance, but before then a catch behind the wickets had been disallowed. Cooper’s off shots were beautiful, and ho and Dacre were the only two to exploit the late cut to any marked degree. As lor Dacre, he was a batsman who delighted the English crowds with his freedom and his sparkling shots. In such a- position most captains would have played a waiting game. Dacre took every chance of scoring that presented itself, and did so in Ins own inimitable fashion. Seldom has his powerful hook shot been seen to better advantage, and one seemed to sense bright cricket from the moment when he playd the first ball from Nixon clean through the covers with a typical shot. His dismissal was a happy event for Canterbury. Garrard and Weir both went early, but after an uncertain opening Player ami Matheson showed they were capable of turning the tide against Canterbury. Auckland were within strikiu distance when Matheson, in jumping out to Merritt, made Canterbury a present of his wicket. Although Scott and Player made a gallant attempt against big odds, the visitors could not he chocked, and won by 11 runs. Auckland’s chances, never rosy from _ the time of Dacre’s dismissal, had vanished with Matheson’s recklessness. For Canterbury Read was the hero of tho game. Bo spun the balls a little, and swung it well, hut, more than that, he kept his length. Page was lucky in having three fine bowlers to lead the attack, and man Tor man Canterbury was the better side. Scores; —

Bowling Analysis.-“ React, 31 ovors, 6 maidens, 77 runs, 5 wickets; Newman, 26 overs, 7 maidens, 62 runs, 2 wickets; M'Ewin, 10 overs, 2 maidens, 30 runs, 1 wicket; Nixon, 13 overs, 2 maidens, 39 runs, 1 wicket; Merritt, 17 overs, 1 maiden, 65 runs, 1 wicket. Newman, bowled two no-balls, M'Ewin two, and Nixon one.

CANTERBURY. First innings . . 244 Second innings ... ... 251 Grand total ... 495 AUCKLAND. First innings . . 193 Second Innings. E. H. Bowley b RUE win ... ... ... 41 J. E. Mills c Page b Read ... ... 7 I. W. Cooper b Read ... 80 A. Anthony b Read ... ... 4 H. D. Gillespie o Page b Nixon ... 24 C. C. Dacre c Hamilton b Read ... 70 D. R. Garrard b Newman ... 1 A. S. Player not out ... 16 G. L, Weir b Newman ... ... ... 1 A. M. Matheson b Merritt ... ... 15 A. H. Scott b Road ... 8 Extras ... 13

Total ... ... 286 Grand total 481