PLUNKET SHIELD

Evening Star, Issue 19776, 28 January 1928, Page 19

PLUNKET SHIELD

WELLINGTON’S BIG SCORE AUCKLAND HAS A DAY'S LEATHER HUNTING CENTURIES T 0 LOWRY (181) AND JAMES (108) [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, January 27. The final game in the 1927-28 Ehmket Shield contest commenced at the Basin Reserve to-day between Wellington and Auckland. The long spell of dry weather has had the effect of making the wicket hard and true, and with a fast outfield, Auckland was given a day’s leather hunting. The Wellington eleven contains four New Zealand representatives—Lowry, M'Girr, James,* and Dempster—and in the James, and Dompester—and in the Auckland side there are two—Dacre and Mills. In this season’s Plunket Shield matches so far Wellington has secured two wins and Auckland one. Victory to Wellington would make possession of the shield a certainty. As a result of the (lay’s play Wellington compiled 576 runs for eight wickets, Lowry (181) and James (108) obtaining centuries. The wicket was essentially a batsman’s one, and the outfield, owing to the long spell of dry weather, was very fast. The total number of runs scored represents a first innings record in Plunket Shield matches. The weather was beautifully fine and very hot, a strong northerly breeze making matters ideal for flighting the ball in the air. Dempster and Worker opened Wellington’s innings to the bowling of Matheson (with the wind) and Player. Matheson’s first four overs produced only four runs, 23 coming up after half an hour’s play. Here Anthony relieved P.layer, off whose six overs 6 runs had been scored, and Matheson came on against the wind. Runs continued to come steadily, and Anthony went on in place of Player, off whose nine overs (the last three being maidens) 10 runs only had been scored. By cutting Anthony for 4, Dempster brought 50 up for 63 minutes’ play. Weir came on,in place of Matheson, and Dempster scored freely off both bowlers. Nor could Dacre, who came on at 66, keep the scoring down. Dempster reached his 50 after 75rain. He then banged a full toss from Anthony to tho ropes at extra long-on, and in the same over hit another full toss to long leg for 3. Worker then clouted Anthony to extra Jong-on for 4. This was his last scoring shot, however, as he popped the next ball into Matheson’s hands at mid-off. Worker was at the wickets for 83min for his modest score of 23. He batted very patiently for his score, which mainly comprised singles. 85—1—23. H. Foley joined Dempster, who was 59, and arrived to see the Institute batsman sweep Weir to the fence at long leg. The colt failed to score, as he at once fell Ibw to Anthony, who had now taken two wickets for 32. 91—2—0.

Badcock followed, and opened by carpet driving Weir to the track at longoff. Player then came on, and Dempster late cut him for 4, bringing the 100 up for 102 minutes’ play. This was the end of Dempster, who was bowled by the last ball of Player’s over in attempting a hook. He was very restrained in compiling his 71, which included nine boundary shots. 101—3—71.

Lowry was the next batsman, and play again quietened down. Lowry then hooked a short one from Anthony to the square-leg boundary, bringing 120 up. After a spell of quiet play, Lowry smacked Anthony to the sight screen. At 136 Rowley, the Sussex professional, came on for the first time, three singles coming from his opening over. Dacro then took tho ball from Anthony, who had bowled well over a long spell. Bndcock should have been run out at 139, a bad return by A. Weir to Rowntree from cover allowing him to get bank from halfway down the pitch, The 150 came up in llUmin, Lowry and Badcock both scoring freely. The luncheon adjournment was taken with the score at 165 for three wickets, Lowry being 35 and Badcock 33. The Auckland bowling had been extremely steady up to this stage, Player, in particular, having maintained an excellent length in capturing on© tor 31 off ninety deliveries. On resuming, Matheson and Player took up the attack, and Lowry and Badcock quickly got into their stride, boundaries of 3 coming in quick succession. Lowry reached his halfcentury in 66mm and Badcock his in 83min. The 200 came up for 168 minutes’ play. At 227 G. L. Weir took the ball from Player, but Lowry hooked him to the fence at long-leg, reaching the 70’s. Anthony relieved Matheson, w-ho had proved expensive against the strong wind; but still Lowry hit his 4’s and 3’s. At 260 Dacre came on in place of Weir, but Badcock off-drove the Auckland captain for 4.

Lowry now wanted 4 to reach his century, but came perilously close to being stumped off Anthony, Rowntree failing to take the ball. A 3 to mid-off made him 99, and his 100 came with a stolen single. He had been at tho wickets for 99min. The bowling was now fairly collared, and runs were coming off almost every ball. At 290 Mills was given a trial, but Badcock off-drove the Eden man for 4. At 296 Cooper came on with slow leg breaks. The 300 came up for 215 minutes’ play. Lowry then banged Cooper past cove' to the fence, and Badcock clouted Mills to the fence at square leg, reaching the 90’s. This was the Englishman’s last scoring stroke, as Mills clean bowled him with an off break. He had been at the wickets for 133 minutes for Ids 91,- which included fourteen boundary shots. He had assisted Lowry to put on 207 for tho fourth wicket, a record for Plunket Shield cricket. 308—4-^4)!. James joined Lowry, who was 120. Lcwry continued to play brilliant cricket. He drove on with such force off Cooper past cover that the ball struck one of four pigeons in the outfield, and stunned the bird for a time. He then cut Mills square for 4, and powerfully drove Anthony past cover to the fence, reaching 130. James pulled Mills to the pickets at mid-on, and off-drove him for 3, reaching double figures. The Wellington wicketkeeper then swung a full toss from Anthony to the ropes at square leg, and cut Mills square for 4. At 350 Player resumed the attack, relieving Anthony, and Bowley came on in place of Mills. Lowry reached his 150 with a single off Player after batting for 156 minutes. After a spell of quiet play James lifted a full toss from Player to the ropes at square leg. The tea adjournment was taken with tho board showing four down for 377, Lowry being 153 and James 35. On resuming Matheson and Player were entrusted with the attack, but there were was no cessation. 400 coming up after 275 minutes’ play. Lowry aroused enthusiasm by off-driving Matheson for 4 and square cutting the next delivery to the ropes. His brilliant innings then came to an end with the next ball from Matheson. Lowry’s score included twenty-four boundary shots. 441—5—181. M'Girr partnered James. w r ho was 45, and there was a lull for a time. M'Girr then drove Matheson sweetly to the track at long off, and James banged Player to the ropes at mid-on,

reaching his half-century in 70 minutes. In Matneson’s next over lie captured his second wicket, M’Girr being smartly taken by G. L. Weir at second slip. 426—6—5. Taylor, the Nelson professional, followed, and opened up with a square cut for 4 off Matheson. After a spell of quiet play James flashed Mills past cover to the ropes, and repeated the stroke. Taylor, •in the same ovdf, turned one to the pickets at long leg, 13 runs coming from the over. James next opened out to Anthony, and lifted him to the track at long on. A powerful carpet drive to Jong-on brought 4 to James at Anthony’s expense. At 460 Bowley had another try with the wind, Dacre coming on at the other end. James late-cut the Auckland captain’s first ball for 4, banged the fourth to the square-leg boundary, and square-cut the next to the pickets. This placed him in the 80’s. Bad fielding by Anthony at cover gave James 4 off Bowley. G. Weir relieved Dacre, but James twice banged him over the mid-on boundary, bringing 500 up for 340 minutes’ play. James was now in the 90’s, and reached his century with a hit to long on for 4, all run out. This was a splendid performance following his century in the Shield match at Dunedin, and the crowd warmly acknowledged it He had taken 125 minutes for his three figures. James continued to hit brilliantly, flashing G. Weir past cover to the fence, hut with his score at 108 he was snapped up behind the wickets by Rowntree off Player. He had been at the. wickets for 130 minutes and hit nineteen 4’s. His partnership with Taylor had put on 101 for the seventh wicket. 526—7—10S r . Lambert joined Taylor, who was 43, and opened by cutting G. Weir square and Lite, both strokes reaching the boundary. He then late-cut Player to the track, reaching double figures in quick time. Taylor hooked Player high to the fence in front of the stand, and flashed him to the sight screen, reaching his half-century in seventy minutes. He then placed one from Player past cover to the ropes. This brought 550 up. Mills came on, but Taylor banged the Eden colt to the pickets at mid-on. The next ball, however, saw him smartly taken in the slips by Anthony. The ex-Australian had shaped attractively for his 61, which included eight 4’s. The eighth wicket had put on 41. 567—8—01. Massey was sent in. Stumps were drawn at 6.30, when the board showed eight down for 576, Lambert being 27 and Massey 4. Scores:— WELLINGTON. —First Innings.— R. De R. Worker o Matheson b Anthony 23 C. S. Dempster b Player 71 H. Foley Ibw b Anthony U F. T. Badcock b Mills 91 T. O. Lowry b Matheson 181 K. C. James c Rowntree b Player 108 H M. M'Girr c G. Weir b Matheson 5 J. S. Taylor c Anthony b Mills ... 61 H. M. Lambert not out 27 H. B. Massey not out 4 Extras 9 Total for eight wickets ... 576 The fall of the wickets was as follows;—One for 85, two for 91, three for 101, four for 308, five for 411, six for 425, seven for 526, eight for 567. Bowling Analysis.—Matheson, two wickets for 93 runs; Player, two for 122; Anthony, two for 109; G. L. Weir, none for 77; Dacre, none for 54; Bowley, none for 34; Mills, two for 57; Cooper, none for 21.