PLUNKET SHIELD

Evening Star, Issue 19777, 30 January 1928, Page 3

PLUNKET SHIELD

AUCKLAND BATSMEN FAILi'GIRR TAKES FIVE FOR 42 WELLINGTON TOO STRONG ALL ROUND ZPf.n Umtbd. Press Association ) WELLINGTON, January 28. The final Plunket Shield match of the season between Auckland and Wellington was continued to-day in perfect weather. Wellington’s first innings, which was continued from eight wickets down for 576, closed for 693. Auckland could do nothing at all with the bowling of M'Girr, Lambert, and Massey, and were all out for 121. Wellington commenced its second innings at 2.50 p.m., and at 6.10 p.m. were all out for 260. The Wellington men simply slogged at the bowling. Auckland will start its second innings on Monday with 735 runs to get to win, Lambert (27) and Massey (4), the not-out men, resumed to the bowling ot Matheson and Flayer. Runs came freely, and interest centred in whether the total would reach the 600 mark or not. The Auckland ground fielding was not so good as on Friday, several runs being thrown away by faulty work. At 695 Player bowled Massey, who had just reached doubles. 595—9—10. Brice, the last man, joined Lambert, who was 40, but Matheson closed the innings, which had lasted for 392 minutes, by bowling Lambert oft his thigh. The total reached 595, which is a record for Plunket Shield matches.

Bowley, tho Sussex professional, and Mills opened the Auckland innings at 11.30, M'Girr and Massey taking up the attack. Play was very quiet, the first four overs producing only 7 runs. The fifth ball of M'Girr’s fourth ever completely beat Mills. 71 —1. Anthony followed, but failed to score, as M'Girr completely beat him with a beautiful swinger. M'Girr had now taken two for 7. 11—2—0.

Cooper next arrived to see Bowley, who had never been comfortable to Massey, clean bowled. 13—3—10. Henry, the United Suburbs’ representative, arrived to see M'Girr, who appeared to be unplayable, skittle Cooper’s stumps. 17—4—4. Dacre was next. Henry turned Massey neatly to leg for 4, and got him away in the same direction for a couple. He then jumped out and lifted the Institute bowler to the fenco at !ong-off. Henry, who was making his first appearance in a representative match, forced M'Girr to mid-on for 3, showing plenty of confidence. The first ball of Massey’s seventh over saw the end of Henry, Worker making a brilliant catch at mid-off. 35—5—16.

Player joined Dacre, and the scoring brightened up, 50 coming up lor fiftyseven minutes’ play. A brilliant catch by Foley at first slip off M'Girr ended Dacre’s bright knock. 57—6—15. A Weir, another Eden Club player, followed to see Player cut Massey square for 4. The pair made a stand, notching a few runs occasionally against really good bowling. They did not go far, however, as, with 73 up, A. Weir popped one from M'Girr into Massey’s hands close in at point. 73—7—10. M'Girr had now taken five wickets for 40 runs.

G. L. Weir joined Player, who was 11. Tho fieldsmen were all clustered in round the batsmen, Massey having four men on the leg side. With 77 on the first change in the bowling was made, Badcock taking the ball from Massey, who had bowled really well in taking two for 27 off thirteen overs. The. batsmen appeared to relish the change. At 82 Taylor, the Nelson professional, relieved M'Girr, who had bowled splendidly in taking five for 42 off sixteen overs. Runs came steadily, the 100 coming up for 110 minutes. Lambert then came on in place of Taylor, and got G. Weir right away, Brice taking a catch at micUwicket. 105—8—14.

Du resuming after lunch Matheson partnered Player, Lambert and Brice continuing the attack. Brice got Matheson with his second ball, M'Girr making a good running catch over the bowler’s head. 106—9 —1.

Rowntree, the last man, was given a round of applause in recognition of his good wicket-keeping in Wellington’s first innings. Rowntree banged Lambert np against the pickets at square leg, bringing up 110. He next swept Brice to long leg for 4, quickly running into double figures. The innings, which had lasted for 135 minutes, closed at 2.30 for 121, Rowntree, who had batted brightly for 12, being caught by Massey off Lambert. WELLINGTON’S SECOND STRIKE Dempster ami Worker opened Wellington’s second innings to the bowling of Matheson and G. AVeir. The Auckland fielding was good, smart work by Anthony and Cooper eliciting applause from the large crowd. The scoring was fairly quiet in spells, owing to the good bowling. Fifty runs came up for forty minutes’ play, one over from Matheson producing 12 runs. Anthony here took the ball from Matheson, whoso seven overs had cost 33 runs.

Both Dempster and Worker, who were finding the boundary more frequently, were playing much more attractive cricket than in the first innings. Worker, in particular, had speeded up, and lie beat Dempster into the forties. Dempster reached 40 by slamming one from Anthony to the ropes at mid-on. At 87 Mills relieved Player, and in the Eden man’s second over Dempster brought the 100 up by jumping out ami banging one for 4 to long-off. The three figures bad taken sixty-five minutes. Dempster then opened out, and banged two 4’s off Anthony, running past Worker. Both had now passed the half-century. Bowley failed to steady the run-getting, and 7 came from his first over, including a crisp square cut for 4by Dempster. Dacre then took the hall, from Anthony, but Worker cut him for 4.

The first wicket fell at 133, Worker, who had played a brisk innings for 62, which included seven 4’s and one 5. falling Ibw to Bowley It was the brightest display which the Hawke’s Bay lefthander had given here for some seasons past, and made one wonder why he does not oflener open out to tho bowling. Dempster was then 69. 133—-1—,62. The tea adjournment was then taken, and on resuming at 4.27 Foley accompanied Dempster to the wickets. The break was fatal to Dempster, as, without adding to his score, he popped one from Dacre into G. Weir’s hands at second slip. Dempster had given a bright display for his 69, which included nine boundary shots. 139—2 —69.

Badcock came next, but failed to score, as Bowley snapped him up in the slips off Dacre. 141—3—0. Lowry followed, but, like Badcock, went early, lifting Dacre to Matheson, at extra forward cover, the fieldsman making a spectacular catch. 147 —4—2. Dacre had now taken three wickets for 15 runs. James then appeared on the scene, and fluked one from Dacre through the slips for four. A three in the same direction was a better stroke. Foley forced Dacre to mid-on for four, reaching the twenties, and then cut Bowley square for three. James next hooked the professional for four, and late cut him for three, 11 coining from this over.

At 188 Mathoson took tho ball from Bowley, who has captured one for 88 off eight overs. At 192 James, who had scored 25 in enterprising fashion, wan smartly snapped np by Rowntree behind the sticks off Dacre. ihe

partnership had added 45 for the fifth wicket. 192—6—25.

M'Girr came next, and bad fielding gave him five for a stroke which should not have produced one. First of all Player misfielded at point, and then Dacre snapped up the return, but had a shy at the wicket which gave him two more. Dacre, who had bowled ten overs for four wickets and 38 runs, gave way at 200 to Anthony, whom Foley hit to square leg for four. A late cut to M'Girr off Mathesou travelled fast to the track. The Hutt man then hooked a short one from Anthony to the boundary at extra l&ng-on, turned him to leg for three. Foley, who had been a long time at the wickets for his 35, then popped one from Anthony into Player’s hands at point. 219—6—35. Taylor joined M'Girr, who was 22, and arrived to see M'Girr cut Matheson square for four. At 229 Player came on in Matheson’s place, buc M'Girr banged him between point and cover to the ropes. He then slammed one into Cooper’s hands at mid-off, but a hot chance was declined. Taylor was then caught and bowled bv Anthony. 233—7—1.

Lambert followed, and hit the first ball he received from Anthony to the long-on boundary for four. The next ball he lifted out of the ground for the first six of the match. A. Weir should have had him at mid-on in Player’s next over, but dropped a chance which came high. Runs were now coming fast with two hitters operating. M'Girr clouted Anthony to long-on for four and cut him square for three. He was then nicely taken with a running catch at mid-off by Mills off Anthony. The ITntt man had given a breezy display for his 45, which included five fours. 256—8—45.

Brice arrived to see Lambert nicely taken at long-off by G. Weir off Anthony off the next ball. 256—9—12. Massey, the last man in, arrived to see Brico rattle one from Player up against the fence at square leg. Dacre then came on and sent down a maiden, which Massey did not relish. Brice then lifted Player into A. Weir’s hands at mid-on, and the innings, which had occupied 185 minutes, closed for 260. Scores;— WELLINGTON. First Innings.

The fall nf the wirkets was as follows:—One for 133, two for 139. three for Til, four for 147, five for 192, six for 219, seven for 233, eight for 25G, nine for 256, ten for 260. Bowling Analysis,—Matheson, none for 53 runs; G. L. AVoir, none for 17; .Player, one for 31: Anthony, four for Go; Mills, none for 18; Bowley, one for 33; Dacrc, four for 38. AUCKLAND. First Innings.

The fall of the wickets was as follows:—One for 7, two for 11. three for 13, four for 17, Jive for 35. six for 57, seven for 73, eight for 105, nine for 10G, ton for 121. Bowling Analysis.—M‘Girr, five for 42; Massey, two for 27; Badcock, none for 9; Taylor, none for 15; Brice, one for 9; Lambert, two for 9.

R. Do Worker c Matheson b An thony 23 C. S. Dempster b Player 71 H. Foley Ibw b Anthony 0 F. T. Badcock b Mills 91 T. C. Lowry b Matheson 181 K. C. James c Rcnvntree b Player 108 H. M. M'Girr c G. Weir b Mathe son 5 J. S. Taylor c Anthony b Mills ... 61 H. M. Lambert h Matheson 40 H. B. Massey b Player 10 W. S. Brice not out ... 0 Extras 5 Total 595 The fall of the wickets was as follows: —One for 85, two for 91, three for 101, four for 30S, five for 411, six for 425, seven for 526, eight for 567, nine for 595, ten for 595. Bowling Analysis.—Matheson, three for 71: Player, three for 129; Anthony, two for 109; G. L. Weir, none for 77; Dacro, none for 54; Bowley, none for 34; Mills, two for 57; Cooper, none for 21. Second Innings. C. S. Dempster c G. Wier b Da ere 69 R. Do Worker Ibw b Bowley 62 H. Foley o Player b Anthony 35 F. T. Badoock c Bowley b Dacre... 0 T. C. Lowry c Matheson b Dacre 2 K. C. James c Bowntree b Dacro 25 H. M. M'Girr c Mills b Anthony 45 J. S. Taylor c and b Anthony ... 1 H. M. Lambert c G. Weir b Anthony 12 W. S. Rricc c A. Weir b Player 4 H. B. Massey not out 1) Extras 5 Total 260

E. H. Bowlov b Massey 10 J. E. Mills b M'Girr 1 A. Anthony b M'Girr 0 I. Cooper, b M'Girr 4 W. Hendry c Worker b Massey ... 16 C. C. Dacre e Foley b M'Girr ... 13 Flayer not out ... 28 A. Weir c Massey b M'Girr 10 G. L. "Weir c Brice b Lambert 14 A. M. Matbcson n M'Girr b Brice 1 II. W. IWntrec c Massey b Lam bert 12 Extras 10 Total 121