BIG CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 20367, 26 December 1929, Page 12

BIG CRICKET

PIUNKET SHIELD OTAGO V. AUCKLAND YESTERDAY AFTERNOON’S PLAY. [Pen United Press Association.! AUCKLAND, December 26. At the close of yesterday’s play in tho Plnnket Shield match Auckland had six wickets down for 235 runs. Mills and Garrard at 5 p.m. had established a good partnership. Garrard was opening out, and notched three good boundaries. This brought, Dunning on in place of Moloney. Garrard reached the forties by driving Alloo for 3, followed by a pretty cut through the slips for a similar number. Alloo gave way to Zimmerman, and Galland replaced Dunning at 186. Garrard reached 50 with a lucky snick through the slips for a single, the partnership having yielded exactly 100 runs. Since reaching his century Mills had quietened down, a knock on the hand from a rising ball seeming to trouble him considerably. The second century was hoisted after four hours’ play. Almost immediately Garrard lost His wicket in attempting to force a short delivery from Zimmerman round to the leg. He was easily caught by Dunning off a miss-hit. 204—6—58. Badcley, the incomer, before scoring skied Galland to deep cover, where Dunning dropped a running catch. In spite of frequent changes in the bowlling the pair were still associated at the stumps, the score being 235 for six wickets (Mills not out 131, Garrard e Dunning b Zimmerman 58, Badeley not out 12). The Otago bowling was rather inconsistent. Galland and Alloo maintained a good length, but the other bowlers sent down some very loose- deliveries. Alloo so far bar, bowled twenty overs, ten of which were maidens, for one wicket and rims, while Galland’s figures read: —Twenty overs, five maidens, four wickets, 3J runs. While tho latter’s figures read the better, too much credit cannot be given to the Otago captain for the manner in which he handled His bowlers. Besides this he himself bowled very well, and it was only when he tired towards the end that the batsmen were safe in taking liberties with his bowling. Weak catching was undoubtedly the chief reason why Qtago is in its present position. Easy catches wore dropped which proved very costly. The catching was below the standard expected from representative players. Tho ground fielding, however, was in direct contrast, the general display of clean picking up and smart returning being a feature. Clark, the Otago wicket-keeper, made a fine impression by his neat work, especially tho quickness with which ho goes over to the leg side, and takes tire ball cleanly. TO-DAY’S PLAY At noon to-day Auckland had lost seven for 264 "(Mills not out 143, Badeley c M'Mullau b Maloney 28,, Elliott" not out 0; extras, 9). AUCKLAND ALL OUT FOR 356 At the luncheon adjournment Auckland were all out for 356 (Mills o Elmos b Knight 185, Elliott c Zimmerman b Dunning 16, Matheson b Maloney 28, Rowntreo not out 3, extras 12). [Special to the ‘ Star.’] Under cloudy skies and on a wicket that had recovered excellently from the effects of the recent rains, tho match between Auckland and Otago was continued. Ju reply to Otago s opening score of 67 runs Auckland at the close of yesterday’s play had lost six wickets tor 235, the nut out men being Mills (131) and Badeley (12). Badeley faced tho bowling of Dunning, and the first score of the day came off tho fast bowler’s second ball, tho Waikato batsman turning the delivery neatly past fine leg for a single. Tins was tho only run that the over produced. Dunning was keeping an excellent length. Elines bowled from the Edcndalo end, and Badcley hit a bonny straight drive off his third ball to Galland at deep mid-off, who stopped tho ball in workmanlike fashion and prevented a certain boundary. Mills was batting with characteristic grace and confidence, but he made no attempt to force matters, being content with a single off Ehnes’s first over. Badeley showed more enterprise than his partner, and lie aroused tho enthusiasm ot the crowd with a glorious straight drive, which whizzed past the bowler and rattled the fence. Dunning tempted Mills with an innocent-looking delivery to the nu side, but the Eden batsman was not beguiled into a leg trap, and ho also dealt safely with a ball of slower pace than usual which turned appreciably from tho off. The Waikato batsman hit out vigorously to Dunning, scoring a pretty boundary to the off, and Mills made a typical drive through the covers off Elmes, the ball being neatly returned by Zimmerman a couple of yards short of tho boundary fence in front of tho scorer’s box. At the end of twenty-seven minutes a total of 27 runs was amassed. The first half-hour was just passed when Badeley stepped out to a simple-looking delivery by Maloney (who had replaced Dunning), and was caught by M‘Mullan. It was tho second ball of the newcomer’s second over.

Eiliott opened witli 3 to the off at Maloney's expense, and followed it up in tbo slow bowler’s nest spell with a couple past extra cover. Maloney was bowling excellently, keeping a good length and getting just sufficient work out of the pitch to add sting to his deliveries. Mills stepped out to Maloney and drove him for a single to the off. Two men were placed in deep to counter Mills’s favourite stroke, but the batsman succeeded in getting one past Knight for a well-run 3. AlJoo took up the attack from the pavilion end, and placed his field cleverly, the ring of men to the off keeping the rate of scoring very low. The Otago captain’s first over yielded 5 runs—-3 to Mills and 2 to Elliott—but his next four overs were maidens, and represented comraendabl.v keen work in the field as well as bowling of an excellent length. The next over saw the sequence broken, however, Mills pulling Alloo round to the picket fence rails for a brilliant boundary This brought up his 150, tho batsman having been at tho wicket for exactly five hours. It was slow scoring, of course, but in view of the difficulties of the wicket it was a very meritorious performance. Ho received a hearty round of applause from tho stands and terraces.

With the total at 292 and -Elliott’s score one short of double figures, the Y.M.C.A. captain had a very lucky escape, putting up a catch to Maloney at square leg off Alloo’s bowling. It was not an easy chance, the ball com-

ing to the fieldsman very hard and at an awkward angle. Mills brought up tho third century with a sweet stroke to leg after thg innings had been in progress 5h lOmin. With the score at 307, Maloney came on again at the Kingsland end. Elliott showed his liking for the slow bowler by hitting him vigorously to mid-on. Knight fielded brilliantly, and whipped the ball back to Clark, behind the wickets The batsmen had started to run a single, and Elliott got back just in time. It was a smart bit of work on the part of both fieldsmen and the wicketkeeper, and the onlookers were not slow to show their appreciation.

Zimmerman was given a turn at tlic pavilion, end. His first over yielded a single to Mills, who was travelling very nicely just now, hatting in his most attractive style. Knight replaced Maloney at the Kingsland crease, and his first over was a maiden. Dunning for Zimmerman was the next change, and the move was successful, the new bowler securing Elliott’s wicket with the last ball of his first over. It was a well-pitched delivery. The batsman stepped out to clout it to tho on boundary, hut he gave a dropping catch to Zimmerman at long-on. 317 —B—l 6.8 —16. Mills was watching Dunning very carefully, playing back to three successive deliveries, each one of which needed plnty of playing. Knight, too, was commanding respect. His first two overs yielded only 5 runs. Matheson opened his account with a couple off the last-named bowler, and Mills brought the total to 326 and his own contribution to 381 with a single off Dunning. He helped himself to 4 at the expense of Knight, jumping out to hit a loose delivery hard and last past mid-off to tho boundary. This brought his total to 185, and he looked good for Ids second century. Date decreed othcrwise, however, for he snicked a last one from Knight into the hands of Klines at second slip. Mills had batted five hours and forty-five minutes, and had hit twenty-one boundaries. Itowntree tilled the vacancy and siiaped very confidently to Knight, hitting a vigorous 2 with a straight drive. A stolen run very nearly caused the end of the partnership, Matheson scraping. homo just in time. Taking heart, the ’Varsity batsman opened his shoulders to Dunning, clouting a wellpitched ball high over the howler’s head for a glorious sixer. Another stolen single added excitement to the last few minutes before lunch. There were still more thrills to come, lor Matheson hit a boundary in cavalier fashion, and a minute later gave a difficult chance to Knight in the deep field. Tho fieldsman made a valiant attempt to. reach the ball, and just managed to touch it as ho fell forward, but he could not hold it. Nevertheless, it was a great effort. The innings dosed at five minutes to 1, Matheson playing too late to one of Maloney’s best balls, which knocked back his off stump. The innings had lasted five hours 58 minutes, and the total of 336 put Auckland in a commanding position. Bo.whng:—Dunning 37 overs, 13 maidens, 79 runs, 1 wicket : Alloo 41— 16—81 —1 ; Elmts 15—2 —47—0; Galland 28—6—51—1; Zimmerman 22 B—3C —1 : Maloney Knight s—l—l2 —l.