CANTERBURY V. AUCKLAND

Evening Star, Issue 25675, 26 December 1945, Page 2

CANTERBURY V. AUCKLAND

FORMER RETRIEVES BAD SITUATION (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 25. After being in a seemingly hopeless position . at the end of the first day’s play, Canterbury to-day staged a great recovery in the Plunket Shield match against Auckland. The fact that the match is in a particularly interesting position, instead of being firmly in Auckland’s 1 grasp, is due to a great fighting partnership between Snail d and Butterfield, who batted all through the afternoon and were still undefeated at stumps this evening. Yesterday Auckland batted first on a, wicket which showed some life for the first hour -and again during the last hour of the day. Auckland made a bad start, losing their first three wickets for 53, but then . the Auckland captain, W. M. Wallace, and V. J. Scott became associated in a fine partnership. Auckland was all out for 268. Canterbury began poorly yesterday afternoon and had four down for 44. At stumps the score was 48 for five. To-day, however, Shand and Butterfield added 141, bringing the score at stumps to 208 for five. Wallace gave an easy chance to second slip off Butterfield when his score was 16, but batted with the freedom and sureness that is expected of him. Scott and Wallace took the score to 134 at lunch, and after the adjournment rattled on 38 runs in 20 minutes. The partnership added 100 in 70 minutes by free and enterprising batting. Butterfield was the most consistently dangerous of the Canterbury bowlers, and he finally had Wallace caught in the slips with the score at 173. Wallace, apart from his once chance and another possible one in the twenties, had played good cricket. He made his 78 runs in 94: minutes. Scott was less attractive to watch, but lost few;

chances of scoring, and; partnered by Cleal, added a further 40 in 30 minutes before Cleal was out.

« Scott was out leg wicket to Mcßae soon after; and then Canterbury gained the upper hand. Kent and Cowie defended grimly, but the wickets fell fegularly once they were separated. Kent had some anxious moments, but played some sound shots in scoring; his 30 runs. The Auckland innings closed at 4.20 p.m. for 269 runs.

R. H. Scott came out with the best figures among Canterbury bowlers, and at times bowled finely, but Butterfield had al~ways to be watched. Canterbury opened with Cromb aud Uttley, and the Canterbury captain, although, he had suffered an injury to his leg, seemed very much at home. Uttley was out with the score at 29, however, and Cromb mistimed a drive and was caught in the deep field soon after. Walter batted for three-quar-ters of an hour, but was never confident. • •

Towards the end of the day the ball was starting to jump a little, and Cowie, working up to better pace, had all the batsmen at sea. Walter was bowled by him, and Anderson, jumping out to drive Burke, was easily stumped. Canterbury had four wickets down for 44, and Burgess, after being hit on the head by a ball from Cowie, was clean bowled in the next oyer, and at stumps the score was 48 for five wickets.

, To-day Butterfield and Sh and started for Canterbury. Overnight, rain had toned the wicket down ,but Cowie twice hit Butterfield on the hand in the early stages. The batting was slow, neither batsman taking rife, but it was a great fighting partnership. They were content to wait for the few loose ones from which to score,'and at tea, they liad taken the total to 134,

Afer tea the pair went on in the same way. They were never in a (position to dictate to the bowlers, but batted solidly and well right through to the end, when the score had reached 208. The,,caution which both men displayed is shown by the time Butterfield took to score liis 50—165 minutes. Shand scored at the same pace throughout the day, and although it was not exciting cricket,- both men hatted, correctly and pulled the game right round for Canterbury. Scores:— AUCKLAND. First Innings. H. T. Pearson c Britton b Butterfield 3 E. Meuli c Britton b Scott 10 C. Kerr c Burtt b Scott 23 W. M. Wallace c Burgess b Butterfield 78 V. J. Scott lbw b Mcßae ... 70 0. C. Cleal b Mcßae ; 17 J. Cowie c Britton b Scott 3 I. Kent b Scott ... 30 C. Burke c Burgess b Scott 5 D. .Cleveriey c Shand b Burtt ... 4 F. Hemmingson not out 4 Extras (byes 15, leg-byes 5, noballs 2) 22 j Total 269 —Bowling Analysis.—

CANTERBURY. First Innings. j. B..’Cr6mb c Scott b Burke j 20 K.' F. M. Uttley c Hemmingson b 1 . Cowie i 6 C. V. Walter b Cowie 8 W. McD. Anderson st Kent b : Burke 4 A. Burgess b Cowie ... .3 ‘L. A. Butterfield not out ; 70 R. C. Shand not out ... ,71 Extras 26

0. M. R. W. D. A. McRae .. L. A. Butter- . 2o 8 62 2 field ... .. . 24 S 43 2 T. Burtt ... .. . 23 7 66 1 R. H. Scott .. 22 8 Go 5 A. Burgess ; "3 0 11 0 McRae bowled three 110-balk.

Total for five wickets ... . .. 208 —Bowling Analysis. — °. M. It. W. Cowie 33 14 46 3Burke 36 11 68 2 Cleverley . ... 17 8 33 0 • Kerr . ... ... 12 1 27 0 Hemmingson ... 4 1 8 0 (Continued on page 6.)