CRICKET

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 January 1927, Page 8

CRICKET

VICTORIA v. S. AUSTRALIA

CENTURY BY PONSFORD

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.)

MELBOURNE, January 2

In a Sheffield Shield match. Victoria in the first innings made 304 against South Australia. Ponsford scored 108, Hendry 68, Ryder 34, and Hartkopf (not out) 29. Halcombe took 2 for 60, Grimmett 4 for 101, and Lee 3 for 32. South Australia had lost one wicket for 25 (Williams not out 15), when stumps were drawn. The weather was fine and the wicket excellent. Pcnsford and Woodfull opened, but the latter went when only six. With Hendry in. the scoring became lively? Frequent changes in the bowling were tried without avail, the batsmen, particularly Ponsford, making all appear easy. The partnership added 132 before Hendry lost his wicket. Ryder kept the field moving while he lasted, his score including four sixers.

Ponsford, with the total at 259, followed him out quickly, Lee making a remarkably fine catch off Halcombe. Hartkopf failed to stop the rot in the tail.

MARYLEBONE v. ALL INDIA

(•‘Sydney Sun” Service.)

(Recd. 9.45 a.m.) DELHI, January 2.

At Calcutta, an all-Inclia cricket team in the first innings made 146 (Brooke 43, Maida 24). Tate took six wickets for forty-two.

Marylebone lost three wickets for ninety-six.

OTAGO v. AUCKLAND

DUNEDIN. January 2

The Plunket Shield Match between Auckland and Otago was begun yesterday under ideal conditions.. Auckland won the toss and batted, making 155 (Dacre 62. Mills 23). Blunt took 5 for 45 and Torrance 3 lor 51. Otago, when stumps were drawn, bad lost four for 155 (Blunt 60, Knight 58). Bowlev took 2 for 44 and Cooper 1 for 13

TO-DAY’S PLAY.

DUNEDIN, Jan. 3

The Plunket Shield match between Otago and Auckland was continued this morning in beautiful weather on a perfect wicket. Otago’s innings was continued by Shepherd and A. Alloo, to the bowling of Matheson and Alcott. Alloo found the latter troublesome, but Shepherd, who was showing glimpses of his best form, played fairly confidently, clouting Allcott to the fence. He received a gift of four from a throw in by Dacre, At 171 Bowley took up the bowling in place of Alcott, who relieved Matheson, three of the latter’s four overs being maidens. Shepherd drove Bowley straight to the fence and square cut the next for four, and after both added a. single, Shepherd again drove the Englishman to the pickets. Fifteen came off this over, which was the most expensive of the game so far and Alloo brought the second century up after 190 minutes’ play. Shepherd was then caught by Gillespie, his 36 taking 67 minutes. 202/5/46. Alloo was at the crease for an hour for 10. He opened out to Bowley, hitting the coach for a three and two fours. Blamires, the newcomer, opened with four off Alcott, but Hie scoring became dolorous again until Cooper relieved Bowley, Alloo getting him to the pickets once and Blamitos twice, but the Aucklander got the length in the new over, sending down a maiden to Blamires. Matheson went, on vice Cooper at 252,- Blamires placing Otago .100 ahead by turning the new bowler to the leg boundary. Play at the other end was very steady, only four being bit off live overs. Alloo square cut Matheson to the fence and Blamires snicked a lucky one to leg for a brace, and drove next to the boundary. Bowley came on again, sixteen being hit off the over, Alloo getting most of them with beautiful leg shots. Blamires was at the wickets an hour for half a century. Dacre relieved Player, Blamires hooking him for a quartette. The next shot, which went dangerously near the bowler’s hand, saw 300 hoisted. The last ball before luncheon went rattling to the pickets. At the adjournment the score was 304 for five.

Shepherd c, Gillespie b Bowley 46 A. Alloo (not out) .. .. 46 Blamires (not out) .. .. 62 Extras *4 CANTERBURY v. WELLINGTON. CHRISTCHURCH, January 2Wellington fully sustained its reputation for batting strength in the Plunket Shield Match against Canterbury on Saturday. The visitors won the toss and batted on a perfect wicket, with a fast outfield. Throughout the day Wellington kept the local men in the field, scoring at an average rate of over 100 runs per hour against a supposedly strong bowling side. Their total was 488, which must give them an excellent chance to win. The strength of the Wellington batting was not revealed till late in the day- After Worker’s comparatively early dismissal for nine runs, Hiddleston and Kortlang took the edge off the Canterbury attack, adding 105 runs for the partnership. After the second century had been passed, things came Canterbury’s way, and seven wickets were down for 240. Then came a. surprise revelation of Wellington's strength. Badcock joined James, and at once, by brilliant, sound, aggressive and very fast batting, they smashed up the attack and demoralised the field. The partnership added 154 runs in an hour and a-quarter. The leading scores were : Hiddleston 114, Kortland 55, James 55, am] Badcock 155. Read took 4 for 107, and had the best bowling figures.

CANTERBURY’S POOR SHOWING

CHRISTCHURCH, January 3.

The Wellington v- Canterbury Blanket Shield Match was resumed today in fine weather, the wicket being in good order. Canterbury went to the wickets, faced with the task of catching Wellington’s 488 score, but did not start promisingly, losing the first two wickets/ for only eleven runs. Gregory and Page stopped the rot, but the third wicket fell with the total at 46. Woods and Crawford opened to the bowling of Badcock and McGirr. Off the first . ball, Crawford scored a single, and Woods scored one off the

third. Woods sent McGirr’s first delivery to the leg boundary for four. McGirr’s fourth delivery clean-bowled Woods, beating him all the way. Six wickets for 105. Page joined Crawford. The byes brought ten up. In McGirr’s second over, Crawford’s stumps were scattered. Gregory was the next man in, and he opened his account with a single, off McGirr- The scoring was steady, and thirty appeared for half an hour’s play. With the total at 46, Henderson replaced Badcock, and from his first ball Gregory was caught by James, the wicket-keeper, who was standing well back. 46/3/10. Oliver was next in. Half a century appeared for 52 minutes’ play. The fourth wicket fell with the total at 59, Page being caught in the slips by Hiddlestone off the fifth ball of Henderson’s third over. 59/4/30. Boon went in, but the second ball from Henderson caught his leg stump. 59/5/0. At this stage Henderson had taken three wickets for six. Patrick was next. Oliver, when 12, survived a strong appeal for caught behind the wicket. With the total at 64, Brice relieved McGirr. Patrick, who had been in thirteen minutes without scoring, opened his account with a four off Brice. The sixth wicket fell with the total at 73. Oliver being caught by Hollings off the third ball of Brice’s second over- 73/6/16'. Sandman joined Patrick and had scored two when he was skittled by the first ball of Brice’s next over. 77/7/2. Read opened with a couple off Brice, but three deliveries later he was bowled. 79/8/2. The innings closed for 107. Scores : —

CANTERBURY—First Innings.

Woods b McGirr 5 Crawford b McGirr ... ... ... 1 Gregory c James b Henderson ... 10 Page c Hiddleston b Henderson 30 Boon b Henderson 0 Oliver, c Hollings b Brice ... ... 16 Sandman b Brice ... ... ... 2 Reed b Brice 2 Cunningham c James b Henderson 0 Patrick, run out ... ... ... 32 Mcßeath, not out ... ... ... 3 Extras ... ... ... 6 Total 107

Bowling: McGirr two for 31, Henderson four for 29, Brice three for 19.

POVERTY BAY v. AUCKLAND XI

GISBORNE, January 1

Air Beale’s Auckland touring team met the Poverty Bay team to-day. The weather was fine. Auckland batted first and made 202 (Butler 33, McCarthy 29, Weir 25). Bennett took two lor 38, Moody 4 for 81, Lockett 3 for 57. Poverty Bay made a disastrous start, losing three wickets for ten runs, but G. .Robertson played a splendid innings for 71 (not out) followed by Cooke 27 (not out) and Lockett 20, stumps being drawn with six wickets down for 155. Both teams fielded splendidly. The match will be concluded. and the visitors leave for the East Coast on Tuesday morning to play a match against Waiapu at Tokomaru Bay'iW