PLUNKET SHIELD.

Grey River Argus, 30 December 1926, Page 3

PLUNKET SHIELD.

WELLINGTON TAIL. Wags Against Otago. WELLINGTON, Dee. 29. The weather was fine for the resumption of play in the Plunkot Shield match between Wellington and Otago. With four down for 103, Wellington resumed the second innings, Lowry (35) and Lambert (15) going to the crease. Blunt opened the attack, Torrance bowling from the other end’ Lambert reached 20 with a nice stroke to the boundary, but shortly after he popped one up and Blunt took a good catch off his own bowling.—llB/5/25. McGirr was next and he opened brightly with a boundary off Blunt. Lowry continued to bat attractively and sent Torrance hard to the fence. A little later, however, he endeavoured to pull a straight one from Torrance, and his stumps were skittled —128/6/44. Hulling came next and opened with a couple off Blunt. Tie followed up with a boundary off a full toss from the same bowler. With the total at 142, McGirr went for a hit off Torrance, but he gave 11. C. Alloo an easy catch—l42/7/ 11. James was next, and Hollings ran into double figures. At 154, A. 11. Alloo was given the ball in place of Blunt. Both batsmen were scoring well and Hollings reached 20 with a snick through the slips. At noon the score was 7 for 167, Hollings 22, James 9,

Hollings, however, did not last much longer, being clean bowled by Alloo—--169/8/23. Badcock was next, and, with James, he began to paste the bowling, the score jumping to 200 in quick time. A 1206, Blunt replaced Alloo, and this Dowler had a steadying effect. The batsmen continued to be free with Dickinson, Badcock reaching 20 with a nice drive to the boundary. Green miss ed stumping James off Blunt. Badcock went for Blunt, pulling him twice Io the fence. These strokes gave Bad-e-ck 32. Wellington’s tail was wagging furiously. At 229, Blamires took the hall, James pulling him to the leg boundary. Another boundary gav? James 40. The bright partnership came to an end •when Badcock stepped out to Blunt, and was stumped—24l/9/35. Brice was next and James reached 50 with a boundary off Blunt. Tor rance took over from Blamires, and Brice interested himself by holding his wicket, up. Alloo relieved Blunt. James continued to bat attractively, and reached the 60 mark, Brice, meanwhile, playing rock, an unusual role for him. At 271 Zimmerman came on in place of Alloo. At lunch, Wellington had 9 wickets down for 281. AUCKLAND BEAT CANTERBURY. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 29. The Blanket Shield match, Auckland v. Canterbury, ended this afternoon in a win for Auckland by five wickets. Canterbury flattered their supporlers by ruunijig up a total of 257 in the sec ong innings, leaving Auckland with 166 runs to get for a- win. Boon and Read, the not out men, continued the Canterbury innings to the bowling of Player and Alc.ott, and the score mounted steadily by singles. With the total at 241, Bowley replaced Player. Light rain at this stage made the ball greasy increasing the difficulties of the bowl ers. Matheson replaced Alcott, and in the first over got Read l.b.w. 'The partnership had added 87 runs. 248/8/ i 44. When Boon was 66 he gave a chance in the deep field, but Gillespie dropped the ball. Cunningham was run out after making a couple. 255/9/2.

Burrows was the last man, but had only scored a single when Bowley clean bowled him. Player took 1 wicket for 59, Alcott 2 for 71, Bowley 4 for 84, Cooper 0 for 23, Dacre 0 for 10, \\ ilson son 0 for 9 ,Matheson I for 14.

Canterbury again seemed to have a good chance when five Auckland wick ets had fallen for 72, but thereafter Frater and Gillespie, playing almost faultless cricket, mastered the bowling, and made the necessary runs. Gillespie was not out 54, and Frater 51, also unbeaten. Auckland thus won the match by five wickets. LATER. The B. Grade Plunkct cricket match, Wellington v. Otago which was continued in ideal weather before a large attendance saw Wellington make 379. Lowry (35) and Lambert (I-’) the undefeated Wellington batsmen, resum cd to the trundling of Blunt and Torrance. Lowry had added 9 to his score when he was bowled by Torrance, while Lambert had added ten when he was out, caught and bowled by Blunt. W. S. Bruce made his slashing 70 by good all round cricket, and at last went to a good one from A. Alloo. Badcock played good cricket in compiling 3a, but the star performance was that of James, who resisted all attacks, playe*! splendid cricket, scored 107, ami still was at the crease when tho last wicket fell. The side in making 379 left Otago in the position of getting 621 to win. i At the end of the day they had lost six wickets for 122—Blunt 3S, Knight ill), A. Alloo 10, Dickenson 13. | Bowling • for Dunedin A. W. Alloo had the good average of 5 for 95, while I Blunt took 3 for 113, and Torrance 2 | for 47.