PLUNKET SHIELD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 28 December 1927, Page 6

PLUNKET SHIELD.

OTAGO v. CANTERBURY. MATCH WON BY HOME TEAM. (by telegraph—press association.) <CHRTSTCHUR-OH, Dec. 27. From the position of the Plunkot Shield game when play was resumed tliis morning it looked as though Utago had a mortgage on the match, but 'Canterbury came to light with one of the finest uphill games seen at Lancaster Park for a long time. The result was victory for Canterbury by four wickets. Newman and Nixon played a fine partnership that added 172. They got within 17 run s of those required. The weather was again perfect, and the crowd, not a very big one, saw a most interesting day’s cricket. The wicket wore surprisingly well. It appeared to play as well to-day as at any time in the match.

Canterbury commenced to improve their position almost from the start of to-day’s play. Some good bowling by Nixon was chiefly responsible for getting the remaining four Otago wickets for an addition of only S 7 runs. He bowled with fair pace and, keeping a good length, he always looked likely to get a wicket. 'Canterbury, who appeared likely to have anything over 400 to get in their second innings, were thus left with only 357 to get. There were probably few who favoured their -chances even then, but a fine innings by Jacobs, who in the latter part of it was associated with Newman, put Canterbury in the position of having at least an even chance. After Jacob ’s dismissal a great stand by Newman and Nixon made the game safe and shortly after six o’clock Canterbury had won the first Plunket 'Shield match for the present season. Too much praise cannot bp given Newman for his fine innings. The position was serious; some might have said it was almost hopeless when he went in, for three good men were out and 263 runs were still required, but lie put his back to the wall and literally won the match for Canter, bury. From start to finish his batting was a perfect model of correctness ami soundness. lie never made an impatient or reckless stroke but played every good ball with meticulous care, and the longer he stayed there less likely it appeared that he would get out. Nixon showed himself possessed of good defence, and it was not until victory was practically assured that he ‘unlimbered his hitting. His batting was not in the same class as Newman’s for soundness, but it was a great fighting innings and he shared with the professional the honours of the batting. Jacobs gave another nice display of j stylish batting in getting his 69. His defence was rarely taxed, and the only weakness in liis batting was an inclination to chop at length balls outside the oil’ stump and an occasional failure to get properly over li is drives. His scoring strokes all round the wicket were well executed.

Otago’s out cricket was distinctly good, except that several difficult chances "were not taken. Jacobs had a life in the slips early and Nixon was let off more than once; otherwise the fielding was first-class and the southerners never relaxed during the long innings on a very hot and tiring day. Eastman, who had bowled so accurately at the commencement of each innings, liad visibly tired and presented no terrors for the batsmen. Torrance bowled well right through, but no luck came his way. Alloo mixed his deliveries with good judgment and it was chiefly his ability to tempt the batsmen tlraL got him liis wickets.

OTAGO. First innings 204 Second Innings. W. Vorrath, c Jacobs, b N'nvman 5 A. Knight, b Page '. 57 J. McMullan, e Hayes, b Read ... 73 R. iC. Blunt, e Hayes, b Nixon 68 V. G. Cavanagh, b Merritt ...... 25 L. C. Eastman, o Newman, b Nixon 91 R. -Cherry, e Hayes, b Nixon 15 A. W. All 00, 1.b.w., b Newman .. 6 S. Elmes, 1.b.w., b Nixon- 0 E. -C. Torrance, not out 2 Extras Total 378 Bowling analysis: Read took one wicket for 55 runs; Newman, three for 88; Merritt, one for 88; Nixon, four for 74; Page, one for 57. CANTERBURY. First innings 226 Second Innings. G. R. Gregory, c Blunt, b Eastman 18 I. Hamilton, b Alloo 29 J. Jacobs, c McMullan, b Alloo ... 69 M. L. Page, e Knignt, b Alloo .... 19 J. Newman, not out • H2 D. -C. Nixon, c Eastman, b Alloo .. 81 W. Hayes, c Galland, b Alloo 9 C. Oliver, not out 0 Extras 20 Total (,I'or 6 wickets) 357 Bowling analysis: Eastman took one wicket for 92 runs; Torrance, none for 67; Alloo, five for 74; Blunt, none for 82; Elmes, none for 22. WELLINGTON TEAM SELECTED.

(.BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 27. Mr. K. H. Tucker has selected the following team to represent Wellington in the Plunket Shield match against Canterbury, commencing on Saturday at Wellington: Brice (captain), Dempster, Worker, Lowry, Foley, James, Lambert, Badcock, McGirr, Bemau, Massey, Air-ey (twelfth man). Hollings and Henderson were not available for .selection. NOTES ON THE MATCHES. WELLINGTON v. COUNTRYThei annual match between Wellington and the Country was instituted in Oiiuer to give, the districts outside tlie city—which include the north of tne South Island and the province as fair north as Hawke’s Bay to the- Ea-st and Taranaki to the west —an opportunity to show whether there were any players worthy of inclusion in the iiiterprovinciai team. The match this year ended in a decisive win, as was expectod, for the City, but the Country districts were by no means disgraced. When it is recalled that they were playing without the services of a number of their Dost men, their ishowing must be considered very creditable Indeed. They scored fairly well in both innings, but their totals weap not so large-as they .should have been on a good wicket, and the fact that a large proportion of their runs were made by one or two batsmen shows the weakness of the team.

Another feature was the fact that one. of the Country bowlers, Newman, of Nelson, secured most of the wickets. This also indicates that the team was not so strong as could have been wished. But Wellington had a good all-round combination, and it is gratifying to see how well the young players came through the match. 'Che young bowler Massey -secured fine bowling figures, and was quite outstanding. In the second innings Wellington had only 124 to secure, and lost four good wickets in gaining the victory. The match is a decidedly good institution, and selves a very useful purpose. PLUNKET SHIELD. The first Plunket Shield match of the reason has concluded in a .solid victory for a province which has always been strong in cricket, and which has to its credit a- longs list of successes. Canterbury beat Otago very decisively, and will face the next fixture with much confidence.

The result, with a bigr score credited to the professional in each team, seems to indicate that the mat dice would be better played without the coach, end would he a better test of the ability of the younger players. Curiously, both teams failed la l her badly in their first innings, but Loth scored freely in the second, and Canterbury’s 357 for six wickets in a 'ourt.n innings of the match is a tery fine performance indeed, especially when i>: is realised that three of their best batsmen failed for very moderate scores- It is recorded a$ one of the best uphill straggles seen in Christchurch, c>< in fact the .shield contests for many years. An outstanding factor was the fine play of the young members, especially Jacobs, who, by scoring 69 at a critical stage, when runs were badly needed and Canterbury looked very much like losing, showed what an excellent batsman he is. His future will be watched with interest. Nixon, with the- pro feesional. Newman, put the issue beyond doubt, and almost had tbe great honour of securing the runs required, taking the total to within 17 < f the 357 needed. It was a wonderful performance.

Canterbury has held the shield on several occasions, and on their present showing will be hard to beat this season.