PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 3 January 1931, Page 7

PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

AUCKLAND IN GOOD POSITION

UNDER 80 RUNS WANTED

NINE WICKETS STILL TO FALL

(By TelrgrapU —Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Jan. 3. The weather was dull but dry and warm for the resumption of the Plunket Shield cricket match between Auckland and Otago. The wicket appeared in good shape for the northerners’ express bowlers, Cleverley and Matheson, who opened the day’s attack against Alloo and Hawkeswortli, but were not coming up so dangerously as they were yesterday. Alloo increased his overnight score to 16 by pulling Cleverley’s first ball around to the square-leg boundary. Hawkeswortli batted cautiously and Alloo later added three with a neat late cut, also at Cleverley’s expense. Hawkeswortli hit a no-ball from Cleverley into the hands' of Matheson at square-leg, and apart from this slight deviation from the routine there was little else worthy of note In the ensuing ten minutes’ play. With plenty of time at their command and everything to gain by a determined stand, tlie Otago batsmen were hitting out at loose stuff only. Then Alloo raised a cheer by belting Cleverley twice in succession to the leg pickets. Hawkeswortli, who was also batting Well, livened up and when 20 runs had been added in 25 minutes, Wensley relieved Cleverley, Hawdresworlh running u four off his fourth ball.

At the other end McCoy came on in place of Matheson and a little later a leg bye brought 300 up. The next moment Alloo, who had played a thorough and determined knock, got his leg well in front to Wensley and was out. 301—9—37.

Lemin, the last man in, broke his duck with a single off McCoy, and folio ■wed by a vigorous high drive to the off boundary off the same bowder. Tne crowd became quite enthusiastic when the tail-enders carried the score past the 310 mark, but shortly before noon, when the total was 323, a smart return from deep point by Mills resulted in Lemin being run out, Hawkeswortli again carrying his bat for 27. Auckland batted at noon, Mills and Postles taking strike to the* bowling of Dickinson and Badcock. Dickinson kept- a good length and Badcock was nipping off the pitch at a greater pace than earlier in the match. The scores of each batsman came as the result of polished behind-the-wioket strokes, neither showing any signs of being uncomfortable. Mills’ timing was perfect. Keeping the hall low. he dealt swiftly and smartly with ail] types of bowling, his handling of tlie off theory being a treat to watch. Postles worked on the straight bat method. Blunt and Elms were tried, but there was not the slightest change in the outlook. Then Mills stepped out to have a go at Blunt and was clean bowled. 48—1—31.

Weir, the incoming batsman, scored mainly in singles. About a quarter-of-nn-hour before the luncheon adjournment a shower came down and five minutes later the adjournment was taken. .Scores were as follow:

AUCKLAND. First innings 331 Second Innings. Mills, b Blunt 31 Postles, not out 20 Weir, not out 4 Extras 1 Total for one wicket 56 OTAGO. First Innings 135 Second Innings. Cavanagli, b Matheson S Cherry, b Allcott .14 Blunt, c Tliakabou, b Cleverley 43 Dickinson, c and b Weir 59 Moloney, <• Weir, b McCoy IS Badcock, b Allcott 70 Elmos, b Cleverley 16 Galland, <• Postles, b Weir 0 Alloo, lbw, h Wensley 37 Hawkeswortli, not out 27 Lemin, run out 11 Extras 20 Total 323 Bowling analysis: Matheson, took one for 70; Cleverley, two for 67; Allcott, two tor 29; Wensley, one for 50; McCoy, one for 54; Weir, two for 3b.

CANTERBURY BATTING WELL. SIX DOWN FOB 355. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 3. The Plunket Shield game between Wellington and Canterbury was resumed m fine weather. Canterbury's second innings, which had produced 236 for live wickets, was carried on by Page (2i) and Cromb (I). J. Newman opened the attack from the north end. The batsmen were enterprising, Cromb turning the first ball to leg for three and Page scoring with a single through the slips, tSlundell was not on the held, his place being taken by Gallichan. iJlundell sprained a wrist yesterday. Cronin relieved a slow spell by turning Crook to the line-leg boundary, reaching double figures. The bowling was steady and the batsman had to watch the ball carefully. Page got a strong four to the long-on boundary olf Massey ana reached 30 and a little later 25 0 went up. The batsmen were settling down and Lowry tried McLeod in Massey’s place. Page snicked a pair to leg and then pulled a short one to the xenee, while Cromb reached 20 with a line square cut for four olf Crook. Page survived an appeal for leg before. Cromb and Page were going along quietly, Cromb reaching 30 with a line olf drive to the fence off Crook. Three maidens were bowled in succession, Page creaking the run with a single to third man off Massey. The third century was posted when Cromb off drove Newman for three. It had taken 230 minutes. The partnership was broken then, Cromb being caught in the slips by Massey off Newman when it appeared that the hall had hit the ground first. The umpire took some time to arrive at his decision. 301. —6—35. The partnership had added 66.

Lester joined his captain. Page had a narrow escape in hitting at Crook and Jilting the ball very near the slips, but getting a boundary. Lester broke his “duck” with the first hall lie received. When page reached his halfcentury- he went to belt a no-ball from McLeod and was bowled. The crowd did not hear the call and was jubilant when the umpire signalled it.

Lowry was missing Blundell, but the other bowlers showed no signs of tiring. Lester survied a confident appeal for caught behind from James off J. Newman. Buns were coming very slowly. A pair to Page made Canterbury 338 —201 runs to the good. Lester’s 20 went up when the batsman off drove Massey for a boundary; the 350 mark being reached at the same time. The innings had been in progress for 285 minutes when the adjournment was taken with the score at 355 for six wickets. The partnership had added 54. Scores: WELLINGTON. First innings 351 CANTERBURY. First Innings 214 Secodn Innings. Kerr, b Blundell 0 Hamilton, run out 24 Roberts, c James, b Crook 116 Talbot, b Massey 61 Jacobs, b Crook 0 Page, not out 64 CTomb, c Massey, b Newman 35 Lester, not out 35 Extras 30 Total, for six wickets 355