CRICKET

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 31, 23 January 1929, Page 3

CRICKET

PLUNKET SHIELD AUCKLAND FAILS BY 35 RUNS LOWRY CAPTAINS BRILLIANTLY Auckland, Jan. 22. After a thrilling game Wellington defeated Auckland to-day in what was virtually the final game for the Plunket Shield. Auckland was set 334 runs to get for victory, with fourth use of the wicket and the side was dismissed for 299. Wellington won by 34 runs and incidentally gave Auckland their first defeat on the home ground. A high standard of cricket was maintained throughout the game, and Wellington won on its merits. Auckland was certainly unfortunate when Bowley was dismissed in both innings by playing the ball on to his wicket, but the visitors, although they gained a considerable advantage when Lowry won the toss, also had their slices of bad luck. WEIR’S FINE INNINGS The tactics of Lowry, the batting of Worker, and the bowling of Henderson and McGirr, together with the winning of the toss, were the factors responsible for Wellington’s victory. Auckland put up a dogged fight to-day, and did exceedingly well to top Wellington’s second innings total. The gem of the innings was the courageous display of batting given by G. L. Weir. Weir was not well to-day hut he stayed at the wickets for 250 minutes to score an undefeated 72. This gave him an average of 131. Although in this match he scored fewer runs than Worker, he must be classed as the most consistant batsman in New Zealand this season. For once, McGirr succeeded at Eden _ Park. Generally this bowler who is so dangerous at the Basin Reserve, is comparatively innocuous in Auckland, but with the ball keeping low to-day his good hall was very difficult to play. In spite of a good average, however. McGirr was not as consistent as Henderson. Lowry captained the team brilliantly, and nursed his two stock bowlers admirably. In fact, Wellington had a weaker attack than Auckland, but it was Lowry’s superb generalship that was responsible for the success of Henderson and McGirr.

The Wellington fielding was again sound, although it did not quite reach the high level attained on Saturday, There was, perhaps, a little too much appealing in the match, and both sides were offenders in this respect. It must be admitted that the appealing by Auckland bore more fruit in the way of decisions, and it was no secret that the Wellington plavers were a more than little dissatisfied with the umpiring. This makes Wellington’s victory all the more satisfactory. Scores :— WELLINGTON First Innings .. 403 Second Innings 241 AUCKLAND ■First Innings 311 Second Innings Bowley. b McGirr 28 Mills, b Henderson 65 Postlies, c James, b Henderson 9 Weir, not out 72 Gillespie c McGirr, b Henderson 0 Allcott. b Hiddleston 46 Whitelaw. l.b.w. b McGirr .... 24 Horspool, c James, b Henderson 0 Player, b McGirr 0 Duning, c and b McGirr 27 Rowntree, b McGirr 0 Extras 19 Total 299 Bowling analysis: McGirr five for 71, Henderson four for 97. Hiddleston one for 25. Lowry none for 19, Rotherham none for 32, Lambert none for 36.