PLUNKET SHIELD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 62, 11 February 1936, Page 8

PLUNKET SHIELD

AVELLINGTON BATTING. ON DIFFICULT AVICKET. Per Press Association. • AVELLINGTON, Feb. 10. AVinning the toss, Wellington elected to bat on a sodden wicket on the Basin Reserve against Auckland in the Plunket Shield fixture to-day. . This morning dullness was succeeded by light fitful sunshine, which promised to make conditions ideal in the afternoon. The wicket, however, will probably, become tricky later. The outfield was slow at the start of play, which had been abandoned oil the first two days, and this morning there was no play until 11.30 a.m. Auckland faces the difficult task of endeavouring to secure an outright win in two days to win the shield. AVellington opened with Moloney and Parsloe facing til© bowling of Cowie and Townsend. Parsloe and Moloney, playing careful cricket, found difficulty in getting the ball away, and runs came at a funereal pace. Both Cowie and Townsend were keeping their length hut getting no fire off the wicket. After eight overs had been bowled for 9 runs, which included 6 extras, Garrard, a right-hand slow bowler, relieved Gowie at the north end to profit from the first man’s dents. Townsend fanned the stumps twice in one over, the ball going for byes. The first incident in the innings was when Parsloe slammed Townsend at mid-off for three, and three overs later lifted Garrard at mid-on in tne first four of the game. The batsmen were constantly trying to repair the defects of the spongy wicket. Garrard, who was turning well and keeping low, was coming off too slowly to bo dangerous, but the batsmen were watching him. AVith the score at 46 Andrews, who replaced Matheson in the Auckland side, took over from Townsend, who had bowled nine overs at a cost of 18. Fifty went on the board just under the hour. The first wicket fell when Parsloe, calling for a short run, had his wicket broken. He was replaced by. Ell. Moloney, with his score at 25, entered the doldrums. Ell did not fare better. Cowie, who had bowled four overs at a cost of two runs when he was relieved by Garrard, took over again when Garrard had bowled twelve overs for 31. AVith the fifth hall of a maiden over he dismissed Ell, Ell giving an easy catch to Postles at silly mid-on. At lunch the score was 66 for two wickets. Scores: — AVELLINGTON. First Innings. Moloney, not out 25 Ell, c Postles, b Cowie 5 Parsloe, run out 25 O’Brien, not out 1 Extras 10 Total for 2 wickets 66