LONG LEEWAY

Northern Advocate, 22 February 1926, Page 5

LONG LEEWAY

ON FIRST INNINGS I I AUCKLAND FARES BADLY. Y r '" •" ■ ■ ■ IN PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH. WELLINGTON, This Day. The 'big crowd of 6000 who assembled at the Basin Reserve on Saturday in anticipation of witnessing some sparkling play between the two foremost cricket teams in the Dominion, in the deciding match for the Plunket Shield, was keenly disappointed, as at no stage during the second day did the play reach first-grade standard. Wellington, with six wickets down for 384, could only reach 447, on a billiards wicket. Kortlang increased his 175 not out to 214, unbeaten, after a masterly display of defensive tactics. Auckland failed badly in the first; knock, all being dismissed for 191, Anthony being top scorer with 56. He was at the wickets for 135 minutes, and made the majority of his runs by strong strokes on the leg side. Rountree, the last man in, infused considerable brightness into Ips batting, knocking- the bowling about in great style, hitting 12 off one over from Badeock. McGirr and Brice bowled well, and ■ were ably supported by the wicketA keeper, James, who took four catches. Auckland’s downfall, however, was due more to crass bad batting than to superlative bowling. All through the two days the tatting display on a perfect wicket was anything but exhilarating. The following are the complete scores:— WELLINGTON.—First Innings. Hiddleston, c Rowntree. b Snedden 34 .Badeock, b Allcott 0 Kortlang, not out 214 Dempster, b Player 02 Collins, e Daere, b Smith 45 McGirr, c Frater, b Smith ... 14 McLeod, e Allcott, b Anthony .... 16 »■ Lambert, c Gillespie, b Player .... 33 James, b Allcott - 0 . Henderson, run out 1 Brice, e Rountree, b Player 10 Extras . IS Total 447 Bowling: Allcott, two for 88; Player, three or 107; Anthony, 'one for 82; Snedden, one for 45; Smith, two for ■ 65; Cooper, none for 23; Daere, none for 19. Second Innings. . James, not out 4 Henderson, not out 1 Total 5 j AUCKLAND.—First Innings. ] Mills, b Badeock 1 j Anthpny, ,b Collins 50 ( Snedden, c James, b McGirr S j • Smith, c James, b McGirr 2 ; Daere, b McGirr 0 f Frater, e Hiddleston, b Badeock .. 30 *' Allcott, c James, b Brice 24 Cooper, e James, b Brice 17 Gillespie, e Dempster, b Brice 4 Player, not out 'lO Rountree, Ibw, b Badeock 20 Extras 10 Total 101 Bowling: Badeock, three for 46; Me- • Girr, three for 43; Henderson, none for 27; Brice, three fr 49; Collins, one for .3; Hiddleston, none for 4.—Press Assn. - I TODAY' ’S PLAY'. | WELLINGTON, This Day. The weather is fine for continuation of the Wellingtou-Auckland match. Henderson and James continued Wellington’s second innings and put on IS runs before the former went l.b.w. to Player.' 18 —I—9.1 —9. Hiddleston was next and runs came steadily. With the total at 39 James was snapped up behind the sticks off Aifthony. 392 —17. Fifty runs were on the board at midday —Hiddleston. 22, Kortlang 3. THE AUSTRALIAN TOUR. HOT RECEPTION PREPARED. WARNER ON TEST GAMES. j (Received 11.33 a.m.) LONDON, February 21. At Bristol, speaking at a Gloucestershire County Club dinner, Warner said r that English cricket had got back to pre-war standard. He denied that England had got cold feet; on the contrary, she was preparing a hot reception for the Australians. It w.ould be Impossible to alter the programme this season, but, humbly and diffidently, he thought the tests should last four days, especially after, the long journeys the . visitors made. It was claimed that!' the Australians were very strong in j ’ batting, but weak in bowling, so it was probable that the first four tests would be drawn. He referred to Hammond as a most , promising batsman and a beautiful field. After his successes in the West j Indies, Warner said ho thought Ham- . mond might look forward to higher , honours. , Warner said he considered the Selection Committee ’e difficulties were so complex that he felt prayers should be included for them in the Book of Common Prayer.—A. and N.Z.