Auckland Runs Up Big Total

Northern Advocate, 8 January 1938, Page 8

Auckland Runs Up Big Total

PLUNKET SHIELD

t Special To H Northern Advocate "] ■■—'■ AUCKLAND, This Day. Four Auckland batsmen scored centuries in the Plunket Shield' match against Canterbury, which commenced at Eden Park yesterday. They are: P. E. Whitelaw, 108. Postles, 103. A. M. Matheson, 112, V. Scott, 120. At lunch to-day, Auckland’s first innings had closed for 590 runs. Weir batted well when the game was resumed yesterday and looked set for a big score when he attempted to hit the wrong ball and was caught by Mulcock off Burtt at deep mid-oIT. 'Wallace quickly followed, a brilliant pick up and return from Hadlee at cover raising an appeal for a run out.

Three for Nine Runs. Carson went next, after being caught low down in the gully by Menzies off Mulcock. This meant that three of Auckland’s best wickets had fallen for nine runs. Pearson stayed long enough to hit two nice fours to leg, but fell to an appeal for a catch behind off Mcßae. * However, Scott ail'd Matheson soon settled down to & great partnership. They patently awaited for the correct balls and hit them with confidence.

Matheson used his feet well and lifted the ball frequently into the outfield for fours. Four hundred came after four and three-quarter hours Scott reached 50 after 9(3 minutes and Matheson’s 50 came up in the following over, taking 86 minutes. ‘When stumps were drawn, Auckland had 422 for six wickets, Scott 53 not out, Matheson 51.

Two More Centuries.

'{ Auckland continued batting this morning in dull weather. There was • a. steady breeze, which was expected to help Mulcock’s leg theory attack. The batsmen, however, were confident almost fiom the start and six boundaries had soon been registered. The ' opening batsmen were V. Scott and A. M. Matheson.

At 12.30 p,m. the score was 538 for six wickets (Scott 110 not out, Matheson 105 not out, extras 16).

When Scott was at 74 he called for a short run off Burtt, the wicketkeeper leaving the wickets to retrieve the ball. Had it hit the wicket when he threw it Scott would undoubtedly have been out. The young player continued to hit all round the wicket. Matheson gave a chance at 72, but Webb failed to gather it in. The score tvas then 476. Very shortly afterwards, an appeal for Ibw by Mcßae against Matheson was disallowed.

Two Quick Losses. There was a dramatic commencement to Canterbury’s innings, for in the third over of the day a wicket fell, and shortly afterwards there were two down. Cowie and Matheson opened the attack to Gasson and Hadlee, the latter being the only one of Canterbury’s four New Zealand representatives on the English tour to come to Auckland.

Hadlee was quickly disposed of, Cowie clean bowling him with the first ball of his second over, but that was only the first misfortune . for the visitors. Their captain, Cromb, had made only 9 when he played Matheson on to his wicket. The score-board then showed 23 2-9. These setbacks put Canterbury on the defensive and the first 30 runs took three-quarters of an hour to compile. Meantime, Carson replaced Cowie. and Burke, the spin bowler, had taken over . from Matheson. At this stage, both the batsmen, Gasson and Menzies, had reached double figures. Details:— AUCKLAND. First Innings. P. E. Whitelaw, st Webb, b Cromb 108 Postles, c Hadlee, b Mulcock .... 103 G. L. Weir, c Mulcock, b Burtt . . 60 W. M. Wallace, run out 18 W. N. Carson, c Menzies, b Mulcock 4 H. T. Pearson, c Webb, b Mcßae . . 14 Scott, c Gascon, b Cromb 122 A. M. Matheson, c Gasson, b Cromb 112 Burke, not out . 11 D, B. Edmonds, run out 12 Jf. Cowie, c Cromb, b Mcßae .... 10 Extras _ 16 Total: 590 Bowling: Cromb took three wickets for 170 runs; Mulcock, two for 84; Read, two for 102; Burtt. one for 141: Mcßae, one for 77, CANTERBURY. First Innings, Madloe, b Cowie 3 Gasson, not out 10 Cromb. b Matheson 0 Menzies, not out 17 Extras 4 Total 52