Canterbury Batsmen Are Cautious

Northern Advocate, 10 January 1938, Page 6

Canterbury Batsmen Are Cautious

PLUNKET SHIELD

[Special To “Northern Advocate ”.l AUCKLAND. This Day. The feature of the morning’s play in the Plunket Shield match to-day was the exaggerated respect paid to Auckland’s bowling by the visiting batsmen, who added 56 runs to their total for the loss of one wicket in the course cf two hours' play. Two boundary hits were scored in that time, a tribute which the bowling did not merit, for the wicket was easy and the bowling, though ‘heady, did not have any special sting. The over-cautious policy of neglecting scoring opportunities is likely to reflect against Canterbury later in the game. Menzies reached his half century and then lost his wicket by a halfhearted defensive stroke, when a firm, confident shot would have been perfectly safe. Good Defence, But Little Else Stokes and Shand carried on to lunch time, showing good defence, but little else, and when the adjournment came the score had been shifted from 128 for four wickets to 174 without further loss.

Canterbury may avoid an outright defeat by their tactics, and there is the j possibility too, of rain coming to their assistance. Only six runs were scored oft' the first eight overs, and then Burke relieved Cowie, and Menzies got his third run to reach his half conturv, having taken half an hour for the three runs. Quiet confidence had characterised the batting at this stage, but there was excessive care given to the attack, and this over-restraint proved fatal to Menzies, who weakly returned a catch to Burke with the score at 128—only 10 runs added for just over half an hour’s play and another wicket gone. Shand’s advent brought both life and variety to the play. At the same time Stokes started to use his feet to the slow bowler (Burke;. Digging Themselves In At 140 Matheson, who had bowled eight overs for eight runs, was relieved by Carson. Burke’s morning ! performance at this stage was one wicket for 11 runs in four overs. Shand had settled down to a quieter j pace after a brisk start, and the side’s | tally for the first hour's play was only i 24 runs. The batsmen continued to j dig in. despite an effort by Postles. | who came on at 153 in an* effort to break the partnership. At luncheon the total was 174, and Shand and Stokes were still together Details:— AUCKLAND First Innings 1390 j CANTERBURY | First Innings Hadlee, c Cowie 3 ! Gasson, c Whitelaw. b Matheson' ” 34 ! Cromb, b Matheson 9 i Menzies, c and b Burke .... .. . . . 51 ; Stokes, not out ’ ’ ‘ g 2 I Shand. not out 1 Extras .... Q j I Total for four wickets 1741 Latest score: Canterbury six I wickets down for 231 runs. I Stokes, 59, Shand 39, Mcßae ; n.o, 26, Webb n.o. 0. Extras 10. I