Plunket Shield: Wellington Need 247 For Victory

Northern Advocate, 26 December 1939, Page 3

Plunket Shield: Wellington Need 247 For Victory

[Per Press Association. — Copyright ] WELLINGTON, This Day.

When Auckland’s last wicket fell at the Basin Reserve today, with the total at 276, Wellington was left with 247 to score for victory.

Play ended on Christmas Day with Auckland 30 behind on the first innings. and nine wickets down for 254 in the second venture.

This morning another 22 runs were added by the last pair, and when Cowie was bowled by Pritchard for 24, Cleverly was not out with eight to his credit.

There were ten extras. The bowlers have been in the ascendancy so far.

When Wallace; the Auckland captain,, won the toss, the 3000 specta tors settled down confident of seeing some bright batting.

Dumbfounded

They were dumbfounded when the whole side was dismissed just after the luncheon adjournment with the paltry total of 134. Wallace was the only batsman to shape with confidence. He ,hit the first ball he received past cover for four, and scored rapidly with forceful drives and hooks, but when 47 he spooned one from Lamason to Du Chateau at cover.

It was expected that Wellingtoi would pile up a respectable score, but the home team only managed to head the Auckland total by 30 runs. Du Chateau and Hepburn gave the sicje a good start by putting on 44 for the first wicket, but Cleverley and Weir then made a good bowling spurt and it was only the resolute hitting by McLeod and Pritchard in the dying stages that enabled Wellington to reach 164.

Great Recovery.

Auckland staged a great batting recovery when play was resumed in perfect weather at 2 p.m, yesterday. Resuming Auckland’s second innings with one wicket down for 18 runs, Sale and Pearson made a magnificent stand for the second wicket, which put on 146 runs. Sale was the more enterprising of the pair, but Pearson was soundness personified. After having been at the wicket for 127 minutes, Pearson, who had hit a six and three fours-played one from Pritchard on to the stumps. Wallace, who had done very well in the first innings, was very subdued, taking half an hour to score even singles, and was then caught by McLeod in the slips off Pritchard. Sale played a masterly innings lasting 135 minutes, sending the ball to the boundary twelve times with powerful off and cover drives and brilliant hooks and pull shots.

Sales Misses Century

The tea adjournment was fatal to him, as he was clean-bowled by Pritchard shortly after the resumption.

He scored 97 in bright fashion, and '• the crowd of about 4000 was sorry to see him miss his century. Weir played an enterprising innings, which included one six and five fours.

r He was at the wicket for 77 minutes for his even half-century. The other batsmen failed to stay, and when stumps were drawn nine wickets were down for 254 runs.

\ It was a disappointing batting effort after the splendid start made by Pearson and Sale.

Pritchard enhanced his reputation as the best fast bowler in the Dominion by capturing five for 61 off .19 overs. He kept a good pace, and made the ball lift at times. Cowie Lively. Entertaining life was infused into the resumption of play by Cowie. , Wilson appealed confidently, but unsuccessfully, against him for l.b.w. off the third ball of his first over. In the next over, Cleverly played Ashenden to short leg for a single, then Cowie lifted Ashenden high to square leg boundary. Pritchard relieved Wilson, and off his second ball Cleverly was dropped by Ashenden at second slip. The last ball of the over was a full toss, and struck Cleverly ia painful blow on the right side. He was able to continue.

Cowie, itching for runs, was standing out of his crease to Pritchard ,and advancing to meet Ashenden, he got the latter away with a high shot for a brace, then slammed him on to the fence.

The wicket, although pleasantly free from'the dust of the opening days, had not been materially affected by rain overnight.

Fell in Rain,

A sharp,, cold shower from the south now started, and in the downpour Cowie fell to Pritchard.

He had made 24, and gave Pritchard his sixth wicket for the innings, and bis tenth for the match.

Wellington started the second innings in driving rain, Hepburn putting Gowie’s first ball to the leg boundary. He was batting brightly, and he raised 10 by driving Matheson to fine leg for four. With the score at 19, howeverp Du Chateau, who had not been comfortable, was bowled by Cowie. Details of the scores are; AUCKLAND. First Innings. Whitelaw, c Wilson, b Pritchard . 2 Pearson, b Ashenden 6 Sale, c Tindill, b Lamason 14 W. M. Wallace, c Du Chateau, b * Lamason 47 Weir, b PritShard 10 Scott, c McLeod, b Lamason 7 Matheson, c Wilson, b Ashenden . 8 Burke, c Tindill, b Pritchard .. 3 Blandford, not out 14 Cleverley, c Tindill, b Pritchard . 2 Cowie, run out 0 Extras 21 Total 134 Bowling.—Pritchard took four for 45; Ashenden, two for 29; Lamason, three for 24; Wilson, none for 15. Second Innings. Whitelaw, Ibw, b Ashenden 0 Pearson, b Pritchard : . 53 Sale, b Pritchard .. ; 97 Wallace, c McLeod, b Pritchard .. 7 Weir, b Pritchard 50 Scott, c Wilson, b Ashenden 11 Matheson, b Ashenden 0 Burke, b Pritchard 5 Blandford, c Pritchard, b Ashenden 11 Cleverly, not out 8 Cowie, b Pritchard 24 Extras ..... v, 10 ./ Total 274 Bowling: Pritchard 6 for 66 runs; Ashenden 4 for 83, McLeod 0 fir 17, Wilson 0 for 65, Lamason 0 for 55. j

WELLINGTON. I First Innings. I Du Chateau, c Cowie, b Weir 19 1 W. Hepburn, b Cleverley 26 Rainbird, Ibw, b Cleverley 19 E. W. Tindill, Ibw, b Weir ...... 1 Cngley, b Weir 1 Lamason, c Pearson, b Cleverley 25 Aiiey, b Cleverley 11 McLeod, not out 20 Wilson, c Blandford, b Matheson-. 12 Pritchard, c Wallace, b Matheson ‘ 20 Ashenden, c Clevereley, b Cowie 0 Extras 10 Total 164 Bowling.—Cowie, one wicket for 36; y Matheson, two for 39; Cleverley, four for 45; Weir, three for 33; Burke, none for one. I WELLINGTON (Second Innings): Du Chateau, b Cowie 4 j Hepburn, not out 39 j Tindill, not out 24 j Extras 6| ♦ Total for one wicket 73