AUCKLAND WINS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 9 January 1940, Page 6

AUCKLAND WINS

PLUNKET SHIELD SERIES INNINGS WIN OVER CANTERBURY MATCH ENDS THIS MORNING [United Press Association] AUCKLAND, This Day. The Plunket Shield match between Auckland and Canterbury concluded at Eden Park this morning, Auckland winning by an innings and 140 runs. When play resumed this morning there was the possibility of an early finish to the game and by noon two more wickets, making seven, had fallen and Canterbury still required 500 to ovretake U~eir opponents’ record score. Resuming, the batsmen Davis and Menzies shaped well in adding 50 runs, but when they were separated the bowlers were on top. In the first half-hour the pair put on forty runs, batting freely to the bowling of Carson and Cowie. Davis had a life from a hot chance in the slips, while his partner once had a narrow shave in stealing a short run. The first variation in the attack apart from Cleverley bowling one over in order to allow the original pair to change ends, was when Burke replaced Carson and this brought immediate results, Davis putting the first ball up to mid-on to be caught by Weir 278—6—33. Joined by Anderson, Menzies was subdued by Burke and soon lost his partner. Cleverley got Anderson rather fortunately as a ball that beat him on the leg side rebounded from the ™, epe / s « pads and he was stumped. Zol—7—2. Another 46 runs were added before Menzies and Roberts were separated. The partnership had been patient, with Burke commanding respect throughout with his spin bowling. He obtained his third wicket of the innings when he got Menzies caught at silly mid-on by Whitelaw 325—8—29 Menzies batted an hour and threequarters to-day for his additional 27. In the following over Cleverley brought the match to a close by clean bowling Roberts and Mcßae with successive balls The innings closed for 326 leaving Auckland victorious by an innings and 140 runs. Though in a fairly hopeless position, Canterbury fought back gamely yesterday afternoon and at stumps had lost five wickets for 235 runs. Showing a deficit of 466 runs, Canterbury opened more confidently than m the first innings. Donnelly was not deterred by the early dismissal of Kerr and punished anything overpitched. In compiling 78, he was most impressive on the off side, frequently penetrating the cover field with well-timed drives O'Brien found his feet and batted aggressively against a varied attack for a well-played 86. He and Donnelly appeared likely to set the foundation for a large score, but were dismissed shortly before stumps. Details are:— CANTERBURY First Innings 227 Second Innings J. L. Kerr, b Cowie 3 :P. Donnelly, c and b Burke 78 F. P. O’Brien, b Cleverley 86 W. A. Hadlee, c Weir, b Carson .... 23 I. B. Cromb, c Blandford, b Carson 15 Davis, c Weir, b Burke 33 Menzies, c Whitelaw, b Burke ........ 29 Anderson, st Blandford, b Cleverley 2 Roberts, b Cleverley [ j, James, not out 2 Mcßae, b Cleverley q Extras ” 37 Total 326 AUCKLAND First Innings (nine wickets dec.) 693 Bowling: Cleverley took four wickets for 94 runs; Burke, three for 83; Carson, two for 31; Cowie, one for 70; Weir, one for 11.