THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17979, 3 January 1922, Page 3

THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET. OTAGO VERSUS AUCKLAND FIEST TWO DAYS' PLAY. /LOCAL ELEVEN IN LEAD. The first Plunket Shield match of the season in Auckland was commenced at Edcu Park on Saturday between Auckland and Otago. The home team waii well represented, but the Otago team was weakened by the absence- of Eckhold, a solid batsman and a keen fieLd, who was injured in the match against Canterbury, and is at present in Auckland undergoing treatment. Siedeberg, too, developed leg trouble, and is unable to do either himself or his team justice. Hie weather was fine; with a jnoist and muggy heat, and the wicket, consequent on the recent rains, was slow and uncertain, with a dull outfield. In anticipation of a tricky and sticky wicket, the Otago captaii/, on winning tlio toss, decided to put Auckland in. Tho wicket was not so treacherous as it first appeared, and proved slow and easy, and save for an occasional ball was not difficult. The pit:h improved rapidly under the influence of the hot sun, and in the afternoon was all in favour of the batsmen, with j a keener outfield. The scoring was slow j at the outset, owing to the careful play of the batsmen, the steady bowling of ; Otago, and tho clean fielding. Auckland inado a poor start, losing the ! first two wickets, Horspool's and Snedj den's, for 40 runs. The partnership be- > tweeu Smith and Hemus was profitable, i 68 runs being put on and the score carI ried to 108 at the fall of the third wicket. ; Hemus batted well for his score of 51, | hut was not over-confident to Torrance, ! and Smith played a good innings for 50, ! impressing the visitors by his easy grace , and finish. Anthony gave a good exhibiI tion of square and late cutting in his j score of 43, and McLeod batted aggres- . siveiy in compiling 55, made by powerful shots on both sides of the wioket. The batting throughout was not marked by any show of brilliancy, but it was the solidity of it which carried the score to 298 before the fall of the last wicket. Otago Requiring 323 Runs to Wip. A-featuire of the innings was the steady | bowling of Otago, and the success of Dickenson, ths young Otago High School boy, who bowled well throughout, and finished up with tho fine figures of five wickets for 41 runs. The Otago captain, Carlton, worked his bowlers judiciously, and bearing tho brunt of the attack himsoLf secured three wickets for 91. The ground fielding of Otago was good, and at times brilliant, Mc.MuJlan and Galland doing particularly fine work, but the lofty fielding was uncertain, several catches being dropped which should have been held. In a dull light in the last half hour of tho play Otago lost one wicket for 16 runs. The batting of tho Otago team in the first innings was disappointing, the only batsmen to show semblances of form being Carlton, who played good cricket for 28, McMullan 20, Westbrook 20, and Galland 16. Shepherd, the New Zealand representative, failed to get going, and was out to a weak stroke. The bowling of Auckland was steady without being really difli-' cult, and Che fielding was keen with smart returning. Auckland made a poor start in the second nnings, losing six of the best batsmen for 40 runs. At this stage Sneddon and Anthony became associated, and with fine b' '• Jng the pair put on 74 runs, carrying the score to 114 before the seventh wicket fell. As a last-wicket batsman Allcott showed splendid form in compiling 39 runs. The innings closed for 178 giving Auckland the grand total of 476', leaving. Otago 323 to get to win. Incidents ol the First Day's Play. The Otago captain, Carlt.on, won the toss, and sent Auckland in to bat. Hemus and Horspool wero the pioneer batsmen for Auckland, and opened to the bowling of Carlton ;;nd Torrance. With the score at 17 Horspool, who attempted to cut a rising ball from Torrance, was smartly caught by Chadwick behind tho wicket: 17-1-12. . , „ At this stage Snedden joined Hemus, the Auckland captain playing, a maiden off Torrance, who was keeping a hue length. The run getting was slow, tho batsmen playing carefully and taking no risks. Snedden opened his account by square-cutting Carlton for two, off-dnvmg the next ball for a single. A brief period of bright run-getting followed. With his score at 14 Sl J edden cave a stinging chance to McMullan at point, the fieldsman burning his fingers in a good attempt to take a hot catch. The fielding of Otago we. of a nigh standard and the batsmen had some difficulty in getting the ball through a well-placed field. With tho score at 40, Snedden, in. attempting to drive Carlton, failed to get properly on to a "hanging ha an lifted it to Casey, who brought off a good catch, running back near the wicket at long-off: 40—2—14. Uselul Partnership Terminated. Smith filled the vacancy, and opened out by driving Torrance mcelv to tho rails, and followed the shot with a high . drive into "the country, where the fields- ; man just failed to reach scoring eight i oil the over. Hemus, who had been quiet i for a time, got Carlton to the leg boundary and brought up the half century. The batsmen at this stage were quiet, and runs came alow> mainly in sing es Smith showed a nice turn to leg, but had the good fortune to be missed oft a chance of stumping. llh the R '° l6 || 69 Torrance resumed tho attack, Hemus rutting the third ball nicely for two, bringing his score to 32 and the total to r 74 Carlton now bowled tn place of i Shepherd, and Smith welcomed his rei appearance by driving him to the rails. A boundary to Hemus off Torrance was 3 followed by period, of quiet play, the » batsmen playing steadily andtakmg nounJ due risks with the bowling. his score to 50 and the team total to 100 with a nice late cut off the r,ew bowler At this stage Dickinson, the young schoolboy rieht-hander, took the ball from Tor- > ranee, and bowled a ma.iden before the . luncheon adjournment was taken, with - the, scores at 103 for the loss of two I "oTltie resumption after luncheon Casey took up the bowling, and Hemus snicked 3 a single off the first ball. Carlton re--5 sumed" the attack from the northern end, 3 and with the sixth ball of the over clean > bowled Hemus, who had played a solid innings for 51 runs. The partnership with t Smith was responsible for putting on 68 runs when runs were most wanted: IU&--3-51. Closing Stages of the Innings. Anthony joined Smith and opened his account with a single off Carlton, Smith scoring a single with a nice turn to leg off Casey. Smith, who was showing hne form, drove Carlton for three, and Anthony created a round of applause for a pretty late cut off Casey to the boundary. Just after reaching double figures Anthony played one dangerously near the hands of Torrance in the slips off Carlton! three runs were scored off the stroke. Smith broke the sequence of slow play by driving Torrance to the boundary, and with the score ?t 149 Casey relieved Dick- - inson, bowling a maiden. Car'ton resumed 1 the attack, and Anthony opened out, to swing the second hall over the rails for six. With a hard carpet drive to the houndary, Smith brought up his half centnrv. and then gave a chance at the wicket, which was not accepted. The next over from Carlton brought about his downfall. Playing a ball from the Otago captain, Smith skied it to leg, where Horspool, who was fielding substitute for Siedeberg brought off an easy catch. Smith played a stood innings for 50. scoring with fine shots nn his leg side and straight driving. 166—4—50. i McLeod joined Anthony, who welcomed 3 tho new batsman by late-cutting Carlton with a Sua stroke, McLeod opened his

account in characteristic fashion by lifting one from Casey into the grandstand for six, and Anthony placed Carlton to the rails for four. A leg bys brought up tho second century, and tho next ball Anthony was out leg before to Dickinson. The retiring batsman compiled 43 by good cricket, scoring well with crisp late cuts. 200-5-43. Total of 298 Compiled. Brooke Smith, who filled tho racancy, was unhappy at the start, surviving an appeal for a catch at the wicket, and then having a "life" behind, which the wicket-keeper failed to accept. Mean while McLeod was batting vigorously, but Brooke-Smith was in evident trouble to Dickinson, who subsequently clean bowled tho batsman, who had failed to score. 212-6-0. At this stage Dacre joined McLeod, and opened his account with two singles and a fine late cut for three. Tho tea adjournment was now taken, with the score of 225 for the loss of six wickets. Dacre did not last long, and with the score at 238 was out leg before to Dickinson, who at this stage had taken three wickcts for 24 runs. 238-7-13. R. Garrard went to the crease, a:,d opened with a square cut for a single, off Carlton, and later turned Dickinson nicely to the leg boundary. Runs now camo freely from both batsmen, and the effects of tne heat wero beginning to show on j on tho attack. With the score at 286 McLeod, who had batted well for 56. was given out, bowled by Shepherd, but the ball appeared to come off the wicketkeeper's pads. 286—8—56. Allcott joined Garrard and opened with a fine drive off Shepherd to the boundary. Runs came slowly, and at 298 Dickenson resumed bowling and had tho satisfaction of securing Garrard's wicket, the University batsman playing one into the hands of Casey .it square leg. 293—9—25. Rountree carna in to be bowled by Dickenson first ball without scoring, and the innings closcd at 5.25 p.m. for 298 runs. Otago's First Innings Yields 154. With twenty minutes to play Otago opened their first innings in a bad light., with Siedeberg and McMullan, to the bowling of Allcott and Snedden. The hatsmen played a defensive game in poor light, but Siedeberg, although suffering from an injured knee and with a maji running for him, opened out to Snedden, getting the Auckland captain to leg for two and offdriving him to the boundary for four. The next ball Siedeberg played straight into the hands of Horspool fielding close in at mid-on, and ono wicket was down for nine when Westbrook joined McMullan. The batsmen played out time, and when stumps were drawn for the day Otago had lost one wicket for 16, McMullan, not out, 1, and Westbrook. not out, 6. The match was continued at Eden Park yesterday in fine weather on a fast wicket and with a keen outfield. Otago resumed the batting with McMullan and Westbrook, who by sound cricket carried the score to 44, where McMullan. who had played a good innings for 20, was bowled by the Auckland captain. 44—2—20 1 Shepherd, tho New Zealand representative, joined Westbrook. Good fielding by McLeod and Hemus kept the runs down for a time | and with Smith and Snedden'bowling well ' runs were hard to get. Eventually Sned- , den got Westbrook smartly caught by Rountree behind the wicket. 63—3 —20. 1 Carlton filled the vacancy. With tho score at 69 Shepherd was easily caught 1 by Garrard at raid-on. 69—4—15. Gal- ' land joined Carlton and the run-getting was a trifle brighter, but tho batsmen were still playing steadily and taking no risks. Galland'brouglit the 100 up with a swinging shot off Allcott. to the rails in front of the pavilion. A slow period of rungetting was iollowed bv Galland lifting Garrard high to the outfit!! "I, whe-e Anthony brought off a good catch. 104—5—16. Smith tilled the vacancy. Carlton, who i had been batting steadily, tlion played one on from Garrard and retired witii 28 to his credit. 114—6—28. Casoy joined Smith. With tho score at 120, Smiln relieved Allcott, who had taken one wicket i for 22, and bowled six maidens out of 14 overs. At 121 Garrard bowled Smith . with a good ball. 121—7—5. Dickinson filled the vacancy, but after making two was smartly stumped by Rountree off S. G. Smith. 124—8—2. Torrance was the incomer. At tho luncheon adjournment tho score was 137 for eight wickets, I ) On the resumption the score was taken i to 142, when Snedden clean bowled Casey i with a fast ball. 142—9—14. The last ; man, Chadwick, filled the vacancy, and a :• few runs later he saved the follow-on. . With the score at 154, Torrance, who had ■ batted well for 17, played one from Allcott to Dacre, who accepted a good ca'.ch at square-leg, The innings closed at 2.20 p.m. for 154. j Auckland's Second Venture. ' With a lead of 144 Auckland opened . tho second innings on a fait wicket with . Hemus and Horspool to the bowling of Carbon and Dickinson. The first wicket fell early, Hemus playing ono from Carlton to Rountree, who was fielding substitute for Siedeberg, the easy catch being noceptcd. s—l—o. Brook-Smith was the incomer, and though he played more confidently than in the first innings, he was ctean bowled by Dickinson with a slow one. 19—2—9 S. G. Smfth filled the vacancy. With tho score at 30 Horspool was clean bowled by Casey with a fast ono 30—3—10. Snedden came in to see another wicket fall cheaply, Smith, after making seven, playing one back to Casey, the bowler accepting an easy catch. 31—4—7. Garrard filled tho vacancy, but without any addition to the score the University player was caught by Smith 1 off Casey at square-leg. 31—5—0. Casey had taken the last three wickets for two runs. Dacre joined Snedden, and opened confidently, but after compiling soven he was clean bowled by Torrance. 40—6—7. Anthony came in to assist his captain to stop the rot, and the pair had carried the score to 54 for six wickets when the tea adjournment was taken. On resuming tho batsmen played ' soundly, and runs came steaddy, and in spite of changes in tho bowline were both well set. Snedden drove Shepnerd to the boundary, and Anthony pulled a loose one fi(im Casey to the line, bringing 100 up. With the score at 114 Anthony, who had battled well for 34. was caught behind the wicket by Chadwick off Dickinson. The partnership with Snedden was responsible for 74 runs, at a period when inns were most wanted. 114—7—34. " McLeod came in to see Snedden clean bowled by Dickinson. 115—8—37. Allcott was the newcomer. He soon lost ' McLeod, who was clean bowled by Casey. " 174—9—24. Rountree, the last man, 5 joined Allcott, who, after playing a fine 1 innings for 39, was caught at the wicket 3 by Chadwick off Torrance, the Auckland innings closing at 6 p m. for 178 runs. f The umpires wero Messrs. Johnston and Levien. The match will be concluded at " Eden Park to-day, play starting at 10.30 • a.m. Following are the scores : — 1 ' 1 AUCKLAND.—First Innings. J E. Horspool, c Chadwick, b Torrance 12 L. Hemus, b Carlton 51 N. C. Snedden, c Casey, b Carlton . . 14 S. G. Smith, c sub., b Carlton .. SO A. Anthony, lbw, b Dickinson .. 43 E. McLeod, b Shepherd ,56 s Brook-Smith, b Dickinson .. . „ 0 i C. Dacre, lbw, b Dickinson . . ..13 J Garrard, c Casey, b Dickinson . . 25 5 E. Allcott, not out 4 • R. Rountree, b Dickinson ~ .. 0 i Extras 30 r Total 298 5 Bowling Analysis—Carlton, 29 overs, ' 8 maidens, 91 runs, 3 wickets; Torrance, 1 18 overs, 3 maidens, 74 runs, 1 wicket; ' Casey, 12 overs, 2 maidens, 43 runs, no ' wickets; Dickinson, 12 overs, 3 maiden%- ■ 41 runs, 5 wickets; Shepherd, 6 overs, 1 1 maiden, r, .l runs, 1 wicket; Galland, 1, ) over, 2 runs, no wickets. r ! OTAGO—First Innings. ■ H. Siedoberg, c Horspool, b Snedden.. 8 ' J. McMullan, b Snedden .. ..20 3 R. Westbrook, c Rountree, b Snedden 20 = J. Shepherd, c Garrard, b Allcott .. 15 > T. Carlton, b Garrard 28 ) A. Galland, c Anthony, b Garrard „ 16 " J, Smith, i) Garrard 5 i L. Casey, b Snedden 14 ! G. Dickinson, st Rountree, b Smith.. 2 t R- Torrauce, c Dacre, b Allcott .. 17 C. Chadwick, not out .. .. .. 4 1 Extras . , „. .. „. 5 s Total ■« na m wa m 154

Bowling Analysis.—Allrott, 17.5 over*, f--7 maidens, 34 runs, 2 wickeU; Sneddon, J 19 overs, 5 maidens, 52 mns, 4 wickets; Smith, 13 overs, 3 maidens, 23 runs, 1 wicket; Garrard, 11 overs, 2 maidens. X> runs, 3 wicket*. AUCKLAND.—Second Innings. L. G- Hemus, c sub, b Carlton •• J . K. Horspool, b Casey I'-J W. Brook-Smith, b Dickinson. ■ • • » S. G. Smith, c and b Casey - ■, ' N. C. Snedden, b Dickinson . . .. 37 R. Garrard, c Smith, b Casey .. - . 0 C. Dacrer b Torrance . . • . J A. Anthony, c Chadwick, b Dickinson 34 E. McLeod, b Casey ' i E. Allcott, c Chad wick, b Torrance .. J9 | 1 R. Rountrec, not out Extras •• •• "j Total ' l7 ®| Bowling Analysis.—Carlton, 11 overs. 2. maidens. 35 runs. 1 w.cket; j 13 over®, 2 maidens, 39 runs, o wickets., Torrance, 9 overs, 2 maidens. 29 runs, - t wickets; Casey, 12 overs. 57 mns, 4 , wickets; Shepherd, 2 overs, 10 runs, no wickets. ' — ( OAHTERBURY V. WELLINGTON. | . 1 A DAY OF LOW SCORING. 1 J [Br ielegraph.—press ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Mondsy. j( After having been postponed on Satur-j] da'v, tho Wellington —Canterbury match j commenced to-day i'.i perfect weather, j i The wicket was mta-h affected by the j heivv rains. Patrick I Canterbury) won', tho toss from Middleton, and elected to ( bat. The wicket was easy at the start, ! but grew worse as play proceeded. Canterbury scored slowly, tho first innings , realiyii!: 133 runs. ' Wellington replied ~ with only 85. When stumps were diawiij, Canterbury- had lost five wickets for 51 i | runs. Scores :— CANTERBURY.-First Innings. jl Blunt, b Brice ■ Worker, b McGirr • ■ . . 71 Brosnahan, c Patrick, b Mobirr . • 13 . Grant, c Baker, b BriT . • oj, Patrick, o Hiddleston, b McGirr .. 15 | Hayes, b McGirr 0 j Evans, b McGirr 0; Sandman, lbw, b Middleton . . .. 61 Fuller, c Hiddleston, b McGirr .. 9 j Read, not out . . • ■ • • . . 14 j McLachlan, o and b McGirr . . . . 10 1 Extras . - . . ■ • .. 18 Total 153 Brice took two wickets for 38, Barclay 1 nono for 11, McGirr seven for 45, Middleton one for 19, Paitick none for 1. Second Innings. Worker, c Hiddleston, b McGirr .. 5 Blunt, not out 21 Brosnahan, b McGirr 0 Grant, b Barclay 16 Patrick, lbw, b McGirr .. .. 3 Hayes, c Middleton, b Hiddleston . . 2 Extr, s 4 Total for "five wickets .. . . 51 Brice took no wickets for 9 runs, McGirr three for 30, Barclay one for 4, Hiddleston one for 1, Middleton doiio for 3. WELLINGTON.—First Innings. Hiddleston, b Read 1 Baker, stumped Fuller, b McLachlan 6 Dempter, b Read 10 Lambert, c Grant, b McLachlan .. 11 Burton, b Read 0 McGirr, lbw, b McLachlan ~ .. 23 IPati ick, run out . . 9 Middleton, lbw, b Read . . .. 0 Condliffe, c Grant, b McLachlan .. 1 Brico, run out .. 14 Barclay, not out 2 Extras .. .. * ■ 7 Total .-i 84 McLachlan took four wiokets for 38. Read four for 39.