THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20510, 11 March 1930, Page 11

THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

fm AUCKLAND BATTING.

TEAM'S STRONG POSITION.

! A LI2AD OF 504 RUNS. MILLS SCORES CENTURY. * jfi WELLINGTON STONEWALL. [Bt TELEGRAPH. —ATHLETIC REPORTER.] WELLINGTON". Monday. As the result of the third day's play in the final game against Wellington for the Plunket Shield Auckland is in a strong position, and only solid stonewalling tactics, which already have been adopted, can prevent Auckland's success, provided the weather remains fine. Being 150 runs to the good on the first innings and having 34 on the board without loss in the second innings, the Aucklandcrs were in an enviable position when play recommenced to-day. Tho Auckland batsmen made the best use of tho time at their disposal, with the result that the captain was abto to declare at tho afternoon tea adjournment, leaving Wellington 505 runs to get for an outright win. Auckland scored 354 runs for the loss of four wickets to-day, the outstanding features of the innings being a century to Mills and fast scoring in the partnership between Wensley and Allcott, which put on 104 runs in three-quarters of an hour. Mills' was a very fine achievement, Wensley and Allcott played tho gamo for the side for all they were worth. Anthony, Gillespie and Weir all batted well, and with Mills really sacrificed their wickets in an effort to make runs quickly. Southern Captain's Tactics. Mills (20) and Anthony (13) soon settled down against tho bowling of McGirr and Henderson. Anthony gave a hard left-hand chance in tho slips to Hollings off Henderson. With 60 up Gallichan replaced Henderson against a strong wind. Both batsmen relished the change, Mills straight driving the Manawatu left-hander to the boundary and Anthony late cutting him sweetly for four. Eighty now appeared on the board and 40 was opposite each man's name. They were batting freely and confidently. Lowry took the ball from Gallichan after the latter had sent down two overs for 18 runs. Lowry bowled round the wicket against the wind and sent them down well-on the off to Mills. In his second over the Wellington captain bowled a wido' which was fielded by first slip, who also stopped another, which must have been close to a wide. Lowry's solo intention was evidently to stop runmaking. * First Century Appears. Anthony brought 100 up by off driving McGirr to the boundary. The innings had been in progress 67 minutes. Lowry had eight men on the leg side for Anthony. Massey was given his first turn at the crease, . replacing McGirr. Anthony reached his half-century with a three to leg off Massey. He had been batting 74 minutes. Anthony pulled the same bowler fpr four, but in trying to cut the next ball played it on. Mills stayed at 49 for some time, as he resolutely refused to chase the balls Lowry was sending down wide out. Weir played two maidens from Massey, scoring a single m the third over. A single to Mills tljen gave the left-hander his half-century, which had occupied 92 minutes. Lowry had all his men on the leg side for Weir, there being not a single fieldsman on the off. In spite of Lowry's leg theory and Massey's off theory Mills and Weir scored steadily with singles and an occasional boundary. Shortly after Weir had reached 20 a ball from Massey kicked and the batsman cocked it up just short of the bowler and McLeod at mid-on. Lowry bowled another wide to Mills. The board showed 150 for just over two hours' batting. / ' Weir Clean Bowled. Auckland was now 300 runs to the good with nine wickets still in hand. Weir was applauded for two boundaries and a three off successive balls from Lowry. Mills got three off tho next ball, making 14 off the over. McLeod took tho last over before lunch, replacing Massey, but he could not effect a separation; The score at the luncheon adjournment was one for 173, Mills being 68 and Weir 38. , Lowry continued bowling after luncn. He sent the first two down on the leg side. The third was a straight one which Weir tried to force to the off where there were no fieldsmen. He missed the ball, however, and was clean bowled. Gillespie took time to get going. He swung at one from Lowry, lifting it high to leg, but both Foley and Cameron appeared to lose sight of the ball • against the sun. Mills, who was playing as soundly as before lunch, was in the eighties wheu 190 was posted. The second century appeared after 160 minutes batting. Gillespie ran into double figures with a leg boundary off Lowry. McGirr bowled with the new ball in plc.ctf' of Henderson. His first was a full toss, a ball similar to that with which he bowled Mills in the first innings. -"-"V 5 time, however, the batsman promptly despatched it to the leg boundary. Lowry gave/way to Massey after having bowled 20 overs for '4l runs. Forcing the Pace. Gillespie poked up a rising ball_ from McGirr toward Gallichan, but it fell short of the fieldsman, who started too late for it. The next ball Gillespie skied a little further out, but Gallichan missed a running catch. _ . . Lowry went on again after giving Massey three overs, changing tlie »»I'Urarapa representative to end. Swinging hard at one of_ Lowry s leg deliveries Gillespie drove it straight to Massey at short leg, but the fieldsman could not hold the ball, which was travelling too fast. . . Mills reached his century by drivm? Massey to the on boundary. He had been at the wickets 3 hours 10 minutes. The left-hander lost his wicket soon a ['. er * He had hit at one from Massey, skied the ball and was caught at deep cover by Gallichan. Wensley went out to force the pace> ninning smartly between the wickets. Gillespie also lost his wicket in trying to score quickly, pulling one from Massey into Henderson's hands at square leg. Tho board showed 250 and tho innings had been in progress 3 hours 25 minutes. Wensley was loudly cheered for hitting Lowry over the square leg boundary for six. Two balls later he off drove the Wellington captain for four, all run out. Wensley went out to meet Massey and missed, but James failed with _ tho chance of stumping the professional. Lowry's average had risen to one for 64 and he gave way to McLeod, whom Allcott hit for four and six off successive balls. Wensley, who was hitting out, skied McLeod, but Massey failed to effect a running catch. ,A leg boundary to Wensley off Massey sent up 300 after 3 hours 50, minutes' play. Wensley and Allcott were sending the' tens up vapidly. Thirteen carne off one over from McLeod, a four and a single to Wensley and two fours to Allcott.

Gallichan then bowled for the second time daring the innings. Wensley and Allcott both reached their half-centuries in Gallichan's third over. Allcott latterly had had more of the bowling than Wensley. The pair were going strong at the tea adjournment when Allcott declared at 354 for four wickets. Wellington were thus left with 505 to get for a win. The innings was opened at 4.10 p.m. and it was evident from the start that the Wellington batsmen were out to stonewall instead of going for the runs. Five, runs had been scored in a quarter of an hour when Matheson got a good one past Ross. Hollings, the incomer, sent two leg deliveries from Matheson to the boundary. Matheson bowled six overs, three of them maidens, and then Allcott made a change, going on in Wensley's place and putting the coach on with the wind. Wensley bowled seven overs, including six maidens, for three runs and -then gave way to Anthony. Cameron, who opened the innings with Ross, took an hour to reach double figures. This gives an idea of how he was stonewalling. He eventually went at 44, his contribution being 18, made in an hour and a-quarter. Cameron was out in a peculiar manner. The ball hit his right pad, cannoned on to the left leg and thon rebounded to the wicket. Foley and Hollings went along very quietly, the crowd cheering whenever Foley scored a single. Hollings got three off Wensley through misfielding by Anthony, this bringing 60 on the board. Foley survived a confident appeal for legbefore off Wensley. Matheson and McCoy were tried in an effort to obtain another wicket, but could not penetrate the batsmen's defence. Scores:—

SOME HARD HITTING. SCORE MOUNTS RAPIDLY, SOUTHERNERS' SLOW BATTING. [by TELEGRAPH. —ATHLETIC REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Monday. Auckland once more demonstrated what a solid batting combination the team is by running up over three centuries and ahalf for the loss of four wickets. . The features of the batting were a brilliant century to Mills and a hard-hitting partnership between Wensley and Allcott, which added 104 runs in 45 minutes. Mills and Anthony carried the overnight total to 110 before the partnership was dissolved, Anthony chopping one on to his wicket. Weir and Mills then added 63, the luncheon adjournment proving the downfall of Weir. The third wicket partnership between Gillespie and Mills added 65. Twelve runs later Wensley lost Gillespie. Then the coach and Allcott tackled the bowling in masterful fashion.

Mills batted in his best style, never giving the semblance of a chance, and he lost his wicket through opening out after passing the century. The lefthander employed his wide repertoire of strokes, cutting, glancing and carpet driving in delightful fashion. His characteristic late chop got him a lot of runs in the direction of third man. He showed good judgment in refusing to be tempted by a great deal of off theory. Mills hit eleven boundaries. Anthony gave a free exhibition, which included seven fours. . His late cutting and off driving were a treat to watch. Weir never looked like getting out, and actually gave his wicket away in attempting to score quickly. Like Weir, Gillespie lost his wicket in an effort to force the pace. He shaped like a run-getter and hit four boundaries. Auckland wanted runs at this stage, and Wensley went to the wickets with the sole idea of getting them as fast as possible. His hard hitting soon caused Lowry to deepen his field. The coach laid the wood on with a vengeance, and many more fours would have been registered but for men placed round the boundary. Wensley successfully countered Lowry's leg theory by taxing block a foot outside the leg stump. Two balls placed past point had to be chased by the wicketkeeper. Wensley was in 53 minutes for his runs and hit a six and four fours. , . , Allcott emulated the Sussex professional, making some beautiful drives, majority of them along the carpet. He aso leg-glided the fast bowlers very prettily. Allcott hit a six and eight fours. In an effort to check the rate of scoring Lowry went on himself against the wind and bowled wide out_ on the off to Mills and to leg for the right-handers In all the Wellington captain bowled 29 overs for 64 runs. . Massey, who took three wickets for bd, was Wellington's best bowler. He maintained a good length and on y suffered at the hands of Wensley and Allcott. McLeod was expensive, his five overs realising 38 runs. Gallichan bowled six overs for 35 runs. Seeing he bowled so well the first day with the wind it was hard to' understand why he was put on against.the wind to-day. Wellington's ground fielding was not so keen as on the first day, while mistakes were made with chances. The fieldsmen did not seem sorry when the innings was declared closed. Wellington's second effort was marked by poor batting, little attempt being made to score runs. Hollings certainly hit at anything loose, but the others stonewalled. Wensley appealed very confidently for leg-before, both for Hollings and Foley, and was very disgusted in jiot gaining the latter decision. Hunt also dropped a chance by Hollings off Anthony. _ Lowry's own bowling tactics, combined with the batting for the last hour and 50 minutes made it obvious Wellingion was out to play for a draw, which would give it the shield. The attendance of the public was poor, the gate takings being but £54. OUTRIGHT WIN NEEDED. POINTS OF CONTESTANTS. The match will be concluded to-day and to retain the shield Auckland has to secure an outright win. Before the match Wellington had 16 points (two outright wins) and Auckland 12 points (an outright win and win on first innings). A win on the first innings counts four points and a loss on tho first innings two points. An outright loss counts no points, the winner taking eight points*

AUCKLAND. v First Innings .. .. . 433 Second Innings. Anthony, b Massey .. . 56 JMills, c Gallichan, b Massey .. 105 Weir, b Lowry .. 38 Gillespie, c Henderson, b Massey .... 24 Wensley, not out 51 Allcott, not out .. . „.) 53 Extras ... 27 Total for four wickets (declared) 354 Bowling.—McGirr none for 60, Henderson none for 39, Ross none for 8, Gallichan none for 35, Lowry one for 64, Massey three for 83, McLeod none for 38. Fall of Wickets.—One for 110, two for 173, tlirco for 238, four for 250. WELLINGTON. First Innings . 283 Second Innings. Ross, b Matheson .., ,... „ 0 Cameron, b Anthony 18 Hollings, not out „. ; 32 Foley, not out ... 13 Extras .. ,.., ,.., ., 13 Total for two wickets 76 Bowling.—Matheson one for 19, Wensley none for 8, Allcott none for 13, Anthony one for 21, McCoy none for 2. Fall of Wickets. —One for 5, two for 44.