THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20758, 29 December 1930, Page 10

THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

AUCKLAND'S FINE SCORE. CENTURY TO G. L. WEIR. §OLID TASK FOR CANTERBURY. HOME TEAM REQUIRES 473. TELEGRAPH. —ATHLETICS REPORTER.) CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday. The Plunket Shield cricket match between Canterbury and Auckland was continued to-day, Auckland, in its second innings, registering the splendid total of 537 runs. Auckland in the first innings failed badly and was dismissed for 164, Canterbury replying with 229. Auckland had made a fine start by compiling 180 runs for the loss of two wickets in its second effort.

When the match was continued this morning the wicket was still in excellent, order and the outfield exceptionally fast. The heat was very oppressive and naturally had an effect on the fielding team, which, however, held to its task well. Auckland has left Canterbury 473 runs to make to win, and the Southern province has started well by compiling 56 runs without less.

A good deal of Auckland's success can be attributed to Mills, who made 66 on the previous day, and to tho splendid partnership between Weir and Vivian for the third wicket, which yielded 155 runs, Vivian compiled 81 and Weir continued to 134 before being dismissed. Allcott displayed his best form in making 65, while Matheson created a surpriso by just failing to reach his century. He was unbeaten with 94. The Canterbury bowlers divided the wickets fairly evenly, but "Merritt proved very" costly, his one wicket costing 137 run's. Batsmen Start Confidently. On resuming, Merritt and Cromb took np the attack. Runs came freely, and Weir (44) and Vivian (45) soon ran into the fifties. Merritt gave way to Talbot after bowling three overs, but tho rate of scoring was not slackened. Vivian was batting with his usual confidence, while Weir was more aggressive than on the previous day. Two hundred appeared after. 13 minutes' play, the runs having occupied 182 minutes- - Each.batsman went well-into the sixties and at 216.Burrows replaced Talbot, Weir lifting the new bowler almost for a six. Vivian gave a hard stumping chance with his score a 1.66, but, although Dorreen had the bails oft quickly, the ball was too wide on the leg and the batsman was able to get back. Weir was opening out and reached the seventies before Vivian, who, however, gained that total by off driving Cromb with a 'beautiful shot which reached the fence. Merritt! came en again in place of Cromb with" the score at 238. In endeavouring to hit Burrows, Weir lifted the bowler, the ball falling well clear of third man. The batsmen continued to play attractively atid 250 appeared, 70 runs having been made ir. an hour. At 256 Lester relieved- Burrows, Weir sending the bowler to the leg boundary and reaching the eighties. / Dismissal of Vivian. Weir, in contrast to his batting of the previous / day, was scoring more rapidly than Vivian, and in Lester's next over he glided the bowler prettily to the fence. This .brought him into the nineties. Vivian scored mostly in singles and braces for a period, : but was not-iong in" sending 80- against his name! Just afterwards he was clean bowled by Lester with a full- (oss. : The partnership, the best of 'the match to date, had yielded 155runs. Vivian was given a rousing ovation on returning to the pavilion. 267 —3 —Bl. Gillespie -joined Weir and started more confidently than in the first innings. Weir Was warmly applauded on reaching his century after a chanceless exhibition, which occupied 185 minutes. Talbot took ovgr" the attack from Merritt with the total at 235. Gillespie ran nicely into doubles l but ,was then clean bowled bv Talbot, ! 294—4—10. . Wensley was next and brought the third century up with a brace after 252 minutes. The coach followed with a strong on drive to the fence. Weir still played attractive cricket, nice placements taking his score near th(! 120 mark. Barrows came back in place of Lester at 309.

Successful Bowling Change. Wensley soon passed double figures with two fours,, and with Merritt on again in place of Talbot iuns came more freely, Weir being particularly severe on the 6low boyi'ler, battering him for two fours in-succession.; This brought Roberts on in f place of Merritt,. making the seventh bowler tried for .Canterbury.. The change was successful, as the new. bowler clean bowled Weir in his first over. 342—5 134. / y The luncheon adjournment was taken three, minutes later, the total being 344 for five wickets (Wensley, 19 not out; Allcott, 1 1 not out). On resuming Cromb and Burrows took up the bowling. In Cromb's first over. gave a hard, low, one-handed chance ,to Merritt at point. Scoring was quiet, jive runs'being added in five overs. Then Wensley fell a leg before victim to Cromb./ 349—6-—2 O. Two Wt-handed batsmen were associated when McCoy joinod Allcott, but the rate of scoring was still much slower than that pripr to the luncheon adjournment. Allcott ran quietly info doubles and then obtained his first boundary with a fine cover drive. Merritt relieved Crornb at 367, each batsman going right out and driving boundaries. Allcott hit (lie slow bowler for two successive fours, the over, with, a/bye, costing 13 runs. Lester took over from Burrows at the othei erttl, Allcott hooking a four off the first hall. The. .batsman reached the fhirties \vith a single. McCoy was making some nice scoring, shots and Page. came, on in place of Merritt when the board read 394 Fourth Century Hoisted. The fourth century was hoisted after the innings had occupied 335 minutes'. Burrows immediately replaced Bestcr, The batsmen were forcing the pace and scoring freely, McCoy making one delightful drive through the covers. Page was making frequent bowling changes and himself gave way to Talbot. The new bowler knocked McCoy's; off slump back in his first over 412—7—21. ' On being joined by Matheson, Allcott gave a stumping chance off Burrows,' Dorreen failing to take the ball cleanly. Matliosou's first scoring shot was a lucky snick through the slips to the fence off Talbot. Allcott was playing fine cricket, stroug driving being a feature, and was now /approaching the fifties. More changes had been made in the attack, Cromb and Roberts being the bowlers. Allcott reached his fifty in 88 minutes by placing Roberts twice to the boundary. Mathesoi} livened up and hit a four and got six for the next stroke, an over- ! throw giving away four. The total was now 454. Merritt, who had taken no wickets for 121, was again tried in place, of. Roberts. The Canterbury captain went on at the other end, Allcott//scoring four off 'the first ball. . Allcott went out to hit Merritt, missed ijjjfei was clean bowled. He had played a < fine innings. 464—8—65.

Cleverley joined Matheson, who was batting confidently and more trecly than at the start. Merritt gave way to Lester at 478 and Matheson hit the new bowler for two successive fours, making the total at the ten adjournment 485 for eight wickets (Matheson, 42 not out; Cleverley, 4 not out). Matheson and Cleverley carried the total past 50C' beforo the last-named was caught behind the wickets. 502—9—4. Matheson was opening out and soon reached the sixties. He then gave a chance off Pago behind the wickets but it was missed. Matheson was applauded for hitting Roberts for a splendid six and was missed behind the wickets next ball. Working tho bowling to keep it himself, he scored freely and was soon in tho eighties. Two more splendid fours saw 90 go against his name. Frequent changes were made in the bowling until Hunt was caught behind tho wickets off Burrows. . Matheson's score was 94, not out. 537—10—0. Tho innings occupied 443 minutes. Requiring 473 runs to win tho match, Canterbury opened its second innings at 5.15 p.m. wis!) Kerr and Hamilton, tho first-named tfiking strike to Wonsley and scoring three off the over. Clevorley bowled at the other end,_ Kerr square cutting him to tho fence in the second over. For the . first four overs Hamilton did not get a strike. Kerr drove Wensley splendidly to the fence, but next ball, a well flighted one, caused tho batsman trouble. Kerr, placing well, scored 17 out of the first 20 in 12 minutes. Ilamillon snicked Wensley luckily through the slips to the lierice and the following over got another four past third man. Kerr was again batting attractively. Hamilton also becoming more free. With the total at 43 Allcott replaced Cleverley. whoso six overs had cost 13 runs. Kerr got the new bowler prettily to the leg fence. Matheson relieved Wensley at the other end. The coach had bowled seven overs for 26 runs. ' Kerr reached thirtv and fiftv appeared after 42 minutes. Then Hamilton snicked a ball from Allcott to Hunt, who failed to accept the chance. Kerr (31) and Hamilton (17) were still associated at stumps, tho total being 56 for no wickets.

Scores: — AUCKLAND. First innings •• ■ second Innings. A. J. Postlos, o Doreen, b Lester . . 13 J. E. Mills, 1) Cromb . . . . • • °6 G. L. Weir, b Roberts *34 H. 0. Vivian, b Lester . . . • • °1 HD. Gillespie, b Talbot . . • • 10 A. F. Wensley. lbw.. b Cronib . . 20 C. FW. Allcott, b Merritt . . ... 6o A W. "McCoy, b Talbot 21 A. M. Mntlieson, not out, . . • • I). Cleverley, c Doreen. b Burrows . . 4 H. Hunt, c Doreen, b Burrows . . 0 Extras • • 23 Total * ' • 537

Merritt and Cronib one each. CANTERBURY. 229 First innings Second Innings.. J. L. Kerr, "not out . . . . . • I. M. Hamilton, not out . . ' o E.vtras . * Total for no wickets . •• 56

Bowling. 0. . M. R. W. R. 0. Talbot . . 22 4 70 2 ,T T, Burrows . . 43 4 54 89 2 W. E. Meri:itt S. rt. Lester . . 33 .. 21 3 3 137 1 73 2 I. B. Cromb , M. L. Pncre A. W. Roberts .. 26 . . 13 .. 7 4 3 0 66 2 44 0 29 1 Lester bowled two no balls and Talbot,