THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20761, 2 January 1931, Page 12

THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

'AUCKLAND MEETS OTAGO. NORTHERNERS SCORE 331. TWO INDIVIDUAL CENTURIES. FINE BOWLING BY BLUNT. (by telegraph.—athletics .reporter. ) DUXEDIN. Thursday. The Plunket Shield cricket match between Auckland and Otago was commenced at Carisbrook to-day, Auckland, batting first and compiling 331. Otago, in its first innings, has lost one wicket for 22 runs. Features of Auckland's innings were two fine centuries by Pestles and Allcott respectively, the former being run out with his score at tho exact figure, while the Auckland captain was unbeaten with 114. Wensley played a good innings for 40, but Mills was subdued in compiling 25. Outside these players none of tho other batsmen got a start. Gillespie is twelfth man for the match. Blunt was in fine form with tho ball, securing eight wickets for 99 runs in 08 overs. None of the other Otago bowlers was very impressive, and it was rather surprising that Auckland did noi compile » larger total. The conditions were ideal, the outfield end wicket being fast. Auckland won tho toss and opened with Mills and Postles, the latter facing Dickinson. A leg bye resulted from tho over. Badcock took up the attack at tho other end, three byes coming off the first ball. Postles scored the first runs off the bat in the third over by placing Dickinson for a brace to leg. Slow Scoring at Start. The batsmen proceeded very quietly, the first two overs of each bowler being maidens. Badcock was bowling to Postles with three men close in on the leg side, and another maiden over resulted. Mills opened his account with a single off Dickinson after 17 minutes' play, followed by a brace to leg in the samo over. Postles played another maiden over from Badcock, who was keeping a fine length, but then' broke the sequence by driving the Otago coach for tho first four of the match. Lemin relieved Dickinson at 18, Mills scoring a single and Postles a brace off the new bowler. Twenty appeared after half an hour's play. Postles reached double figures before his partner, who followed suit by driving Badcock to the on boundary. Rtins came a little more freely, arid at 35 Dickinson came on at the other end in place of Badcock, who had sent down eight overs for 11 runs. Postles scored three and Mills a braco to leg off the fast bowler. Postles was becoming much freer, and off Lemin's next over drove two fine fours. Fifty appeared after 50 minutes' play. This brought Blunt 011 in place, of Lemin, three singles coming off the over. Each batsman was now in tho twenties. Dismissal of Mills. Tostles continued to bat well and soon ran into tho thirties with nicely placed shots. Another bowling change was made at 66, Dickinson being relieved by Elmes. The bowling changes did not worry Postles who reached the forties, but then lost Mills, who went leg before to Blunt. Mills had not been too happy facing the slow bowler. 75—1—25. Vivian partnered Postles and opened with a brace off Blunt. In attempting to hook the slow bowler next over, Vivian ckied an easy catch to square leg. 85—2—4.

Weir followed and off liis first shot ran a short single, a wild return by Dickinson going to tho boundary and the stroke yielded five. Postles hooked Blunt to the'leg fence and ran into the fifties niter being at the wickets for 95 minutes. The century -appeared in 105 minutes. The scoring rate slackened after Vivian's dismissal, although neither batsman appeared troubled by the attack. jVVeir was batting soundly, while Postles passed the sixty mark. At this stage tho latter hit Elmes dangerously close to Galland at second slip. The luncheon adjournment was taken at one o clock, the total being 109 for two wickets (Postles, 63 not ou\ "Weir, 7 not out). On resuming, Dickinson bowled to Postles, who was dropped by Blunt at first slip/ off tho third ball. Blunt took up the attack at the other end. The batsmen proceeded quietly for the first few overs and Dickinson had further hard luck when Elmes dropped Weir at second' slip. Weir's score was then 11. The let off did not prove costly, however. as Weir added another single only before going leg before to Blunt. 125—3—12. Blunt had taken all three wickets.' A Good Partnership. Tbakobau was given an opportunity by Coin : in next, and gained applause by square cutting Blunt powerfully to the fence, lie lost his wicket in the same over being clean bowled by a wrong 'tin." 131—4 —7. Quiet play followed with the advent of Allcott, and Postles readied the eighties chiefly in singles. Allcott was nlso subdued and at 145 Elmes replaced Dicuinsoti. The Auckland captain registered bis first boundary by gliding the i">w bowler nicely to fine leg and foli v'ed with another four past mid on in Lie. next over. lie. was then beaten by Blunt, l-Fio ball missing the wicket. Jn the same over Blunt made an unsuccessful appeal for leg before against the lefthander. Two fours to Postles, one oft Elmes and the other off Blunt, carried him into the nineties, Allcott now being in the twenties. Badcork came on again in place of Elmes with the score at 94. Blunt, who had taken four wickets for 65 runs, was relieved by Lernin at tho other end, the new bowler sending a maiden to Allcott. The Auckland eapitin square-cut Badcock nicely to the fence after being nearly beaten by tie previous ball. Postles gave ii possible chance to Blunt at first sliit with his sco:c at 95, a boundary resulting. He reached his century after being at.tho wickets for 195 minutes and Was immediately inn out. Postles played n ball near cover, called, but liadcock fielded the bail smarty with one hand find bit tho wicket on tho throw. 186— 6—loo. ' Some Vigorous Batting. Wensley opened his account with a plide to the fence at the expense of Badcork. Smart fielding with one band by the Otago coach saved a certain four from ji powerful square-cut by Allcott. Wenslev was batting freely and brought 200 up with a brace iifier 210 minutes, followed bv a four in the same over off Badcock. Allcott was scoring more rapidly now end ran into the forties with some doubles. Wensley had a narrow escape off Leinin, the ball beating the batsman arid missing the wickets, four byes lestilting. Strong on-driving by Wensley, including ono, boundary, took the coach into the twenties. After the partnership Had yielded 43 runs in 25 minutes. Lemin gave way to Dickinson, the total being 229. Two fours to Al.cott and singles to each batsman made 12 off tlie over. Allcott reached 50. after 70 minutes' batting. Elmes relieved Kadcock at Wensley scoring a brace. Allcott showed a liking for Dickinson, placing tho fast bowler twice to the leg boundary in the next over. Blunt then relieved Dickinson, tho total being 255. Alioo took his first turn with the ball by replacing Klines at the other end. Blunt bowled a maiden to Wensley, 'and the afternoon tea adjournment was taken, the I,core being 258 for five wickets (Allcott, *>6, not out; Werisley, 27, not out).

Lcmin and Blunt took up the attack on resuming, Allcott scoring a brace and a single off the former and a braco off Blunt. Wensley drove Blunt strongly to the boundary, a stroke repeated by Allcott in the next over. Playing beautiful shots, Allcott ran into the eighties and then survived an appeal for leg-before facing Lemin. Wensley was also going well and was soon in the forties. He then lost his wicket by playing Blunt 011. 296—6—40. The partnership had yielded 110 runs in 65 minutes.

Allcott, joined by Mathcson, played delightful cricket, two fours off Lemin bringing his total within two run 3of his century. The Auckland captain reached the coveted honour with two singles after batting for 110 minutes, the third century having appeared just previously after 255 minutes' play. . Alloo took over from Lemin at 310 and in his first over Ehnes dropped Allcott at second slip. Blunt, secured his sixth victim and third log before decision by dismissing Matheson. 316 —7—B. McCoy failed to score, Blunt getting the batsman stumped with a wrong 'tin." 3208 —0. . Blunt also accounted for Cleverley 111 his next over, the batsman going leg before. 3<?2 9 0 "Hunt did not last long, being clean bowled by Alloo with an off break. Allcott made 114, not out. 331—10—1. ine innings occupied 290 minutes. With three-quarters of an hour to hat, Otago opened its innings -with Cheny and Cavanagh to the bowling of Mathcson and Clcverley. Scoring was quiet, the first fifteen minutes producing only five runs. In his third over Clcverley clean bowled Cherry. 10—1—1Dickinson filled the vacancy but scoring was still slow and at 19, made all in singles. Wensley relieved Cleyerley, the coach bowling a maiden to Dickinson and another to Cavanagh. McCoy took the last over before stumps and nearly caught and bowled Dickinson, who survived an appeal for leg before off the last ball. The scoro was 22 for one wicket. Scores :

UNEVEN SOOKTNG. SEVERAL BATSMEN FAIL. POSTLES AND ALLCOTT IN FORM. (by telegiuph.—athletics reporter.) DUXEDIN, Thursday.

Although Auckland made the pood score of 331, its hatting on the whole was somewhat disappointing under the favourable conditions which prevailed. With the exception of Fostles, Allcott, Wensley and Mills, the score sheet is poor indeed. Mills and Postles pave the team a good start by compiling 75 for the first wicket. Tfc was strange to see Postles scoring; at a faster rate than his partner. Mills could not bring hill scoring strokes into action, lie seemed to lack a little of his usual confidence, especially facing Blunt, who eventually got the left-hander leg before. Mills usually shows a decided liking for slow bowling such as Blunt's. lie was in 77 minutes aad hit, only one four. Postles has never batted to greater advantage. A fter gaining confidence ho brought into use more scoring strokes than usual, cutting, driving and playing his on shots with perfect precision. He was at the wickets for 195 minutes and hit seven fours. It is Postles' first century in Plunket Shie'M cricket. He gave only one chance, when his score was 95. Ar, with Postles, the Auckland captain, Allcott, has registered his first century in shield cricket. He played a splendid innings, giving only one chance. He gave as delightful a display of batting as anyone could wish to see, and scored all round with beautiful strokes. He was at the wickets for 141 minutes and Jut 14 fours. Allcott is a good example of a batsman failing in club cricket and yet proving himself a big match-player. Like Mills, Weir did not appear troubled bv the. attack, but could not get his shots awav. He was at tlie wickets for 48 minutes in scoring 12, and gave a chance ■it 11 Vivian appeared a little overanxious "o get a start, and lost his wicket to a poor stroke. Thakobau commenced confidently, and was just settling down when lie failed to judge a "wrong un from Blunt, which came in and Jus leg slump. , ~, .. . T! was left to Wensley and Allcott to retrieve the position. Wensiev gave a fine display of correct, yet forceful, batting, and with Allcott added vims at a fast rate providing the brightest cricket of 11,e innftigs. 'lt was during this stage that tiie Otago captain seemed to make an error of judgment in keeping Blunt olt ton long. , -in/i Blunt was spelled with the total at. 19 14. and was not given another trial until 2>>b runs were on the board. He succeeded in breaking the partnership, although lie got Wensley's wicket in a peculiar way. the coach turned to hit a short del.very liard to leg, but played the ball on to his pads, the ball rebounding on to Ins wickets. The last four wickets added only Aj runs, tlie remaining batsmen failing to withstand the guile of Blunt Blunt put up an exceedingly fine bowling performance in taking eight wickets for 99 runs in 38 overs.

AUCKLAND.— First Innings. ,T. E. "Mills, lbw, b Blunt A .T. Postles, run out . . • 25 100 IT G Vivian, c Molonev, h Blunt • 4 12 0 L. Weir, lbw, b Blunt . . E. T. L. Thakobau, b Blunt . 4 • 114 40 0 F. W. Allcott, not out, . V F. Wens.lev, b Blunt • \ M. Matheson, lbw, b Blunt . 8 A. W McCoy, st Hawkesworth, 0 0 1 Blunt • • • • • • T) Cleverley, lbw, b Blunt . •" • II. Hunt, b Alloo • 20 Extras . . • • Total 331 Bowling. 0. M. "R. w. Dickinson . 21 0 54 0 0 0 Badcock . 16 5 TiCinin . s • 18 £ 42 65 Blunt, . . . 38 2 Elinos .■ • • 1 r> V 99 39 8 0 Alloo 5.2 1 12 1 Dickinson bowled three no balls. OTAGO.—First Innings. T>. W. Cherry, b Cleverley . . 1 V. Cavanagh, not out . . • 9 . 5 r? G. Dickinson, not out . • Extras • . 1 Total for one wicket •- . 22