THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21076, 9 January 1932, Page 11

THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

BIG BATTING COLLAPSE. ' AUCKLAND ALL OUT FOR 56. CANTERBURY SCORES 218. HOME. TEAM'S SECOND INNINGS. The Plunket Shield match between Auckland and Canterbury, which comnienced' at Eden Park yesterday, was responsible for an unaccountable batting collapse by the home team, which was dismissed for 56 runs in its first innings. The wicket was good and the vaather conditions ideal and so it was all the more surprising that the batsmen should fail. Some members of the Canterbury team are reputed to be among the leading batsmen of the Dominion, but, while they fared much better than the Aucklanders, the visitors' total did not reach expectations. Roberts made a liberal contribution to Canterbury's total. Auckland has made a much better start in its second innings, Frater in particular playing the bowling with great confidence. The match will bo resumed this morning at 11 o'clock. Whitelaw and Frater opened Auckland's innings to the bowling of Cromb and Burrows. Whitelaw took a boundary off the first ball of the match from Cromb and o2 the succeeding over Frater collected two boundaries at Burrows' expense, the la.st shot being a powerful square-cut. Whitelaw then misjudged the flight of one of Burrows, and was caught in the slips by Bellamy. 19—1—9. Weir'joined Frater and the total was taken to 26, at which stage Frater was well caught by Bellamy in the slips. 26-2—17. ' The side then fell away in an astonishing fashion, not a single batsman appearing capable of stopping the debacle which resulted in Auckland being all out for 56 rups. Canterbury's Innings. - Canterbury went to the wickets at 12.37 p.m., Kerr and Crawford opening to the bowling of Cleverley and Weir. With judicious placements through the gully and round to leg the pair ran the score to 21. Kerr then gave an easy catch to Vivian at silly mid-on off the fast bowler. 21 —I—3.1 —3. Roberts joined Crawford and seemed uncomfortable when facing the fast bowler. Tho score at luncheon was one wicket for 27, Roberts being 3 and Crawford 10. Matheson and Cleverley took up the attack after the interval, commanding respect from both batsmen. Roberts opened out to Matheson and sent up the first 5C in forty-two minutes. Crawford stepped in front to Cleverley and the appeal met with the umpire's approval. 71—

Vivian now made his first appearance at the crease. He did not trouble Roberts, and Cromb, while not so aggressive as his partner, gave everything the full face of the bat. McMillan spelled Cleverley immediately afterwards. The first 100 was brought up by Roberts in eighty-six minutes. Cromb attempted to turn the ball to leg, but was brilliantly snapped up by McMillan with a low left-handed catch. 122—3—16.

Page came next and fell an early l.b.w. victim to Cleverley. 123—4—1.

Dismissal of Boberts. Lester partnered Roberts, who gave a difficult chance to McMillan off Vivian, the fieldsman missing after making a good attempt. Roberts was again dropped one run later, thi6 time behind the wicket off Cleverley. Vivian claimed Roberts' wicket a few minutes later, however, when the batsman attempted a hit. 137—5—78. Lester and Powell, batting slowly, carried Canterbury's total to 150 after 144 minutes. They were still in at afternoon tea time, with 10 and 7 respectively. Matheson and Vivian resumed at the bowling crease after the adjournment and Lester lifted the last-named bowler for the first six of the match. Powell then played Matheson on. 166—6—15.

A quiet period followed, both Lester and Bellamy, the newcomer, treating the bowlers with respect. Vivian sent up a full toss to Lester, who, in 4n attempt at a forcing shot, landed the ball squarely into Matheson's hands at mid-on. 178—7—21.

The partnership between Bellamy and Merritt. was responsible for the hoisting of the 200, the mark being passed when Bellamy' drove powerfully wide of mid-off for a boundary. Bellamy, was stumped in attempting a big hit. 201—8—15. Merritt went caught and bowled by Vivian for 19 and Matheson secured Burns' wicket, the innings closing for 218 runs. Vivian had to leave the field after catching Merritt, having injured his finger. '■*

. The original opening pair, Frater and Whitelaw, opened Auckland's second innings with 40 minutes' play left. Whitelaw Bent the 50 up in half an hour with a «nple. In the next over from Merritt *Vhitelaw sent an easy catch into Cromb's hands. 50—1—13.

Weir and Frater played out time, the score being 55 -for one wicket, Frater 37 find Weir 3. AUCKLAND.—First Innings. R. E. Frater, c Bellamy, b Burrows 17 P. E. Whitelaw, c Bellamy, b Burrows 9 G. L. Weir, c Burns, b Cromb . . 0 H. G. Vivian, c Cromb, b Burrows . . 7 H. D. Gillespie, run out 3 AW. McCoy, c and b Cromb .... 0 N. H. McMillan, lbw, b Burrows . . 5 T. Clark-, c and,b Merritt ...... 4 A. M. Matheson. c Cromb, b Merritt . 6 L. S. Smith, b Merritt . . 2 C. Cleverlev, not out . . . . . 1 Extras 2 Total 56 Fall of Wickets.—One for 19, two for 26, three for 34, four for 34, five for 34, six for £9, seven for 46, eight for 53, nine for 53. * Bowling. O. M. R, W. J. T, Burrows . . 13 9 24 4 I B Cromb . . 11 3 24 2 W. E. Merritt 3 Soeond Innings. P. E. Whitelaw, c Cromb, b Merritt 13 E. Frater, not out . . 37 I*. L. Weir, not out 3 Extras . . . . . „ .... 2 Total for one wicket . . . . . . 55 CANTERBURY.—First Innings. r ri'^ erf > c Vivian, b Cleverley . . 3 a m Crawford, lbw, b Cleverley . . 15 W Roberts, b Vivian . .... 78 •B. Cromb, c McMilJan, b Vivian . . 16 n ■ f ~- lbw, b Cleverley .... 1 T r r,® 5 ' 6 -' c Matheson, b Vivian . . 21 •p" Powell, b Matheson 15 f- Bellamy, st Smith, b Vivian .. 15 Merritt, c and b Vivian . . . . 19 T t -d rns ' c McMillan, b Matheson 11 1 i - furrows, not out 1 ■Extras .. ... . . 23 Total 218 Wickets.—One for 21, two for 137 - e 0r f° ur f°r 123, five for 2Q > six for 166, seven for 178, eight for A1 > n?ne for 206. , Bowling. H p v . . O. M. R. W. If- Vivian.. 25 4 59 5 Clevei- ley . 23 6 48 3 Matheson 20 7 57 2 ■A. W. McCoy.. 1 _ 3 _ I -8" i eir -. 210 lO **.- H. McMillan 4 tJST- A " Somervell and R. E. • were the umpires.