SURPRISING FAILURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21117, 26 February 1932, Page 11

SURPRISING FAILURE.

4 r ALLCOTT'S PERFORMANCE.

LOST OPPORTUNITY FOR DRAW. BAD START NOT RETRIEVED. The result of the match was disappointing from an Auckland viewpoint and the collapse of the local eleven in the second innings created a great surprise. Auckland had a fine opportunity of making the match a draw, but impetuosity on the part of some batsmen altered the whole complexion of the match. Allcott brought of! a fine double and his seven wickets for 75 against such opposition must rank with the best performances in New Zealand cricket. By his batting exhibition for 39 not out in the second innings he proved himself one of the best all-rounders in New. Zealand. He never looked troubled dur* ing his stay at the crease and it is safe to say that bad he received more support from the later batsmen Auckland would have succeeded in making the match a draw. Auckland's display in the second innings was in keeping with those disappointing exhibitions in Plunket Shield matches this season. The remainder of South Africa s innings yesterday enabled Allcott to add two more wickets to bis already fine average.Striking the damp patch in the wicket at the Kingsland end he turned the ball anything from six to nine inches. In three overs to Mitchell the batsman hit but three balls, the third one proving his undoing as he patted it back to the bowler. Mitchell Troublesome. Auckland never recovered from a bad beginning in its second innings. Weir and Vivian looked likely to retrieve the position, but both went out to weak shots when they were well set. After that Postles was the only one to stay with Allcott, who made a gallant attempt to save his side. However, Mitchell was troublesome with his slows, although it was weak batting rather than good bowling which got the Aueklanders out. Ifc was a disappointing exhibition after the good first innings' total. Allcott attempted hitting on Itwo or three occasions only, preferring to wait until the opportunity presented itself for a leg glide, a stroke by which he made the majority of his runs. He was at the wickets for 92 minutes and hit three boundaries. He was 32 minutes in reaching doubles. Weir placed .the ball with fine driving through the covers, scoring most of his runs in this direction. He batted for 54 minutes and hit four fours. Vivian lifted one six into the main stand enclosure, and scored one boundary on the leg side, where his gliding was good. The state of the game, however, prevented the batsman from taking risks. Postles was 25 minutes in reaching doubles, his chest injury of the first day preventing him from showing his best form. Nevertheless, he made a few good shots. Christy gave a fine, free exhibition as one of the opening batsmen in South Africa's second innings, scoring 31 out of 55 in thirty-three minutes. His shots were very free all round the wicket. He hit four boundaries. Mitchell took 77 minutes to make 44, but he was more attractive than on the previous day, especially toward the finish, when he made some nice drives. His total included five boundaries. Cameron's Batting.

Cameron proved himself a batsman of class during the 25 minutes he was at the wickets. He gave the ball the full face of the bat and made some delightful shots on both sides of tiie wicket. His 24 included four fours. The gale takings for the three daya were £346, the takings yesterday amounting to £6l. The proceeds of sales of schools' tickets hava yet to be collected and it is anticipated that the total receipts for the match will be about £4UU. The South African team left for Christchurch by the second express last evening, being farewelled at the station by representatives of the Auckland Cucket Association and friends. C*. L. Weir and D. C. Cleverley, Auckland's representatives in the first test match at Christchurch, commencing to-morrow*, also went South bv the same train. Mr. J. H. Tandy, manager of tha South Africans, and A. J. Bell, S. 11. Curnow and C. L. Vincent, who had been at Rotorua since Tuesday, joined the train at Frankton.

UNIQUE BATTING FEAT.

PRESENTATION TO TAYLOR.

During the afternoon tea adjournment in the cricket match between South Africa and Auckland at Eden Park yesterday afternoon a presentation was made to H. W. Taylor, who made a brilliant century against the home side the previous day. The presentation, which was mads by Mr. F. Earl, K.C., president of the Auckland Cricket Association, on behalf of that body, took the form of a silvermounted ball, the one with which the batsman had made his runs. Mr. Earl congratulated Taylor upon his performance and thanked him for giving the Auckland public such a batting treat. He was handing the ball to the South Africans, not because Taylor had made a century, but in recognition of the fact that he'had scored a century in every cricketing country he had visited. My. Earl wished Taylor further successes in the test matches in the south. The president also congratulated the South Africans upon the sporting manner in which they had played the game. In the course of a brief reply Taylor said he had several trophies upon his mantelpiece, and he would treasure this one very highly indeed. 11. B. Cameron, the South African captain, paid a tribute to the sportsmanship of the Auckland eleven and trusted that his team would" leave New Zealand with the reputation of being equally good sportsmen. NEW ZEALAND TEAM. LESTER CHOSEN 12TH MAN. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] CHRISTCHURCfI, Thursday. S. G. Lester (Canterbury) has been chosen as the twelfth man for the first cricket test match between South Africa •and New Zealand.