PLUNKET SHIELD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23546, 5 January 1940, Page 10

PLUNKET SHIELD

TO-DAY'S GREAT MATCH AUCKLAND AND CANTERBURY STRONG ALL ROUND TEAMS SEVERAL DOMINION PLAYERS Groat interest is being taken in the Plunket Shield cricket match between Auckland and Canterbury, which will be commenced at Eden Park at 11 o'clock this morning. The game will bo the deciding one for the shield. Canterbury is at present leading for the trophy with 12 points, a win on the first innings over Otago and an outright win over Wellington. Auckland has 10 points, with a loss on the first innings against Wellington and an outright win over Otago. The match commencing to-day is therefore full of possibilities. A win on the first innings for Canterbury would give it the trophy, whereas a win on the first innings for Auckland would make the teams level in points. The shield would then he awarded on averages. Auckland has held the shield lor the past three seasons. Canterbury will field a. strong; all-round side for the match to-day. The team has some fine all-round players and six New Zealand representatives are included in the eleven—Kerr, Crornb, Roberts, Donnelly, Hurtlee and Mcnzies. In addition, O'Brien has had two seasons' experience in county cricket with Northamptonshire. Davis is said to he a good swing' trundler, while Met). Anderson is one of the most promising' left-hand batsmen in the Dominion. Although Canterbury lacks a fast bowler.it has a fine trundler in Roberts, while Crornb is at the top of his form with both bat and ball. Mcl?ao is a left-hand bowler of the medium pace type and will be remembered in Auckland as a Soccer representative. The Canterbury side will not be selected until this morning. Auckland will also Held a strong all-round team and the winning of the toss under the present fast conditions is likely to play a great part in the result. The team will be greatly strengthened in bowling now that Cowie is available. Cowje bowled some Hue overs in the second .innings against Otago, gaining para and making the ball lift appreciably. The Auckland team includes seven New Zealand representatives, as follows: — Wallace. Whitclaw, Blandford, Weir, Carson, Cowie and Cleverley. The teams for to-day's match are as follows: AUCKLAND W. M. Wallace W. N. Carson (captain) V. J. Scott P. E. Whitclaw D. C. Cleverley H. T. Pearson. C. E. Burko ,T. A. R. Blandford ,T. Cowie V. S. Sale. H. G. Walters, 12th man G. L. Weir. CANTERBURY ■T. L. Kerr (captain) ' }V. McD. Anderson M. P. Donnelly A. W. Roberts F. I?. O'Brien 11. Davis. W. A. Vladlce B. C". Harbidge J. B. Cromb V. .Tames R E. J. Menzies (one to be omitted) D. D. N. McHao Messrs. O. R. Montgomery and R. W. Mitchell will be umpires. The match will bo continued to-morrow and on Monday and Tuesday. SUBURBAN GAMES PLAY AT THE DOMAIN The fourth series of matches in the first round of the Auckland City and Suburban Cricket Association's senior grade championship will be concluded at the Domain tomorrow. In the principal game Green compiled 2SI and has set Manukau a difficult task to win. although the latter is a good batting team: "11.V. with four wickets down for 181) appears certain to beat Brixton, which was dismissed for s:s in its first innings. Dilworth Old Boys scored 11(! and should defeat Roskill, which waq dismissed for only 50 runs in its first innings The lower grade matches will also be continued to-morrow. Following are the teams: —