BRIGHT CRICKET

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 12649, 8 January 1927, Page 6

BRIGHT CRICKET

AUCKLAND-WELLINGTON SPECIAL MATCH COMMENCES

NORTHERNERS 244 FOR SEVEN WICKETS SPARKLING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN POSTLES AND MATHESON Bright cricket was provided in the opening afternoon’s play of the Auckland-Wellington special fixture, which commenced at the Basin Reserve yesterday, Auckland took first strike, and at the drawing of stumps had lost seven wickets for 244. Considerable interest is manifested in the match, not only on account of each side including several likely players for the English trip, but also because the game should provide some indication as to the probable result of the Plunket Shield final, which will be fought out between Auckland and Wellington at Auckland about a month hence.

Both sides differed somewhat from th< teams which have taken the field in recent Plunket Shield matches, notable absentees being IV. S. Brice, J. S. Hiddleston, F. T. Badcock, K. dc E. Worker, C. S. Dempster, and M. lUmlerson (Wellington;, and C. F. E. W. Eowntree and E. Prater (Auckland). Scott, who takes Rountrees place behind. the sticks, is reputed to be a fast bowler a<s well as a 'keeper. The teams .were as follow : Wellington.—D. C. Collins (captain), 11. M. McGirr. B. J. Kortlang, T. C. iTtnvry, K.. James, H. N. Lambert, A. M. TTollings, IV. J. Christopherson, H. B. #>*ti*sev. G. On* (Wanganui), and Mitcnell (Hawke’s Bay). Auckland.—C. C. Dacre (captain), E. H. Bow ley, J. E Mills, I. K. Conner. H. E. Gillespie, A. IV. Tlayer. A. S. Postles, IV. Smepton, A. M. Mathoson, H. "Wilson and Scott. AUCKLAND TAKE FIRST STRIKE Dacre had the best of the spin of the coin and sent Wellington into the field. Bowler and Mills opened to the trundling of McGirr and Massey. Bowley placed McGirr's opening delivery for a well-run treble, and dispatched Massey to the boundary. Mills was content to get the measure nf the attack, opening with a couple off McGirr, and after three singles turning Massey prettily to leg for a couple. Bowlev had a life before topping doubles, lifting Massey to Airey (fielding as substitute for Christopherson). However, the ex-Nelsoninn juggled the leather, finally letting it slip to the ground. It promised to prove a costly mistake, as the Englishman was shaping very attractively. Mills was waiting for any loose stuff and made no mistake in carting an over-tossed one from Massey through a gap on to the ropes. bowley sent back by great CATCH Collins replaced McGirr with Mitchell at 32, and sensation came from the Hawke’s Bay slow trundler’s opening ball. Bowley slammed the leather round to les. where Rollings brought off a magnificent catch. The Englishman had been at the wickets long enough to show :hat he was a batsman well rid of. He aad fallen at the "devil’s number/’ 32 —l —l3. Cooper, the newcomer, treated Mitchell with the utmost respect for the rest of the ovpr, but opened his account auspiciously bv sweetly "carpet-driving the leg-break man to the off picket. Cooper set after the rest of the over in exhilarating style, bagging eleven before the field changed over. Using his reach to advantage, Mills pulled the Hawke’s Eav man to the pickets fronting the stand, and topped The twenty mark. Soon after the appearance of the half-r-enturv TToTTings took the ball from Massey, whose eight overs had realised 18 runs. HOLLINGS BOWLS COOPER Apart from having had Bowley sent back, Mitchell had been relished by both Mills and Cooper, and after three overs (the first a maiden) had cost 20 runs, Collins brought McGirr back at the northern end Cooper had been shaping with enterprise, his off-driving being crisp and powerful. However, ho passed the 20

mark, but was not destined to get any further, Holiings breaking clean through his defence. 67—2—21. MILLS’S CAREER ENDS i Gillespie joined Mills, and square-cut Hollings to the pickets. Without any improvement in the total, Mills, who had been botIT sound and stylish, hadhis stumps skittled by McGirr. 71—3— 29. Three valuable northerners had been sent back at comparatively small cwt. Player joined Gillespie, the pair being together when the tea adjournment came with the total at 85. GILLESPIE ATTRACTIVE Gillespie continued in attractive mood after the resumption, bringing to light a useful eouipmenfc of scoring strokes. Player’s style was nothing to write homo

s about, but from the outset Hollings and Mitchell (replacing McGirr) found him a difficult man to shift. After the resumption the pair put on runs at a fair rate, but when Iho totnl was within two of the century mark Gillespie’s attractive career came to an end, the batsman getting in front to a ball from Mitchell. 98— is —IS. DACRE IN BREEZY MOOD Dacre came to the wickets, and was in the breeziest of moods, opening at a lively pace, collecting 11 off one over of Mitchell’s, including a couple of boundaries. Player had not left all the scoring to Dacre. but at 120 the partnership was dissolved, Hollings breaking clean through Player’s defence. 120—5—15. DACRE CAUGHT IN SLIPS Postles joined Dacre, opening his account with a single. The Auckland skipper continued to give a bright display, finding the boundary four times prior to passing the 20 mark. McGirr replaced Mitchell but was unable to pull up lacre’s rate of scoring to any noticeable extent. However, like most good things, Dacre failed to make a lengthy stay. Massey’s reappearance ai the northern end in place of Hollings brought about success, Dacre placing the leather into Collins’s hands in 'the slips. 137 6 —28. None of Auckland’s leading batsmen had been able to make a really prosperous stay, and Wellington’s outlook was very rosy. Smeeton filled the vacancy, getting McGirr away for a couple of boundaries in one over, and sending 150 up after two and a-half hours’ play with a smartly-run single off Massey. However. this was destined to be the University player’s final scoring stroke, Massey clean bowling him in the same over. 151—7—11. BRIGHT PARTNERSHIP Matheson was the newcomer, ooening his account by dispatching McGirr to the ropes The two cx-Grammar School players then became associated in easily the most lucrative partnership of the afternoon. Postles, although not eo enterprising as his youthful partner, was verv sound, and maintained a fair rate of scoring, being severe on any loose stuff. Mathcson was particularly exhilarating, scoring prettily all round the wicket, and being specially severe on a couple of overs sent down" by Lambert. Both colt* topped the thirty mark, Matheson including a sextette of boundaries in his tally, and the total leapt to well past the double century mark. Matheson gave his first chance in the early thirties, Massey, at mid-off. failing to hold an acceptable catch off Hollings. The colt then nroceeded to make the most from the let off. D. <7. Collins tried his luck with sl»w stuff, but was unable to pull ui> the rate of scoring. Postles placed his strokes cleverly, and gained hie half centurv a few minutes before C> o’clock, including five boundaries in his fifty. At the drawing of. stumps the total stood at 244. Postles being undefeated with 50, and Matheson with 45. The partnership had realised 93 by sparkling cricket. The match will be continued this morning. Details:

AUCKLAND.—First Innings. E. H. Bowlev, c Hollings, b Mitchell 13 .T. E. Mills, h McGirr 20 I. K. Cooner. b Hollings 21 IT. E. Gillespie. Ibw, b Mitchell IS A. Plnrer, b Hollings 15 C. C Deere, c Collins, b Massey 23 A. S. Postles, not out 50 W. Rmreton, b Massey 11 A. M Matheson, not out 45 Extras (byes 8. log byes 5, widcs 1) 14 Total for Steven wickets 244 Fall of wickets.—One for 32, two for 67. throe for 71. four for 28, five for 120, six for 137, seven for 151.

ACcGirr Bowling Analysis. 0. M. ID 2 Jf_. AV. 1 TTassev ... 3 31 2 Mitchell 1<» 1 fO 2 Trolling13 1 31 2 T-ambort — — Collins ... 1 — 5 —