CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19986, 31 December 1926, Page 9

CRICKET.

THE PLUNKET SHIELD

OTAGO v. WELLINGTON

SOUTHERNERS’ CRUSHING DEFEAT.

(Pbb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 30. Wellington have made an auspicious start in this season’s series of Plunket Shield matches, gaining an overwhelming victory ,by 446 runs over Otago in the initial match which concluded to-day at the Basin Reserve. Wellington’s two strikes realised 448 and 379 respectively. Otago could reach bo further than 207 in their first innings and were faced with the tremendous task of knocking up 620 runs on a crumbled wicket in order to stave off defeat. The leading aouthern batsmen did not fare too well when stumps were drawn yesterday, six wickets having fallen for 122. Upon resuming to-day Otago met disaster almost immediately, Zimmerman being sent back after scoring only a single. Blamires was ■unable to make a long stay and Torrance could not survive the opening ball. Green, the visitor’s wicketkeeper,. who makes no claim to batsmanship, cams to light with a forcing knock for 30 and H. C. Alloo, who carried his bat, shaped soundly. However. after a fairly lucrative last wicket stand the end came at 174 and Wellington thus won by 446 runs. Details:WELLINGTON. First innings 448 Second innings 3<9 OTAGO. First innings ••• ••• 207 Second Innings. 3. Shepherd, b Badcock 9 R. C-. Blunt* c Lambert, b Brice ... 38 A. Knight, o Rollings, b Badcock ... 19 R. Cherry. B. Badcock ••• H G, Dickinson, c Hiddlestou. b M‘Girr ... 13 A. W. Alloo, b M’Girr 19 X. O. Blamires, Ibw, b Badcock ... ...' 7 C. Zimmerman, o Hollings. b Badcock 1 H. C. Alloo, not out 6 R. Torrance, o Hollings, b Badcock ... 0 L. Green, c and b Badcock 30 Extras 21 Total 174 Bowling analysis.—Badcock 26.6 overs, T maidens. 59 runs, 7 wiekets; M‘Girr 19 overs, 1 maiden, 56 runs, 2 wickets: Lambert 1 over. 1 run; Brice 9 overs, 2 jnaideijs, 25 runs 1 wicket; Hollings 4 overs, J2 runs.

OTAGO v. AUCKLAND. In its match against Wellington the Otago team can hardly be said to have been favoured by fortune; therefore when *he match between this province and Auckland takes place at Carisbrook a much better fight may be expected, especially as Otago invariably plays better cricket on its home ground. Those of our players who failed to strike their best form in the Capital city may be relied upon to show an * improvement here, while the Auckland eleven.will be right out to win. Special interest will attend the appearance of Rountree, who is claimed by some critics to be not only the best wicket-keeper in tho Dominion, but one of the best in_the Southern Hemisphere. Allcott is als& ; an all-round player of note, who is almost certain to find a place in .the New* Zealand team for England. And, despite the fact that tho fixture is a Plunket Shield match, and consequently a serious matter, evervthing. points to a display of bright and interesting cricket. The match begins to-morrow, and will be played out.

SUBURBAN ASSOCIATIONS. WELLINGTON DEFEATS AUCKLAND. (Peb United Peess Association.) AUCKLAND, December 30. A further stage in the Christmas tournament of the combined New-Zea-land. suburban cricket associations was reached vesterday, when the match Auckland v. Wellington eoftimenced. Frequent heavy showers during the morning made the wicket very soggy, but as play progressed it gradually improved. WELLINGTON. First Innings. O’Brien, b Williams 17 Cook, c Stallworthy, b Kerr 5 Whaler, c Turner, b Williams .... 1 Meade, c Stallworthy, b Kerr .... 1 Harris, st. Badeley, b Martin .... 42 Beyling, c Bushill, b Dickson 20 Haydon, c Kerr, b Martin 3 Gell, c Badeley, b Kerr lu Tyrell, b Turner .. 19; Taylor, c Kerr, b Williams ■> Miller, not out 15 Extras Total 143 Bowling.—Kerr, three for 51; Williams; three for 45; Martin, two for 24; Dickson, one for 21. AUCKLAND. First Innings. Turner, st. Tyrell, b Miller 2 Bushill, st. Gell 12 Hendy, c Cook, b Miller 47 Martin, c Gell, b Taylor ........ 6 Stotter, b Gell Badeley, c Cook, b Miller • • 1» Dickson, b Miller •• 3 Williams, not out 12 Tinkler, c Tyrell, b Miller 2 Kerr, b Miller 5 Stallworthy, c Gell, b Taylor .... 7 £artras 8 Total 138 Bowling Analysis.—Miller, six for 56; Taylor, two for 40; Gell, one for 24; Whaler, none for 10. Christchurch, beaten by Wellington by 96 runs, meets Auckland on Friday and Saturday. WELLINGTON v. AUCKLAND. (Special to Daily Times.) \ WELLINGTON, December 30. The following team has been selected by Mr K. Tucker to represent Wellington in the special match with Auckland to be played at the Basin Reserve on January 7. 8, and 10: —D. C. Collins (captain), H M M’Girr, H. Lambert, K. James, A. M. Hollings, B. J. Kortlang, T. C. Lowry, F. T. Badcock, W. J. R. Christopherson, Mitchell (Hawke’s Bay), and G. Orr (Wanganui). Emergencies: H. R. Massey and W. Airey. , Hiddleston, Worker, Brice, and Henderson were not available for selection. HAWKE’S BAY COLTS v. AUCKLAND. (Peb United Peesb Association.) NAPIER, December 30. Mr E. C. Beale’s Auckland touring team to-day defeated Hawke’s Bay colts’ eleven hv three wickets. With three wickets down for 56, the local side took their second innings’ total to 245, Reaney (80) and Pirie (70) shaping well. Coates bowled well capturing eight wickets for 72. Auckland were left with 235 to get to win, and secured the runs for the loss of seven wickets. Montieth knocking up 106 in fine style. Whitelaw (37) and Butler (24) were the best of the others. NORTH-EAST VALLEY v. SEACLIFF. The following team will represent North-East Valley in a match against Seacliff, at Seacliff, to-morrow;—T. Hope, J. Hunt, J. Dewar, W. Fraser, L. Coats, C. Nicholson, F. Foster, E. Foster, M. Anderson, G. Anderson, S. Armishaw; emergency, L. Hidden.