CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20291, 27 December 1927, Page 10

CRICKET

OTAGO v. CANTERBURY. BLUNT’S FINE BATTING. EASTMAN PROVES HIS WORTH VISITORS IN STRONG POSITION. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. December 26. The fir~t of the Plunket Shield matches for the present season was commenced at Lancaster Park on Saturday and continued to-day. The weather was fine on Saturday, and the wicket looked to be in perfect order, bat there was just enough “ grip ” in it to give a break bowler a little help. The outfield, too, was on the slow side, the previous evening’s rain having freshened up the grass. To-day was again beautifully fine, and the wicket played much faster than on Saturday. The Otago side was weakened by the inability of several of their leading players to travel, and Saturday’s play gave one the impression that the southerners would not be class enough for Canterbury. Those who formed this opinion received a rude awakening to-day. The remaining Canterbury batsmen slumped, and at the end of the innings, the local men had a lead of only 22. The Otago men then proceeded to dispel the illusion that they were a weak batting side, for they stayed at the wickets for the rest of the day and put on 341 for the loss of six wickets. Canterbury are already assured of an uphill task for their second innings. Blunt was top scorer in Otago’s first innings, and without his contribution of 85, the southern total would have looked rather insignificant. The ex-Canterbury man showed all his old qualities of sound defence and correctness of strokes. He played the bowling with the utmost confidence, and he was one of very few who looked unlikely to fall a victim to Merritt. He either played forward sufficiently to smother the break or got back to the best defensive position to deal with the ball. His scoring shots all round were well executed, and it was a distinctly good knock, but oqe would hesitate to say that it was better than many he has given before at Lancaster Park. Next to Blunt, Eastman struck one as being Otago's best bat. Like Blunt, he played Merritt very correctly. He showed himself possessed of good scoring strokes all round the wicket, his only weakness being that two or three time a he lifted the ball over the bowler’s head in rather a dangerous manner. The out-cricket of Canterbury was good all round. The bowlers always appeared to have the upper hand. It was generally expected that against such a moderate total Canterbury would secure a substantial first inning’s lead, but at the close of Saturday’s play they had lost five wickets for 161. The batting was even weaker to-day. It is not often that a batsman makes so auspicious an opening in representative cricket as Jacobs did on Saturday. He went in at a time when the Canterbury batting seemed to bo in “ the doldrums,” and right well he confirmed the good opinion that has been formed of his batting. Page played an invaluable innings for his 51. His defence was very sound, and he made many fine scoring shots, but his defence was at times somewhat laboured, and he has played better cricket than he did to-day. Gregory’s was perhaps the solidest batting on tile side. His defence was of the soundest, and he played the bowling with such ease that he never looked like going out. Apart from these three and Hayes, who was not out, the Canterbury batting was distinctly d> sa PP°’ nt '’ n SOtago’s batting yesterday was a startling improvement on that of the first day. Eastman gave a charming display of forceful cricket. In his defensive strokes he gave the ball tbe full face of the bat and played all the bowling correctlv and with the utmost confidence. M’Mulian’s was a very valuable innings. The greater part of it was dull, and consisted largely of letting the ball hit the bat. Late in his innings he livened up with some fine scoring strokes. Blunt was a bit uncertain at the start, but after ha settled down he played the bowling like the champion batsman he is. Knight played as sound cricket as anyone on the side, and one wondered why_ so fine a batsman was sent in srf* late in the fii st innings. Cavanagh was another batsman who battled with remarkable steadiness. Canterbury’s bowling > strength was sorely taxed to-day, and it is a tribute to the Otago batsmen to say that all the local men who had a turn bowled well, Hayes kept wickets well. Scores:— U OTAGO. First Innings. L. C. Eastman, c and b Newman ... 38 W. Vorrath, c Page, b Newman ... 11 J. M'Mullan, b Page 10 R. C. Blunt, c Nixon, b Merritt ... 85 R. Cherry, b Merritt 4 A. Galland, b Merritt 8 V. G. Cavanagh, b Merritt 20 A. W. Alloo, c Hayes, b Read 4 A. Knight, not out * S' Elmes, c and b Read 1 R. C. Torrance, Ibw, b Merritt ... 3 Extras Total 20 4 Bowling Analysis.—Read two for 38, Nawman two for 43, Merritt five for 75, Page one for 31. Second Innings. W. Vorrath, c Jacobs, b Newman ... 0 A. Knight, b Page J M'Mullan, c Hayes, b Read 73 R. C. Blunt, c Hayes, b Nixon ... 00 V. G. Cavanagh, b Merritt 25 L' C. Eastman, not out 78 R. Cherry, c Page, b Newman ... 10 A. Galland, not out “ Extras Total for six wickets 341 Bowling Analysis.—Newman two for 72, Merritt one for 88, Page one for 57, Nixon one for 53, Read one for 55. CANTERBURY. First Innings. J. Newman, b Eastman 5 G. R- Gregory, b Torrance 40 J. Jacobs, c Cavanagh, b Eastman 61 M. L. Page, c Galland, b Eastman 51 j). (j. Nixon, c Galland, b Torrance 5 a! W. Roberts, c and b Blunt 7 C." J. Oliver, c and b Eastman 4 I.' M. Hamilton, b Eastman a W. Hayes, not out ••••■• W. E. Merritt, c Eastman, b Alloo 0 R.’ J. Read, c Vorrath, b Allo o ... / Extras 44 Total 226 Bowlin" Analysis.—Eastman five for 78 Torrance two for 50, Blunt one for 46* Alloo two for 33, Knight none for 5. .AUCKLAND v. HAMILTON. DOUBLE CENTURY TO MILLS. (Per United Press Association.) HAMILTON, December 26. Hamilton commenced a two-day match with Auckland to-day. Auckland made 445 (Mills 215, Weir 125). Taylor took three wickets for 116 and Hemus three for 41. Hamilton had lost five wickets for 73 when stumps were drawn, Lusk takin" four for 33 and Garrard one for 15. ° E. C. BEALE’S ELEVEN. WIN AGAINST WAIKaTO. (Per L’n'ted Press Association.) HAMILTON, December 26. E. C. Beale’s XI played the first match Oj it* holiday tour tq-day—a one-day game

against Waikato. Th© visitors scored 240 (Ge© 64, Whitelaw 49). Badeley took three wickets for 40 runs, Waikato made 164 (Hemus 44, Senior 33). The visitors ■won by 76 runs. WELLINGTON v. CANTERBURY. THE WELLINGTON REPRESENTATIVES. (Pee United Press Association.' WELLINGTON.'December 24. The following team has been selected by Mr K. H. Tucker to represent Wellington in the match against Canterbury for the Plunket Shield, commencing at Wellington on Saturday next: —W. S. Brice (captain), Dempster, Worker, Lowry, Foley, James, Lambert, Badcock, M'Girr, Bernau, Massey, Airey ; twelfth man, Hollings, Henderson was not available for selection.. WELLINGTON. TOWN v. COUNTRY. (Pee United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, December 24. The Town v. Country cricket match was concluded to-day. The weather m the early part was cold and misty, but improved as the day progressed. At the conclusion of play yesterday Country were all out for 209 (Cameron 15, Naismith 20, Gallighan 40, Beck 15, Norris 70, Gee 22, Faloon 12), and Town had made 274 for the loss of six wickets (Airey' 78, Christopherson 75, Lamason to, James 10. Barclay 14, Badcock 26, net out, M'Girr 10). Continuing their innings to-day Town carried their sconro to 351 (Badcock 62, not out, Cousins 28). the pair adding 73 runs for the last wicket. Country’s second innings produced eBl (Taylor 127, Gallighan 33, Norris 15, Newman 25, Lash 19, not out, Gee 17, Cameron 10).' Town secured the necessary runs to win for the loss of four wickets, scoring 124 (Airey 16, Christopherson 34, Lamason 25, Barclay 32). Bright bits of play in the match were a magnificent running catch with which Barclay disposed of Taylor at long leg in Country’s second innings; the brilliant left-handed catch with which Gallighan disposed of James, and the magnificent pick up and return by Badcock. at cover from a hot shot by Taylor, which ran Gallaghan out when the Manawatu colt had assisted Taylor to add 140 for the third wicket in Country’s second innings. Newman was the- best Country bowler, and secured three for 60. Massey was the best Town bowler, getting four for 88. SHEFFIELD SHIELD MATCHES. NEW SOUTH WALES v. VICTORIA. (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright ) MELBOURNE, December 25. (Received Dec. 25, at 5.5 p.m.) In the Sheffield Shield match New South Wales have lost seven for 340 (Phillips 26, Morgan 93, Andrews 110, Kippax 26, Brandman 31, Oldfield not out 20). The weather was hot, dusty, and unpleasant, with the wicket fast. Phillips and Morgan opened and carried the score to 44. Then came a great stand by Andrews and Morgan, both playing sparkling cricket, despite frequent bowling changes. The score stood at 227 when Morgan provided Ironmonger with his second wicket. Andrews saw Kippax depart leg before to Morton before he himself lost his wicket to Ironmonger, after batting 213 minutes. Brandman and Oldfield played steadily. Ironmonger bowled finely and took four for 108. The fielding was good under most trying conditions. WOODFULL BATTING WELL. MELBOURNE, December 26. (Received Dec. 27, at 1.15 a.m.) New South Wales jn their first innings made 367 (Oldfield not out 30). Ironmonger took fiv G for 108 and Blackie three for 103. Victoria in their second innings made 357 runs for five wickets (Woodfull not out 178, PonsfOrd 38, Hendry 59, Scaife not out 44). SOUTH AUSTRALIA"v. QUEENSLAND. ADELAIDE, December 25. (Received Dec. 25, at 5.5 p.m.) In the Sheffield Shield game South Australia in the first innings mad« 471 (Sangster 54, Hack 55, Lee 29, Scott not out 33). Benstead took four for 105 and Thompson three for 54. Queensland have lost six for 167 (Higgins 38, L. Oxenham 61, Gough 37), The weather was fine but hot, and the wicket good. After losing six for 296 on Friday, South Australia finished with the fine score of 471, chiefly the result of a good stand by two colts, Hack and Sangster, who added 72 for the seventh wicket. Scott and Lee did some lively hatting, all four treating the bowling cavalierly. Queensland failed against the slow bowling of Grimmett and Williams. Higgins and Oxenham, tho opening batsmen, and Gough, were the only oneg to show any confidence. THE MARYLEBONE TEAM. MATCH AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA. JOHANNESBURG, December 24. (Received Dec. 26, at 5.5 p.m.) South Africa commenced a match against the Marylebone team On the Wanderers’ ground. Following are th e scores: SOUTH AFRICA. First Innings. Taylor, c and b Stevens 61 Geary 1 Comrnaille, Ibw, b Stevens ...' ... 23 Cotie rail, c and b Geary 86 Denne, h Geary I Careen n, Ibw, b Stevens 20 Coen, b Geary ‘ 7 Nupen, b Geary 6 Vincent, not out 2' Promnitz, b Geary 4 Extras 8 Total 196 Bowling Analysis.—Geary seven for 70, Stevens three for 58. MARYLEBONE. First Innings. Holmes, Ibw, b Morkel 0 Sbtcliffe, not out ? Tyldesley, not out 47 Extras 8 One wicket for bb The weather was fin e and bright and the wicket easy. The collapse of South Africa was inexplicable, as all th© batsmen opened confidently. The easy wicket suited Geary, who got a lot of turn, and kept low. Sutcliffe and Tyldesley were kept very quiet by the deadly bowling of Nupen, who continually beat (Ire batsmen, and Promnitz, the mystery bowler. who conceals his action, also enforced respect. Cottcrall again revealed great batting form and indulged in delightful driving.—A. and N.Z. Cable. INTOXICATED MOTORIST. FINED AND LICENSE CANCELLED. (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 24. Intoxication has cost another motorist his license for the rest of the year for which it was granted, and also a £25 fine, in default' three months’ imprisonment. Tb«> defendant to-day was a Civil servant. William Lewis Commrie,_ aged 34. who created suspicion by excessive speed near Lambton* station, and was followed by the police and arrested.