THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20318, 28 January 1928, Page 12

THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON. FINE SCORE BY LOWRY. i A CENTURY TO JAMES. (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 27. The final game in the 1927-28 Plunket Shield contest commenced at the Basin Reserve to-day between Wellington and Auckland. The long spell of dry weather has had the effect of making the wicket hard and true, and with a fast outfield Auckland were given a day's leather-hunting. The Wellington eleven contains four New Zealand respresentatives —Lowry, M‘Girr, James, and DempB ter —and in the Auckland side there are two —Dacre and Mills. In this ceason’s Plunket Shield matches so far Wellington has secured two wins and Auckland one. Victory to Wellington would make possession of the shield a certainty. As a result of the day’s play Wellington compiled 576 runs for eight wickets, Lowry (181) and James (108) obtaining centuries. The wicket was essentially a batsman’s one, and the outfield, owing to the long spell of dry weather, wuis very fast. The total number of runs scored represents a first innings record in Plunket Shield matches. The weather was beautifully fine and 'ciy hot, a strong northerly breeze making matters ideal for flighting the ball in the Dempster and V orker opened W elling ton’s innings to the bowling of Matheson (with the wind) and Player. Matheeou’s first four overs produced only four runs, 23 coming up after half an hours plav. Here Anthony relieved Player, off 'whose six overs six runs had Men scored. Seven came from Anthonys first over. Player went to the other end, relieving Matheson, off whose six overs 16 runs had been scored, and Matheson came on against the wind. Buns continued to come steadily, and Anthony went on in place of Player, oft whose nine overs (the last three being maidens) 10 runs only had been scored. By cutting Anthony for four, Dempster brought 50 up for 63 minutes p-ay. Weir came on in place of Matheson and Dempster scored freely off both Nor could Dacre, who came on at bb, keep the scoring down. Dempster reached his 50 after 7o minutes. He then banged a full toss from Anthony to the ropes at extra long-on, and in tue same over hit another full toss to lo ° & ' leg for three. Worker then clouted Anthony to extra long-on for four, was his last scoring shot, however, as he popped the next ball into Mathesons hands at mid-off. Worker was at the ■wickets for 83 minutes for his modest score of 23. He batted very patiently Tot his score, which mainly comprised Dempster, who was 59, and'arrived to see the Tnstitute batsman sweep Weir to the fence a jj mU failed to score, as he at once leu fbl to Anthony, who had now taken two wickets for 52.-91—2—0. t Badcock followed and opened hy carpa driving Weir to the track at long-off. Player then came on, and Dempster U.O cut him for four, bringing the 100 up for 102 minutes’ play. This was Ihe md of Dempster, who was bowled by the last ball of Player’s over m attempting a hook. He was very restrained m compiling his 71, which included nine bound uy shots. —101—3 —71. Lowrv was the next batsman, and play strain quietened down. Lowry then hoiked a°short one from Anthony to the squareleg boundary, bringing 120 up. M-er a spell of quiet play, Lowry smackeo A» thony to the sight screen At 136 i ouley, the Sussex professional, came on lor the first time, three singles coming from his opening over. Dacre then took the ball from Anthony, who had bowled well over a long spell. Badcock should have been run out at 139, a bad return by .A Weir to Rowntree from cover allowing him to get back from halfway down the pitch. The 150 came up in 140 min-.tes. Lowrv and Badcock both scoring free'y. The luncheon adjournment was taken with the score at 165 for three wickets, Lowry being 55 and Badcock 33. The Auckland bowling had oeen extremely steady up to this stage, Player, in P ar " ticuar, having maintained an excellent length in capturing one for 31 off .-0 deliveries. On resuming, Matheson and Player look up the attack, and Lowry and Badcock quickly got into their stride, boundaries or threes coming in quick succession. Lowry reached his half-century in 66min and Badcock his in 83min. The 200 came up for 168 minutes’ play. At 227 G. L. Weir took the ball from Player, but Lowry hooked him to the fence at longleg, reaching the seventies. Anthony relieved Matheson, who had proved expensive against the strong wind; but still Lowry hit his fours and At 260 Dacre came on in place of Weir, but Badcock off-drove the Auckland captain for four. Lowry now wanted four to reach his century, but came perilously close to being stumped off Anthonv, Rowntree failing take the ball. A three te mid-off made him 99, and his 100 came with a stolen single. He had been at the wickets for 99min. The bowling was now fairly collared and runs were coming off almost every ball. At 290 Mills was given a trial', but Badcock off-drove the Eden man for four. At 296 Cooper came on with slow leg breaks. The 500 came up for 215 minutes’ play. Lowry then banged Cooper past cover to the fence, and Badcock clouted Mills to the fence at square leg, reaching the nineties. This was the Englishman’s last scoring stroke, as Mills clean bowled him with an off break. He had been at the wickets for 133 minutes for his 91, which included 14 boundary shots. He had assisted Lowry to put on 207 for the fourth wicket, a record for Plunket Shield cricket. 308—4—91. James joined Lowry, who was 120. Lowry continued to play brilliant cricket. He drove on with such force off Cooper past cover that the ball struck one of four pigeons in the outfield, and stunned the bird for a time. He then cut Mills square for four, and powerfully drove Anthony past cover to the fence, reaching 130. James pulled Mills to the piokets at mid'on, and off-drove him for three, reaching double figures. The Wellington wicketkeeper then swung a ffill-toss from Anthony to the ropes at square leg, and cut Mills square for four. At 350 Player resumed the attack, relieving Anthony, and Bowley came on in place of Mills." Lowry reached his 150 with a single off Player after batting for 156 minutes. After a spell of quiet play James lifted a full-toss from Player to the ropes at square leg. The tea adjournment was taken with the board showing four down for 377, Lowry being 153 and James 25. On resuming Matheson and Player were entrusted with the attack, but there was no cessation 400 coming up after 275 minutes’ play. Lowry aroused enthusiasm by off driving Matheson for four and square cutting the next delivery to the ropes. His brilliant innings then came to an end with the next ball from Matheson. Lowry’s score included 24 boundary shots. 411—5 —lßl. M’Giir partnered James, who was 45, and there was a lull for a time. M’Girr then drove Matheson sweetly to the track at long off, and James banged Player to the ropes at mid-on, reaching his halfcentiuy in 70 minutes. In Matheson s next over he captured his second wicket, M’Girr being smartly taken by G. L. Weir at second slip. 425 —6 —5. Taylor, the Nelson professional, followed, and opened up with a square cut for 4 off Matheson. After a spell of quiet play James flashed Mills past cover to the ropes, and repeated the stroke. Taylor, in the same over, turned one to the jickets at long leg, 13 runs coming from

the over. James next opened out to Anthony, and lifted him to the track at long on. A powerful carpet drive to long-on brought 4 to James at Anthony’s expense. At 460 Bowley had another try with the wind, Dacre coming on at the other end. James late cut the Auckland captain’s first ball for 4, banged the fourth to the square leg boundary, and squa.c cut the next to the pickets. This placed him in the eighties. Bad fielding by Anthony at cover gave James 4 off Bowley. G. Weir relied Dacre, but James twice banged him over the mid-on boundary, bringing 500 up for 340 minutes’ play. James was now in the nineties, and reached his century with a hit to long on for 4, all run out. This was a splendid performance following his century in the Shield match at Dunedin, and the crowd warmly acknowledged it. He had taken 125 minutes for his three figures. James continued to hit brilliantly, flashing G. Weir past cover to the fence; but with his score at 108 he was snapped up behind flic wickets by Rowntree off Flayer. He had been at the wickets for 130 minutes and hit 19 fours. His partnership with Taylor had out on 101 for the seventh wicket. 526—7—108. Lambert joined Taylor, who was 46, and opened by cutting G. Weir square and late, both strokes reaching the boundary. He then late cut Player to the track, reaching double figures in quick time. Taylor hooked Player high to the fence in front of the stand, and flashed him to the sight screen, reaching his half century in 70 minutes. He then placed one from Player past cover to the ropes. This brought 650 up. Mills came on, but Taylor banged the Eden colt to the pickets at mid-ou. The next ball, however, saw him smartly taken in the slips by Anthony. The exAustralian had shaped attractively for his til, which included eight fours. The eighth wicket had put on 41. 567—8—61. Massey was sent in. Stumps were drawn at 6.30, when the board showed eight down for 576, Lambert being 27 and Massey 4. Scores : WELLINGTON. First Innings. K. de R. Worker, c Matheson b Anthony ■.. .. 23 C. S. Dempster, b Player .. •. 71 H. Foley, Ibw, b Anthony .. .. 0 F. T. Badcock, b Mills 91 T. C. Lowry, b Matheson .. .. 181 K. C. James, c Rowntree b Player 108 H. 51. M'Girr, cG. Weir b Matheson 5 J. S. Taylor, c Anthony b Mills .. 61 H. M. Lambert, not out ‘27 H. B. Massey, not out 4 Extras Total for eight wickets .. 576 The fall of the wickets was as follows : —One for 85, two for 91, three for 101, four for 308, five for 411, six for 425, seven for 526, eight for 567. Bowling Analysis.—Matheson, two wickets for 93 runs; Player, two for 122; Anthony, two for 109; G. L. W eir, none for 77; Dacre, none for 54 ; Bowley, none for 34; Mills, two for , Cooper, three for 21. THE HAWPE CUP. WANGANUI v. WAIKATO. (Per United Press Association.) WANGANUI, January 27. The Wangani representative cricket eleven to-day commenced its second match in defence of the Hawke Cup, which was recaptured from Taranaki last month. The challengers, the Waikato team, arrived from Hamilton at 10 a.m., travelworn. The match commenced' at noon. Wanganui won the toss, and the visitors had a day’s fielding. The bowling was very good early, but suffered m the afternoon. Wanganui was all out for 361, about 40min before time, and the visitors were unfortunate in losing two batsmen with only nine runs on the board. , Holland’s score of 111 was a feature ot the Wanganui innings. Thikabou and Bernau also played bright cricket. Scores: — WANGANUI. First Innings. Orr, b Winger 15 Wood, Ibw, b Johnston 41 Kerr, b Hemus ‘... 13 Holland, st M’Grath, b Hemus ... 11l Treadwell, b Wringer 9 Bernau, b Badeley 42 Hutchison, c Johnstone, b Wilson ... 6 Thikabou, not out 56 Sewell, b Hemus *..._ 17 Williams, Ibw, b Going 17 Harris, b Badeley 5 Extras ”9 Total 561 Bowling Analysis.—Wilson, one for 32; Badeley, two for 69; Winger, two for 49; Hemus, three for 89; Kavanagh, none for 16; Hawke, none for 32; Johnston, one for 12. WAIKATO. First Innings. Thomas C. Thakabou, b Bernau ... 1 Winger, b Bernau ... 0 Kavanagh, not out 5 Barnett, not out 2 Extras 12 Total for two wickets ... 25 SOUTHLAND v. NORTH OTAGO. (Special to Daily Times.) INVERCARGILL, January 27. The following team has been chosen to represent Southland in the match with North Otago at Oamaru on February 8 and 9: —T. Groves, M. Lilley, R. Keast (Appleby), K. Cox. E. Lee, D. Agnew (Invercargill). A. Wish, C. Dixon, A. Hamilton. I. Campbell (Union), E. Bradshaw (Bluff); emergency, R. Bird (Union).