WELLINGTON v. AUCKLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21242, 24 January 1931, Page 8

WELLINGTON v. AUCKLAND.

HOME TEAM’S WEAK OPENING. FINE RECOVERY EFFECTED. A CENTURY TO WEIR. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 23 After a poor start Auckland retrieved its position considerably in the Plunket Shield match against Wellington at Eden Park to-day. Allcott wou the toss, and decided to ’ bat on an easy wicket. The first wicket fell cheaply, but after a good second-wicket partnership four wickets fell for an addition of only 22 runs. Weir and Matheson then saved the situation, anil the former received valuable support from Cleverley after Matheson’s dismissal, going on to score 122. Auckland’s innings realised 297, and in the few minutes before stumps were drawn Wellington had scored five without loss. The Wellington bowling was steady, without being very difficult. Blundell and Massey were the most dangerous. Lowry handled the attack brilliantly, and the fielding was keen. Auckland’s innings opened sensationally. Mills and. Postlee started off steadily against tfie bowling of Blundell and Massey, but in the latter’s second over the left-hander just touched a ball, which swung away from him to crook at first slip, who took a fine low catch. 61 —1. Unperturbed by the bad start Postles was joined by Vivian, who made no mistake with anything loose, and scored well on the leg side. There was a quick change in bowling, M’Girr and Crook coming on. After only 40 minutes’ play there was another double change, Lambert and Massey taking over the attack. Lambert vvae innocuous, and Blundell came back. With the score at 36, Newman was brought on for the first time. Within an hour Lowry had tried six bowlers. The batsmen were obviously adopting a policy of wearing down the bowling. The first hour’s play realised only 40 runs. Blundell appeared the most dangerous bowler, an occasional ball swinging late. The half-century appeared, when Postles edged a ball from Blundell through the slips to the boundary. Crook relieved Blundell, and the batsmen immediately opened out, one over realising 12 runs. Postles reached 50 in 90 minutes. The batsmen were now gradually mastering the situation. However, Lambert lived up to his Eden Park reputation as a breaker of partnerships. Postles, after hitting him to the boundary twice in one over, stepped across to a leg spinner, failed to cover up sufficiently, and was bowled round his pads. 87—2—59. Weir had scored only two when he lost Vivian. The left-hander went out to drive M’Girr, but did not get across far enough. The ball flashed into the slips, and Massey took a good catch. 89—3 —24. Weir and Anthony were taking no risks, and 10 minutes before lunch Lambert came on again in place of Newman. He was again successful. Anthony stepped right back to the first ball, just as Postles had done before him. and was bowled off his pads 98 —4 —2. Allcott was next, and two extras brought the century up after 125 minutes’ play. Lowry brought Blundell and Newman on. and with the first ball of the last over before lunch the Nelson man clean bowled Allcott with a yorker. 100—5 —0. Wensley and Weir played out the over, the former scoring 3 before the adjournment was taken. On the resumption. Blundell and Lambert were the bowlers. The coach did not last long. A good length ball from Blundell beat him all the way and clean bowled him. 109 —6 —B. Matheson joined Weir, and Lambert soon gave way to Newman. As much as anything else, the game was a battle of wits between Lowry and the batsmen. The Wellington captain seemed to be constantly summing up the batsmen’s weaknesses and using the bowlers to take advantage of them. His policy was never to let one man get properly set. With his score at 14, Weir gave a stumping chance off Blundell, but in the same over Mntlieson drove the bowler to the boundary. After bowling unchanged for 50 minutes, Blundell gave way to Crook, Massey tak-

ing over from Lambert at the other end. Matheson had now overtaken Weir, and both batsmen were giving sound displays. Weir broke the period of slow scoring by glancing Crook to the boundary, and in the same over 150 appeared after 190 minutes’ play. An hour’s play after lunch had realised 48 runs. The batsmen now livened up a little. Matheson showed a liking for M’Girr, who had relieved Crook, but in the next over, with his score at 27. he was dropped by Lowry at second slip, off Massey. Runs continued to come steadily, and Newman, who had bowled very little; was given a turn with the ball. The bats-, men played him steadily, and defied further rapid bowling changes. A straight drive for 4 by Matheson gave him 50, and brought the second century up after 235 minutes’ play. Weir reached the halfcentury in singles, but then lost Matheson, who went out to hit Blundell and was caught by M’Girr at deep extra cover 207—7—54. , The partnership had yielded 98 valuable runs, and Matheson had played a fine fighting innings. The next man, Finlayson, scored a single off Blundell; and then returned an easy catch to Massey. 2Qg g \ Weir and Cleverley played out the over and the tea adjournment was taken with the scores unchanged. After the adjournment Weir made a valiant effort to force the pace, giving another hard stumping chance off Blundell. Cleverley was showing resolute defence, and Lowry’s policy of rapid bowling changes was unavailing. The score nmunted steadily, and 250 appeared in 285 minutes. Weir was confidence personified, and with well-timed shots, chiefly in front of the wicket and through the gully he gradually drew near the century. Turning Newman neatly to leg for 4, Weir reached the coveted three figures after being at the wickets 210 minutes. The Wellington players joined in applauding' the batsman. Cleverley then commenced to hit out and paid the penalty, being cleah bowled by Blundell. He had’batted an hour for three runs, but the innings was of infinite value to Auckland, and hq fully deserved the applause that greeted his return to the pavilion. 273 —9 —3. The last man. Hunt, commenced by showing defence just as resolute as Cleverley’s, leaving Weir to force the pace. The latter gave James another easy stumping chance which the wicket-keeper failed to take. Weir continued to bat aggressively, but with the total at three short of the third century he skied one from Lambert, and Blundell, at extra cover, took an easy catch. 297—10—122. Weir had played an innings fully in keeping with his reputation as one of the finest batsmen in the Dominion. With just under a quarter of an Hour to bat, Dempster and Cameron qpened Wellington’s innings to the howling of Matheson and Cleverley. Dempster made two or three neat scoring shots to leg off Matheson, but Cleverley’s two overs were maidens, one to each batsman. Stumps were drawn with the score at 5 for no wickets. Scores:— AUCKLAND. First Innings. J. E. Mills, c Crook, b Massey .... 1 A. J. Postles. h Lambert 59 H. G. Vivian, c Massey, b M’Girr .. 24 G. L. Weir, c Blundell, b Lambert .. 122 A. H. Anthony, h Lambert 2 C. F. W. Allcott, b Newman 0 A. F. Wensley, h Blundell 8 A. N. Matheson, c M’Girr, b Blundell 54 C. G. Fininyson, e and b Massey .. 1 D. Cleverley, b Blundell 3 11. Hunt, not out 0 Extras 23 Total 297 Bowling Analysis.

WELLINGTON. First Innings. C. S. Dempster, not out 4 D. Cameron, not out 1 No wickets for 5

0. M. R. W. Blundell .. 31 7 60 3 Massey .. .. 13 25 2 Crook .. 3 31 — M'Girr .. .. 1 40 1 Lambert .. 12.2 2 72 3 Newman .. . .. 23 5 37 1