THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21244, 27 January 1931, Page 10

THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

WELLINGTON v. AUCKLAND. COLLAPSE OF SOUTHERN TEAM. (Pee United Press Association.) , AUCKLAND, January 20. Unexpected batting failures saw the , conclusion to-day of the Plunket Shield cricket match between Auckland and at Eden Park, the home team winning by 167 runs. The Auckland batsmen failed in the second innings and .ihe side was dismissed .for . 174, E. MUl| (50) und G. L. Weir ,(58 not out) being the only batsmen to score confidently. Wellington : was set 239 to .get for victory, but failed dismally before the bowling of A. F. Wensley and C. F. W. Allcott, and were all but for 71, Mills and Postles resumed Auckland’s second innings to the bowling of Massey and Blundell.' Mills hit the first ball of the day for 4, and the half-century appeared in quick time. Crook was then brought on to enable the bowlers to change ends, and bowling into a light breeze Blundell, managed to reduce the rate of scoring. After the innings had been in progress for 60 minutes Postles edged a ball from Blundell, which was swinging in and was caught by Crook at first slip. 69—1—19. Weir joined Mills, and as the batsmen settled down Newman came on, changing ends with Blundell. After one over,, with smartly run singles, Mills reached 60 in 80 minutes, and then was unfortunate in being dismissed. He played a j ball from - Nfewman on to his pads, and from there it rolled on to the wickets with just sufficient force to dislodge the bails. 78—2—50. With the “advent of Vivian, M’Girr came on. An occasional ball was keeping low, and the scoring rate slackened considerably. . A well-placed field also kept the'runs down. The first century appeared after 110 minutes, when Weir flashed Blundell through the covers to the boundary. A double change was tried, Massey and Lambert relieving ■ Blundell and Newman. Lambert kept the ball well up, and Vivian, playing back to a ball and trying to force it, gave Lowry at short niidoff an easy catch. 112—3—16. Anthony did not start confidently and, playing back to a good ball from Massey, was badly beaten and bowled. 115—4—1. Allcott started off well with a baek-cut off Lambert to the boundary. Then he played one forward, and Lowry, still at short mid-off, took a brilliant catch. 120—5—4. Wensley joined Weir and made an effort to force the pace. Weir was batting steadily, unruffled by the fluctuating fortunes of the innings, but in the last over before lunch the coach went across to play Lambert and was out leg before. 138—rfi—4. Weir had batted 105 minutes for 39 (not.out). Frequent bowling changes were made after lunch. The total reached 150 after 180 minutes 5 , play, and Weir reached 50 shortly after, having been at the wickets for 130 minutes. Blundell and Newman came on, but Weir and Matheson seemed to be settling down for another prolific partnership." Then Newman, who was making a little pace off the wicket, successfully appealed for caught behind against Matheson. The wicket-keeper did not appeal.. 160—7—9. Finlayson started off steadily and was unlucky to be dismissed. Weir placed ■ a ball toward cover and started to run, but then stopped and sent Finlayson bade Unfortunately, the latter slipped and fell in trying to turn, and Massey had plenty ' of time to remove the bails. 172—8—6. Cleverley was- next, and Lowry immediately whipped Crook on in place of Massey. The change was successful, Cleverley snicking a ball to James, who held, the catch. 173—9—8. Weir added a single and then Hunt was badly beaten by a ball from Lambert which nipped through quickly. 174—10 —O. Weir had batted 163 minutes for a ehanceless 58. Requiring 239 for victory, Dempster and Cameron opened Wellington 5 s second innings at 3.15 p.m. to the bowling of Matheson and Wensley. Dempster was playing Matheson confidently and placed him to leg for several neat singles. Allcott went on himself and the scoring rate slackened. In the last over before the tea adjournment, after 47 minutes’ play, Dempster had the misfortune to step jn front of a shooter from Allcott to be dismissed .lcg before wicket. 33—1—l 9.

Shortly after the resumption, Cameron survived a confident appeal for leg before wicket. Facing Wensley shortly after he tried to force the coach to the on and gave Cleverley at short mid-on an easy catch. 35—2—12. Joined by M‘Girr, Lambert got Allcott through the gully to the boundary, but in the same over was beaten by a beautiful ball and clean bowled. 39 —3—5. Lowry and M'Girr, batsmen who have saved Wellington on so many occasions, were now together, and the former backcut Wensley for 2. The next ball he did not attempt to hit, but played it with his pads. A shout went up and the appeal was successful. 42—4—2. , James and Crook held Auckland up for a while, but the bowlers were frequently beating the bat. With his score at seven James was dropped by Hunt, off Wensley. In the coach’s next over he. made the third Icg-beforp victim of the innings. 68 —6—9. With the addition of only two to the score Crook snicked Allcotti and Hunt took a catch. 70—7—2. Browne, failed to Survive the over. He skied a ball from Allcott and the bowler took a running catch. 70 —B—o. Newman played one ball from Allcott, but off the second from Wensley he also returned a catch to the bowler. • 71—-9 —0. Blundell, the last man, was clean bowled by Wensley first ball, and the innings, which had occupied 122 minutes, closed for 71. Scores:— AUCKLAND. First innings .. 297 Second- Innings. A. J. Postles, c Crook, b Blundell .. 19 J. E. Mills, b Newman .. .. .. 50 G. L. Weir, not out 58 H. G. Vivian, c Lowry, b Lambert .. 16 A. H. Anthony, b Massey .. .. 1 C. F. W. Allcott,' c Lowry, b Lambert 4 A. P. Wensley, lbw, b Lambert .. 4 A. M. Matheson, c James, b Newman ■ 9 C. G. Finlayson, run out .. .. 6 D. Cleverley, c James, b Crook .. 0 H. Hunt, b Lambert .. .. .. 0 Extra's .... .. .. .. .. 7 Total ... ..' 174 . Bowling Analysis.

WELLINGTON. First innings .. .. 233 Second Innings. C. S. Dempster, Ibw, b Allcott ~. 19 D. Cameron, & Cleverley, b Wensley 12 H.' Lambert, b Allcott .. .. 5 H. M. M'Girr, b Wensley .. .; 16 T. C. Lowry, Ibw, b Wensley .. 2 K. C. James, Ibw, b Wensley .. 9 R. Crook; c Hunt, b Allcott .. .. 2 H. B. Massey, not out * 3 L. V. Browne, c and b Allcott .. 0 J. Newman, c and b Wensley .. .. 0 E. D. Blundell, b Wensley .... 0 Extras .. 3 Total 71 Bowling Analysis.

0. M. R. W Blundell .. 16 6 28 1 Massey .. 23 6 56 1 Lambert ... 14.2 2 36 4 M'Girr .. 7 2 17 0 Dempster .. 1 0 ‘ 6 0 Crook .. .. 4 . 1 8 1 Newman .. 14 6 16 2

0. M. 1 R. • W. Matheson , 4 1 12 0 Wensley . 21.5 5 34 6 Allcott .18' 9 22 , 4