PLUNKET SHIELD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21538, 9 January 1932, Page 10

PLUNKET SHIELD

AUCKLAND BATSMEN COLLAPSE DISMISSED FOR 56 RUNS CANTERBURY IN GOOD POSITION (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 8. The Plunket Shield cricket match octween Auckland and Canterbury which was commenced at Eden Park to-day was responsible for an unaccountable batting collapse by the home team, which was dismissed for 56 runs in the first innings. The wicket was good and the weather conditions were ideal, so that it was all the more surprising that the batsmen should fail. Some of the members of the Canterbury team are reputed to be among the leading batsmen in the Dominion, but while they fared much better than the Aucklanders the visitors’ total did not reach expectations. Roberts made a liberal contribution to Canterbury’s total. Auckland has made a much better start in the second innings, Prater in particular playing the bowling with great confidence.

Auckland’s batting failure was most disappointing to supporters of the team. With one or two exceptions it looked as though the batsmen were out before they went in. The dismissal of Weir was really the end of the home side. The Auckland captain has struck a bad patch in being caught behind the wickets, his dismissal in this manner being the fourth one in succession. Vivian again threw his wicket away in attempting to force the pace too early. Prater was the only double-figure scorer and he well deserved his runs. His first stroke was an uppish one through the slips to the boundary, bu', thereafter he played some good shots. The Canterbury bowlers were on top all the way. Burrows maintained a fine length and was swinging the ball away nicely, this getting him his first two wickets, both caught. Burrows, who bowled unchanged, thoroughly deserved his four wickets for 24 runs. Cromb also was very steady, while Merritt had the later Auckland batsmen well tied up, securing three for 6 in three overs. Canterbury’s fielding was keen, although a few mistakes were made. Four chances were declined, otherwise Auckland’s total would have been lower still. Bellamy took two nice catches in the slips. Roberts played a solid innings, making the top score for Canterbury, although he was unable to do much with Cleverley. He reached his half century in 64 minutes and was at the wickets for 109 minutes. He hit eight boundaries. Crawford was in an hour for his contribution. Lester’s innings was a patient one of 64 minutes, but he had the honour of hitting the only six of the day. Cleverley bowled splendidly, having all the batsmen on the defensive practically throughout his 23 overs, six of which were maidens. He had plenty of pace and deserved a better average. It was his strong attack early in the Canterbury innings that had a lot to do with keeping the visitors’ total to such moderate proportions. Vivian also bowled very steadily, keeping a good length and turning the ball well. He made good use of a patch which Cleverly had worn in making his deliveries. Vivian was unfortunate in suffering an injury to the nail of his finger when catching Merritt off his own bowling, but he will be able to bat to-morrow. Auckland has made a better start in the second innings, Prater playing all the bowling confidently. Although Auckland is over 100 runs in arrears, the game is still interesting. Scores:

AUCKLAND. First Innings. Prater, c Bellamy, b Burrows .... 17 Whitelaw, c Bellamy, b Burrows .. 9 Weir, c Burns, b Cromb 0 Vivian, c Cromb, b Burrows .... 7 Gillespie, run out 3 M‘Coy, c and b Cromb 0 M'Millan, Ibw, b Burrows 5 Clark, c and b Merritt 4 Matheson, c Cromb, b Merritt .. 6 Smith, h Merritt 2 Cleverley, not out 1 Extras 2 Total 56 Bowling Analysis. —Burrows, 4 wickets for 24 runs; Merritt, 3 for 0; Cromb, 2 for 24. Second Innings. Whitelaw, c Cromb, b Merritt .... 13 tfrater, not out 37 Weir, not out 3 Extras .. ..' 2 Total for one wicket .. 55 CANTERBURY. First Innings. Kerr, c Vivian, b Cleverley .... 3 Crawford, Ibw, b Cleverley 15 Roberts, b Vivian 78 Cromb, c M’Millan, b Vivian .... 16 Page, Ibw, b Cleverley 1 Lester, c Matheson, b Vivian .... 21 Powell, b Matheson 15 Bellamy, st Smith, b Vivian .... 15 Merritt, c and b Vivian 19 Burns, c M'Millan, b Matheson .. 11 Burrows, not out 1 Extras 23 Total 218 Bowling Analysis.—Vivian, 5 wickets for 59 runs; Cleverly, 3 for 48; Matheson, 2 for 57; M'Coy, 0 for 3; Weir, 0 for 10; M'Millan, 0 for 18.