CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21578, 25 February 1932, Page 10

CRICKET

SOUTH AFRICA v. AUCKLAND

VISITORS AT THE WICKETS TWO CENTURIES REGISTERED (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 24. The match between South Africa and Auckland was continued at Eden Park to-day in fine weather. There was a good attendance. Auckland’s first day score of 296 for eight wickets was carried to 342, which total was passed by the visitors with two wickets still in hand. The takings were £IOO for the first day and £lB5 to-day. A feature of to-day’s play was a brilliant century scored by Taylor for South Africa. Thanks to the partnership of 167 between him and Mitchell the visitors were placed in the position of being able to obtain a first innings lead. The partnership constituted a record for the South Africans on their tour of Australia and New Zealand. Matheson carried his first day’s score of 55 not out to 83 not out. It was a particularly fine effort as he did not give a single chance. A keen critic could not help being impressed by the entire absence of unnecessary appealing by the bowlers and fieldsmen. In this respect the visitors set a splendid example and they will leave Auckland recognised as one of the best sporting cricket teams that has ever visited this centre.

The South Africans' scoring in the early stages was faster than that of the Auckland batsmen, 61 being on the board in an hour, whereas the home team’s total was 36 in a similar period. Taylor’s century was a very fine effort, and, was an object lesson to the hundreds of school pupils who were watching him. Splendid footwork enabled him to make his shots confidently and accurately, and his back play enabled him to drive to the on what would have been good length balls to an ordinary batsman. Taylor’s driving, glancing, cutting, and . pulling were equally spectacular, and his lofty shots were placed clear of the field. A feature of Taylor’s innings was the fine running between the wickets. Right from the time he went in the South African veteran looked like making runs. It must rank among the finest centuries of his brilliant career. It is worthy of note that the South African veteran has scored a century in every country in which he has played. He hit 16 fours and gave only one chance, a stumping one at 59. Mitchell’s century, although most useful to his side, was very stodgy compared with that of Taylor. Whereas the last-named reached three figures in 118 minutes it took Mitchell four hours and 20 minutes to do so. Mitchell was very fortunate to get so far as he was dropped behind the wickets „ off the first ball he received, and a similar chance off Cleverley was declined when the batsman was 15. Mitchell displayed unlimited patience, waiting for the ball to score off. His variety of shots was somewhat limited. He hit eight boundaries and occupied the crease for five hours all but 10 minutes Allcott registered a bowling performance for Auckland, sending down 33 overs, 10 of them being maidens, for five wickets for 72 runs. The only batsman who could take liberties with him was Taylor, and this was solely due to the latter’s great footwork. Taylor scored about 40 runs off Allcott, so it can be seen what , a wonderful average the bowler would otherwise have had. Scores: — AUCKLAND. First ,Innings. Mills, b ,M'Millan 9 Postles, e Morkel, b Balaskas .... 36 Weir, c Quinn, b M'Millan 20 Vivian, c Cameron, b M'Millan .... 27 Frater, Ibw, b Christy 30 Allcott, e Brown, by Balaskas .... 26 M'Coy, b M'Millan 4 Byerley, b Quinn 77 Matheson, not out S 3 Cleverley, c Cameron, b Morkel .... 15 Rowntree, Ibw. b Quinn 2 Extras 33 Total 342 Bowling Analysis.—-Quinn, two for 51; Brown, none for 36; M'Millan, four for 133; Balaskas, two for 59; Morkel, one for 19; Christy, one for 11. SOUTH AFRICA. First Innings. Mitchell, not out 122 Christy, Ibw, b Matheson 12 Morkel, b Matheson 12 Taylor, b Allcott 113 Cameron, b Weir 22 Dalton, b Allcott 22 Viljoen, b Allcott 1 M'Millan, b Allcott■ 15 Balaskas, st Rowntree, b Allcott .. 8 Brown, not out 2 Extras "3 Total for eight wickets .. .. 352