CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22457, 29 December 1934, Page 10

CRICKET

THE PLUNKET SHIELD CANTERBURY BEATS AUCKLAND VICTORY BY FIVE WICKETS (Pee United Press association.) CHRISTCHURCH, December 28. In .the Plunket Shield cricket match Canterbury defeated Auckland by five wickets. Requiring 237 in the second innings for an outright win, Bellamy and Kerr had made 91 yesterday without the loss of a wicket, and this left Canterbury with only 146 to get with all the wickets in hand. It took three hours to get them. The Auckland bowling was distinctly good, and on a wicket th.it bumped disconcertingly the Canterbury batsmen had no easy task, and the batting was very slow. The value ■ of the fine stand made by Bellamy and "Kerr yesterday was made more apparent by the difficult conditions to-day, and their contribution of 91 made easy what might have been a very difficult task. Remembering that their partnership of the first innings was easily the best, much of the honour of Canterbury's victory must go to them. There seemed a possibility that rain would come to Auckland's assistance to-day. A strong south-west wind, with heavy banks of clouds, brought a ' slight drizzle during the morning, and it seemed likely that heavy rain would set in. It held off, however, and later in the day all the threats of ram had disappeared. Canterbury's batting to-day was sipw, even slower than it should have been. It appeared that owing to the difficult bowling compelling the batsmen tp make a large proportion of their strokes defensively, they forgot, or else were too timid, to treat the scoring balls as they should have been treated. However their apparent over-caution attained the desired end. Cromb's 38 came as a welcome addition to the total when conditions were very difficult and runs hard to get. His batting did not suggest that he would get very far, for he slashed at off balls in a manner that was not at all reassuring. He made his runs in quick time,_ however, and got in some beautiful scoring shots He was, moreover, the only one who had shown any enterprise in the long period of slow batting. Oliver played a very sound and caretul knock for his 35, and his contribution came at a time when good bowling, made more difficult by a kicking wicket, seemed still to give the Aucklanders a chance. He did some beautiful square and late cutting, and his defence was soundness itself. , ~. , . Hadlee, after a rather uncertain start, soon settled down to an innings of very sound and confident defence, and he made a number of very attractive strokes in scoring his 28. . Auckland played a good fighting game to-day when the odds were heavily against them. Good bowling by Cowie and Townsend had the Canterbury men subdued, and they were assisted by field ing that could hardly have been improved on. Canterbury had to fight for' every run they got. Scores: — AUCKLAND. First innings 279 Second innings lb 7 CANTERBURY. First innings ' 230 Second Innings. Bellamy, lbw, b Townsend 49 Kerr, b Cowie 46 Cromb, c Bush, b Cowie 38 Page, c Vivian, b Cowie 13 Oliver, b Townsend 35 Hadlee, not out 28 Roberts, not out o Extras _J2 Total for five wickets .. 237 Bowling Analysis.—Townsend, two for 62; Cowie, three for 66; Matheson, none for 47; Vivian, none for 15; Bush, none for 25. CANTERBURY v. WELLINGTON (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, December 28. The Canterbury Plunket Shield team against Wellington will be the same as played Auckland, O'Brien as before being twelfth man.

MATCH AGAINST AUCKLAND OTAGO TEAM SELECTED The selectors (Messrs J. M'Mullan, E. C. Torrance and W. Butler) have chosen the following team to represent Otago against Auckland in the Plunket Shield match which will begin on Monday next: — F. T. Badcock (Colts), captain. V. G. Cavanagh (Dunedin). J. B. Clark (Old Boys). T. Chettleburgh (Grange). G. T. Dickinson (Old Boys). J. A. Dunning (Carisbrook A). C. G. Elmes (Grange). V. Leader (Old Boys). C. Saxton (Colts). L. Smith (Colts). K. Uttley (University). L. Groves (Old Boys), twelfth man. - The team is the same as that which met Wellington, with the exception that L. Smith replaces Moloney, who now resides in Wellington and was not available. AUCKLAND v. OTAGO Despite the disappointing showing of the Otago team'against Wellington, unusual interest will attach to the Plunket Shield match between' Otago and Auckland, which will be commenced at Carisbrook on Monday, and will be continued on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The .Otago team will be out to retrieve its position, and, as Auckland is the present holder of the shield and- Otago filled the position of runner-up last year, the forthcoming game should attract a large attendance of spectators. Auckland and Otago are the only provinces at the present time which are able to call upon professional player-coaches, and in Townsend and Badcock respectively they have two of the finest all-round cricketers in the Dominion. This will be Townsend's first appearance here. The Auckland team will be captained by H. G. Vivian, the great all-rounder, who went Home with the last iNew Zealand team, and Otago enthusiasts are hopeful frf seeing something of Ins real form orffthis occasion, since on previous appearances-here he has not been favoured with the best of luck. J. E. Mills, the graceful left-hander, who has represented New Zealand on many occasions, usuallv does well on Carisbrook, and that is not"surprising, since he was born there, his father at one time being groundsman. One of the promising colts of the Auckland team is Sale, who compiled a double century in club cricket earlier in the season. The team does not lack "■ood bowlers, and besides Townsend has Mathiason.-the well-known ex-Otago representative footballer and >iew Zealand cricket representative, Bush, who has represented New Zealand at Rugby, and is not far short of New Zealand representative standard as a cricketer (he, too. has played' both games in Dunedin), Cowic, and Garrard. Weir is another rounder who has represented New Zealand. Whitelaw is reckoned one of the best batsmen in New Zealand.