PLUNKET SHIELD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23108, 6 February 1937, Page 7

PLUNKET SHIELD

WELLINGTONS LARGE SCORE AUCKLAND BOWLING COLLARED FINE. DISPLAY BY MOLONEY (Pm United Press Association) / AUCKLAND, Feb. 5. Gaining first use; of a perfect ■wicket, Wellington set Auckland a hard task in the first day of the Plunket Shield match at Eden Park to-day. Aided by a magnificent innings of 190 by Moloney, the visitors completely collared the Auckland bowling to score 407 for seven wickets. As a result the home team may find it difficult to secure the outright win which is generally considered necessary if Auckland is to regain the shield. In a hard day's outcricket the Auckland fielding was below standard. Moloney and Tindill batted in subdued fashion when they opened to the bowling of Cowie and Matheson Scoring shots were concentrated on the leg side, and it occasioned no surprise when Tindill, in attempting

to turn a ball from Cowie, missed and was bowled, 9—l—!i. In spite of a somewhat streaky opening, Du Chateau settled down with Moloney, who was batting excellently. The left-hander had an early life when Garrard missed a difficult catch in the slips off Matheson. The pair raised 50 in 55 minutes, but Du Chateau paid the penalty for feeling for a ball on the off from Vivian and was caught behind the wicket. 77—2—32. With strong on shots and occasional crisp drives Moloney continued to consolidate his claims for the trip to England. He was missed by Garrard when he drove a- ball back to the bowler at 48, but reached 50 in 107 minutes. Ell batted soundly and at the luncheon adjournment the score was 117 for two wickets. After lunch Ell attacked the bowling with much greater vigour than Moloney, although the latter was the personification of soundness. The pair brought 150 up in 15.2 minutes, but then Ell, in attempting a forcing back shot off Garrard, hit his wicket. 165—3—51.

O'Brien was anything but confident facing Garrard, but Moloney continued to bat like a champion. The second century was raised in 195 minutes, and Cowie and Matheson bowled with the*' new ball. In Matheson's first over Moloney was missed in the slips by Whitelaw, but shortly reached 100 in 204' minutes by solid but attractive batting. All the bowling looked innocuous, particularly when O'Brien started to settle down, and 250 was raised in 235 minutes. The score at tea was 262 for three wickets. After the adjournment O'Brien reached 50 in 95 minutes, and- in the following over Moloney, giving a grand all-round exhibition, moved on to 150 in 260 minutes. The Manawatu player was getting well over the ball, and his shots in front of the wicket were flawless. Cowie then returned to the bowling crease with fresh vigour. He beat O'Brien several times in one over, and the batsman chopped the last ball on to his wicket. 292—4—51. The pair had added 127 in 105 minutes. Moloney and Lamason soon hoisted the third century, and although Emery, the eighth bowler tried for Auckland, succeeded in blocking one end a further 50 was scored in just over half an hour. Shortly afterwards Lamason went for a big hit off Emery and skied the ball for Carson to run in and take the catch at mid-on, 357—5 —3l. Auckland pressed home the advantage, and Moloney, who had given a magnificent exhibition for 317 minutes, was bowled in playing back to Cowie. 362—6—190. Making his first appearance in Plunket Shield cricket, Donnelly created a highly favourable impression with crisp offside play, but finally he played Spring on. 395—7 —22. Gallichan and Parsloe raised the fourth century, but Vivian delayed taking the new ball until to-morrow morning, and stumps were drawn with the score at 407 for seven wickets. Marshall, the Auckland wicket-keeper, allowed only one bye. Scores:— WELLINGTON First Innings D. A. R. Moloney, b Cowie .. .. 190 E. W. Tindill, b Cowie 3 V. H. Du Chateau, c Marshall, b Vivian 32 J. Ell. hit wicket, b Garrard .. 51 M. O'Brien, b Cowie 51 J. R. Lamason, c Carson b Emery 31 M. P. Donnelly, b Spring .... 22 N. Gallichan, not out 17 C. Parsloe, not out 5 -.Extras 5 Total for seven wickets 407