SOUND POSITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27274, 28 December 1949, Page 7

SOUND POSITION

CANTERBURY TEAM MATCH AGAINST AUCKLAND VISITORS’ BETTER DISPLAY PA CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 27. At the end of the third day’s play Canterbury was in a commanding position in the Plunket Shield match against Auckland in spite of a fine recovery by t£e visiting team. Today Auckland , took its second innings score from 122 for two wickets to 445, J. Hardstaff, O. C. Cleal, L. A. Kent and B. Donaldson giving dashing displays, but before stumps Canterbury had scored 80 of the 324 runs needed without loss.

In the morning Scott, Cleal and Hardstaff all batted extremely well, and at lunch the Auckland score was 252 for three. The loss of Hardstaff and Blane in the first quarter-hour after lunch meant that Auckland had lost five wickets with a lead of ■ only 136 and the game seemed to be in Canterbury’s grasp. However, Cleal and Kent took charge, and in less than three-quarters of an hour scored 73.

Hadlee persisted with, leg break bowlers to the left-hander Kent, and no doubt this policy was encouraged by the frequency with which the ball dropped near the fieldsmen, but Kent scored at an extraordinary rate and the young right-hander Bell, although he had two chances missed off him. conceded 53 runs in five overs. Donaldson and Kent increased Auckland’s score by 89 in the seventh wicket partnership, and it was not until the fast medium bowler Macgibbon was recalled that Kent was out. He had/ scored 91 in 93 minutes. He took risks and might have been out half a dozen times but in the circumstances

it was a brilliant innings. While he was in* the Canterbury bowling fell to pieces, and the fielding also suffered. Donaldson also deserves credit for a bold display in the last 80 minutes. Hadlee and Leggat took few chances, and by staying together till stumps have given Canterbury an excellent chance of victory. Auckland’s chief hope tomorrow may be the spin bowler Hollywood, who should be able to turn the ball more readily. Scores: — AUCKLAND First innings 207 Second Innings V. J. Scott, lbw, b Chappie .. ... 68 D. L. Perry, lbw, b Burtt .. .. 32 D. D. Coleman, b Macgibbon .. 10 J. Hardstaff, b Burtt 78 O. C. Cleal, c sub, b Bell .. .. 59 J. Blane, c Leggat, b Macgibbon .. 3 L. A. Kent, b Macgibbon .. .. 91 B. Donaldson, b Burtt 50 J. Hollywood, b Anderson .. .. 0 K. Dollery, not out 4 F. E. Hemmingson, c Bell, b Burtt 5 Extras (byes 25, leg-byes 18, ' wide 1, no-ball 1) .. ... 45 Total 445 Fall of wickets: 73, 117, 175, 225, 258, 331, 420, 429, 437, 445. Bowling Analysis.—A. R. Macgibbon, 25 overs, 5 maidens, 71 runs, 3 wickets; M. E. Chappie, 23, 5, 64, 1; S. M. Cameron, 19, 3, 54, 0; W. Bell, 26, 2, 99, 1; T. B. Burtt 36.3, 10, 93, 4; W. McD. Anderson 3,0, 19, 1. Macgibbon bowled four no-balls and a wide. CANTERBURY First innings 329 Second Innings W. A. Hadlee, not out .. .. 39 J. G. Leggat, not out .. .. .. 38 Extras (byes 2, leg-bye 1) .. 3 Total for no wickets .. 80 Bowling Analysis.—B. Donaldson, 8 over, 1 maiden, 20 runs, no wickets; K. Dollery, 8,1, 23, 0; F. E. Hemmingson, 6,1, 13, 0; J. Hollywood, 6,0, 21, 0.