CANTERBURY WINS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27281, 6 January 1950, Page 6

CANTERBURY WINS

BRABIN SHIELD SERIES

NEW ZEALAND ELEVEN SELECTED

PA WELLINGTON, Jan. 5. The final day’s play in the Brabin Shield tournament at the Basin Reserve today provided some of the most exciting cricket of the series, Wellington beating Canterbury outright with only a few minutes to spare, while Auckland and Otago tied on the first innings. Conditions were ideal, and the batsmen did well, those shaping best being E. Geddes, T. McMahon, and J. Sigley (Wellington), J. Harliwich, P. O’Malley, and A. Duckmanton (Canterbury), C. Johnson, J. Alabaster, R. Long, and I. Burrows (Otago), and R. Player and B. Postles (Auckland). Canterbury won the tournament with 16 points, followed by Wellington 12, Auckland 6, and Otago 4. A New Zealand team was announced at the conclusion of the tournament. It has no fixtures, but the selection represents the side that would take the field if suitable arrangements could be made.

Tlie team is: I. Burrows (captain), J. Alabaster (Otago), D. Farrant, M. Poore, D. Wilson, P. O’Malley (Canterbury), B. Postles, S. Belsham, D. Airey (Auckland), E. Geddes, J. Jones, T. McMahon (Wellington). Postles won the bat for the highest aggregate. His 243 was 21 runs greater than that of Farrant, and his batting was the best feature of the tournament. Jones, Airey, and Alabaster were the most accurate bowlers, with O’Malley, a fast left-hander, showing promise, but he was inclined to be erratic. The fielding was disappointing, many catches being dropped. R. Long, the promising Otago right-hand batsihan, was unlucky to miss selection in the New Zealand team. The results were:—Wellington 288 (Geddes 68, J. Sigley 54 not out. T. McMahon 52, J. Wells 20; O’Malley four for 57 Poore two for 33, Wilson two for 53, Harliwich two for 64) and 39 for three (McMahon 23 not out, O’Malley two for 16), beat Canterbury 93 and 231 (Harliwich 55, O’Malley 42 not out, Duckmanton 39, Whyte 23, A. Farrant 16; Jones three for 40, McCaw two for 39, Sigley two for 49). Auckland, 220 and 187 for four declared (R. Player 57, B. Postles 41, J. Morris 20. W. Warneford 18), tied with Otago, 220 (C. Johnston 81, J. Alabaster 51, W. Gough 21, I. Payne 19 not out; G. College three for 57, Williams three for 59, Morris two for 35) and 116 for one (R. Long 62 not out, I. Burrows 47 not out).