WEAK BATTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27581, 26 December 1950, Page 6

WEAK BATTING

Auckland Team Fails PA WELLINGTON, Dec. 25. An Auckland team which fell a long way below the standard of former years in batsmanship failed badly in its first innings in the Plunket Shield match against Wellington, which began at the Basin. Reserve on Saturday, but it fought back stubbornly in its second knock. At stumps on the second day today the Auckland tally was 117 and 39 for one wicket in reply to Wellington’s 234.

With the exception of the latter period of today, when the wicket rolled out very easy, the conditions favoured the bowlers, who were able to move the ball in the air and off the seam. Nevertheless, the absence of really good stroke play left the crowd impatient. Exceptions were Cleal and Coleman, of Auckland, and Vance, Reid. Dollery and Murray, of Wellington. '

The home side did at least produce some cricket which could be relished. Vance improved his p'rospects of becoming a New Zealand representative by an opening knock which combined a grand defence with some polished strokes. The New Zealand representative, J. ft. Reid, completely threw off the uncertainty of some recent displays and ran up 44 in 43 minutes with beautiful stroke play. The failure of the New Zealand„representative, V. J. Scott, probably had a big influence on Auckland’s disappointing first innings. Scott surprisingly nibbled at off deliveries from Jones in the opening over, and finally touched one to tne safe hands of Mooney. This threw a big burden on the Waikato colt, R. C. Hemi. The ground fielding was first class, and the returns to the wicket were excellent. Mooney “kept” in his customary quiet and efficient manner, and shared in four wickets, with two catches, a stumping, and a run out. Wellington’s 234 runs were compiled in 270 minutes, compared with Auckland’s'll7 in 205 minutes. Scores:—

Auckland First Innings

R. C. Hemi, st Mooney, b Dempster .. 19 VXT. Scott, c Mooney, b Jones .. .. 0 K. R. Deas, lbw, >t> O’Neill .. ... 8 D. L. Weston, b Jones 9 D. D. Coleman, run out 20 O. C. deal, c Dollery, b Reid .. .. 43 L. A. Kent, b Dempster .. 0 L. E. Partridge, c Mooney, b Randall 0 H. Moyle, lbw, b Randall 1 D. C. Cleverley, b Randall 0 J Cammish, not out 7 Extras (byes 4, leg-byes 4, no-balls 2) 10 Total .117 Bowling Analysis.—Jones,' 13 overs, 4 maidens, 24 runs, 2 wickets; Murray, 8, 4,4, 0; Randall. 10, 2, 18, 3; O’Neill, 8,5, 11, 1: Reid, 6.5. 1, 12, 1; Dempster, 13, 1. 38 2. Second Innings R. C. Hemi, b O’Neill .13 V. J. Scott, not out .. 21 J. Cammish', not out 0 Extras (byes 2, no-balls 3) .. .. 5 Total for one wicket .. .. .. 39 Wellington First Innings S A. Me Vicar, b Cleverley .. ~ .. 7 R. A. Vance, c Kent, b Moyle .. .. 75 F. L. H. Mooney, b Cleverley ~ .. 0 H. E. Dollery, b Cammish 13 J R. Reid, c Cammish, b Cleal ~ .. 44 E. W. Dempster, b Cleverley .. .. .. 11 R. T. Barber, b Moyle 6 R. McK. Murray, c and b Cleal .. .. 40 5. R. O’Neill, b Moyle 1 J. F. Jones, not out 16 C. L. Randall, b Cleal 0 Extras (byes 8, leg-bye 1, no-balls 12) .. •• 21 Total 234 Bowling Analysis.—Partridge, 10 overs, 3 maidens, 19 runs, no wickets; Cleverley, 28, 10, 51, 3; Moyle, 15, 3, 50, 3; Cammish, 16, 2, 56, 1; Cleal, 13.2, 1, 37, 3.