CRICKET

Southland Times, Issue 22465, 28 December 1934, Page 6

CRICKET

PLUNKET SHIELD CANTERBURY IN GOOD POSITION AUCKLAND BATSMEN FAIL (Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, December 27. The complexion of the Plunket Shield cricket match between Canterbury and Auckland was completely changed today. Last evening Canterbury finished an inglorious innings for 230, leaving them with a deficit of 49 on the first innings. To-day Auckland were all sent back for the low score of 187 and Canterbury scored 91 runs for no wickets, with a whole day of play and all wickets in hand. The score of 146 required for an outright win should be easy for a strong batting side. The weather was again fine for the game and the wicket, which always gave the appearance of being fiery,,was no worse than on the previous day, in fact the latter part of to-day’s play suggested that it was better. The Auckland innings was defensive rather than spectacular, and to those who like to see fast scoring, play was dull. The position justified the northerners in not taking risks. If they could not get an eight-point win they still had a first innings lead in hand, but thoroughly good bowling by Canterbury’s apparently weak bowlers wore down even the defensive tactics and the innings was over, leaving Canterbury plenty of time in which to make the required runs if they were able to get them. Weir’s innings was a model of correct and confident defence. He perhaps erred on the side of caution, but this was excusable under the conditions. The bowling was never loose during his stay at the wickets, but he played it with the utmost ease and never looked like getting out. His scoring strokes, though they did not come very frequently, were all made in masterly style and his batting was a model that young players might well copy. Bush’s knock was rough compared with Weir’s, but it was much more enterprising. His early batting did not look promising for a score, but his defence, though not stylish, was sound and as he gained confidence he opened out with some enterprising and powerful scoring shots. His 55 was a welcome addition when things were not too promising for his side. Whitelow proved himself the same sound and stylish batsman that his first innings had shown him to be, and Canterbury looked to be decidedly lucky in getting him run out. It was a fine bit of work by Cromb that sent him back.

Wallace played thoroughly attractive cricket for his 27. sound defence being judiciously mixed with stylish scoring strokes all round the wicket.

Canterbury’s bowling somewhat belied the general impression that it was very weak this season. If it did not, the Auckland batting was poor. At no stage was the bowling collared and the northerners played it as though it was first class. Certainly Roberts, and in a lesser degree Graham and Andrews, kept an end going in really good style. Roberts’s steadiness is shown by his 28 overs for only 30 runs, and there was not a loose period while he had charge. Graham was also fairly accurate, but though he got better figures, he did not bowl so well as Roberts. Andrews was another who sent down a good proportion of difficult balls, but his length was at times erratic. Lester bowled really well in the early stages without getting a wicket. His later efforts were not so good. Little fault could be found with Canterbury’s fielding. Every man on the side was a trier. Oliver on the boundary cut off many a four that a less speedy man would have let go to the fence. Allen made a much better showing with the gloves than he had done.on the first day. The most pleasing feature of the day’s play—from a Canterbury standpoint—was the fine stand made by Bellamy and Kerr in their opening partnership. Realizing that there was plenty of time in which to make the required runs if they could be made, they played most patient and careful cricket. Kerr was patchy for a start, but after playing himself in, showed considerable improvement and he made a few scoring strokes that were reminiscent of his great form in past years. Bellamy on the other hand was steadiness personified. From start to finish his defence was irreproachable and this was punctuated by some of the finest cover drives that one could wish to see. His fine stand with Kerr, in which they put on 91 in a little more than an hour and a half, turned a fairly even game into a position decidedly favouralV to Canterbury. The scores were:— AUCKLAND. First innings 279 Second Innings. Whitelaw run out 27 Edmonds b Roberts 2 Weir lbw b Roberts 42 Vivian c Roberts b Graham 7 Townsend b Andrews 2 Bush b Roberts 55 Wallace C Andrews b Graham 27 Matheson not out H Sale c Allen b Andrews 0 Garrard b Graham 0 Cowie run out 2 Extras 12 Total 187 Bowling Analysis. O. M. R. W. Roberts 28 8 39 3

Andrews 22 6 43 2 Lester 17 2 40 0 Page 7 1 21 0 Graham 18 7 27 3 Oliver 10 5 0 CANTERBURY. First innings 220 Second Innings. Bellamy not out 37 Kerr not out *0 Extras 44 Total for no wickets 81 HAWKE CUP MANAWATU’S NARROW WIN. (Per United Press Association.) New Plymouth, December 27. The dropping of a catch lost the Hawke Cup to Taranaki at the first challenge. Manawatu won by one wicket. Manawatu required two runs from the last wicket when an easy catch was dropped and the next ball sent to the boundary. Taranaki batted below form and made 190 and 191. Manawatu did well in the first innings to compile 302. The Taranaki bowlers were on top to-day and Manawatu just managed to make the 83 runs for nine wickets. The scores were:— TARANAKI. First Innings 180 Second Innings. Barker b R. J. Hatch 0 Donnelly c Cutler b K. Hatch 9 Naismith c Gallichan b Berquist 11 Betts c Gallichan b Berquist 1 Jiddy lbw b Gallichan 20 Birch c Monteith b Berquist 15 Parkinson b R. J- Hatch 44 Eden c Cutler b Gallichan 22 Dormer not out 28 Barlow st Norris b Cutler 21 Christensen b Gallichan 1 Extras 10 Total 191 Bowling analysis: R. J. Hatch two for 50, K. Hatch one for 18, Gallichan three for 44, Berquist three for 31, Cutler one for 25. MANAWATU. First Innings 202 Second Innings. Oliver hit wicket b Parkinson 7 Robertson b Christensen 7 Cutler c Fden b Christensen 19 Ongby c Christensen b Parkinson 2 Gallichan c Barlow b Christensen 1 Monteith lbw b Christensen 12 K. Hatch c Barlow b Christensen 12 R. J. Hatch not out 19 Norris c Barlow b Parkinson 1 Penman run out 1 Berquist not out 1 Extras 19 Total for nine wickets 83 Bowling analysis: Christensen took five wickets for 46 runs, Parkinson three for 35. LADIES’ MATCH OTAGO v. SOUTHLAND. TO-DAY’S GAME AT SHOWGROUNDS. The annual Otago-Southland ladies’ cricket match will be played at the Showgrounds to-day and to-morrow, play commencing at 11 o’clock this morning. The Otago team arrived in Invercargill by the express yesterday afternoon. The personnel is as follows: Mrs M. Daniels (captain and manager), Misses M. Bishop, M. Hollis, M. Miller, H. Hollander, D. Broadfoot, E. Bushbridge V. Garland, M. Knowles, J. Arnold, H. Johnstone and T. Anderson (twelfth).