BY SIX WICKETS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 243, 4 January 1928, Page 16

BY SIX WICKETS

Auckland’s Good Win in First Plunket Shield Match MILLS AND BOWLEY THE STARS

ALTHOUGH, at one stage, it looked as if Otago might bring off the biggest surprise of this season’s Plunket Shield series, Auckland rose to the occasion yesterday in brilliant fashion, and secured a convincing victory by six wickets. A great opening partnership in Auckland’s second innings between Mills and Bowley proved to be the turning point in the match.

When play resumed yesterday morning, Otago had scored 247 for seven wickets. The two not out men, Alloo and Elmes, carried on steadily for half an hour together, but with the addition of 30 more runs, Alloo was bowled off his pads by Matheson when within three runs of his century. The Otago captain returned to the pavilion amid prolonged cheering, a fitting tribute to his great uphill innings. After a very shaky start, in which* he was very lucky not have been added to Matherson’s list of captures, Douglas got going nicely, and he and Elmes made a very plucky stand for the ninth wicket, defying the Auckland bowling to get them out. The end, however, came abruptly just before one o’clock, when Dacre went on himself with Bowley at the other end, and rattled down Douglas’s wicket, the player-coach getting Elmes a moment later without another run being added. The retiring batsman had played a splendid innings. Otago had scored 315 runs after nearly six hours batting. STIFF TASK MADE EASY Auckland was left to get 296 runs to win. At first sight, it looked a formidable enough task, but the magnificent start given the side by Mills and Bowley paved the way for an easy win. Batting with restraint in the early stages, the opening pair qradually increased the pace, both men scoring with beautifully timed shots all round the wicket. Cheers greeted the hoisting of the century, and it was not till 155 runs were on the board that the partnership was broken just after the afternoon tea adjournment. Bowley square cut the first ball he got after tea from Torrance to the fence, but in trying to repeat the dose, he mishit the ball, and McMullan took a brilliant one-handed catch at point. Mills was in the eighties when his partner left, and he was batting so well that it looked as if he would get his century. However, with his score at 89, he was beaten all the way by a beautiful ball from Torrance. It was one of the finest innings Mills has ever played. From start to finish, he did not give a chance, and his driving, hooking and occasional cutting provided a masterly exhibition of cricket. | Bowley was hardly up to his best j form, but he was very solid, and once ! again demonstrated his ability to get ! runs when runs were most wanted, j He was a little uncertain to Eastman i once or twice, but he played sound, j careful cricket, his cover driving and LcuUing being especially good*

Anthony and Player were settling down to quiet cricket when the latter, in trying to force Eastman to leg was adjudged leg before, and exactly 100 runs were needed, with 75 minutes to go, when Cooper joined Anthony. Play continued slow, the second century appearing after four hours’ play. Anthony was punishing anything loose, but Cooper was satisfied to smother any straight stuff and leave anything off the wicket severely alone. A section of the spectators baited Cooper with sarcastic applause every time he blocked a ball, but the batsman pursued his placid tactics of safety first. Anthony reached his fifty after 1£ hours’ batting, and 54 runs were still needed, with half an hour to go. ANTHONY LIVENS UP Anthony then started to force the pace and the fielding slackened off a bit from the previous high standard. Anthony made some uppish strokes, and Cooper gave an easy chance of stumping. At 6.45 Anthony was clean bowled by Eastman in going for a big hit, and was loudly applauded for his useful 75 which showed a lot of his old-time form. EXTENSION OF TIME Fourteen runs were needed, with 10 minutes to go, and Dacre went out to consult with Alloo, when an agreement to play out the match was made. The Auckland captain ignored a loud appeal from the crowd to put the pads on and get the runs himself. Garrard and Cooper continued to carry on the score by singles, and the winning hit came from Cooper after five minutes’ extension of time, and the Eden colt was not out with 38 to his credit when Auckland claimed an easy victory bj* six wickets. Details: OTAGO First Innings .. .. 197 Second Innings A. KNIGHT, b Player .. 0 V. G. CAVANAGH, b Player .... 8 J. McMULLAN, c Dacre, b Matheson 131 A. GALL AND, c Rowntree, b Player 2 L. C. EASTMAN, c Bowley, b Matheson l W. VORRATH, b Williams 9 R. CHERRY, b Garrard 2 A. W. ALLOO, b Matheson .. .. 97 ; S. ELMES, c Williams, b Bowley .. 46 I W. DOUGLAS, b Dacre 12 R. TORRANCE, not out 0 Extras 7 Total 3.15 Fall of Wickets.—l* 30, 32, 37, 65, 81, 206, 277, 315. 315*

AUCKLAND First Inaings .. •• •• .. 217 Second Innings E. H. BOWLEY, c McMullan, b Torrance .. .. .. 63 J. E. MILLS, b Torrance .. .. .. .. 89 A. ANTHONY, b Eastman 75 A. S. PLAYER, lbw, b Eastman .. 7 I. W. COOPER, not out 38 D. R. GARRARD, not out 7 Extras .. ~ .. 17 Total for four wickets .. ... 296 Fall of Wickets.—lss, 178, 195, 282.

BOWLING ANALYSIS O. M. R. W. Player .. •. .. .. 34 8 70 3 Williams .. 24 10 38 1 Dacre .. •. ». .. 9 1 26 1 Garrard .. ., .. •. 17 6 31 1 Matheson 3S 10 85 3 Anthony .. •« .. .. 10 4 19 Cooper .. .. .. 4 19 Weir 1 5 Bowley 6.4 2 15 1

BOWLING ANALYSIS O. M. R. W. Eastman 43.5 9 80 2 Torrance ...... 37 13 72 2 Douglas ........ 23 9 51 — Alloo 12 4 38 — Elmes ........ 9 2 38 —