PLUNKET SHIELD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 548, 28 December 1928, Page 7

PLUNKET SHIELD

AUCKLAND’S FIRST WIN CANTERBURY JUST MISSES INNINGS DEFEAT f Special to THE SUN) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. Thanks to the efforts of three men, Canterbury was just able to stave off an innings defeat in the Plunket Shield match at Lancaster Park to-day, and to leave Auckland, with 78 runs to set to win. Canterbury made 254 in the second knock, which, withL',? the first, topped Auckland s ooU. Men who made valiant stands against solid bowling and smart fielding were Merritt, Page and Burns. With two wickets down for 16, Page had to dig in and endeavour to save his side as he had done in the first innings. He did so valiantly, and after he had settled down began to drive the bowling solidly on both sides of the wicket, the on drives being his finest shot. He used all the strokes in the locker and it seemed as if he would go on to a century. In Weir’s first over after lunch, when Dunning took a fine left-handed catch at second slip, Page had made 76 runs, including six fours in 160 minutes. It has been, it seems, his luck always to come in and try to stave off defeat. While Page was in, three wickets fell and Merritt was his partner when he went. The slow bowler carried on in his captain’s footsteps. Despite the falling of wickets the batting was not polished, but was vigorous and serviceable and marked by hsird driving. Once or twice he unloosed lovely strokes, notably square and late cuts, and sent Weir for one beautiful six to long-on, the ball landing on the embankment. Merritt’s was the last to fall, the result of *a snick in trying to drive a rising ball from Dunning. Mills took a good catch at third man. Merritt made 84 in two hours and five minutes, hitting seven fours in addition to a six. With Burns he added 52 for the ninth wicket. Burns, after a shaky start, drove to good purpose in making 23 before being bowled by Weir. Auckland’s bowling was shown more in its true light by these three batsmen, it being quite a good attack, but not of the calibre suggested by Canterbury’s first knock. Weir, bowling straight up-and-down stuff of good length, got most of the wickets, finishing with four for 73. Dunning look two for 47 and bowled well. Bowley’s slow stuff was hit by Merritt and he had to be content with two for 62. Allcott again was accurate, but without much luck, and his solitary wicket cost 50. Hamilton’s was the other wicket. lie ran himself out. With 78 runs needed for a victory, Bowley and Mills batted deliberately, but at 43 Bowley, who had scored 20, was hit on the finger by a rising ball from Newman and retired hurt, Postles taking his place. lie and Mills polished off the runs slowly, but without difficulty, Auckland winning by 10 wickets. The 7 Bscored took 80 minutes. Details of the scores are:—■ CANTERBURY First innings . . 153

Bowling: Read, 0-6; Newman, 0-20-Cunningham, 0-15; Merritt, 0-21; Evans! 0-4.

Second Innings. CRAWFORD, c Dunning, b Weir 4 BROSNAHAN, b Dunning ROBERTS, b Weir PAGE, c Dunning, b Weir NEWMAN, b Bowley .. HAMILTON, run out . IS A1ERRITT, e Mills, b Dunning .. .. . SI EVANS, c Rowntree, b Alloott .. 0 READ, at Rowntree, b Bowley .. BURNS, b Weir CUNNINGHAM, not out Extras Total Bowling: Weir, 4-73; Dunning, 2-47; Boivley, 2-52; AUcott, 1-50; Player, 0-15. AUCKLAND First innings Second Innings BOWLEY, retired hurt Allies, not out POSTLES, not out . ; Extras No wickets for