CRICKET.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1831, 27 December 1919, Page 11

CRICKET.

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH. WELLINGTON v. CANTERBURY. Interrupted yesterday by heavy rain, the Plunket Shield match between Wellington and Canterbury was resumed promptly at 11 o'clock this morning at Hagley Park. In its first innings, Wellington had scored 23!), and when play was stopped yesterday morning Canterbury had 29 on without the loss of a wicket, R. C. Blunt and W. K. Patrick being the batsmen. That partnership was carried this morning to 9(5 before Patrick was caught off a ball that should have been punched to the boundary.

The weather this morning was excellent, bright and clear, and with only a very light breeze from the southwest. Despite its soaking yesterday, the wicket had rolled out well. It was somewhat soft, but looked like being easy if the weather did not become so hot as to dry it too quickly.

The Canterbury team was weakened by the absence of Dr P. S. Foster, who had been called to Waikari to perform an urgent surgical operation. Foster had not bowled or batted and so Canterbury was able to play another man. W. S. Brice, the captain of the Wellington team, was, however, eonsuited in courtesy, and he readily agreed to another man being played if nceessarv. Attempts to get in iouch with H. *B. Whitta and IL Watson failed, however, and so A. Grant was notified to hold himself in readiness to play. However, Whitta was secured later. There was quite a good attendance when the game was resumed this morning, and it looked as if there would be quite a good "gate" this afternoon. The game will be continued on Monday, if necessary.

THE PLAY. Brlce and Gnrrod again took up the howling to Blunt (15) and Patrick (7). There was an epidemic of "wides" at the start. Three runs were run for a "wide" in Bricc's first over, off which each batsman also got a single. Garrod's first three deliveries were all wides. Patrick got a single, and Blunt a brace with a nice hit to leg, off that first over of Garrod's. It \*as a short over, umpire B. W. Barry counting the "wides" as part of it. Both batsmen ran smartly between the wickets, and scored with well-placed singles as well as with an occasional two or three. At 51, McGirr relieved Brice (none for 23i nt the northern end, and then Lambert relieved Gnrrod (none for 13). Both batsmen were playing confidently and well. Blunt was petting a little more of the bowling than Patrick was, and be was treating it well, watching it closely and scoring off the loose stuff with good carpet shots on both sides of the wicket. Patrick, too, was cutting neatly when occasion offered, and also playing some pretty leg shots. The pair ran three for a nice square-cut by Blunt off Lambert. At 81, Brice went on again in place of MeGirr (none for 11 in four overs). Six runs, including a neat three to the on by Blunt, came off Brice's first over after the change. Blunt late-cut Lambert for four, after getting a brace to the on off his preceding delivery, and with a single to each man that over cost eight runs. At 90, Marris, slow leg-break bowler, relieved Brice (none for 2!) in eight overs). Patrick squarecut, hard, his first delivery—a full pitcher on the off—and was caught by Garrod, at point. 96—1—27.

Blunt had scored 45 when he was joined by Gray. In that same first over from Marris Blunt made his first weak shot—an uppish one to the on. But it fell out of reach of any fieldsman. Blunt brought up the 100 when Canterbury's total batting time had readied 90 minutes. Immediately afterwards, Lambert bowled Gray. 100—2—0. The very next ball, the last of the over, a full tosser, was patted back by D. Reese into Lambert's hands. 100—3—0. D. McK. Sandman joined Blunt, who got into the fifties by thrice geSiing Marris away for twos in the one over, Sandman running smartly between the wickets. Then Lambert just missed the hat trick. The first ball of his next over was uppishly driven by Sandman just past the bowler's hand. A single was run for it. Blunt put the next ball to the off boundary. Altogether, eight runs came off the over. Sandman had a couple of drives at Marris, and then he smote Lambert hard for four. At 120, McGirr relieved Marris (one for 13 in three overs).

Twice in the one over Blunt got Garrod nicely; away on the on side, with forcing strokes, for threes. In Lambert's next over, Sandman crisply square-cut that bowler for a three. A square-cut by Sandman off Garrod sped fast to the boundary. The next ball, a "no ball," he drove for four, bringing him into the twenties. He got a single off the next ball. The next ball got Blunt lbw. The colt had played a very fine innings for 73, obtained ifi 120 minutes, and had scored with very neat awl well-placed shots all round the wicket. 152— 4 —73. C. E. Evans joined Sandman, who had scored 24. When he had 30, Sandman gave a chance in the slips off Garrod. Evans, who had two singles so far, scored a neat three to fine-leg off Lambert. A single to Sandman was turned into a brace by a smartly run overthrow. Two balls later, however, Sandman put a ball from Lambert, back to the bowler. He had scored 35 in 37 minutes. 169—5—35. And the next ball shifted Brunton's off stump. Twice bad Lambert got wickets with the lr.st two balls of an over. He had now taken four for 19. 169—6—0.

The position was very interesting when Thomas joined Evans. Marris now came on again in place of Garrod (one for 38 in nine overs). Evans drove the first ball from Marris for four. The pair ran one for a bye, and then Thomas smacked the next ball to the boundary. In the same over, Evans patted up one that did not quite reach the bowler. Thomas got himself into double figures by cutting Lambert for three. Evans had reached "doubles" just before him. At the luncheon adjournment the score was 188 for six wickets (Evans 11, Thomas 12, extras 30).

Quite the best of the Wellington bowlers in the morning's play had been Lambert, who had kept a pretty good length and had broken sharply from the off at times. The ball that got Gray came in from the off about six or eight inches. McGlrr was the fastest of the Wellington bowlers, but he had not turned much. Garrod, who was the fastest and best bowler in Wellington a couple of seasons ago, has not yet regained his old pace and ability to swing the ball both ways, as he has not fully recovered from a very severe attack of influenza which he suffered last season. He swung the ball a little this morning, but with nothing like his old skill. Marris was the only bowler who troubled Blunt at all; however, Sandman showed that a quickfooted batsman can smite Morris's trundling. The Wellington fielding was not quite up to the Canterbury standard. At luncheon, Mr D. Redpatll, chairman of the Canterbury Cricket Association's Managing Committee, expressed Canterbury's pleasure in meeting Wellington again. Mr I). Iteese, the Canterbury captain, proposed t the toast of the Wellington team, and congratulated Wellington on its progress in the I game and on the fine financial position it [has reached. Messrs W. S. Briee (captain) and C. ('•■ Wilson (manager) responded for Wellington. When the game was resumed after lunch, 'lie attendance of the public was increasing :ast. Briee bowled to Evans, who added i couple off him, but was bowled liv the ixth ball of the over. 191—7—13. H. 11. .Vhitta joined Thomas, who had 13 on. The ewcomer put his first ball from Urice to ■g for four. Lambert bowled again from he southern end. Whitla put him to the qunrc-lcg boundary, and 200 came up. Bui he last ball of ihat over from Lambert Imost howled Whitla before going for two ill byes. Whitta Kol Into double figures by culling Lambert lor two. At 213, McGirr relieved Hriee (one lor 3!) in 10 overs) at the northern end, Briee faking the ball from Lambert (four for Oil in 1-1 overs) at the southern end. Thomas punched Briee square and hard to the off boundary, and 220 came up. Whitta was playing very nicely. He turned McGirr to leg for lour as if it were quite easy. Alter Whitla had run a single Thomas smacked McGirr to the oil bounlary, and Ihe next hall he drove for two, 11 runs coming oil' the over. At 238, Lambert mill 1 on again in place of Itrice lone for LSI. Thomas brought Canterbury's score past Wellington's bv cutting Lambert for .our. Alter a single had been run, Whitta also cut Lambert to the boundary. Another single, and then Thomas hanged Lamberl to the on boundary, lie get a two off the

last hall; the over had cost 16 runs. At 254, Marris relieved McGirr (none for 20 in seven overs). Scores:— > WELLINGTON. First innings 239 CANTERBURY. First Innings. W. R. Patrick 311111113111112211111 c Garrod b Marris 27 R. O. Blunt 123113412111111121123312111 1222411111233111 lbw b Garrod .. 73 J. Gray b Lambert 0 D. Reese c and b Lambert 0 D. McK. Sandman 112111113111312122 c and b Lambert 35 C. E. Evans b Hrice 13 L. R. Brunton hj Lambert 0 A. W. Thomas not out 45 H. 11. Whitta not out 30 Extras 34 Total for seven wickets .. .. 258 NORTH v. SOUTH CANTERBURY. The match betwen teams representing the North' and South Canterbury Cricket Associations, which was commenced on Christmas Day, was abandoned yesterday, owing to the rain, with the result inconclusive. Soutli Canterbury opened, and the batting was only moderate, slack fielding giving some of the batsmen extra 'Hives." North Canterbury began quickly to lose wickets from the bowling of A. O'Callaghan and Grieve, and at 6.30 p.m. the score stood at 74 for five wickets. Yesterday rain prevented play. This morning the North Canterbury team motored to Ashburton, where it is playing the Ashburton team. Details of the game against South Canterbury are as follow:—

SOUTH CANTERBURY. J. Cane c Smith b Lockhart .. .. 21 Grieve, b Cockrol't .. 9 Muff, c Lockhart b Cockroft .. .. 13 Becchey c Boycc b Humphries .. 22 Buxton run out 21 S. O'Callaghan c Fisher b McFarlane 31 Herdman c and b Cockroft .. .. 39 Earl b Boycc 5 C. Lynch c Boycc b Cockroft .. .. 3 McWhlrter lbw b Cockrol't 8 A. O'Callaghan not out 1 Extras 2 Total 175 Bowling: Cockroft, five for 00; Lockhart, one lor 31; Humphries, one for 20; McFarlane, one for 21; Boyee, one for 35; S. Smith, none for 1. NORTH CANTERBURY. S. Smith c and b McWhirter .. .. 4 Cockroft b A. O'Callaghan 19 Lockhart c S. O'Callaghan b A. O'Callaghan 15 McFarlane b Grieve 1 Boycc not out 9 Fiddler b Grieve 7 Fisher, not out 8 Extras .. .. 11 Total for five wickets .. .. 74 , A WIN FOR OTAGO. SOUTHLAND WELL BEATEN. Prest Association. DUNEDIN, December 26. The cricket match between Otago and Southland was won by Otago by an innings and 47 runs. On Christmas Day, Southland scored 55, and Otago 109 for six wickets. Continuing its first innings to-day, Otago reached 144 (Westbrook 40, L. Chadwick 28, C. Chadwick 13, Torrance 10). Southland's second innings totalled only 42, no player reaching double figures.

HAWKE CUP MATCH. WANGANXJI v. POVEBTY BAY. Press Association. GISBORNK, December 26. A match for the Hawke Cup, between Wanganui (challenger) and Poverty Bay (holder), opened to-day, in fine weather. The wicket was firm, but the outfield was rough. Wanganui, in its first innings, made 257. Poverty Bay, when stumps were drawn, had 178 for two wickets. December 27. The match was continued to-day in cooler weather, and a light rain set in at midday. Poverty Bay resumed batting, and at the luncheon adjournment nine wickets were down for 352. The following are the scores:— WANGANUI. First Innings. Gibson c Reeves b .. 23 Wood st Ellis b McLachlau .. .. 62 R. Orton 1) Scholium 43 Bernau b McLachlau 4 Trcadwell b Coombes 6 London c Ellis b Blair 23 F. Meuli c and b Scholium .. .. 58 Pleasants run out 13 Tronson b Coombes 0 Wells run out 0 Gilmer not out 7 Extras 38 Total 257 POVERTY BAY. First Innings. Pere lbw b Tronson 30 Blair c and b Tronson 61 Reeves c Wells li Bernau 42 Foster b Tronson 28 Temperton b Bernau 8 Cooke c Wells b Trcadwell .. .. 16 Miller not out 60 McLaughlin c Wood b Trcadwell .. 0 G. Coombes b Trcadwell 19 Ellis b Trcadwell 4 Scholium not out 33 <• Extras 53 Total for nine wickets .. .. 352 VICTORIA SCORES WELL. Bv Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. (Hec. Dec. 27, 8.40) MELBOURNE, Dec. 27. Victoria, in its first innings against New South Wales, made 3G(J for ■ six wickets.