THE PLUNKET SHIELD

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1927, Page 9

THE PLUNKET SHIELD

AUCKLAND V. OTACO NORTHERN TEAM’S BIG SCORE. DACRE COMPILES FINE CENTURY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, Jan. 4. The Plunket Shield match Otago v. Auckland was resumed in fine weather, the wicket being as good as on the first day. Blamires, who was injured yesterday, did not field. Cooper (56) and Gillespie (18) resumed Auckland's second innings (two for 212) to the bowling of Torrance and Blunt. When Cooper had added three he returned a hot one to Blunt, who failed to hold the ball. The batsman ran a single but, had Blunt hit the wickets with his return, Gillespie would have been run out. With the total at 230, Gillespie hit a slack into the midoff’s hands —3—26—230. Two balls later Cooper stepped in front of one from the same bowler—4—66—23l. The retiring batsman was at the wiekets for 118 minutes for 66. Alcott and Dacre became associated, the former’s first four scoring strokes including three fours. Dacre opened quietly, but lifted Torrance over the fence, the first six of the match. Blunt’s next over saw 260 hoisted, Dacre square cutting him for four and notching thref to fine leg. Alcott reached 20 by driving Torrance to the on boundary. Dickinson replaced Blunt, Dacre taking five from the over. Shepherd relieved Torrance. Dacre reached 30 with a prstty glance to the square leg boundary. Aleott gave a chance off Dickinson in the next over, cutting through Blair’s hands in slips. At noon, Auckland had lost four wiekets for 303, after three hours and 60 minutes of play.

DACRE BATS BRIGHTLY.

Dunedin, Last Night.

Alloo took Dickinson’s place when the score was 312, but Dacre relished the slack stuff, reaching the half-century with a lovely drive along the carpet for four and scoring another boundary off the next.

Blunt came on again in place of Shepherd, but Dacre and Alcott continued to score freely, the over realising nine. Shepherd replaced Alloo, Alcott reaching 40 by turning Shepherd to leg for 2, the extras at this stage being 33.

The batsmen were scoring at a rapid rate, Alcott hoisting 360 with a drive to the off boundary. Torrance replaced C.epherd, the over producing only a single. Dacre, with the score at 78, drove Torranee hard into A. W. Alloo’s hands at r-’d-on, but the chance was not accepted, Dacre reaching 80 a couple of balls later. Seven were scored off Blunt’s next over, but the scoring slackened, Dacre notching three from Torranee and Alcott a single. H. C. Alloo relieved Blunt, but the change had no effect, Daere reaching 90 with an off drive for a brace. Alcott brought his 60 up by lifting Torranee for 4. just out of Zimmerman’s reach. The score of 400 appeared after four hours and 44 minutes of play. Zimmerman replaced Torrance, Dacre reaching his century in this over after 98 minutes at the wickets, the innings including only one chance. At the luncheon adjournment Auckland had lost four wickets for 419, the Daere-Alcott partnership having realised 188 in one hour 58 minutes.

When play was resumed Alcott (70) and Dacre (105) faced the bowling of Zimmerman, Shepherd trundling from the other end. The scoring slackened somewhat, though anything loose was punished. With the score at 428 Dacre lifted Zimmerman to point, Blunt, who had been fielding brilliantly, bringing off a fine catch—42B—s—lo9. Dacre was at the wickets for 111 minutes, his score including 11 fours. He gave one chance, playing a fine, forceful innings. The partnership produced 197 runs.

Frater joined Aleott and opened with a short single, Alcott placing Zimmerman nicely to the square leg boundary. Four hundred and forty appeared when Frater square cut Shepherd sweetly for four. At 7 Frater was dropped by Dickinson at square leg, off Shepherd. Two balls later Frater was out through hitting his wicket. Dunedin, Last Night. Auckland innings closed for 539. Additional scores are: Cooper ’66, Dacre 109, Alcott 87, Player 36. Zimmerman took three wickets for 47 runs and Shepherd three for 81. Rain caused an adjournment for an hour towards the end of Auckland’s innings. Otago have scored ten runs without the loss of a wicket in the second innings. WELLINGTON BEAT CANTERBURY. MARGIN OF 355 RUNS. Christchurch, Jan. 4. Wellington defeated Canterbury bv 355 runs in the Plunket Shield match at Christchurch. Boilings (45) and Brice (7), the not out men, resumed batting for Wellington. Just after 300 had appeared Brice was bowled by Read; 301—9—28. Henderson was the last man. With the total at 308 Cunningham went on to bowl in place of Sandman. lie scattered Henderson’s stumps with the first hall. Hollings carried his bat for a wellplayed 65. Additional scores are:— Brice, b Read 2b Hollings, not out 65 Henderson, b Cunningham 3 Extras 16 Total 308 'Bowling analysis.—Read took four wickets for 80; Cunningham four for 94; Mcßeath, two for 57; Sandman, none for 49; Patrick, none for six. Woods and Crawford opened Canterbury’s second innings, the side requiring 690 to win. The batsmen scored freely, and 30 appeared for 27 minutes’ play. When the total was 40 Henderson relieved Badcoek. Just after the half century had appeared Crawford was bowled; 50.1—23. Page was next. Woods square cut Henderson for a boundary, but three balls later lost his stumps; 54—2—24. Page and Gregory were then associated, but Gregory had a short life. Page, Oliver, Sandman and Boon batted freely, but the side was all out for 334 (Woods 24, Crawford 23, Page 41, Oliver 62, Sandman 64, Boon 41). Bowling analysis.—Badoock took two wickets for 77 runs; McGirr, four for 72; Henderson, one for 55; Hiddleston, two for 35; Brice, one for 40: Hollings, none for 17; Lambert, none for 7.