CRICKET

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1927, Page 9

CRICKET

THE PLUNKET SHIELD. THE FINALISTS TO MEET. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Considerable interest centres in the special cricket match between Auckland and Wellington, the two undefeated teams in this season’s Plunket Shield series, which commences at the Basin Reserve to-morrow afternoon. Auckland and Wellington are due to meet in the final of the Plunket Shield series a month hence, so that tlie game commencing to-morrow should provide an indication of the northerners’ strength. Further interest will be manifested in the match on account of likely players for the English trip appearing on each side. E. H. Bowey, the Sussex professional, will attract special attention. The Wellington team .will be selected from the following: D. C. Collins, H. M. McGirr, H. Lambert, K. James, A. M. Bollings, B. G. Kortlaug, F. T. Badcock, W. J. R. Christopherson, Mitchell and Lowry (Hawke’s Bay), G. Orr (Wanganui), H. B. Massey and W. Airey. The Auckland team will differ slightly from that which defeated Canterbury and Otago, as one or two members are unable to remain in Wellington. Players are being sent down from Auckland to fill the vacancies. The Wellington representative team which defeated Canterbury at Christchurch has returned from the south. The members speak highly of the treatment accorded them during their stay in Christchurch by the members of the Canterbury Cricket Association and the New Zealand Cricket Council. BEALE’S TOURING TEAM. Gisborne, Last Night. E. C. Beale’s team of Auckland cricketers met an East Coast team, selected by Mr. A. M. Beale, in a one day match at Waipiro to-day. Rain fell in the afternoon, necessitating stumps being drawn at three o’clock. The visitors non, making 208 runs for seven wickets as against 95 by the local team. Butler (68), McCarthy (37 not out) and Johnstone (25 not out) batted best for the winners, and E. Mill (20) and Kissling (14) for the losers. Bowling for Auckland. Coatee took two wickets for 10, Butler two for 19, Saunders five for 27, Wells one for 4. The best bowlers for the Coaet team were W. Oates five for 79. Spence one for 27, and Franklin one for 37. THE SHEFFIELD SHIELD. VICTORIA BEAT SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Received Jam 6, 10.30 p.m. Melbourne, Jan. 6. In the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria, South Australia in their seeend innings made 233 runs (A. Richardson 30, Schneider 53, V. Richardson 41, Pritchard 22, Grimmett 21 not out). Morton took four wickets for 70, Blaekie three for 75, and Ryder one for 23. On a wicket badly damaged by rain, with Halcombe airsent owing to injuries, and with a huge deficit of over 800 tn faee, the visitors’ chance looked hopeless, but they cheerfully tackled the htankless job. Despite the help the bowlers got from the wet wicket, the batting in the earlier stages was confident, and runs came freely. With the dismissal of the Richardsons and Schneider, the bowlers had their day, and soon ran through the tail-endera, excepting Grimmett, who played a stubborn game for keeps. Morton and Blaekie trundled with consistent pace and cleverness. Victoria won by 571 runs.