CRICKET

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20611, 28 December 1936, Page 4

CRICKET

PLUNKET SHIELD AUCKLAND IN GOOD POSITION By Telegraph— Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, December 27. Auckland has a commanding position in t>he Plunket Shield match with Canterbury. The home team, through a good partnership between Roberts and O’Brien, brought the total to 280 and at stumps Auckland had 257 for the loss of five wickets with Vivian unbeaten at 46. Roberts and O’Brien gave a fine exhibition of cautious batting against accurate bowling and keen fielding, and although Roberts made a the greater score the honours were not all with him as O’Brien played a waiting game whicjh he is quite unused to and held his wicket up while Roberts collected the runs. It was another excellent day for cricket; the morning being still and sunny but in the afternoon a brisk easterly breeze sprang up and the sky became overcast. The pitch had dried considerably and Vivian was able to use his faster attack to much better advantage than on the previous day. He himself had a few overs but failed to get any more wickets and McMahon, on for a short spell, claimed one wicket, but a very valuable one, as he bowled O’Brien round his legs in the last over before lunch and broke the partnership.

Cowie and Matheson shared the bowling honours yesterday. Cowie in particular was bowling with much more venom and was much harder to play than on the previous day. He kept a good length and the ball which dismissed Roberts would have accounted for many better batsmen. Carson was given one or two overs but seldom appeared troublesome. Matheson bowled consistently, but with little success, and the same applies to Spring. Roberts and O’Brien did not play a bad stroke until they were dismissed. It was hard to recognise in O’Brien the man who made 100 in 127 minutes the previous Saturday. He discarded his breezy style completely and although he attacked loose balls whenever they same along, Ke made sure that he kept his drives and cuts along the ground. It was an excellent restrained innings. Roberts was in a restrained mood at the start but took more liberties with any but very good balls than O’Brien. Canterbury’s Weakness. The weakness of the Canterbury bowlers was shown up by the visiting batsmen in the way in which they were hit all round the field. Mulcock started by appearing to beat the opening batsmen Dunning and Whitelaw, but Weir hit him round the field in great style, scoring four boundaries off one over. Mulcock packed a very close leg field, having three fine legs within 12 yards | of the bat, two short square legs and a silly mid-on. Weir set about breaking up tliis formation and with his vigorous hitting it was not long before all but the fine legs had moved back. Roberts ; was the only bowler to command much | respect and except when in the later 1 stages his length became erratic, the

batsmen had to watqh every ball. I Graham bowled consistently, maintainI ing his usual impeccable length most | of the time and finally trapped Weir with a slower ball. His other wicket I was due to a very fine catch by Roberts in the slips. Cromb did not look dangerous at any time whether bowling fast or slow lobs. Weir’s was a fast and attractive innings. Whitelaw and Wallace played correct copybook cricket with the latter scoring considerably the faster of the two, and Vivian also batted correctly, although at the start he seemed tempted to feel for some of Mulcock’s balls outside the off stump. Spring was not comfortable facing Roberts. Hard as was Cromb’s task with the poor supply of bowlers at his command it was mdde no easier by the Canterbury fielding, which can best be described as slovenly. Page and Roberts can be excepted as these two let nothing past. Vivian, who hurt his foot when stopping a y fast shot from Page on the first day, was limping badly in the field and shortly before lunch left the ground, to have it examined by a doctor. He did not field again, but when he came in late in the afternoon he ran to his own strokes. Scores: CANTERBURY. First Innings. J. L. Kerr, c Whitelaw, b Vivian 17 M. L. Page, c Matheson, b Vivian 7J C. J. Oliver, c Carson, b Vivian 35 W. A. Hadlee, c Wallace, b Spring 0 O’Brien, b McMahon 49 I. B. Cromb, c Carson, b Vivian 2 R. E. J. Menzies, c Marshall, b Vivian .. .. t 5 Roberts, b Cowie 75 Jackman, b Cowie 4 Graham, c Dunning, b Matheson 5 Mulcock, not out 0 Extras i. .. 15 Total 280 Bowling: Cowie took two wickets for 33 runs; Matheson, one for 55; Vivian, five for 80; McMahon, one for 35; Spring, one for 46; Weir, none for three; Carson, none for 13. AUCKLAND First Innings Dunning, c Cromb, b Roberts .... 0 Whitelaw, c Jackman, b Mulcock 52 Weir, b Graham 53 Wallace, c Roberts, b Graham .... 46 Vivian, not out 46 Carson, c Jackman, b Roberts .. 12 L. R. Spring, not out 19 Extras 29 Total for five wickets .. .. 257 Bowling: Roberts took two wickets for 61 runs; Mulcock, one for 79; Cromb, none for 54; Graham, two for 34. OTAGO v. WELLINGTON MODERATE SCORING By Telegraph Pres. Association WELLINGTON, December 27. In a day of eventful cricket at the basin reserve on Saturday, 14 wickets fell for 342 runs in the Plunket Shield match between Wellington and Otago, Otago losing four for 93 after 249 had been scored by Wellington. Wellington batted in the morning on a wet but easy wicket but with a dead outfield. After lunch both the wicket and outfield were faster and 13 wickets fell for 226 runs. Wellington scored 179 for the loss of three wickets but the last seven wickets fell for 70. D. A. R. Moloney (Manawatu) played a very sound innings of 91 and E. W. Tindlll batted steadily for a patient 40. L. Groves, the new slow' bowler, kept the ball well up to the batsmen and made it turn sharply in taking four wickets f..r 68 runs. R. Silver, the new fast bowler, took the last three wickets quickly, finishing with three for 34. J. A. Dunning and F. T. Badcock bowled with commendable steadiness on the easy wicket.

Otpgo’s opening was sensational, two wickets falling in the third over, but A. R. Knight and C. J. Elmes were associated in a creditable partnership of 78. Both were dismissed just before stumps, and batsmen who usually go in late in the innings were sent in to hold the fort till time, reserving the remaining top batsmen for Monday. Overhead conditions were good with a fairly steady wind from the north Tindlll and Moloney gave Wellington a useful start, putting on 67 for the first wicket. Tindall scored 40 very steadily. He was especially strong on the leg side and was just beginning to make freer strokes in front of the wickets when he fell lbw. McLeod helped to add 55 for the second wicket. He also was careful taking more than an hour to make 23. Ward participated in a partnership of 57 after lunch, and played the medium paced bowling confidently but was not so happy against the slow attack. He was stumped after surviving an lbw appeal off the slow bowling. Moloney was the fifth man out after a very creditable innings of 91 in just over three hours. He began very slowly, taking time to see the behaviour of the ball. His first 20 runs took 20 minutes and his 50 Just over two hours. He hit four fours and five threes. Fifteen twos helped to make up the rest of his score. Wellington lost seven wickets for 10 runs in an hour after lunch after scoring 116 for one wicket before lunch Wellington’s scoring rate was regular without being fast. The first 50 runs took an hour and 100 just on DO minutes. Tire second century was raised in 203 minutes, and the 249 occupied 253 minutes. Otago’s out-cricket was distinguished by workmanlike efficiency rather than outstanding brilliance. Groves, the new slow bowler was the most successful for Otago. He gained a good turn off the wicket, flighted the ball well and kept it well up to the batsman. Silver, the new fast bowler, used only a short run-up, and was more medium to fast-medium than fast. On the unresponsive wickst of the morning his bowling dd not appear threatening. He was more impressive on the quicker pitch in the afternoon, taking three for 15 in his last seven overs. Badcock began with a leg trap of five fieldsmen clustered near the batsmen and two others out on the boundary behind them, but abandoned it after a few overs, bowling then to an orthodox field. He was steady without being deadly. Elmes was inaccurate in both length and direction before lunch, but was steadier in the afternoon. Badcock began for Otago as if he were playing in a picnic match, but had his middle stump knocked back in. the third over. Kerr, who followed him, was bowled with a “scorcher" second ball. Knight, the other open-

ing batsman, and Elmes pplayed very well against the bowlers, who were inspired by the sweets of early success. They were together for a little more than an hour, making 78 runs. Elmes was especially impressive, his leg hitting being especially strong. Knight was in for 80 minutes for 33. Both batsmen fell to catches not long before stumps. Dunning (captain) and Mills (wicketkeeper) went in to play out time, and did so. Parslie, bowling for Wellington, sometimes made the ball leave the pitch like lightning. Blundell bowled his medium-paced deliveries into the wind very accurately without troubling the batsmen greatly, and Tricklebank sent down three overs at moderate cost. Lamason relied mainly on a medium and fast-medium attack and did not call on the slow men till late in the day. Griffiths, the slow right-hander, did not strike a length. Play will be resumed to-morrow morning. Scores: WELLINGTON First Innings E. W. Tindill, lbw., b Dunning .... 40 D. A. R. Moloney, c Scandrett, b Groves 91 E. G. McLeod, b Dunning 23 S. Ward, stpd. Mills, b Groves .. 22 N. Gallichan, c Silver, b Groves ■ ■ 2 J. R. Lamason, lbw., b Elmes .. 5 C. Parsloe, b Groves 17 J. A. R. Blandford, b Silver .... 12 W. Tricklebank, not out 12 B. Griffiths, b Silver 1 E. D. Blundell, c and b Silver .. 12 Extras 12 Total 249 Bowling Analysis

Silver bowled one no ball and Groves one. McGregor bowled a wide. OTAGO First Innings F. T. Badcock, b Parsloe 8 A. R. Knight, c Blundell, b Galllchan 33 F. B. Kerr, b Parsloe 0 C. J. Elmes, c Moloney, b Gallichan 42 J. A. Dunning, not out 2 G. Mills, not out 2 Extras 6 Total for four wickets .. 93 Bowling Analysis

NORTH OTAGO DEFEATED By lelesiaph—Prns Association DUNEDIN, December 26. In a two-day match a Dunedin cricket eleven defeated North Otago oy 10 wickets. North Otago made 95 (Zimmerman 41) and 131 (Zimmerman 60 not out, Doig 22, Smith 5 for 22). The Dunedin team made 214 (Leader 53, Robertson 37) and five runs for no wickets. HAWKE CUP Bv Telegraph- Pres* Association PALMERSTON N., December 26 Owing to rain there was no play in the Hawke Cup cricket match this morning. At the close of play yesterday, Manawatu had scored 238 and Wanganui had lost four wickets for 23 runs. This afternon Wanganui carried their total to 128 (Whiting 28, Connor 42, Davidson 21, Warnes 12). Pritchard 3 for 10 and Berquist 4 for 18 were the most successful bowlers. At stumps Manawatu had lost four wickets for 66 (Robertson 20, McVicar not out 32). MINOR ASSOCIATION MATCH ASHBURTON TEAM CHOSEN The first match in the Minor Association’s cricket competition will be played between Ashburton and South Canterbury at Temuka, on January 1 and 2. The winners will have the right to challenge the West Coast (holder) for the Minor Association’s Shield. The following team has been selected to represent the Ashburton Association: J. B. Nicoll (captain), P. M. Harper, J. Dillon. J. Pritchard (Ashburton), D. McKay, H. Baird, W. O’Grady, D. Stewart (Fairfield), H. Jordan, S. Kerr. B. Jack (Kia Ora). W. Cook (Methven). M.C.C. TEAM IN AUSTRALIA RAIN PREVENTS PLAY ON SATURDAY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received December 27, 6.30 p.m.) NEWCASTLE, December 26. Heavy rain prevented play on the first day of the match between the English team and the Northern districts. SOUTH AUSTRALIA v. QUEENSLAND GRIMMETT’S BOWLING FIGURES United Press Association—By Eleetrio Telegraph—Copyright (Received December 27, 6.30 p.m.) ADELAIDE, December 27. In a Sheffield Shield match. South Australia in the first innings made 294 (Grimmett 33). Amos took five wickets for 83. South Australia in the second innings have made 46 for two wickets. Queensland in the first innings made 205 (Tallon 101, Oxenham not out 43). Grimmett took three wickets for 89 runs, Cotton two for 35, and Williams five for 29. SHEFFIELD SHIELD CRICKET VICTORIA v. NEW SOUTH WALES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received December 27, 6.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, December 27. In a Sheffield Shield match. Victoria in the first innings made 318 (Barnett

45). Lush took five wickets for 75, and McGilvray three for 35. In the second innings Victoria made 16 with loss of a wicket. New South Wales in the first innings made 252 (Mudge 46, Jackson 46). Fleetwood-Smith took five wickets for 110 runs, Ebeling two for 41, Gregory two for 41. Lush, who was having his first game in a Shield match, bowled particularly well. I

R. Silver .. .. O. M. .. 15.1 2 R. W. 34 3 F. T, Badcock .. .. 18 5 28 0 J Dunning .. .. .. 32 11 64 ’ 2 C. J. Elmes .. .. .. 12 3 35 1 L Groves .. 20 0 68 4 G. McGregor .. .. .. 4 3 3 0 A. R. Knight .. .. .. 1 0 5 0

0. M. R. W. C. Parsloe 9 3 32 2 E. D. Blundell .... .. 11 1 31 0 W. Tricklebank .. .. 3 0 5 0 N. Gallichan .. 4 3 4 2 B. Griffiths .. .. .. 4 0 15 0