CRICKET.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17319, 6 January 1928, Page 5

CRICKET.

PLUNKET SHIELD.

CANTERBURY IN FIRST.

SCORES AT NOON. (Jiy Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 6. The Plunket Shield match, Auckland v. Canterbury, commenced morning, Canterbury batting first. The scores at 12.30 were: Gregory, not out 31 Hamilton, lbw, b Anthony .. .. 27 Jacobs, b Bowley .. .. .. .. 1 Page, not out .. ~ 0 Extras "* .. .. 3

Total for two wickets

DETAILS OF PLAY

By '(.ole^rapu—I'ress Association

AUCKLAND, Jan. 6

There is fine weather for the second Plunket Shield match, which . commenced at 11.30. The teams are.—Canterbury: Page (capt.), Hayes, Newman, Evans, McEwin, Jacobs, Merritt, Nixon, Read, Hamilton, Gregory. Auckland.—Dacre (capt.), Bowley; Anthony, Cooper, Garrard, Gillespie, Matheson, Scott, G. L. Weir, Player, Mills.

Canterbury won the toss and batted first on a fast wicket, Gregory and Hamilton ' being the opening batsmen. Matheson's first over yielded three singles. Player went on at the other end, Gregory square-cutting the ball for 3. Playing cautiously, the batsmen reached double figures in ten minutes. Gregory got double figures in twenty minutes, and neither batsmen were troubled by the bowling, although Player was keeping a nice length. Hamilton hit his first boundary off Player. For half an hour's play thirty were sent up. G. L. Weir replaced Player, Gregory turning him quickly for a brace and a single on the off. The Canterbury man ran well between the wickets and scored short ones. At 35 Anthony replaced Matheson; Gregory 5 slamming the first ball through the' covers to the fence. Weir dropped'a short one in the next over, Gregory pulling it to the boundary. Hamilton cut Anthony for a couple, and then pulled him to the boundary for four, bringing the score up to 50 in 52 minutes. The opening pair was playing confidently and brightly, both obviously keen 'on getting runs. Hamilton was dropped by Matheson off Weir at leg. The batsmen began to open out with hard driving, a couple of good strokes being cut off on to the line. Gregory escaped a chance of stumping off Anthony and after a bye had been run a trundler got Hamilton leg before. 56—1—27.

Jacobs was the next man in, and Bowley came out to get him for & single. The game had been under way exactly an hour when Page, the visiting skipper, filled the vacant crease.

' ■' SCORE 4 FOR 117. ' ;.' (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 6. At the luncheon adjournment Canterbury was 4 for 117, additional scores being:— '..',.. » •■ Gregory, not out °- J Page, c Dacre, B. Anthony 0 Newman, c Weir, b Bowley 24 Nixon, not out ... / 3 Extras ... ." • r 3

Page was never happy, and put the ball into Dacre's hands at mld-on without scoring—62/3/0.

Newman got moving with a short single, just scrambling home ahead of the return, and there was a strong appeal for a run out. Both Newman and Gregory scored fine off strokes, especially the former, who displayed cleverness in forcing good length balls off his legs. Bowley was angling with the high flight ball, but his brother professional wouldn't bite. .

Gregory ran into the forties with a late cut for three. Like Newman, he found Bowley's flighting slightly . deceptive, and a couple of maidens went down.

Garrard was the next change, Newman pulling, a brace and Gregory glancing one to fine leg to 'send up 90. Bowley had Gregory tied up at this stage, and the rate of scoring dropped appreciably. Gregory sent a century up after 99 minutes with a boundary off Bowley. Auckland's ground fielding was keen and Dacre persisted with his spin bowlers, and replaced Garrard with Anthony. Gregory was replaced later for two and reached his half-century in 74 minutes.

Bowley's next over saw the end of Newman, the Hants crack being caught with a slow ball which he scooped to fine leg, where Weir had an easy catch. The partnership produced 45. ' Nixon, a left-hander, followed, and with Gregory played out time till luncheon, the score then being 117 for four (Gregory-59). WELLINGTON v. OTAGO. (By Telegraph.—-Press Association*!. WELLINGTON, Jan. 6. The cricket match, Wellington v. Otago, commenced to-day in perfect weather.

Wellington won the toss and batted first. Airey and Tattersall opened and with the score at 37 Airey was caught in the slips off Alloo by Vorrath—--39—1—17. Lamason was next, and he and Tattersall carried the score to 86 when the latter was stumped by Galland off Alloo: 86—2—24. Dustin was next in. WELLINGTON. Jan. 6. At the. luncheon adjournment the .score was three for 174, the additional scores being Lambert 46, Dustin 24, extras, 10. At 101 Lamason was caught by McMullan off Douglas, score 108—3—53. Lambert followed and the score at one o'clock was three for 131. Lambert, not out, 19; Dustim ,not out, 10.