THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9430, 2 January 1909, Page 7

THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

CANTERBURY V. AUCKLAND. [.Per Prkss Association.] AUCKLAND, January 1. The introprovincial cricket match between the representatives of Auckland and Canterbury for the Plunket Shield was commenced here to-day in beautiful weather before an attendance of 2000 spectators. As the afternoon I wore on the sky became overcast until ' at four o'clock light showers of rain commenced to fall and stumps were drawn at 5.50 on account of fading light. , Auckland won the toss and decided to bat on a wicket that was a trifle slow. The bowling of Bennett and the magnificent fielding of Canterbury kept the runs down in the early part of the day. There was nothing brili liant about Auckland's batting, the scores of Hemus, Relf and Sale being the outstanding features. There was. no alteration in the personnel of the team. Itemus and Cummings opened to the bowling of Humphreys and Bennett. After scoring three off Humphreys Cummings was clean bowled by BenBBfefc. s—l—3. Relf filled the va- , cant crease. Hemus was the first to run into double figures. When Relf was seven Humphreys sent down a no- i I ball, which Relf hit up into long-off's I. hands, a single resulting. A late cut [ by Relf was well fielded by Orchard, a suagle resulting. ' Malone relieved I Humphreys, Relf scoring a single off his first delivery. Relf caught Hetrttts's total after having been at the wickets an hour for the runs. Bennett sent down a maiden and then both batsmen, who appeared to like Malone t <opene/d out to him, three singles and a leg glance by Relf for three coming off the nest over. The next ball Relf "feried to lift clear of the boundary straight ahead, and although OUivier got near he was running sideways and the ball dropping clear of him a few feet from the boundary rolled over and registered the first boundary hit of the match. A single from Bennett's next over brought 50 up. Off Malone's next over Relf scored two successive boundaries by_ pretty off drives. Bennett's deliveries were being treated with the greatest respect by both batsmen. Humphreys relieved Bennett, his fifth ball being snicked to leg for two by Relf. In Malone's next over [ Relf lifted him to the boundary, bringing his total up to 33 as the result of ninety minutes' play. Relf scored a two by a nice forward stroke. He followed this with a late cut and a square cut, a brace resulting off each stroke. A late cut by Hemus off Humphreys was beautifully fielded by Orchard at deep slip. In Malone's next over Relf tried to lift him clean over the boundary to the off. Ollivier, running sideways and judging the take beautifully, brought off a magnificent catch about five yards from the boundary — 27 — 2 — 41. Sale was next man in. Bennett replaced Humphreys at the bowling crease. His first over was a maiden to Hemus. A couple of overs later Sale opened his account with a single to the off from Malone. A double change of bowling was then effected, Reese relieving Bennett and Orchard Malone. Off Orchard's first over Hemus scored a boundary by a pretty off drive. At the luncheon adjournment the board showed 99 — 2 — 41, Hemus not out 40, Sale not out 1. On the resumption of play Bennett bowled a maiden to Sale. Hemus cut Humphreys for four run out. The 100 went up after two hours and twenty minutes' play. A period of quiet play followed, the Canterbury bowlers sending down stuff w t ith which no liberties could be taken. The field was also beautifully placed, keeping the runs down to a minimum. Then Hemus cut i Bennett for a single, bringing up his half-century as the result of two and a half hours' play. Off the eecond ball of Humphreys's next over Hemus was clean bowled— ll1 — 3 — 50. Haddon, the Auckland captain, filled the vacancy. . Bennett sent down <a maiden to Haddon, and then Sale got a lucky two to fine leg, following it with a single to the off, the result of slovenly fielding. In Bennett's next over Sale gave a possible chance in the slips, following it by a pull to the boundary for four. Sale's double figures went up asthe result of fifty-five minutes' play. Off Humphreys's next over Sale scored a brace and a boundary to leg off successive balls. Saie cut Humphreys past the wicket-keeper to the boundary, ! bringing his 20 up. A couple of bails later* he square cut to the boundary for 2. In Humphreys's next over he put one past point for two, and a single to the off brought his score to 30. In Bennett's nest over Haddon was clean bowled — 150 4 3. BrookeSmith came in and played out the over. Malone relieved Humphreys, and Brooke-Smith opened off him, pulling him to leg for a single. In Bennett's next over Sale was, clean bowled — 157 — 5-i— 34. Bennett's average was three wickets for 30. Mason was next batsman, and Humphreys replaced Malone. Brooke-Smith glanced Humphreys to teg for 3, and then Mason opened off him with a single. In Humphreys's next over Brooke-Smith got his leg in front and was out— l72— 6— l4. Humphreys had taken two wickets for 58 runs. M'Cormick next opened his score with a single off Humphreys. Mason was trying to force matters, and was opening out to Humphreys. He scored three off Bennett by a straight drive, and the first ball off Humphreys's next over he pulled to the boundary. Before the over was finished Mason lifted the ball right over the bowler's head to near the boundary, where Orchard brought off a nice catch — 184^ — 7 — 13. Humphreys had taken three for 66. Macmahon went to the crease and played to the bowling of Malone, who had replaoed Bennett at the hospital end. H© opened hjs account with a forceful square hit for a single. He played a maiden to Humphreys, surviving an appeal for leg Wore off the last ball of the over. The afternoon; tea adjournment was then taken. Light rain, fell during the adjournment and play was resumed in a shower. ' Malone opened, bowling to MacCormick, a • single resulting off the first over. Bennett replaced Malone at the bowling crease. Off Humphreys M'Mahon, who wa6 batting with confidence, scored a brace with a pretty straight drive. " Bennett sent down a maiden to M'Cormick, then M'Mahon scored a single off Humphreys, following with

In Humphreys's next over he cut one beautifully to the boundary when the long grass stopped a four. In the same over he put a ball through the slips for a single and 200 went up at 4.35. M'Mahon who was now into double figures, was clean bowled by Humphreys. 207—8 — 14. Stemson, who was next, opened with a single to leg. M'Cormick made a brace off Humphreys with a square cut and then Stemson scored another single off Bennett. Light rain was still falling and sawdust was brought into requisition. Humphreys was sent by Stemson to the i off boundary and a drive by M'Cormick for a single resulted in three being run foT an overthrow. Humphreys placed his field deep and tempted Stemson, who drove him hard for a brace, and followed by a single. Bennett sent a maiden to M'Cormick. Stemson drove Humphreys hard for two, the public warmly applauding the vigourous cricket. .Both men were now well followed by a single. Bennett sent down a maiden to M'Cormick and then Anthony replaced Humphreys, his second ball, a slow, securing Stemson' s wicket. — 237 — 9 — 16. Robinson opened his scoring account with a poke to leg for a single off Anthony. In the next over Robinson stood across his wickets to pull and missing the ball was out 1.b.w., the innings closing at 6.16 for 239. At 5.30 Wood and Lusk, the first Canterbury batsmen went to the wickets. Relf sent down a maiden over and then Stemson went on from the hospital end. His first ball was sent to t square leg for two. The second ball gave the crowd a thrill, the bails coming off the stumps, and Wood left his crease for the He was called back, the ball having removed the bails from a rebound off the wicket keeper's pad. The next ball waE I glanced to leg for four run out. A misfield in Relf s over gave Lusk an extra run. Stumps were drawn ai 5.60 p.m. The following are the scores: — AUCKLAND. First Innings. Hemua, b Humphreys . . 60 Cumm.ngs, b Bennett . . .3 Belt, c Utlivier b Malone . . 41 Saie, b Bennett . . . .84 • Haddon, b Bennett - '. .8 Brooke-Smith, lbw b Humphreys 14 Mason, o Orch&rd b Humphreys' 18 M'Cormick, not out . . . 18 M'Mahon, b Humphreys . . 14 Stemson, b Anthony . . .16 Robinson, lbw b Anthony . . 1 Erirras . ... . .29 Total 539 •Bowling Analysis— Humphreys, 282 balls, 16 maidens, 97 runs, 4 wickets; Bennett. 324 balls, 33 maidens, 47 runs, 3 wickets; Malone, 96 balls, 57 runs,. 1 wicket; Reese, 6 bal.s, 1 ran; Orchard, 6 baJls, 4 runs; Anthony, 12 bailß, 8 runs, 2 wickets. Humphrey* bowled seven no balls. CANTERBTJEX. First Innings. Lusk, not out .... 6 Wood, not out .... 6 Total for no wickets . 11