AUCKLAND MAKE A GRAND FIGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18045, 4 January 1927, Page 5

AUCKLAND MAKE A GRAND FIGHT.

AN UPHILL BATTLE AGAINST OTAGO. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, January 4. The Plunket Shield match, Otago v. Auckland, was resumed in line weather, the wicket being as good as on the first day. Blamtres. who was injured yesterday, did not field. Cooper (56) and Gillespie (IS) resumed Auckland’s second innings (two for 2.12), 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 batsmen 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 one from Blunt into mid-off s hands. 3—26—230. Two balls later Cooper stepped in front of one from the same bowler. 4—66—231. The retiring batsman had been at the wickets 318 minutes for 66. Alcott and Dacre were associated, the former’s first four scoring strokes including three fours. Dacre opened quietly, but then 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 three 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 reaching 30 with a pretty glance to the square-leg boundary. Alcott gave a chance off Dickinson in the next over, cutting through Blair’s hands in the slips. At noon Auckland had lost four wickets for 303, after three hours 50 minutes play.