Auckland Bat Well At The Commencement Of Plunket Shield Match.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18645, 26 December 1928, Page 12

Auckland Bat Well At The Commencement Of Plunket Shield Match.

VISITORS HAD MADE 264 RUNS FOR FIVE WICKETS WHEN PLAY STOPPED YESTERDAY.

A beginning was made at Lancastei Park yesterday afternoon with the Plunket Shield match, Auckland v. Canterbury. The visitors had first strike, and at stumps had scored 264 for five wickets.

Canterbury were unfortunate in the weather. The day was warm and sultry. Shortly before 3 p.m. a light rain began to fall and continued for nearly the whole of the remainder of the afternoon. It was not sufficient to stop play, but it made conditions difficult for the Canterbury bowlers, and liberal use was made of sawdust.

There was a fairly large attendance of spectators. The gate takings amounted to £139. When the rain came on fairly heavily after the tea adjournment, spectators on the outside, most of whom were without overcoats, were allowed on to the new stand. The teams were as follow: CANTERBURY. M. L. Page (Malvern), captain. E. Brosnahan (East). C. G. Crawford (St Albans). C. E. Evans (Riccarton). I. M. Hamilton (Old Collegians). J. Newman (West). R. Read (Linwood). R. C. Burns (Old Boys). W. R. Cunningham (Sydenham). W. E. Merritt (Old Boys). A. W. Roberts (Riccarton). Twelfth man: G. R. Gregory (East). AUCKLAND. C. F. Allcott (captain). E. H. Bowley. J. H. Dunning. H. D. Gillespie. E. Horspool. A. S. Plaver. J. E. Mills. A. J. Postles. R. W. Rowntree. G. L. Weir. P. W. Whitelaw. N. Martin (twelfth man). The Auckland batting was steady, without being particularly brilliant. Their innings opened rather badly, the first wicket falling with the total only 15, J. E. Mills being clean-bowled by Read, for seven. However, he was the only Auckland batsman who failed to reach double figures. E. H. Bowley and A. J. Postles added 59 for the second wicket, and for the fourth wicket G. L. Weir and C. F. Allcott put on 81. After the fall of the fifth wicket at 187, H. D. Gillespie and P. E. Whitelaw carried on, and they were still together at stumps, with the total 264, an addition of 77 runs.

Top score for Auckland was made by C. F. Allcott, who compiled 69 by good batting. He hit eleven fours. Allcott gave a chance at 37, being dropped in the slips by Hamilton off Cunningham.

H. D. Gillespie showed a solid front to the Canterbury bowling, and at stumps he was unbeaten with a welldeserved 65 to his credit. He looks like going on to his century. Whitelaw was 21 not out at stumps. He is an Auckland Grammar School boy, who has gained representative honours without having first played senior cricket. He appeared to be nervous at the beginning of his innings but later he settled down and batted nicely. E. H. Bowley played a good knock for 40, and Weir (27) and Postles (21) contributed useful totals. J. Newman was the most successful bowler for Canterbury. He kept an excellent length, and in twenty-three overs had only 41 runs scored off him. He bowled seven maidens and took a couple of wickets. R. Read also had twenty-three overs, including a couple of maidens. He took one wicket for 73 runs. The conditions were against W. E. Merritt, and he was rather expensive, having 75 runs scored off him in seventeen overs. He took one wicket. M. L. Page secured one wicket for 25 runs. The Canterbury fielding was inclined to be patchy, and several chances were missed. The game will be resumed at 11 a.m. to-day. YESTERDAY’S PLAY. Allcott won the toss for Auckland and elected to bat. Bowley and Mills opened for the visitors, the English coach taking strike to Read, bowling from the south end. Bowley opened his account with a couple off Read. Cunningham bowled from the north end. In Cunningham’s first over, Mills scored a pretty four round to leg. The score mounted steadily. However, when the total was 15, after ten minutes’ play, Mills was beaten by a good ball from Read, which caught the off stump. 15—1—7. Postles filled the vacancy. He played out the remainder of Read’s over, which was a maiden. Bowley reached double figures with a couple off Cunningham. Next over (Read’s), Bowley, who had scored 11, gave a chance in the slips, but, between them, 'Page and Hamilton missed the opportunity. Bowley made his score 18 with a nice cover drive for four off Cunningham. Postles broke his “duck” with a single off the first ball of Read's fifth over, and a couple of balls later Bowley reached 20 with a couple. He had been batting for twenty minutes. Next over Bowley brought 30 up with one off Cunningham. In one over Bowley drove Read for a four, a single and a four. This made the grand total 40 and Bowley’s score 30. HALF-CENTURY HOISTED. Merritt replaced Cunningham at the north end. Postles pulled the Canterbury slow bowler for a couple and a single, and then Bowley drove him for one, which was presented to Auckland on account of poor fielding on the part of Cunningham. Postles got his first boundary off Read, and this brought the score to one short of the half-cen-tury. A couple to Bowley off Merritt brought 50 up after thirty-two minutes’ play. Read, who had seven overs for one wicket and 27 runs, was replaced by Newman. Newman’s fourth delivery went for four byes. Postles reached doubles with a single off Newman after twenty-five minutes’ batting. Next over (Merritt’s), a short run saw Postles nearly run out. The batsmen took a decided risk. Newman’s second over was a maiden to Bowley. The rate of scoring had died down a good deal. The first boundary for a long time came when Bowley pulled Merritt to leg for four. This brought 70 up. Light rain began to fall at this stage, and sawdust was requisitioned for the bowlers. Bowley’s total was 40 after fifty minutes at the creases. SECOND WICKET FALLS. The second wicket of the visitors fell with the total 74, Bowley being bowled off his pads by Newman. Bowley had played a good knock for 4u, though Newman seemed to trouble him. Bowley was in for fifty-two minutes. .Weir jointed Postles, who reached

20 with four round to leg off Merritt. Off the first ball of Merritt’s next over, Postles gave an easy catch to Newman at mid-on, and three wickets were down for 78. It was not a particularly good start. The Auckland skipper, Allcott, was next in. With six to his credit, Allcott survived an appeal for stumped off Merritt. Newman, at the other end, was bowling very well. He had only five runs scored off his first eight overs. Allcott reached a dozen by driving Merritt hard for four. This made the score 90. Newman’s ninth over was a maiden, his fifth. THE FIRST CENTURY. The century appeared on the board at 3.38 p.m., after seventy-eight minutes’ play. Next over Allcott scored three fours off Merritt and made his own total 30. The Canterbury slow bowler had 14 knocked off him this over, and he was replaced by Cunningham. Merritt had bowled twelve overs, and had taken one wicket for 53 runs. Allcott had 32 to his credit when he played an uppish stroke through the slips off Cunningham. The ball sailed between Page and Hamilton. Read replaced Newman at the south end. The English player had bowled eleven overs (five maidens) and had taken one wicket for nine runs. ALLCOTT DROPPED. Weir was batting slowly and he took twenty-six minutes to reach ten. Allcott was 37 when he gave a chance in in the slips off Cunningham. Hamilton failed to hold the ball. The score continued to mount steadily. At the tea adjournment the score was 140 for three wickets, Allcott being 47. On resuming after the adjournment Cunningham bowled from the north end. Read took over at the other end. The rain at this stage was falling more heavily than before the adjournment. Weir brought 150 up with four round the leg off Cunningham. Allcott reached the half century mark at 4.30 p.m. He had been batting for fifty minutes. Further supplies of sawdust were provided. Newman took over from Cunningham at the north end. FOURTH WICKET FALLS. The score stood at 159 when Weii was clean bowled by Newman. The batsman evidently thought the ball would miss the wicket easily, for he made no attempt to hit it. 1594 —27. Weir had played a patient innings for his total of 27. Newman had taken a couple of wickets for 10 runs. Gillespie was the next batsman. Allcott was going along nicely. Gillespie opened with a single off Read. The rate of scoring bad died down a good deal. With the total 184 Page replaced Read at the south end. Gillespie reached 10 with a couple off Page’s first delivery. Then, with his fifth delivery, Page clean bowled Allcott amidst great applause. Allcott had batted well for a total of 69. He was in for eighty-eight minutes and hit eleven fours. 157—5—69. SCHOOLBOY PLAYER. The vacancy was filled by Whitelaw, the Auckland Grammar School boy. The newcomer opened his account with a nice single round the leg off Page, but he did not seem too comfortable facing the Canterbury captain. The double century was hoisted at 5.20 p.m. after 160 minutes’ play. Whitelaw brought it up with a single off Page. Gillespie, who was batting very quietly, took fifty minutes to reach 20. Immediately after he played an uppish stroke off Newman, but the ball fell safe. Merritt replaced Page at the south end with the score 207. A couple off Newman made Whitelaw 10. Page went on at the north end in place of Newman, and, with a four off his second delivery, Gillespie reached 40. Read took over at the other end. The score continued to mount steadily. Gillespie reached 50 at 5.45 p.m. He had been batting for seventy-six minutes. A little later Whitelaw brought 250 up with a nice single through the slips off Read. Merritt was given another try at the north end. Gilleipie pulled his first delivery round to leg and reached’ 60. Next ball Burns missed a great chance of stump ing Gillespie. When play ceased at 6 p.m. the score was 264 for five wickets. Scores;—

AUCKLAND. First Innings. T. E. Mills, 1411 b Read 7 E. H. Bowley, 21322112421141412141 b Newman 40 A. J. Postles, 11214111111114 c Newman b Merritt 21 G. L. Weir, 1111112121121443 b Newman 27 C. F. Allcott, -241141424414411423 1111114111144 b Page ...... 69 H D. Gillespie, 11121112141142414 111141331141141131 not out .. 65 P. E. Whitelaw, 2311121111211111 not out 21 Byes, 1441 10 Leg Byes, 1111 4 Total for five wickets .. 264

Fall of wickets—One for 15, two for 74, three for 78, four for 159, five for 187.

OTAGO START WELL AGAINST WELLINGTON. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, December 25. The Plunket Shield match, Otago v. Wellington (holders), commenced yesterday morning the Basin Reserve, and was continued this afternoon. A. W. Alloo beat T. C. Lowry for spin of the coin, and H. C. Alloo and Knight opened for Otago in glorious sunshine. M’Girr took up the bowling. Alloo nibbled at the last ball of the over and was smartly taken by Foley at second slip, an excellent start for Wellington, as M’Girr had taken one wicket for 6 runs in the opening over on a wicket ideal for run-getting.

Roger Blunt came next, and Badcock took up the bowling. Knight gave a chance low down to Dempster at first slip, the fieldsman making a valiant effort to hold a difficult catch. With 14 up for nine overs, Rotherham, the ex-Englishman, who was making his first appearance in Plunket Shield games, took the ball from Babcock. After bowling seven overs for 18 runs and a wicket, M’Girr gave way to Henderson. Blunt was staying confidently and relished the deliveries of Henderson, who was proving expensive, as eight came from his second over. Rotherham was keeping the batsmen quiet, only six runs coming from his first five overs. The first 50 was up in as many minutes. With the total at 58, Knight, who had reached 18, touched a rising ball from Henderson, and James took brilliantly a one-handed

catch at short stop. Henderson’s one wicket had cost 25 runs.

L. C. Eastman, the Essex professional, arrived to see Lambert take the ball from Rotherham. Eastman opened in most confident fashion. After reaching 39, Blunt, who had shaped stylishly if somewhat quietl}', was smartly snapped up by James at short stop off Henderson, who had now taken two wickets for 38.

Monk, the ex-Aucklander, joined Eastman, who was 19, and Babcock relieved Lambert. The hundred came up after eighty-one minutes’ play, and M’Girr replaced Henderson, whose eight overs had resulted in 44 runs and two wickets. Eastman was now playing sparkling cricket. At MB, Lowry, the Wellington captain, took the ball from Lambert, and three from the over saw 150 go up. The luncheon adjournment was taken with the board showing 157 for three wickets, Eastman being 68 and Monk 20, the pair having put on 68 for the fourth wicket.

On resuming at 1.55, Hoar, who was making his debut in Shield games, was tried with the ball for the first time. At 184, Monk, who had played a very useful innings for 25, let out at Hoar, who was bowling an excellent length, and was beautifully taken with a running catch by Dempster at long-off. The batsman had helped Eastman to add 96 for the fourth wicket. Hoar had now taken one for 6.

Galland arrived to see Eastman, who had been at the wickets for eighty-seven minutes for 88, tip one from Henderson, and James take his third catch at short stop. The Otago professional had given a delightful display of free scoring, hitting fifteen fourers and playing all the bowlers with the greatest of confidence. Cavanagh joined Galland, but he did not last long, as, after scoring a couple, he snicked one from Henderson, and Foley took his second smart catch in the slips. A. W. Alloo came next, and commenced to nibble at Henderson’s off fliers. He then settled down and lifted one from Hoar to the ropes at extra long-on. At 193 Lambert relieved Hoar, who had bowled well in capturing one for 11 off eight overs, but the bowlers were frequently changed. The batsmen dug in for a time, and then started to pick up runs steadily, taking the score along to 230. With 250 in sight both men were in the thirties, having added 70 for the seventh wicket. At 264 Hoar was brought on again, relieving Lowry. Dempster set applause going by racing to make a brilliant right-handed pick-up on the long on boundary, which robbed Alloo of what appeared a certain boundary. In Henderson’s next over Dempster dropped Alloo at second slip. The tea adjournment was taken with the score reading 290 for six wickets, Cavanagh being 52 and Arthur Alloo 45, the pair having added 104 for the seventh wicket.

On resuming Cavanagh followed Alloo into the sixties and the pair were running neck and neck in a fruitful partnership. With the total at 326 the partnership, which had added 140 in good time, was severed by Cavanagh lifting one from Lowry to M’Girr at deep square leg. Cavanagh had shaped very soundly for his 67, which included four boundary shots.

Douglas, the left-hander, joined Arthur Alloo. The newcomer did not last long, as after scoring three he moved in front of a straight one from Lambert.

Zimmerman, the Oamaru representative, came next and was nearly caught. At 374 Foley was given a trial for the first time in the innings, sending down a good maiden to Zimmerman. Interest now centred upon the Otago captain reaching his century. With the total at 388, Zimmerman, who had shaped brightly for 29, popped one into Lamason’s hands close in at square leg. The Oamaru man had assisted his captain to put on 59 for the ninth wicket. Elmes, a left-hander, came in as last man. He was enterprising and had a go at everything offering. There was double speculation now, first as to whether Alloo would reach his century, and secondly as to whether Otago would run into the fourth hundred. The innings closed at 5.20, when the Otago captain let out at One from Lambert and lifted it into Rotherham’s hands at long on. Warm applause broke out when A. Alloo's century was posted on the score board. The Otago captain had played an invaluable innings for his 101. He went in at a critical stage of the game and his stand with Cavanagh was the turning point of the innings, which realised the solid proportions of 398. Dempster and Foley opened Wellington’s first innings at 5.24, to the bowling of Eastman and Monk, two mediumpaced right-handers. With 14 on A. Alloo took over from Monk and Zimmerman relieved Eastman. The pair were still together when stumps were drawn at 6 o’clock, when the total was 18, Dempster being 10 and Foley 7. SECOND DAY’S PLAY. The weather was ideal when the game was resumed at 2 o’clock to-day. The wicket and outfield were in firstclass order for run getting. Eastman took up the bowling and Monk took up the attack at the other end. With 29 up Foley gave a chance to Blunt off Monk. Foley tried to turn the next ball to leg and was well taken on the leg side behind the wickets by Galland. Monk's wicket had cost 23 runs. Badcock joined Dempster, who was 20 Blunt took the ball from Monk and Badcock brought 50 up by placing the slow bowler’s first ball through the slips for three. Badcock. who was giving a sparkling display, overhauled Dempster by smacking the first ball of Blunt’s second over to the track at long off. This was the end of a breezv knock, however, as the first ball of Elmes’ second over clean bowled him. Badcock had hit a six and two fours in running to his 36 in a quarter of an hour.

Lowry followed, and played out a good maiden from Elmes. A period ot slow play followed, the batsmen contenting themselves with an occasional single. At 104 Eastman came on, relieving Blunt. Eastman bowled well. At 125 Arthur Alloo took the ball from Elmes, whose eight overs had resulted in 25 runs and a wicket. At 134 Douglas, a slow medium left-hander, relieved Eastman, and made a great attempt to catch Lowry off his sixth delivery. A period of slow play caused the crowd to wax sarcastic, and cheers went up when Dempster lifted A. Alloo to long off for three. With 150 up H. Alloo was tried for the first time, taking the ball from Douglas. The tea adjournment was taken with the board showing two wickets down for 150, Dempster being 60 and Lowry 25. A. W. Alloo and Douglas took up the bowling. In the Otago captain’s second over Dempster hit one through covers, for which they ran four, but the next ball saw the end of a solid innings, Douglas taking a smart catch in the slips. The outgoing man had been very restrained in running to his 66, which only included seven fours. Rotherham failed to score, being clean bowled by a good one from A. Alloo, who had now taken two for 16. J. Lamason came next, and play quietened down again. In stopping a hot return from the outfield, Douglas had a finger injured, and had to leave the field. Lowry continued his stonewalling tactics. At 170 Blunt relieved A. Alloo, and with 189 up Elmes took the ball from Eastman. Lowry pulled Elmes’s first ball, a long hop, straight into Monk’s hands at mid on. It was an inglorious end to a stubborn innings. Half the side now were out for 189 runs. This was the position shortly before five o’clock. When stumps were drawn Wellington had scored 281 for six wickets.

Following are the scores:— OTAGO. First Innings. H. C. Alloo. c Foley b M’Girr . 6 A. K. Knight, c James b HenderR C Blunt, c James b Henderson 39 L. C. Eastman, c James b HenderP. Monk, c Dempster b Hoar .... A Galland, c Foley b Henderson . 2 V A Cavanagh. c M'Girr b Lowry 61 A W Alloo, c Rotherham b LamW. Douglas, lbw b Lambert 3 C. Zimmerman, c Lamason b Lambert 29 Extras. —Byes 8, leg byes 3, Total 398 Bowling analysis.—M’Girr, 16 overs, 2 maidens, 56 runs, 1 wicket; Badcock, 18 overs, 5 maidens, 32 runs; Rotherham, 10 overs, 3 maidens, 21 runs; Henderson, 28 overs, 4 maidens, 127 runs; 4 wickets; Lambert, 18 overs, 2 maidens, 67 runs, 3 wickets; Lowry, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 32 runs, 1 wicket; Hoar, 10 overs, 3 maidens, 18 runs, 1 wicket; Dempster, 1 over, 12 runs; Foley, 3 overs, 1 maiden, 13 runs. WELLINGTON. First Innings. C. S. Dempster, c Douglas b A. H. Foley, c Galland b Monk .... IS F. T. Badcock, b Elmes 36 T. C. Lowry, c Monk b Elmes .... 42 G. A. Rotherham, b A. Alloo — . 0 J. R. Lamason, not out 52 K. C. James, c Galland b Elmes 33 H. M. M’Girr, not out 20 Extras 14 Total for six wickets .. 281