WELLINGTON WICKETS FALL IN QUICK ORDER BEFORE LUNCH

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19267, 2 January 1931, Page 10

WELLINGTON WICKETS FALL IN QUICK ORDER BEFORE LUNCH

M’Girr Makes Fine Century And Lowry Goes Leg Before With 91.

WELLINGTON were all out for 351 at the luncheon adjournment in the Plunket Shield match against Canterbury. M‘Girr (101) and Lowry (91) batted in great style, carrying the score to 269, but the other wickets went rapidly. Canterbury are 155 runs behind on the first innings. Canterbury began their second innings badly, J. L. Kerr being dismissed for a duck.

The match was resumed in perfect weather, Lowry (44) and M’Girr (61) carrying on the Wellington score, which stood at 194 for three wickets, against Canterbury’s first innings total of 214. Cromb and Cunningham were the first bowlers, and the batsmen got to work right away, Lowry pulling Cunningham for a boundary, and running to fifty alter batting 90 minutes. The double century went up after the innings had been in progress 150 minutes. M’Girr ran to the seventies with a beautiful late cut off Talbot,, who had relieved Cromb at the north end. The batsmen looked just as set as they did at the close of yesterday’s play, and another square cut to M’Girr took the score past Canterbury’s. Cromb relieved Cunningham. M’Girr in Form. M’Girr found the fine leg boundary off Cromb with a pretty shot, and then cut a single to third man. He was in fine form, timing them beautifully. Lowry also showed no hesitation with his crisp scoring shots. Merritt came i on instead of Talbot in an effort to effect a separation. Lowry placed the second ball for a single. Lowry had a narrow escape in Cromb’s next over, tipping the ball dangerously near his wicket. Merritt bowled an accurate maiden to M’Girr. In his next over he appealed unsuccessfully against Lowry for lbw; later the same batsman drove Cromb powerfully for a four, bringing 250 up. A Wicket Falls. Lowry had a life off Cromb in slips, Hamilton just failing to hold a hard chance high up on his left hand. Another good over from Merritt, in which M’Girr had a narrow escape, and Lester took over from Cromb, M’Girr driving the first ball for four, and reaching a century. It was a fine effort, bright all the way, the batsman showing some fine forceful shots and timing well. M’Girr did not last to

enjoy a hit, returning one from Lester to the bowler, who took a hot catch. 269-4-101. M’Girr, whose runs included fourteen boundaries, was at the wickets 137 minutes. The Lowry-M’Girr partnership had added 187 runs. Lamason joined his captain, but with the last ball of the over Lester clean bowled him. 269-5-0. Roberts and Kerr were earning deserved applause for their fielding in the deep field, where they saved many boundaries. Crook was the next man in. Lester had taken two wickets for 15 runs. Crook survived an appeal for leg before from Merritt. Lowry cut Merritt to the fence. The third century went up after 214 minutes. Cromb took over from Lester. Lowry was nearing the century, and plajing with caution. Lowry Out. The Wellington skipper was not destined to reach the hundred. He went forward to Cromb, and missed, an appeal for lbw being sustained. 304-6-91. It was a characteristic knock, hard-hitting yet sound. Again this consistent cricketer was a tower of strength to his side. M’Leod joined Crook, who was going well. A Wonderful Catch. Crook went when Cromb took a characteristic catch in slips off Merritt. It locked as though the fieldsman had no chance, but he stretched out an arm that seemed about six feet long and gathered it in. 308-7-14. Massey joined M’Leod, and before he had scored was clean bowled by Merritt. 308-8-0. J. Newman was next man, and signalled his arrival with a straight drive off Merritt to the fence, then a fine pulled six over square leg. In Five Hits. J. Newman was shaky against Cromb, but smacked another four off Merritt. M’Leod had a narrow escape from being caught behind, the ball going to the fence. Talbot relieved Merritt, who had bowled thirty overs for 94 runs and three wickets. Newman drove Talbot past cover for four,

and Lester relieved Cromb. Newman had reached twenty in five hits. He was lucky when he had a hit at Lester and skied the ball over slips’ heads. M’Leod lifted Lester to the boundary. The stand was broken in Talbot’s next over, Cromb holding another fine catch off Newman in the slips. Newman made a breezy 22, and the total was 343 for nine wickets. Blundell was the last man. Talbot bowled two wides in succession and was barracked, while 350 went up on the board. Merritt took over from him next over, and the end came. M'Lcod drove him stronglv, and set off down the pitch. Page fielded splendidly, and sent in a hot return which Jacobs turned to good advantage, whipping off the bails with M’Leod still out of his crease. The innings closed for 351, after lasting 270 minutes. The luncheon adjournment was taken straight away. Canterbury Again. Kerr and Hamilton took their stand at the wickets after lunch, Kerr opening against Massey, the leg theory trundler, who bowled from the north end. Kerr survived an lbw appeal from the fourth ball. No runs came, and Blundell bawled to Hamilton from the south end, the batsman placing the first ball to the off for a single. Off Massey’s next over Hamilton was dropped behind the wickets by James.

Kerr went without scoring. He was clean bowled by Blundell, just as he was in the first innings. One wicket down with one run on the board. ..Roberts joined Hamilton, and survived an lbw appeal. He cocked one up dangerously to leg, just out of the fieldsman’s reach. Massey bowled another maiden, his third in succession. Hamilton placed two shots for runs in Massey’s next over, after having a narrow escape from being bowled by Blundell, and Roberts scored with a fortunate snick to leg. Hamilton Starts Well. Hamilton off drove a no ball from Massey to bring the ten up, then drove Blundell for a brace and got another pair from a square cut. lie varied his placing with another pair to leg. He had reached double figures. Another maiden to Massey, and then A. Newman relieved Blundell, who had one wicket for ten runs. Scores:— CANTERBURY. First innings. I. Nr. Hamilton, 41, c James b Massey 5 J. L. Kerr, 111, b Blundell 3 A. W. Roberts, 2114141, b J. Newman 14 R. O. Talbot, 11111112111141141111 111211611, b M’Leod 42 M. L. Page, 121111124112141212, c James, b Blundell 28 T. Jacobs, b Newman 0 I. B. Cromb, 2244211414112214112112 42211211, c M’Girr, b J. Newman 5S S. G. Lester, 211, played on, b J. Newman 4 W. E. Merritt, 44214441144, c James, b Crook 33 N. Dorreen, 11411, c James, b M’Leod 8 W. Cunningham, not out 0 Extras 19 Total 214 Bowling Analysis.

Blundell and Crook each bowled a no-ball. Fall of wickets: One for 8, two for 18, three for 40, four for 71, five for 75, six for 153, seven for 170, eight for 179, nine for 212, ten for 214. Second innings. J. L. Kerr, b Blundell 0 I. M. Hamilton, not out 19 A. W. Roberts, not out 10 Extras 1 Total for one wicket .... 30 WELLINGTON. First innings. C. S. Dempster, 142311111111211111 214121221, lbw, b Talbot 41 A. Newman, 13, c Dorreen, b Cunningham 4 K. C. James, 111422311441241, std Dorreen, b Merritt 32 H. M. M’Girr, 12124411211221141444 1411142111121114244111111141414 c and b Lester 101 T. C. Lowry, 13114121142114411112 1111141111111141411112211121411 1111, lbw b Cromb 91 J. R. Lamason, b Lester 0 R. Crook, 112111111121, c Cromb b Merritt 14 If. B. Massey, b Merritt 0 E. G. M’Leod, 11411411, run out .. 14 J. Newman, 4624411, c cromb b Talbot 22 E. D. Blundell, 11, not out 2 Extras 30 Total 351 Bowling Analysis.

Cromb bowled two no-balls, Lester one, Talbot one, and Merritt one. Talbot bowled three wides. Fall of wickets—One for 19, 2 for 71, three for 82, four for 269, five for 269, six for 304, seven for 308, eight for 309, nine for 343, ten for 351.

Overs. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. E. D. Blundell 32 6 94 2 H. B. Massey 11 2 21 1 R. Crook .... S.l 1 17 1 J. Newman .. 17 3 36 4 E. G. M’Leod 6 2 17 2 A. Newman .. 5 1 10 0

Overs. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. W. Cunningham 18 1 80 1 R. O. Talbot .. 22 4 41 2 W. E. Merritt . . 30.1 4 93 3 I. B. Cromb .. 17 2 61 1 S. G. Lester .. 12 2 36 2 M. L. Page 2 1 4 0 A. Roberts 3 0 6 0