PLUNKET SHIELD.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 351, 18 February 1932, Page 6

PLUNKET SHIELD.

Final Match Begins at Dunedin To-morrow. WELLINGTON’S CHANCES. The final match of the Plunket Shield series will begin at Carisbrook ground, Dunedin, to-morrow, between Otago and Wellington. The outcome of the game will be awaited keenly in Canterbury, where ‘the shield is at present held. Wellington’s one chance of taking the premiership rests in an outright win. Any other result will mean that the championship will again come to Canterbury. As the competition stands at present Canterbury have 18 points and Wellington 12. The teams are as follows:

Otago—J. A. Dunning (Carisbrook), captain, A. Knight (Grange), F. T. Badcock (Christian Brothers), R. C. Blunt (Carisbrook), R. Cherry (Dunedin), R. W. Coupland (Dunedin), D. Smith (Carisbrook), C. Elms (Grange), G. R. Dickinson (Old Boys), D. A. R. Moloney (Carisbrook), and W. Hawkesworth (University), with V. G. C«*vanagh (Dunedin) as twelfth man. Wellington—T. C. Lowry (Rangitikei) captain, C. S. Dempster (Old Boys), W. Dustin (Midland), W. Hepburn (Kilbirnie), J. R. Lamason (Old Boys), R. Morgan (Wellington), 11. M. M’Girr (Hutt), H. N. Lambert (Institute), K. C. James (Old Boys), R. Crook (Kilbirnie), T. P. Reaney (Hawke’s Bay), and J. Newman (Nelson). The captain will decide upon the twelfth man. The Wellington team differs considerably from that which represented Wellington in Dunedin two years ago, when an evenly-contested game resulted in a win for Wellington by 64 runs. Of those who took part in that match, only three are included in the Wellington team for the coming engagement—T. C. Lowry, H. M. M Girr, and J. R. Lamason. Another member of the Wellington team on that occasion was F. T. Badcock, who will be on the opposing side this time. The other Wellington representatives who played in Dunedin two years ago were W. A. Baker, H. Foley, A. M. Hollings, D. Cameron, S. Ward, S. .Newman, and M. Henderson. Wellington made 283 for nine wickets,* declared (Hollings 46, M’Girr 73, Badcock 62) and 172 (Hollings 34, M’Girr 40), Otago replying with 198 (Shepherd 52, Elmes 40, Alloo 36) arid 193 (Shepherd 49, Cavanagh 87). The most successful bowlers were: For Otago, Dunning three for 53 and four for 57, Lemin four for 61, Moloney one for 27 and two for 20; for Wellington, Badcock four for 41, Hollings twp for 18, Henderson three for 58, Baker three for 50 and five for 50, M’Girr two for 56. Otago’s team for the match is also a much different side from that which met Wellington at Carisbrook two years ago. A. Knight, D. A. R. Moloney, C. S. Elmes and A. J. Dunning are the only members of the 1929-30 side to retain their places, although V. G. Cavanagh is twelfth man for the coming match. The others who played against Wellington two years ago were J. oShepherd, J. M’Mullan, A. W. Alloo, L. Groves, D. Heenan and G. Lemin. The Otago team is said to be stronger than that which made the northern tour a't Christmas time. The inclusion of Dickinson, the express bowler, stiffens up the attack a good deal, and Otago cricket enthusiasts are reported to be looking forward to the match with great interest. The team is expected to put up a good fight against Lowry’s men. The umpires will be Messrs v\ . Butler and W. W. Mackersy.

WEATHER CLEARING

(Special to the “ Star.”) DUNEDIN, February 18. Thick, misty rain, which set in on Monday, shows signs of clearing for the opening of the final Plunket Shield match, commencing to-morrow.

SECOND CRICKET TEST. Is T. C. Lowry Available for Match? (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, February 17. When the New Zealand team for the first Test with the South African cricketers was announced it was stated that T. C. Lowry was not available for either Test. This occasioned a good deal of surprise in cricket circles, especially as it was known that Lowry would be playing for Wellington in Dunedin just prior to the first Test at Christchurch. It has since been reported in Auckland that Lowry is likely to be “ on the bridge” for the second Test, and a statement has been published there that “ there is no foundation for the rumour, emanating from a Wellington source, that T. C. Lowry had been * turned down ’ by the Dominion selectors.” The information given in Wellington was that Lowry had intimated, in reply to a telegram received from one of the New Zealand selectors, that he was not available for either Test, and it was also indicated that both Lowry and Vivian would' have been chosen had they been available. Arrangements which are being made for a special cricket function in the

Town Hall on Saturday, March 5 (the second day of the Test at Wellington) have now brought to light the fact that Lowry will be in Wellington on that date. He was invited by the Wellington College Old Boys’ officials, who are arranging the function, to be present and give a short address, a request which is also being made of other New Zealand representatives as well as some of the South Africans, and Lowry has accepted the invitation. This points o a possibility of Lowry being available for the second Test, in which, no doubt, he would add to his record of leadership by captaining New Zealand against yet another country. He has already led New Zealand against England, Scotland, Wales and Australia.

It is reported that Messrs W. Butler (Otago) and Forrester (Canterbury) have been appointed to act as umpires in the first Test match, South Africa v. New Zealand, to be played at Christchurch, commencing on Saturday week.