CRICKET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19516, 20 February 1926, Page 5

CRICKET

THE PLUNKET SHIELD AUCKLAND MEETS WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON OPEN CAREFULLY. [Per Press Association.! WELLINGTON, Feb. 19. The weather is fine for the Plunket Shield match, Auckland v. Wellington. Tn the early morning the sky was overcast, but the sun is now shining brightly and there is almost a complete absence of wind, although it blew very hard during the night. The ground is in good order. Wellington won the toss and elected to bat, Hiddleston and Badcock going to the crease and Allcott opening the attack. Hiddbston scored a single, but Allcott’s fourth ball beat Badcock. —1 —1 —0. Kortlang was next. Player bowled from the other end, Kortlang hitting his first ball to the boundary. Both batsmen settled down to play carefully, and maidens were credited to both bowlers. Kortlang reached double figures -with a glance to the boundary through the slips. The same player increased his total with a nicely placed three. Hiddleston secured his first boundary off Player, and twenty appeared after half an hour. With the total at 22 Anthony replaced Player (0 for 16). and Kortlang despatched the last ball of the over to the leg boundary, bringing his total to 20. Player went on in place of Allcott with the total at 31. Kortlang hit his first ball for four. At mid-day the total was 37—Kortlang 28, Hiddleston 9. Batsmen Quiet. Later the scoring improved, Hiddleston reaching 20 per medium of nice shots to the boundary. These w’cre refreshing after his slow opening methods. At 65 .Sneddon replaced Player, and he succeeded in keeping the batsmen fairly quiet. Kortlang hit at a noball and was almost run out. A few balls after he reached 50 and Hiddleston was 30. At 85 Smith replaced Anthony. Hiddleston hit a loose one for four. With the total at 91 Hiddleston was smartly taken behind the sticks off Sneddon: 91—2—34. Dempster filled the vacancy and opened with a nice hit for three. He followed up with a nice boundary shot, and with a single brought 100 up after 9.5 minutes’ play. Anthony replaced Smith at 102. Kortlang hitting him for four twice in succession, making his total 60. Allcott replaced Sneddon and Dacre went, on in place of Anthony, and bowled a maiden to Dempster. First Innings Badcock, b Allcott 22 Hiddleston, c Rountree, b Sneddon 34 Kortlang, not 0ut175 Dempster, b Player 62 Collins, c Dacre, b Smith 45 McGirr, c Frater, b Smith 14 McYeod, c Allcott, b Anthony ... 16 Lambert, not out . .. 25 Total for six wickets3B4 Bowling.—Allcott 1 for 39, Player 1 for 94, Cooper 0 for 23, Smith 2 for 57, Sneddon 1 for 45, Anthony 1 for 82, Dacre 0 for 19. M.C.C. TOURISTS MATCH AT GEORGETOWN. DRAWN OWING TO RAIN. GEORGETOWN. Feb. 18. The match was drawn owing to rain. Marylebone in their second innings lost 8 wickets for 234. TWO FINDS WATSON AND HAMMOND. NEW “HOPES” FOR ENGLAND LONDON, Feb. 18. Lord Harris, on arrival from the West Indies, said that the West Indian cricket tour had produced two very fine players, Hammond, of Gloucestershire, and Watson, of Lancashire, both of whom would have to be considered when {ho Australians are here.