AUCKLAND DROP MANY CATCHES BUT HAVE

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 December 1947, Page 6

AUCKLAND DROP MANY CATCHES BUT HAVE

CANTERBURY’S MEASURE (I’.A.) Christchurch, Dec. 25. Auckland finished the second day cf the Plunket Shield match against Canterbury in a very strong position. In reply to Canterbury’s first innings score of 288, Auckland had scored 154 tor the loss of only one wicket at the end of play to-day. So far, the cricket had been disappointing. Canterbury had a wonderful chance of making a big score when the Auckland fieldsmen missed catch after catch, but the advantage was not pressed home and the last six wickets fell for 74 runs. Only two Canterbury batsmen looked really impressive. Hadlee, who reached 97, played a fine innings, but even he was dropped comparatively early. The other outstanding batsman was A. R. Mac Gibbon, a young player making his first appearance in representative cricket. His 33 was a good effort. F. B. Smith, New Zealand Test player, scored 78, but it was not a good innings. He had a number of live? and although he played some beautiful shots it was a sketchy innings. In humid conditions and on an easy wicket, J. Cowie bowled finely. He was really dangerous only in the first few overs, but maintained a persistent attack in trying conditions. Slow right-hander, C. Burke, who captured four wickets, kept a good length and managed to turn the ball appreciably on the unresponsive pitch. One of the best, however, was F. Hemmingson, a slow left-handei. When bowling into the wind he made the ball dip awkwardly and although his final analysis was not impressive he had little luck. Auckland’s sound position at stumps to-day was due to an opening partnership of 139 by the captain, H. T. Pearson and I. Wyatt, a young North Auckland player making his first appearance in a shield game. Pearson was suffering from a badly, injured hand, an accident occurring early in the first day, but he gave al remarkable display of pluck and concentration. Scoring was extremely slow against bowling which was accurate but lacking in devil, and spectators frequently resorted to barracking. Although dull to watch, the cricket was not without interest and this partnership placed Auckland S a sound position. Wyatt played a solid innings and did not look like getting out. Canterbury made a bad start yesterday morning, Cowie bowling W. McD. Anderson with a beautiful ball when only seven runs were on the board. „ „ J. G. Leggat helped Hadlee over this dangerous period, but not without some adventurous moments. Although he scored only 7, Legatt helped Hadlee add 46 for the second wicket and was still in when Cowie, who had had a long spell for such heat, was rested. However, at his first attempt at a forcing shot, Leggat was bowled. He tried to pull a shorter one from Burke which came through too fast for him. When Hadlee had made 44, he hit one from Burke straight to Pearson at mid-off, but the fieldsman who had Injured his hand earlier, dropped the catch. At lunch, Canterbury's score was 85, Hadlee having scored 56 and Smith, who had started well, 14. After lunch the batsmen continued confidently, but after a perfect cover drive for 4 off Cowie, Smith w r as dropped by the wicket-keeper, Kent. The shot brought the 100 up in 130 minutes, and a few minutes later Smith was dropped again. A particularly easy catch to mid-off, off Cowie, and a four through slips off the same bowler which was dangerously close to becoming a catch, followed. Smith then played some first class shots, but with his score at 49 he cut one from Burke straight into the hands of Cowie at first slip, and again the chance was not accepted. The 150 was raised in even time, with Hadlee playing some classic drives off the slow bowlers. He twice hit Hemmingson for sixes, but he was out to a weak shot. He pushed at one from Taylor, failed to get over the ball, and was caught in slips. This wicket fell at 179, and with Smith, Hadlee had added 126 in 123 minutes. Although Hadlee has played better innings, he batted confidently and well for a little over three hours. The new ball was taken soon after when 58 overs had been bowled, but Mac Gibbon, the next batsman, was untroubled. The 200 was raised in 210 minutes but Smith slowed down when he reached the seventies. His dismissal was not worthy of the cricket he has in him. He cut a rising ball from Cowie and although it went to the fence it was almost e catch. The next ball did the same and was dropped in slips. He tried the stroke for the third successive at the next ball and was well caught by Scott in slips. Smith batted 159 minutes for 79 and at tea Canterbury had lost four for 215. At a vital stage of the game MacGibbon and the former Aucklander, R W. Emery, played soundly, but Mac Gibbon was caught behind the wicket when trying to drive Hemmingeon Soon after, Emery hit his wicket and after that only P. Small with a bright 25 which included a six and four fours, made many. The last wicket partnership added 11 in about 25 minutes and prevented Canterbury having more than two overs at the Auckland batsmen before stumps. A feature of the closing stages of the innings was a brilliant onehanded catch by Scott to dismiss C. G. Snook.

SECOND DAY. To-day Pearson and Wyatt batted slowly indeed, but they made no mistakes. The Canterbury bowlers were very steady but quite unimaginative and the batsmen were able to get the middle of the bat to nearly everything. t , The weather to-day was much cool er and less trying for the fieldsmen, but the wicket again showed no signs of life. Pushes on the off for singles, and placements on the leg side brought runs slowly hut steadily and although Hadlee made rapid changes in the bowling both batsmen were particularly comb rtable. At tea. after 105 minutes batting