BIG CRICKET.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17913, 8 January 1930, Page 8

BIG CRICKET.

THE PLUNKET SHIELD. WIN FOR AUCKLAND. SOME BRILLIANT SCORING. AUCKLAND, Wednesday. The Plunkct Shield match, Auckland v. Canterbury was concluded today. Auckland, with 2 wickets for 154 runs continued their first innings, Anthony (61) and Gillespie (43) batting. On resuming Allen kept wickets for Canterbury, Burns having injured his hand. In chopping a ball from Cromb Gillespie gave a chance to Simmonds at first slip, but the bail went through the fieldsman’s hands. The batsmen were scoring freely. Gillespie survived a unanimous appeal for caught behind off Page’s second ball. Bright hatting by the Auckland pair was adding runs quickly, and the remaining runs were soon wiped off, Gillespie making the winning hit, a single. Auckland still had seven wickets in hand. Four hundred runs were scored in 270 minutes’ play, when Talbot went on with a new ball. Gillespie was dropped off Cromb by the bowler. In Talbot’s next over Powell dropped a running one-handed catch at mid-on given by Weir. Gillespie’s great innings came to a close when he chopped a ball from Cromb to Roberts at third slip. I’he partnership had yielded 175 runs. 453—4—183. Weir, joined by Wenslev, ran into the nineties with forceful shots. The Auckland coach opened his account with a hard drive to the fence off Merritt, but lost his wicket to the slow bowler next over.. 474—5—8. Immediately Elliot went in Cromb was replaced by Simmonds. Auckland declared its innings closed just after 3 p.m., the score being 485 for five wickets. The innings lasted 315 minutes. Canterbury's Second Innings. Facing a deficit of 91 runs Canterbury opened its second innings with Kerr and Cromb. When his score was 13 Cromb gave a chance to Wensley at short mid-on off Weir. Cromb lost his wicket by Matheson taking a good catch at mid-on. 77—1—45. Joined by Roberts, Kerr continued to play nice cricket. The 100 went' up after 80 minutes’ play. Anthony was spelled in favour of Elliot at 123, and Wensley relieved Matheson. Kerr hit out at Elliot, and was clean bowled. 141—2—69. Page and Roberts played out time when the score was 152 for two wickets (Roberts 24, Page 3). Auckland thus won on the first innings by 91 runs and five wickets in hand.

Details of the play are as follows:

CANTERBURY. First Innings 394 Second Innings. I. B. Cromb, c Matheson, b Smeeton 45 J. L. Kerr, b Elliott 69 A. W. Roberts, not out 24 M. L. Page, not out 3 Extras 11 Total for two wickets .... 152 BOWLING. O. M. R. W. Matheson .. 13 3 33 —• Wensley .. 8 1 24 Weir .... 4 Smeeton .. 6 Anthony ..10 3 18 Elliot 6 3 6 1 Badeley .. 2 1 2 AUCKLAND. —First Innings. Mills, lbw, D Merritt 35 Wh'itelaw, b Merritt 4 Anthony, b Talbot 116 Gillespie, c Roberts, b Cromb .. 183 Weir, not out 105 Wensley, c Simmonds, b Merritt 8 Elliott, not out 1 Extras 33 Total for 5 wickets (declared) 485 BOWLING. 0. M. R. W. Cromb .. 31 6 86 1 Talbot ... 22 2 80 1 Merritt .. 48 5 143 3 Simmonds .. 26 4 79 Harris 6 Roberts .. 3 Page 7

THE M.C.C. TEAM. SIX MATCHES PLAYED. FIXTURES AHEAD. The fixtures oi- the M.G.C. team to the end of February are: January 10 to 13 — FIRST TEST, at Christchurch. January 17 and 18— Manawatu. January 21 and 22—Rangitikei. January 24 to 27— SECOND TEST, at Wellington. January 29 and 30 —W’airarapa. February 1 and 3—Hawke’s Bay. February 7 to 11—Auckland. February 14 to 17— THIRD TEST, at Auckland. February 19 and 20—Waikato. February 22 and 24—Taranaki. February 26 and 27—Wanganui.

Results. M.C.C. 166 and 293. Wellington 241 and 159 for 9. Drawn (finish interrupted by rain). M.C.C. 248. Nelson 142 and 83 for 6. Drawn. M.C.C. 253 for 9 (declared). South Canterbury 127 and 82. M.C.C. won by an innings and 45 runs. M.C.C. 249. Canterbury 136 and 206 for 8. Drawn. M.C.C. 322 and 5 for no wiokets. Otago 166 and 160. M.C.C. won by ten wickets. M.C.C. 309. Southland 105 and 100. M.C.C won by an innings and 1 104 runs.

Century Makers, K. S. Duleepsinhji 127 v. Nelson. F. E. Woolly 132 v. Otago. THE FIRST TEST. The first clash of strength between the touring M.C.C. team and New Zealand will come at the week-end. On Friday next the First Test will be commenced at Christchurch and it will extend over three days. Those who have kept in close touch with the play of the tourists hold the opinion that New Zealand will stand a good (Continued in next column.)

chance of defeating them. It will be interesting to see how this forecast works out. The defection of the Aucklander, J. E. Mills, means that New Zealand has lost the 'services of a good batsman for the opening game, but there are several others on the side capable of making runs. The tourists must be approaching their best form 'by this and the response on their part can be expected to be favourable so that those who will have the privilege of seeing the game at Christchurch this week-end will be in line for some exciting play.

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, Wednesday. The management committee of the Auckland Cricket Association met last evening. The chairman notified that Sir James Coates, Mr F. Earl, K.C., president of the Auckland Cricket Association, and Mr A. M. Beale, of Waiplro Bay, were presenting hats to the respective century-makers in the Auckland-Canterbury match. The treasurer reported that the total gate takings for the Otago and Canterbury Plunket Shield matches amounted to £415 13s sd.