PLUNKET SHIELD

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20689, 27 December 1938, Page 8

PLUNKET SHIELD

CAUTIOUS START AUCKLAND'S INNINGS MATCH WITH CANTERBURY (By Teiegraph—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday Requiring 99 runs to overtake Canterbury’s first innings’ score, Auckland made*a tame and cautious start in the Plunket Shield match to-day on a wicket that was drying out rapidly under the influence of the sun and a strong wind. Only six runs were added to the overnight score (156) when Roberts got Pearson leg-before. Six wickets were down. Roberts, bowling with remarkable accuracy, had sent down three maiden overs in succession. Donnelly operated at the other end, but during four overs did not look like succeeding. He was" replaced by Davis, the right-hand medium. Wallace 61 had his third life of his innings in the first over, a hard chance being missed by Roberts in the slips. Wallace and Matheson were batting with the utmost caution, only an occasional ball being hit with vigour. After an hour's play 30 runs had been added. Stubborn Defence Holds Frequent changes in attack failed to penetrate the solid defence of Wallace and Matheson. They added another 30 runs in .just over half an hour, and brought up the 200 mark after 302 minutes. A few overs later Roberts and Mulcock had them completely suppressed. There were four maidens in succession. At one stage they were the only really dangerous elements in the attack.

The left-hand spinners, Donnelly and Bellamy, though treated with the greatest respect, seldom looked like succeeding. Canterbury’s fielding slumped in patches, and one or two missed chances during the morning marred their play. Both Matheson and Wallace scored most of their runs with leg glances, relieved occasionally with a clinking cover-drive, but they seldom hit out. It was stubborn, obstinate defence. Scores:— CANTERBURY First Innings Hadlee, lbw, b Weir . . ..., 92 Bellamy, c Wallace, b Cowie .. 0 Stokes, b Vivian 23 Kerr, c and b Weir .. .. 12 Roberts, b Matheson . . .. 57 Donnelly, Lbw b Matheson .. 25 Menzies, b Matheson . . .. 8 Cromb, b Cowie 5 Webb, c Jackman, b Cowie .. 3 Davis, lbw, b Cowie . . . . 8 Mulcock, not out 5 Extras 16 Total 254 Bowling.—Cowie took five wickets for 60 runs, Matheson two for 71, Vivian one for 56. Snedden none for 36, Weir two for 15. AUCKLAND First Innings Postles, c Mulcock, b Donnelly .. 21 Whitelaw, lbw, b Bellamy . . 36 Wallace in 90 Scott, c Bellamy, b Roberts .. 9 Vivian, c and b Roberts . . .. 6 Weir, run out 23 Pearson, lbw, b Roberts .. .. 5 Matheson (in) 21 Extras is Total, six wkls for 229 YESTERDAY’S PLAY (By TelegTapn.—Pres3 Association; CIIRISTCFfURCH. Monday After two days’ play the Plunket Shield cricket match between Auckland. the present holder of the trophy, and Canterbury, is in a very interesting position. Canterbury, which batted first, on Saturday, made the fair total of 254 and when play ended to-day Auckland had made 156 for the loss of five wickets. There have been few bright spots so far and, taken all round, the play has been rather slow, a total of 410 runs only having been scored in about eight hours. The weather on both days did not favour fast scoring, Saturday being dull with rain falling during the late stages of Canterbury's innings and bad light stopping play half an hour before the scheduled time. Tne wicket all day was dead. Rain on Sunday and this morning made it impossible to start play until this afternoon and the wicket helped the spin bowlers for a period. Hadlee, with 92. was top-scorer for Canterbury, but it was not a good innings for him. Roberts batted well for Iris 57. Donnelly, however, played Ids best innings to date. Brilliant footwork and quick running between the wickets were seen while he was batting and it would have been better if some of the others had followed The Canterbury innings was for the most part slow, with I lie bowling at no time completely mastered. Most of the batsmen adopted defensive tactics against an attack that received no assistance from the dead wicket.