Canterbury's Firm Grip On Shield Match

Chronicle (Levin), 11 January 1949, Page 6

Canterbury's Firm Grip On Shield Match

Prnss Association )

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AUUlvBAJNIJ, Jan. 1U. Followiug a briiliant and f orcefut innings by F. B.' Smith who seored 103 runs in two hours' play this morning, Canterbury has a firm grip on the Plunket Sliield match against Auckland which will be concluded at Eden Park tomorrow. Canterbury gained a lead of. 100" runs in the lirst innings and de-

clared'with the total at 481, for seven wiekets at 5.7 p.m. • Sutclift'e and Taylor gave Aucldand another good start by scoring 62 runs before stumps but Auckland has practically no chance of foreing an outright win tomorro'W. Sniith 's innings was a delightfui mixture of foreeful hitting and delicate placements. When play continue-1 Sniith was 13 and Leggat 82, but Smith completely dominated the scene ahd scored 46 of 64 runs recorded in the lirst liour and drew level with Leggat at S9 before the latter was out next ball to a weak shot to a ball on the leg stump. Smitli continued and • reaehed 100 after 133 minutes at the erease, and was caught midfield after luncli after 203 minutes with his score at 146. The ^tal included 15 fours and one six, a glorious cover drive olf Burke. Anderson started strealcily but once he had the sight of the ball he scored steadilv. With Smith, Anderson added 88 runs in 77 minutes for the fourth wicket. The Auckland attack was shown as very weak except for Cowie. Few of the bowlers were able to keep steady direction and all bowled frequejit baiis on the leg stump with the lieldsmcu pSckcd on the ofl' side of tlie wicket. Auckland, after runs in a hurry, will probablv make a game of it by declaring soon after iunch tomorrow but unless the unexpected happens, a lirst innings win for Canterbury is practically a fyregone conclusion. The gate takings today were £216 and the total for the three days £830. Scores : — AUCKLAND ; First innings 383 Second innings - Sutclift'e, not out 3!) Taylor, not out 21 Extras 2 Total for 110 wiekets 62 CANTERBURY First Innings Hadlee, c Waliace, b Burke .. .. 72 Leggat, c Burke, b Hollywood .. 89 O Alallev, c Cowie 1 Smith, c Brookcr, b Burke 146 Anderson, not out 9u MacGibbon, b Cowie 7 Seott, b Cowie () Burtt, c and b Hollywood 2G Small, not out 28 Extras 22 . . .. I To1U for, seypn .wicHe^, ,(decO . .481 , Bowling: Cowie 3 for 89, Brooker 0 for (55, Hollywood 2 for 63, Burke 2 for 90, Marsdon 0 for 55, Scotr 0 f'Gr 3-1, Sutclill'e 0 for 2G, Hardstail: 0 for 3G. *