A GREAT STRUGGLE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1010, 28 December 1910, Page 6

A GREAT STRUGGLE.

I ;;i %0R PLUNKET SHIELD. WELLINGTON BEATEN BY FOUR ■, WICKETS. ~ :: . : ty ; - ;i ;^^ : r SMlTF !.saves His side. , : '/ '. v-:'.:-:- '2 ";-■'. •-•"■;," Auckland,'. December 27. / ix ;...':--'i' The-Plunket'-Shield' match -.between tho ■i- ,' ■ .(Wellington arid Auckland cricket- repi-e----;S ' J-'eentatives was concluded here this everi- ;.".'-; ing,'v,-just before six o'clock, tho; local ;v .; 'team.winning by four wickets, after a. pv= inbsfj.sensational game. Wellington was ?■- V 'Si'-'ifuiis ahead, on the first innings,iand [•'.■;-.;.-6eemed likely to ue cheaply, disposed-of f\W Sui.the-second,' 1 but Ilickey and. Fiudlay , Ff;'■■. iput-bn 4.o'for. the ninth wicket, and the !'. l; .innings .ended for 179. Auckland- thus fv ; ."wiiiited .214. runs.to win, and. two wickets. K'•";■ were' v down .for' five, Anthony and Pearpf:w; - '*on : jbeing:;but. ■■•'A;.'series' of partnerships ! : N'" followed, however, and five wickets, were rV .down.'. fSr" 102, when .Brook .Smith and | vri '"■ ''Sneddeii became .associated.. This., part: r-ff-:. : uefship saved the iSido, : 105..'.more.'',being' i> , put', on ".before Snedden. was caught, be-,, : ■!' nirid; the stumps; 'Brook Smith-played' ate^/' magnificent innings for. 72 not.'.out, and }--,-■ V : ■' received ,an i ovation 'on .-'-retiring; -. Auck- , £-~V land-'thus, scored tho necessary tubs for sv- , of six wickets.'. The.'-we'ather was p:ti'--<' : , again perfect, and .the'.rtvicket , lasted ;;well. i ;V- •' Oyer : 3000/ spectators the,-'. last jv; : ;' , dayls play, and the 6um-!-pfvJE27O was p '.'■•,--.;. iaken at ? ,,the gates :f6r^the-;thre'e' days. .. fc-.■'.'.-./I--,; '['■■", , Hickoy ; in ; Liyely^Vein.,'.'., ■ . , \'■.'■■}.:.: '.■." Mahony (29) and Monajhan 1 (7) opened j\ ; ..-V-.;' -playi;-oii -the ■ thifd_ day,; continuing Wblh('""'.v .lington's 'second'.innings, the total •' at i-'Ko;that'". ; time beinj 88 for- four- wickets. i'.; , '-* : ', ; :'Keither''batsriiau ; took any liberties with U : V of Pearson and Olliff. When i' ! .;','..■iOO.'.'ca'me -up, ,Hadden>:replaced -Pearson, i&'-V-' arid;he "clean""bowled■ ! i\[onaghan ; in'-Mns' tS :. • the board- then reading. 107 far (,'?: :■ five'■; wickets. :: :Brice' was' tho JXincoming 15,.--', batsman, and Kerr.relieved.Olliffj Mnhony j-; : V: : .befrigbowled in: his second over.—ll9 for. £;. ; ;; six: - wickets. . 'The , retiring.. batsm an had fj;-' l . made .45. Sauriders, caino'.in,\ and saw f : ;", v Brice'ihiti. one .-.from' , Hadden- up in,' the f:-,; ~, outfield,, where ; ;Hemus' brought'. oft' a i;; v . i grand- -catch'.—ll9 'for seven - wickets, f>; v'. -Saunders '-.played- a flulcy" innings' for 10, g> ; , and ::was--then caught "by Broot' Smith for. eight, wickets/,.>Pindlay j.'.",; ••came'irii'.and began a partnership with t*-:.':V--;-Hick?yjS.?iyhicH added..4o to .the total.for ft-..'.'.y ,wfcket! : .tho latter. 1 making' most, *.?.',.,:.- of He was 35 when Pearson i.%: -ifcleamibowled him,.'.- the .'score' being:.l74 ??;v';'f((i;;;jiine-.[-\viclets.'- : The, -retiring ..batsman iS" "'played.'tto-Jiveliest cricket of the match, |? : ';\i:.the partriership-1 putting 0n : 40.-.runs .in.ls wnunutes:- rScliinoll,' the last man 'in)' saw ;©■'-,."J'earson-.ibpwl -Findlay, and" (he innings S- ; '-yVclosedHpr>l7o;--i:'; ;,.:[:. :.";"..;■ • '■,■:'.'. \ 0: , : Dismal' Starts.:.''' '

K>-j'-' VSale.Jand Anthony were, the -'opening 5.'-:;:vbatsnien;. in Auckland's .second attempt, K;\/,;the:ifpjnier-taking strike .'to Monaghan,' !';;;',; and Bperiin'g : with, a single; from a straight jKv ?> 'driyoroif Vto .last; ball' of the /over. .- Saunpv .'. • ders/'ivint," dn-.with : tho wind,-arid three ju-.f; ■'. oters^ere.'bowled and. three 'runs scored the. luncheon; "adjourn-jpi%.---;m?rit;v:r.Piay was jresnirjed'after; lunch,' p" ;'-twiffi*Saun.aers : ;bowling:, to .Sale.. the' $":?£' j'Australiaii-.-bow.ler's Second, over, Anthony PS::■-';::' hit■onev-up.'jto -Midlano' at- cover point, ■n-;-:-.aiidith'e;chance'.was accepted..-'The-.board lf^> ■:'': .theri'-:rea'd''4--l—o. Pearson' came im, and. put ,tlie' oy,cri.-i.The: Wellingfik' v'Stori', ifeldirig .at this ■'.stage,-';v:as very keen, end'; .'■Edqij-./'came,, .'.jßrice. i'-J;.;'i'v'.makirig'-.-*a':' , marvellous-: catclij: onq' hand ..off .'a nico/hcolc.'to' mid-on'off ! Mo'na'ghan:, ; , Pearspri,. in .'fact,' ,, was .very. il'Av;- >urilucky'' to' lose' his,wicket"as he did.— ffK&V. S^S-l/;; ; ; ' - ff.",; " 'Hemus-'caV^'iri>' !: and:. opened cautiously. for-','- iThe ; 'Auckland. team-:had now:been iu 30 PJ;;.;. minutes' for s'rtris. : Double figures.went IS'. : , /•;'' U P as i : the' res'ult $f. 40. minutes' play,? and !;>;.;'.';{.. tfie Ci partnership of. Salo -; andfi-Hemus ■ The' 'former i'v'V.^Jscored;.two, boundaries tUrough the slips, c.-;]?'; drive:/and-:-a"i ; --;three by "J;-.--;: .iPretty'. strokes,', .while ;th'eflatter made a p.; . p ;lhard .straight-drive ifpr'a brace, and a h,H,:-Hioqk; , to; ; tbe:ili;g'; boundary, .and, 30 came v'-.V •Tiins' -haying, I .ieeri aiored in, •20 Vl '■■■■'■- '' ■■.'■■:■?■'■■■ .'■-.".' •-.:.-.'" t' V '..:. ; Sdle/n'pwj.had .a:narVow,.escape' of -being ; ) ,;.}.thrb\vn i out','by'.a.-,6raart return^by Mid-£;;-,■'■t]arie:\?::Gibbes-. replaced Monaghan at" 33, f<,;, , ,;. 4 and';BripeJreplacedrSaunders.. The £•■;■£;': ;i nen,:f-hoireyer,-:continued ,tb score, arid p? ■;' ; ,,'; s P;camo 'up;,as the; result -of 70 mjnutes' jvs!- , :-' play;6;?Sale;.was ; '.3p, .Hemua 18, and. Vi'i ;/.tetteiiwere,'. batting, freely! . Needless to [£■ : .jV-'.si'y.j. ! )?Very.;. scoring, stroke was now beinK Fk;.,"-": applauded:;OTth G2 up Gibbes sent down' ball'tb : Sale, which'ho mishit in |fv"; ; .> ; trying.; to'.-put it out of the?ground,-and U? : ,-, the' bowler 'sent' him to . the . right-about i'•-•';'-vAv;th,-a.,left-hand.' catch. taken , hign over I;--;';. ;his.;h'ead.-^62^-3—38.-'' The -partnership I:V:',;, had;lS's.t?d' : .'6oTmittUtes, and had put'on f : U: ■;57;.rrini.'..->i.V.,' v,'-:''. '■'■■. ■■'. ' .'• ■ . ■': ■ \'•: ;;■. ■■■'' Auckland Partnership. [■;■/•'.,. i-.'i Hadderi, who came next.'-'scored a single % off.ihis':;first ball, irom Gibbes. , Saunders i' : T ;\'.Tep.laced;'Br.ice.w'i_th 63 lip, and jMonaghan j.f.-Tj. irelieV.cd^Gibbes; : '.. Haddeir then', raised ,-'EofaeVenthusiasm -by scoring a boundary. p-<: from',:'.a,vprotty 'leg .glide ' off. ■ Saunders, jj-'.". ~..-and, the.-rioxt ball with a hard [■_• '....''square' cut. to'-the 'boundary, but' Saundefs's .nqxt" over ; '-.was-:fo(,tal; to him. He &:-. 'i "•attempted/to hook a' ; leg 'ball,".arid, : riiissS-.; -ing 83—i—14;:"; J':,';. Brook. Smitli. now joined HemuSj who !,.':., : . Tvas-.batting stj'lishly,. anil -with .'great K;.:/:>-confiderice., Whe'ii' JHcmns.•'was-'SD,'. hpwfi ''. ?. ver >' ;he';'survived-a'confident appeal. for a' [.-.; : ; catch 'behind \ the: stumps off Saund.ers, f/r'r.r- ■ v and\the/next/ball Id"drove'-to-'.the"lbn'g-' pVs'O.on boundary. . The. Auckland 'tearii vfere jiy ;, ,now:fighting , oypry^inch bfi'the way.'arid |7-:'-■',', the'; crowd was, "beqpming 'deriionstrative. t '■:••;'■ A. hardisquarq : ciit to' Hie .'.boundary by [■■:;';,'.,-.- Smith,' pff: Saunders; -brought 'the 100 up— f! : .'. -■, the: , .result; of "• 110-rhiriutes';play—but, in [f.J;' ; 'tho.sanle'lover] 'Homusi'whb had played f■''.;••' ' a grand:-'innings for .38,' .was! tempted by I ■//Saunders, and fell, .being easily caught K:-.;'.'at'square leg by :'8rice.:. ; ..102—54-38'. :-' i fe'■.'.; ■''- Snedden replaced his,' captain, and, the t/-.: jourig Ponsonby batsman played.an ove'r, t, .:■ frpnr.Saunders without scoring. .Ho was %;: . . '.very cautious, and 'opened with'a'single Ij'-.;.::.; through- the : slips.' The■■lialf-way''mark fc-v, (117);was i '.>cored with' half the wickets jf.H/.'V downi and the bowling was' changed fret;-,;:. quently m,an endeavour' to ; effect 'a se'p"-. !■:.'■■ . aration, biit all efforts-failed -until* the fci, ;■ total'of 200 was passed.' The. crowd be-γ-y' ca»rie::uiore excited qs the afternoon wore |i : :■ \ . an,;' and the • prospects' -,o'f■ a win grow !..;: .brighter. Smith didimoet of the scorings to;,; , but. Snedden plaj-ed a-', correct .game, and' p : /.made use of anything!off .the wicket. i; : ...>; f-With the ;total;_at 207, '.an,d with, seven "v ''•■'■ •" wanted.'for ','ft' , win, Sneddon was caught [';,-'.-;, .behind the'stumps : by Schn'ioll, off Find- :;■■■■}_:-..'; lay. -The partnership,' which had -added- !;/' .105. runs'in as many minutes,, saved the t:- .-,i":. 6hield;/ ; OJlifF and. Smith-.then' made the i'.r.r- required runs, Auckland thus winning by vy.'"-. foari'wickets. -Brook Smith, who had i;.; tirade 72. not out, was carried shoulder !';. high, from the ground. The scores are [■.:,.: as follow:— .... -■'-'' ■•.,■■'■ -..-■ ' Wellinglbn/.j ~ '■■ '.' fe"- '') . F innings ..'......: .:."..........:, jss ji'v.:> ■-•■'■•■'"■ •'■.'•. ' Second'lnnings,: a' .;: . „■•'.■" Midlane, b. Kerr .....:...:...V.......' : 5 fj'/; , .'' D;/:Naughtoii, b.'iKerr ..........;..:...„.. 9 E.?-. 'j; Ji'/Mahoney, 1). Kerr '45 E'. : J. l J i Blacldock, b. Olliff ;■..: 3 7- ■."■'• i W,'''Hi Qibbes, b. Hadderi'■1.......;..... 25 !.;,■.'■;..... H. % rMpnaghan,' b. Hadden ........... 11 rj'; /.;, ■'' W.; S.Mirice;:: c. Hem us,. b: 'Hadden .:■:. G f*-c iT.-V.' •gaunders, c. Brook Smith, b.' ;:;■-•>.,■ '".'■j-Kerif;.;-;::'..: ..;..: .:................. io :'/,-. ,CE.:Hickey, b. Pearson 35 W-~_ :V/.. Fincnay,,b. "Pear50n : .:............. 12 p : ' : C". SfchriVoll, not but".'.....,;....'.'. 2 IhVjc. Extras, Iβ fS'"- .'..:.■;.■.■:.■..„;;....'.....„ 173 fc'.'C-.:'.. "■'■;.. ■■';■';',:■ (Bqwling,-Analysis." : . ; -.'/..'. '. . 'S v:' . iverr took/four wickets* for ,38'Tuhs; P::-": :; 'Peaffo;ri:,twb.,:for";—;/Olliff, ono for 33; j?;-' .. Howdeii/'qne'for 25; Hadden, three for 3G. |>:. : .'•'.'■,.. Auckland.. ~ fp'J,'!.". Krst innings ...'...... ......: 151 ••;■ i .v.-jv.'.Second Innings. . > K-;'i 'Salei i: and' b. Gibbes ...:.-,. ' 38 ,'v.V , :' '-Anthony, ~,i. Midlaue, ,b. .Saunders .... 0 >-■ ■-' . PearsohHcJ'.llricej.'b. Monaghan ...... 1 J'--'. : Heniiis.'c'., Bricc, b. , 38 i ? r/ Ha'dden.'.l.b.w-, ,''■• 5aunder5,. ........:...... U j..-; / Brodki'Smith./iiot. oiit ~......'. ..;.-..;... 72 {■■■•:' ' Sncddeii,'ci-Schiri.oll,.b. Findlay .:. :30 'v''' Olliff,;vnpt:but ....V.....: ....„.„ -3 ■vV .'"-. •';<Estras"■;.'.•.:.. 19 >«"' '.Tctai-ior sixv'wickets ;„.':;.„'215 it/I'.-: y-':'~ ; ■'_''■ .'■;./, Bowling Analysis... /. y / !};>;;.:■■:' ' Hona'ghan took one wicket f0r.49 ruus; £.;-,". ■' '■'Baunders: three for 51;" Gibbes, ■ one for

■—.;'Brice, none'for. 20; Hick'cy, none for. 11; Findlay, one for 22; Naughton, none for. 8. : - -.-:.;.:..: ■'.•.;_, . .;■ ',■-,, -, . ■ SCENESINi THE' MATCH. WELLINGTON'S GRIM FIGRV. ' (By Telegraph.—Speoia.l Correspondent.) : .:• ■ 'Auckland, December 27. Tho glorious uncertainty of cricket, was again demonstrated to-day, when Wellington, who looked like taking the coveted Plunket Shield :back with them, and who) on tho first two days' play deserved to do so, had Victory snatched from them when it was-within their grasp. Auck- , land's fonr-w.icket.win was almost entirely duo -to the , Ano.sixth-wicket. stand made by Brdok Smith and Shedden in the second innings. . . ' " For Wellington, Mahony, in the'second innings, played a very • serviceable game for-his 45, but the liveliest cricket of the 'match up to that stage was when Hickoy and. Findlay.,got together. .They hoth opened .their ' shoulders to Hadden and Kerf,'and put on 40 runs in 15 minutes. Auckland made a.dismal start. Anthony was caught off, Saunders before he had. scored, and , Pearson fell to 'a brilliantcatch- atVmidwicket ,by/ Brice,. off Mpiia--ghan. Brice's length of reach was, a' factor in -his - eil'ecting tho catch. . ■".:"■ 'The.aualityiOf the howling,of Saunders :and Monaghan may be.gauged, from the fact that the first half-hour's play only, produced-five runs, at'which stage'Pearr ■.son-was-out: Hemus and Sale improved matters. a" little,' and were not separated ■until 62 appeared.on. tho hoard; . They were well set, though several bowlers were. tried, when Sale's end came. It was' brought about by Gibbes, who held ./a very hot catch off his own bowling, arid, 'all-through .the match,' the fielding of .thS. Wellington.eleven was.keen, clean, arid ffequentlybrilliant.. This fact, and ; the excellence of the-bowling, saved.many a run. . '■;. - •'.• ■ '■■ I .-.- The score was five -n-ickets for-102'when Snedden • partnered . his captain, , Brook'! Smith. The former, who had sharped mie'asily to Saunders (whoso style, by tho way; was freely criticised by the crowd) was, by -: this : time; batting confidently.' Tho two played with fine judgment until the tea adjournment,, when the score read. 5 for. '113, or exactly" 100' less than the required tofcil. After, tea, Brook Smith and Snedden began to phnish the loose stuff, and the hopes of the Aucklanders rose with each scoringjstroke.- Grndrially the, score "crept up,' despite brilliant work in ; the field (especially by' - Midlane),. and. good bowling.. which fwa's frequently changed. 'Brook Smith is noted for : his :gameness in an up-hill fmht, and his partner con : tinued to steadily pile ,up. the? runs; and intense/excitement took possession of the onlookers as the deficit commenced to dwindle. - : ■ • .; ' -' At 181 Blacklock '.appeared to be. at a; loss what to do.' His bowlers were being "pasted" indiscriminately', and he . consulted .with one or ..two' of his 6ide. Fur- , ther.- changes: in -the bowling seeinedl.inef■fectual.' Though both batsmen gave diff;cuU - chances,,- they., eventually .took ..the score to' 207, when Snedden was cauglrt behiud tho wickets by Schnioll, who Aras standing back to Findlay. . -' Wanting seven to, win, Olliff. went in, j, and in a few: minutes the winning. hit was made. Brook Smith was carried off the field amidst.-wild enthusiasm.. His.72, ' not out. was a--fine display, and he and Suedden undoubtedlylwon/the match for Auckland against'long odds. ■ ■ ; .-Tlie masnificent .fielding- and bowling : of the visitors was, roundly acknowledged ■' by the crbwd,\ who gave them an ovation ■as..they left the;'field. Saunders's bowling average (three for 54/ was good under the circumstances, but, towards the fin-. . ish. , -; ', to tire;,-. -Wellington's* failure to : anne'x the-'shield was. by no ■ mean's a 'disgrace. They' put up a' game i fight,':"Which, ;-oh -points,'; was. superior, to -that 'of ..the Auckland side, and' had they .won their., victory- would'have been popular." V-; r ,' SV! .:.'•.■;;••. ■■';': '-■■:'■' .-" ' :'."-.-