FINE FINISH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1374, 27 February 1912, Page 6

FINE FINISH.

» — AUCKLAND MATCH, WELLINGTON JUST BEATEN, BY ONE WICKET. SOME GOOD PBRFORMAXCES. Wellington: 232, and 191 runs, Auckland: 253, and 174 for nine.

Hardly could there have been a more interesting cricket match than that which was played to its finish at tho Basin yesterday. At tea-time the position was that tho great Auckland team required about half a century, and three wickets to fall. The wicket was then cracking up, and it was anybody's match. As it happened Wellington were beaten in tho end, but only by one wicket, and, till tho very last ball was bowled, no one could say which way things would go. Tho fortunes of tho day were almost indescribably up and down. Ou starting in the morning three Wellingtonians—Baker, Mahoney, and Midlane—were soon mown down, but then .Dickson and lilacklock stuck. Tho Wellington captain's innings was tho champagnc of cricket. He played and smote the English professional Thompson by turns, and 'he fell on tho other Auckland bowlers with refreshing freedom. Exhaustion, and practically nothing else, got him out in the eud. Then Robinson, tho Central colt, came in, and electrified tho small crowd present by his utter disrespect for the Northern attack. Blacklock had been making "fourers"; this intrepid young cricketer banged sixes. Whatever he made in the way of singles were merely big hits trapped on tho boundary by the alert Auckland fieldsmen. By these efforts, the Wellington total was approaching tho second century, when Saunders—the last man in—smote one into tho hands of deep mid-off, and tho innings closed. It then seemed .a short raco for tho strong Auckland batting team, but, as it proved, the runs had all to bo got. Tho crumbling wicket apparently suited Grimmett, and he (together with Saunders and Gibbes) did the bulk of tho bowling. Backcd by a good field, the Wellington attack would most likely have carried the day, but once moro the picking up and returning and catching proved no more reliable than of yore. Honourable exceptions, however, must be made of Gibbes, who doubled himself round a particularly hot catih at mid-on, and of Blamires, who snapped up a couple of beauties at short slip. These efforts and Grimmett's bowling were among the features of the afternoon. Tho winning hit was mado just ou 5 o'clock, and the crowd 6tood up and clapped the Aucklanders when nil was over.

Blacklock's Stand. The not-out mon, Mahoney and Baker, had added only ten runs to the overnight score when Mahoney was caught out off Thompson's bowling. It'-was a fair length ball which kicked up awkwardly from the pitch, hit Mahoney on the hand, and rebounded to Horspool, fielding at short leg. 07—3—26. In the meantime, Baker had given a couple of chances, both one hand catches, one in tho slips off Thompson, and the other at square leg of? Somervell. Midlano was the next man in, but he had scarcely sampled tho wicket before his partner retired, bowled by Thompson. Baker had mado 29," and the runs were even then very badly wanted, but lie had never shown any really first-class form with the'bat at any stage of his innings. He was always too anxious to play forward, a stylo of play which his long rcach encourages, and ho made tho. satno awkward, over-reached stroke at tho ball which beat him. Much was cxpected of tho Wellington captain, Blacklock, and as it turned out the best hopes wero realised. His very first scores were two leg hits for 4 and 3, off Somcrvoll—a good beginning. Snedden was tried instead of Somervell, whoso bowling had degenerated a good deal under Blacklock's punishing treatment. But all bowlers were treated alike. So soon as he faced Snedden ho scored with 'a per-fectly-timed straight drive along the carpet. And then, when all things looked possible, tho partnership was broken. Midlano took a full swing at a loose one to leg from Snedden, and lifted the ball to the leg boundary, where Mason, fielding on tho ropes, caught it abovo his head. It was a good catch, but it was also a good stroke to go out for. 88—5—7. Dickson joined his captain, and was very ill at case playing his first over from Thompson. He appeared to find Snedden easy, however, and in tho end ho stayed some considerable time at the wickets. His batting was of the safo rather than brilliant order, but after his getting over his dislike for Thompson's stuff, he picked out a loose ball here and there and turned it to account. Then the left-hander, Jones, took the ball from Snedden, and the College man could simply do nothing with him. He failed to get used to the strange bowler, and the end was that Jones spread his wicket. 125—C—11.

Robinson—Chief Smiter, .Robinson, who had shown some aptitude for hitting in the first innings, was next, and his first hit was a sixer off Jones. The field had been spread a little for Blacklock, but now several men wero placed out in tho country, Robinson reached double figures with a cleanlylifted off-drive which just missed being another sixer, the ball hitting tho boundary ropa. Blacklock passed the halfcentury after having been G5 minutes at the wickets, and almost immediately afterwards was out, well canght behind the wickets off Jones's bowling. 152—7—51. Robinson marked Grimmett's arrival at the wickets by hitting another sixer—a beautiful straight drive over the sightingboard, and tho next ball from Thompson he hit to leg for three, making his score 20. Jones continued to worry tho batsm*n, and four of the seven overs he had bowled wero maidens. Thompson was being hit freely at the other end, and Snedden took the ball from him. Robinson gave bis first chancc by mis-bitting Jones into tho slips. Anthony got both hands on to the ball, but failed rather badly to hold tho catch. Grimmett got his quietus from Snedden in tho next over, and tho telegraph showed IG7—B—2. Berendson, tho incomer, brought 170 up with a very uncertain stroke through the slips. That was to be his only score, for Snedden found him out a few minutes later. Tho luncheon adjournment was taken then with the scoro at 171 for nine wickets. ■ . . The fight for Wellington' 3 last wicket was a merry one. Saunders is not in the team for his batting, but, to tho surprise and delight of everybody, he batted extremely well, and even outshono his vigorous partner in fast scoring. Twentyone runs, of which twelve came from Saunders's bat, wero scored in less than ten minutes, , and thin Saunders tapped ono from Jones up to Slason at mid-olf. It was held, as a matter of course, and tho innings closed for 192.

Auckland Face the Music. Auckland required 172 to win—just enough to make them take tho game seriously. The Auckland skipper showed his respect for the Wellington attack by sending in his most experienced batsmeii to meet it first, hoping probably that ilio edge would be off it before the yonnger players would be called upon. Heiiius opened with Horspool as his partner, and Saunders and Robinson were the bowlers. When tho total was six, Horspool gave a chance to the wicket-keeper off Robinson before lie had scored, out Berendson, though he stopped the ball, failed to hold it After this escape Horspool hit out. frcoly, showing a good stroke or two, uulil ho skied a ball to le{i. Baker had to run in to get under it, and tho catch beat him. Horspool tipped up still another past tho wicket-keeper from Robinson, who was bumping badly, and llie butsman had trouble in keeping Uic ball down. Berendson just touched (lie ball hard enough to knock it out, of reach of Blainires, fielding at fine slip—the third chance,. The score had beea mounting

very fast tho while. Thirty was tip after 2-1 'minutes' play, and twenty moro runs weio added in tlio next t«'n minutes. Grimniett was the first' change tried, and the new bowler took his first wicket in tlil* match by sending back Horspool, caught and bowled, 50 —I—l 9. Huns had been coming so freely from Saunders also thnt ho was given a rest. He had bowled seven overs for II runs. Gibbes took the ball at his end, and from his first ball Anthony, who had como in first wicket down, was caught low down in the slips by Bhtuiires—a. beautiful catch, 09—2—3. Sneddon and Hemus, tho partnership which had done to much on Saturday, were associated only a little while. Hemus late-cut a ball, and Grimmett fielding long slip, ran in to take it. The batsmen had rmi one in the meantime, but Grimmett missed the ball, and they ran again. Tho fieldsman gathered in tho ball smartly, and threw tho wicket down. Hemus was trotting up tho pitch quietly, w ; as caught napping, and was a foot or moro short of his crease when tlio wicket was broken. 63-3-38. Hemus had played a splendid fighting innings, and this time he was not assisted by good Thompson partnered Snedden, but he had been at the wickets only a few minrftes before Grinnnett achieved his second success by having Snedden caught by Gibbs, fieldiug close in at mid-olf. 72—1 —7. Grimmett had now taken two wickets in five overs at a cost of 12 runs.

The Last Stern Effort. The experienced men on the Auckland side were now exhausted, and the colts had to go in. It was just possible that there might bo a collapse, and the crowd was taking notice. Somervell was the first of tho young players. Supported and steadied by Thoinpson, ho began very well, but after making ten lie gave ft chance to Blacklock, at point, which was not taken. , Saunders took the ball from Gibbc s , who had never looked like taking n wicket after that deadly first ball. Somervell greeted tho professional by banging a full toss to the ou-boundary, and later ho liit one high to leg, wlueh Baker failed to get his hands on. Wellington stocks wero dropping rapidly, when Saunders clean bowled Somervell. 117—.i—27. Ellis, who followed, was very uneasy, mid no one expected him to stay long, but, to tho surprise of everybody, Saunders bowled down Thompson's off-stump with a ball that pitched only a little more than half-way down, the wicket. 122—G—25. Mason eame out, but only to see Kllis retire, caught brilliantly by Saunders in the slips from Grimmett s bowling. 12G—7—4. After tho tea adjournment, which was taken on the fall of tho wicket, Taylor, tlie youngest member of the team, was Mason's partner. Mason took a single from Grimmett, and then Taylor tapped one up down the pitch. Mahonev rushed across from mid-olf. and not only did he not reach the ball himself, but he spoiled Grimmett's chance of doing so, which was a really good one. Two balls later, however, the slow bowler had him out leg-before, 128—8—0. Eleven vims were added by the JonesMason combination, but then Jones was caught by Blamires at fine slip. 189—9—3. Thirty-three runs were still required when Wallace appeared, and players and public thought the task of getting them was rather bigger than they <;ould handle. But Wallace "was polected as a batsman, and he is good enough to bat for any province in New Zealand. By slow degrees tho score mounted until only 20 runs were wanted, and for the first time the lookers-on wero doubtful about the result. By singles it was reduced to IG, and then Mason cover-drovo Saunders for four—l 2 runs wanted. A single, a brace, three more singles, and then Wallaco hit a four off Robinson and brought 170 upone run to draw and two to win. The excitement was intense, but Mason put tho result out of doubt by off-driving Saunders for ■!, the winning hit. Auckland had won tho match by a wickct. Wellington. First innings 232 Second Innings. E. O. Blamires, 224, b. Thompson 8 W. Gibbes, b. Snedden . 1W. Baker, 1111111111111121111,. b. Thompson ....'. 29 J. ,T. Mnhoney, 22114124111, c. Horspool, b. Thompson 2G F. A. Midlane, : iJ1211,, c. Mason, b. Snedden ...: 7 J. I'. Blacklock, 4312111121411422X32141 41. c. Ellis, b. Jones 51 ,T. Dickson, 2321111, b. Jones 11 C. Robinson, 614G3111314, not out 31 C. Grimmett, 11, b. Snedden 2 C. A. Berendson, 21, b. Snedden 3 J. V. Saunders, 13-ii, c. Mason, b. Jones 12 Extras 11 Total 192 Bowling Analysis. O. M. R. W. Thompson. 31 7 85 ' 3 Snedden 24. (! 4(i 4 Somervell 5 1 20 — Jones 11.5 i 30 3 Auckland. First Innings 253 Second Innings. L. G. Hcmus, 321121141111141322111, run out 38 E. llorspool, 4114144, c. and b. Grimmett 1!) A. Anthony,'2l, c. Blamires, b. Gibbes 3 N, C. Snedden, 4111, c. Gibbes, b, Grimmett 7 E. J. Thompson, 1111112111144131, b. Saunders 25 P. Somervell, 424414122, b. Saunders ... 27 H. Ellis, 112, c. Saunders, b. Grimmett 1 I'. It. Mason, 11121111112111114114, not out 28 L. G. Taylor, 1.b.w., b. Grimmett 0 A. Jones, 12, c. Blamires, b. Saunders 3 A. Wallace, 4131214, not out If, Extras 4 Total ~... 174 Bowling Analysis. O. M. R. W. Saunders 20.1 1 81 3 Robinson 7 — 17 — Grimmett 17 — 48 4 Gibbes 5 — 21 1 The crowd at the match was not so largo as it might have been, but, of course, no one expected such a finish. Tho gato receipts for the day wero «£l6 ss. In round figures a profit of about ,£IOO will come to tho association from the match.

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND, DULL AFFAIB. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) 1 Dunedin, February 26. The cricket match Otago v. Southland resulted in n draw after an uninteresting game. Owing to the delay caused by bad weather, the teams had only one innings each. Otago made 152 (Hopkins 37, Iliggins 23, Siedeberg 22). Southland made "135 (Hamilton til, Iliddleston 22). The latter team batted with ten men. For Southland, Rutherford took five wickets for 33 Tuns, and Crockett throe for 26. For Otago, Bannerman took three for 37, and Torrance three for 13.

SHIELD CHALLENGE. ■WHAT AUCKLANDERS THOUGHT. Canterbury's prompt challengo for .1 match with Auckland for tho Plunket Shield is not to materialise in a mutch. So, at any rate, the secretary of tho Auckland 'Association has been advised bv telegram. Tho Auckland players thought it somewhat unsportsmanliko on the part of the Canterbury Association to rush their challenge in this season, and, if the gamo had been insisted upon, tho Aucklaiulers would have had to put a very weak team ill the field. It would have been impossible for most of the players who have been on tour to get leave for three, or possibly four, days for another cricket match." Auckland will now remain in undisputed possession of the shield until next season.