THE CRICKET SHIELD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 79, 28 December 1918, Page 8

THE CRICKET SHIELD

WON BY WELLINGTON A CLOSE FINSH (By Telegraph—Press Aoeoclation.) Christchurch, December 27. Wellington beat Canterbury by two wickets after an exciting days play, and thus take tho I'lunket Shield from Canterbury. Wellington has new had the honour of holding the shield before, whilst Canterbury has held it for eo long that the whereabouts of the coveted trophy was a matter of some doubt until a few days before the match.

It will be generally admitted that the better side won, but the two-wicket victory probably fairly represents Wellington's superiority. The luck of the game was fairly evenly divided. Conditions to-day were again ideal, and the wicket wore' surprisingly well. The attendance was very good. There was a sensational commencement to the game to-day. Gray (73) and Brunton (4) were the not-out men, and, after each had taken a single off Brice, Hiddleston took the ball at (he south end, Brunton tipped the second delivery back to Harris at short mid-on. The latter held the ball unmistakably, but in attempting to throw it back smartly to the bowler he dropped it. In the circumstances it was entirely a question for the umpires whether the catch had been held long enough, and they gave the benefit of the doubt to (he batsman. Brunton was actually walking back to the pavilion, but the crowd shouted to him to go back, and he showed that he had not lost his nerve by laying the wood on to the next delivery. Canterbury's fine recovery to-day was largely <iue to Gray's great display of batting. It was really, under the circumstances, a wonderful innings. Requiring 225 runs to win, Wellington had five good wickets down for 89, and the game was then decidedly in Canterbury's favour, but Burton came to the rescue with an innings that was worth a lot more than th- actual runs he made would indicate. Re played the game to get the runs. Briee's 50 was essentially a match-winning innings; that is to say, he played the "rock" game to the good bowling! and his defence was soundness itself. Canterbury could haws done with another good bowler, though the attack was not bv any means weak. Canterbury's fielding 'was a marked improvement on that of the first innings. Tho scores are:—

Canterbury—First Innings. Wood, c. Marris, b. Hiddleston 38 Blunt, b. Hiddleston 17 Jonas, b. Jl'Girr 3 Patrick, b. Hiddleston U Guiiiey, c. Marris, b. Hiddleston 1 Porrin, b. Hiddleston 0 Gray, c. Baker, b. Hiddleston 35 Thomas, b. Hiddleston 1 M'Ewen, b. Marris 14 M'Beth, c. and b. Hiddleston 0 Brunton, not out 17 Extras 27 r Total 167 Bowling Analysis.—Hiddleston took eight wickets for 59 runs; Brice, none for ■15; il'Girr. one for 34; Harris, one for 2. Wellington—First Innings. Hiddleston, o. Jones, b. Patrick ...'... 25 Lambert, c. Brunton, b. Thomas 51 Dind, b. M'Botli 1 2 Bake)', c. Thomas, b. Patrick 33 Burton, b. Thomas 32 M'Girr, b. Patrick 19 Allardyce, c. Brunton, b. Patrick ... 5 Briee. c. Wood, b. M'Both 18 Hutchings, st. Brunton, b. M'Beth ... 18 Condliffe, b. Gray 46 Harris, not out 10 ■ Extras ..... 2S Total 283 Bowling Analysis—M'Beth took three wickets for 71 runs; M'Ewen, none for 36; Thomas, two for 106; Patrick, four for -12; Gray, one for i. Canterbury—Second Innings. Wood, b. Brice 9 Blunt, b. Briee 6 j Thomas, b. Brice 5 Jones, st. Condliffe, b. Hutchings ... 57 Patrick, b. Marris 33 Guiney, st. Condlifr'o, b. Marris 0 Grny.'c. M'Girr, l>. Lambert 100 Perrin, b. Hiddleston ......... 12 Brunton, b- Hiddleston ' ; 39 M'Ewen, b. Marris 27 I M'Beth. not out 11 Extras -Hi Total t 3« Bowling Analysis.—Hiddleston took two wickets for 82 runs; Brice, three foi* 57; Marris. four for 83; Lambert, none for 39; M'Girr, none for 23; Hutchings, one for 15.

Wellington—Second Innings. Baker, c. Brunton. l>. Thomas 14 Lambert, c. Patrick, b. M'Beth 1G M'Girr, c; Brunton, i>. Thomas 19 Hiddleston, l>. M'Beth 7 Burton, b. M'Beth GG Dind, e. Wood, b. M'Beth 17 Condliffe, b. M'Ewen 12 Allardyce, c. Brunton, b. M'Beth ... i. Brice. not out 50 Hutehings, not out 1? Extras •••• 8 Total, for eight wickets 32G Bowling Analysis.—Thomas took (wo wickets for 63 runs; M'Beth, five for Sβ; Gray, nono for 10; Patrick, none for 5; Perrin, none for 19; M'Ewen, one. for 30.