THE PLUNKET SHJELD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 102, 24 January 1919, Page 6

THE PLUNKET SHJELD

WELLINGTON V. CANTERBURY

HOME TEAM'S I*OTAL 486

POOR SHOWING IN SECOND INNINGS

The match for the Plunket' Shield between Canterbury (challengers) and Wellington (holders) was resumed at the Bpsin Reserve yesterday morning. There was again a good attendance of the public. Fortunately the weather changed for the better overnight, and the game was continued in bright sunshine on a good wicket. The wind was a trifle strong, but it did not seem to make any appreciable difference in the play. In their first innings on-Anni-versary Day Wellington made ?23, and at the close of the play on that day Canterbury had three wickets down for 132 runs. Yesterday Patrick and Guine.v, who made 42' not out, Mid C not out respectively, on the first day, continued Canterbury's first innings, which closed with a total of 188 runs, tho highest contributor to 'which was Patrick, who made 43 ' before being caught by Beechey. Wellington's second 'attempt was poor, for they were dismissed in less than two and a half playing hours for 163. With the h.me team's grand total at 486, this ltft Canterbury a margin of 299 runs to obtain before they could recover the shield. They went in to bat the seeo-id time a littl'o after a quarter past 4, and' when stumps were drawn at 6 p.m. their score stood at 129 runs for the loss of two wickets. ,

Play commenced at ten minutes p.st 11, when Patrick opened to Jfarris, notching one run off the latwr's first ball. Four minutes later he was smartly caught in the slips by Beeehey, off a ball by Hiddleston. 135-4—43. Gvastook" Patrick's place and r-btamed a boundary with his first stroke. Subsequently he was dismissed by. Hid.lle«ioc' 'who book a sntsh off his own ball.' Thomas then went to the crease. Hiddleston was bowlreg a fast-pitcned ball which was obviously causing trouble. His fourth ball ty Thomas was just tipped by that batsman, who played it on to his wicket. .Canterbury's total had now reached 144, and six wickets were down. Brunton next went in as Guiney's partner, and at 11.40. Guinsy suwmubm , . to Marris, ■ after scoring 11. 148—7—11. Howell joined Brunton, w'io hit Hiddleston to the boundary, after having been very nearly run out. Howell was neyfc to ,fo tn'-f.};? iwvilton, ■: aw? caugit bv Harris off the latter' 3 own ball. ]SS_Js—l, : . Runs ca-TW sl<rwly and finally' the innings closed for 18S. Wellington commenced their second strike at 12.3 p.m. Wilsoirand Hiddleston opened. Hiddleston faced M'Eivin. Both batsmen took every chance they could of annexing runs, but at ten' minutes to 1 Hiddleston s career came to a sudden termination, for ho was" clean bowled' by M'Ewm after putting on 9. At this stage AVilson's score was also 9, and he was joined by Baker, who went out first stroke. * Beechey then went to tho wickets, and sent M'Beth's second ball 'to tho boundary. Wilson was finding difficulty in playing tho bowling of M'Etvin; and runs were now few and far between. When Beechey had reached 13 lie was sent to the pavilion by M'Both. 35—3—13.., Burton went to the crease, and whisked a couple of singles off M'Ewin. A smart cut to leg by Burton brought a two, but shortly'afterwards Wilson, who had notched 18,--was stumped by M'Ewin. 45—4— 18. Lambert was next batsman. The score at the adjournment was 50 runs for four wickets. After the adjournment Wellington's wickets continued to fall freely, and the innings closed at i o'clock for 163 runs. Requiring 299 runs to win, Canterbury went.in for their second innings at 4.17. Foster and Jones took strike, and Hiddleston and Jfarris were entrusted with the bowling. About twenty mintues elapsed before twenty was exhibited on the telegraph. The partnership between Jones and Foster came to an end at ten minutes to _5, when the latter went out l.b.w. to Hiddleston, after scoring 13. ' brunton followed him, and hit a beautiful legboundary off Hiddleston. Another boundary by Jones, and' , Canterbury's total had reached 45 for the loss of one wicket. At j tho close of the eighth over Wilson put M'Girr on to relieve Harris,' and Patrick changed with, Hiddleston. After an hour's play Canterbury had increased their scoro h> 70, and- one wicket was down. M'Girr.'s fifth over was a maiden, and tho play now became very dull; a boundary hit by Brunton, off Patrick, being the only incident of note. As no impression* had been made on Caterbury's defence, was given a turn with the ball. With half an hourto go before the time for drawing stumps, tho visitors' total stood at 78. Eventually Brnntori, with 20. to his credit, was smartly caught Ivy Beechey, off M'Girr. 80- : 2—25. .Patrick followed, and scored a threo off Hutchings, a single ■ and a four following. By a quarter to 6;. Canterbury had put on 100, and when play ceased for the day their'score was 129 runs for the loss of two wickets. Following are tho details:— Canterbury.—First Innings. P. S. Foster, c. Hiddleston, b. Mar-

ns N. Jones, b. Hiddleston B B. Wood, c. Hiddleston, b,

dleston '..'. 43 C. E. Guincy, b. Marris 11 J. Gray, c' and'b. Hiddleston ... 4 A. W. Thomas, played on,\ b. Hiddleston' '..'./• •' •■;• 2 L R Brunton, st. Condliffe, b. Hiddlcstou 23 N. Howell, c. and b. Marris -"1 J. M'Ewin, c. Beoclioy, b.. Marris 12 1) M'Beth, not out ; 4 Extras : 13 Total : 188 Bowling Analysis. Overs. Mds. Runs. Wks. M'Girr 9 1 18 • 0 Hiddleston ..20 2 75 ' 5 Patrick 9 .1 33 0 Marris 16 3 ' 50 . 5 Wellington.—Second Innings. 0. G. Wilsou, st. M'Ewin 18 J. S. Hiddleston, b. M'Ewin 9 W. A. Baker, run out 0 13. M. Bocchey, b. M'Betlv 13 15. 11. E. Burton, c. Guiney, b. M'Deth 20 H. N. Lambert, c. Jones, b. Howell 48 J. Hutcliiiigs, c. Tlowell, 1). M'Ewin 29 H. M. M'Girr, c. Jones, b. M'Ewin 4. J. W. Condliffe, c. (Patrick, b. Howell J.-'. , . 2 W. Patrick, st. Bruntou, b. M'Ewin 16 B. A. Marris, not out \.... 1 Extras 3 Total : : 163 ■ Bowling Analysis. Overs. Jlds. Huns. Wks. M'Ewin 29 - 2 87 5 Jl'Heth ...... IS 1 40 ;! Howell 11 0 27 2 Canterbury.—Second Innings. P S. Foster, 1.b.w., b. Hiddleston 13 N. L. Jones, not out 67 L. 11. Brmitun, c. Bcechoy, b Hutchings : 25 \\. Patrick, not out 21 Extras : 3 Total for two wjekets .«...*„!, J29

Bowling Analysis. Overs. Mds. Runs. Wks. • Hiddleston . 12 ' 1 39 1 Marris 9 1 34 0 M'Girr 7 3 11 0 Patrick 4 0 18 0 Lambert ...'.. 2 0 9 0 Hutchings ..2 0 8 1 Bcccbey 1 0 6 0 NOTES OnlhE GAME' (By T. H...Tones.) As Canterbury's last seven wickets put on only 56 runs, the batting does not permit of any congratulatory remarks. Starting with three down for 132, there could bo very few cricketing enthusiasts who would not have given the side 300 runs on a batsman's wicket with a fast outfield. There was a ,strong northerly blowing across the ground, and that probably made the slow bowlers a trifle awkward. Much, of course, depended on Patrick, as he had batted solidly on Wednesday, and the opinion was general that he would go for the bowling yesterday. Wellington's luck was in, as the- Canterbury skipper launched out to a quick delivery of Hiddleston's from the south end off the second ball of his first over, and was smartly taken by Beechey at slip. Gray was the next , man, "and was only in a few minutes when he was given out, caught and bowled off Hiddleston's next over, and with Patrick, Gray, Wood, Foster, and Jones out for 140 the whole aspect of tho match was changed. From the bank Gray did not appear to bo out, as the ball looked to have come sharply off tliu ground to Hiddleston, ■ but the fielding side is confident, the ball came clean off Gray's bat low down. Guiney shaped the most confidently of the remaining batsmen, but Bru'nton got a bigger ■ score, and once more demonstrated his value to the side—l7l (not out), 39, and 23 are useful tallies in consecutive innings for the wicketkeeper. Canterbury had bad luck with the batting, as Thomas, though ' not shaping confidently, played Hiddleston on to his wicket, and Brunton was out stumped to a rebound off the wicketkeeper's pads. As with Canterbury, Wellington's slow bowlers collared the wickets,. Marris taking pride of place with five for 50 and Hiddleston .five for 75. The colt kept a better length in this innings than on any other occasion,l have seen him bowl, and his success should inspire him to keep them well up in future. Hiddleston's 19 Plunket Shield wickets have been got for 375 runs, at an average of less than 20 apiece. As.the Canterbury innings, closed for 185, Wellington commenced their second strike with a fine lead of 135, but at the luncheon adjournment the score was only 55. The batting had been quite unenterprising and painfully slow, and four of tho best batsmen—Hiddlcston, Baker, Beechey, and Wilson—had received their marching orders; Burton and Lambert were together when time, was called, and on one or both of the pair restel the responsibility of turning the final score into something in keeping with an admittedly strong batting side (on paper). As 'the first wicket after lunch fell at 78, Burton and Lambert's partnership (on which so much depended) had added 33 only, but Hutchings and Lambert did better for the sixth wicket', and , put on 44 before Lambert left at 122.10r a nicely-played 48.. He was brilliantly caught by Jones at third man, the same fieldsman making another sensational catch next wicket when M'Girr fell to him. In the first instance, Lambert's shot was going past him, but he stopped it well up with the right hand and held the rebound, while in M'Girr's case Jones lost, the ball after judging it finely, but made a great recovery. None of the remaining batsmen shaped well, and the whole side was out for 1(53, a miserable total for Wellington, in view of the fino wicket and outfield. Lambert's innings was a plucky, one, and he made another sixer, the best of the match, when lie hit Kowell over the long Caledonian boundary. His tally for -the' match was 91, and is Wellington's candidate For Mr. O. R.- Smith's bat for the best aggregate of the match, Hiddleston getting 77. Lambert has only played four innings in the Plunket Shield. They are 51, 12, '43, and 48,' a total of 154| at an average of 38.50. ■ . .J. Hutchjngs's first inningfi earned him promotion in the batting list, and he went' in at the fall' of the fifth wicket. While not so good on the leg side yesterday, he nevertheless played a steady innings and made ar. invaluable 29. Like Lainbert, he has only played four Plunket 'Shield innings, viz., 18, 13 (not out), 36 (not out), and 29, a total of 96, at .sn average of 48.' '

M'Ewin again got the best figures for Canterbury, and again he bowled unchanged. His figures for the match were ten for 195, and he bowled 58 consecutive overs, 29 in each innings. This must surely be a record for a slow bowler against first-cl.is.s batsmC'i. Brunton kept wickets ably all through the match, and made a great impression on the Wellington public. His "bag" was four wickets, two in each innings—ffluMlcstbn ; stumped. Condliffe caught, Wilson stumped, and D. Patrick stumped, in that order. Ten wickets for two matches is a magnificent wicket-keeping performance. W. R. Patrick has now scored exactly 700 runs in Plunket Shield matches itlonc for twenty-four innings (twice not out) for Canterbury, at an average of 32. Canterbury were set 299 runs to win, and if they get them it will be a great win. On two previous occasions they have got nearly 300 in the fourth innings, when required to win the match. These two fine, victories were ' both' against Auckland, Canterbury getting 280 runs for fow wickets at the end of January, 1911, and 293 for nine wickets early in January, 1915.

Fall of wickets yesterday:—Canterbury, first innings (starting at three for 132): Four for 135, live for 13», six for 144,' seven for 148, eight for 158, nine for 180, ton for 188. Wei-, lington, second innings: One for 18, two for 18, three for 35, four for 45, five for 78, six for 122, seven for 132, eight for 136, nine for 152, ten for IG3. Canterbury, second innings: One for 35, two for 85. As Canterbury ended up. the day s play with the capital score of 129 runs for two wickets (Foster and Brunton out), they imist liavo a great ehanco of recovering the shield, as they only requiro 170 runs against weak bowling, and have eight wickets in hand with Jones and Patrick to lead the way.

The following will represent Returned Soldiers (Junior) v. Hutt oiS Saturday: Berry, Beale, Bremner, Davis, Bpulton, Shorwod, Smith, Stitt,.Quinn, Halliday, and Lane. i

Thorndon Club's teams for to-mor-row's games are: —Junior v. Institute, on Anderson Park: Humphries, Elliott, Jenson, Moore; Moffatt, Murphy. Nelson Roberts, Salmon, Thomas, and Warne." Third v. Institute, on IColburn Park: Andrews, Bramley, Edmonds, ' Morgan, M'Donald. O'Neill, Pierce, Monk, Johnson, and Stanton. The following will' play fnr Futt Knnior ncoinst Potono: Alderslcv, Huches, Dukeson, Lusty, Nsnphton, T.nnjjford, Mabey. Parrant. Thirkoll. Stiles, Pa'rtoiK- Thp T-TuH Junior tenm fo moot Rottimo'l S"'(li"rs v-Ml he: Martin."Burns. KiHn, Wilson, Hancorlc. Rowers, Glennie, Pole, Grierson, and Burt. AN EAST COAST MATH. By Tolcuran'i -Prpus Asßooiat'in. Cisborne, January" 23. A representative cricket match beween Poverty Bay and East Coast was commenced in fino weather. Iβ thn first innings Poverty Bay made 171 (Griffiths 34, Barton 32), and East Coa6(> 204 (Loffler 80),'