THE PLUNKET SHIELD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 128, 24 February 1919, Page 6

THE PLUNKET SHIELD

AUCKLAND V. CANTERBURY , A NORTHERN COLLAPSE By Teleeraph—Press Association Christchurch, February 22. The Pluuket Shield match, Auckland y. Canterbury, was resumed to-day in glorious weather, and on an excellent wicket. The attendance was very large. Canterbury, who had lost seven wickets for 271 uu the previous day, carried their total to 291, tho not-out and succeeding men making '«, poor showing. In nil the Canterbury men were at the wickets just over four hours. Much was expected from Auckland as they had the reputation of being an excellent batting side, but they were disposed of in two hours ten minutes for the meagre total of 142. They had every chance to provo themselves, but M'Beth was tho stumblingblock. He bowled excellently and should have got all the ten wickets. Coatcs, tho last man, spooned his first ball up to mid-on who tailed to hold it. robbing ll'Beth of the "hat trick" and the honour of getting all the wickets. Auckland opened with Hemus end liarspool. Hemus should havo been stumped after scoring four, but Brmiton dropped the ball.' The latter retrieved himself by smartly taking Horspool at the wicket. Smith followed, but both were uncomfortable to M'Beth. Smith lashed out at him, and was bowled. Midlane joined Hemus, and both used their legs cleverly in playing M'Ewin. After a period of very careful play M'Beth beat Midlane with a fine length -ball that came in from the leg. Sloman, who came in next, got a couple of nice on.drives for four, each off M'Beth, hut he was all at sea to M'Ewin, Patrick took an over in place of the latter, and, with the score at 198, the luncheon adjournment was taken. '

On resuming M'Beth bent 'and cleanbowled Sloman with his second ball, and W. R. Garrard went in. Off his second ball he had a narrow escape of being caught in the slips, but M'Beth got him in his next over. The position was not promising for the visitors when Beveridge went in, the score being 98 for five wickets. Four byes sent the 100 up for 95 minutes' play. Runs came slowly until Beveridge hit at a loose over from M'Ewin for 8. The same batsman. 6ent 120 up with a nice on drive for 4, and cut Jj'Ewin for a similar' number. Hemus got his first single since lunch, and then M'Beth bowled Beveridge with and overrpitehed ball that the batsman tried to play on tho full. Graham joined Hemus, but after getting a couple of nice off strokes for six, M'Beth bowled him round his legs. R. Garrard followed, but in trying to hit his second' ball to long-leg it came' right in and clean bowled, him. M'Math joined Hemus, who drove M'Ewin to the off for three. He then opened out to a bail apparently well on the leg si.de, but it came in and clean bowled him. Coatm, the last man, had a life with his first ball, but in M'Ewin's next 1 over ho put one np, which Patrick accepted.

Canterbury opened their second innings with Lusk and ■ Jones, and the partnership was not dissolved till 140 appeared on the board, Lusk then being stumped by Garrard oft Smith. He played faultless cricket for his 94, but throughout treated Smith with respect. Wood then joined Jones, but-at 103 lost him, the latter going out lej-before-wicket to Coates. Ho played nice cricket for his runs, but towards the end was cocking them up a bit and was repeatedly beaten by Smith. Patrick was the incomer, but after getting a single he attempten to lift Smith over the boundary and was caught by Sloman. Hayes joined Wood, and play became very dull AY'ith the total at 196, Wood stepped out to Midlane, missed, and was smartly stumped by Garrard. Brunton helped Hayes to play out time, the score then being four for 209. The fielding of both sides was excellent. Scores:— .

Canterbury'.—First Innings, Lusk, b. Smith '„„ fl Jones, c. Hemus, b. Smith 10 Wood, b. Smith g 5 Patrick, c. W. E. Garrard, b. Smith 8' Hayes, c. D. R. Garrard, b. Coates ~, 0 Brunton, run out ja Thomas, c. W. R. Garrard, b. Smith 73 Gray, c W. R. Garrard, b. Coates ... 27 M'Ewin, b. Coates 17 Howell, not out 9 M'Beth, 1.b.w., b Smith "". 0 Extras , u Total Ig7 Bowling Analysis—Smith took six wickets for 109 runs; M'Math, none for 39; Coates, three for 63; D. R. Garrard, none for 15; Mjdlane, none for 8; Hor6nool, none for li. Canterbury. Second Inningsi Lusk,'st. Garrard, b. Smith 94 Jones, 1.b.w., b. Coates 51 Wood, st. Garrard, b. Midlane • 25 Patrick, c. Sloman, I>. Smith 1 Hayes, not out 22 Brunton, not out 8 Extras 8 Total for four wickets 209 Auckland. First Innings.' \ Hemus, b. M'Beth \\\ Horspool, c. Brunton, b. M'Beth 11 Smith, b. M'Beth 6 Midlane, b. M'Beth 6 Sloman, b. M'Beth 20 W. R. Garrard, b. M'Beth 0 Beveridge, b. M'Beth 19 Graham, b. M'Beth ..' 6 D..R. Garrard, b..M'Beth 0 M'Math, not out ...... 1 Coates, c. Patrick, b. M'Ewin „ 5 Extras „,; 27 Total .'. 142 Bowling Analysis—M'Ewin took one wicket for 54 runs; M'Beth, nine for 56; Patrick, none for 5.