SHIELD CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 83, 2 January 1935, Page 10

SHIELD CRICKET

Wellington’s Match With Canterbury CENTURY TO BELLAMY Home Side’s Substantial Advantage By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, January 1. The two days’ play that has taken place in the I’lunket Shield mutch between Wellington and Canterbury has left the latter in a very promising position for an eight-point win. The first day’s play left the home side with a substantial advantage, lor they put up in the first innings a total of 323, and then dismissed four of the leading Wellington batsmen for 39. Canterbury more than maintained this advantage to-day by getting a first innings lead of 168, thus compelling Wellington to follow on, and then getting two good wickets for 33 runs. So far one might say that it has been Bellamy’s match, for he not only top scored with affine century but proved himself the star bowler by getting a very fine average of five wickets for 31 runs in 17 overs. It was the state of the wicket that gave him a chance. The steady down pour of this morning had left the wicket so wet and slippery that fast bowlers like Andrews eould not get a foothold. It would be idle to say that Bellamy’s figures did not flatter him. Most of the batsmen he got put themselves out. Some fine catches also assisted, him to his good figures. Renewed Confidence. Canterbury’s eight-point win against Auckland thf previous week had probably given the side renewed confidence, and at the close of Monday’s play it was in a strong position, having scored 323 and then dismissed the first four Wellington batsmen for 39 runs. Conditions .for the game were ideal. Though Canterbury put up a satisfactory total on Monday it was a very uneven batting performance. Of the 305 runs made from the bat four men made no fewer than 286 between them. Thus seven batsmen on the side averaged 2.70 runs apiece, and it must be admitted that several of them were out from very weak • trokes. However, as frequently happens in. cricket, there were men in the team, namely, Bellamy, Hadlee, Cromb, and Roberts, to make up for failures, so that the total, though not so big as it should have been, was fairly satisfactory. At one stage, when Canterbury had 290 on the board with only five wickets down, the total promised to be a big one, but then they showed a “tail” that was supposed not to be there. Temperament for Big Cricket. Bellamy once more demonstrated that he has ' the temperament for big cricket. Coming after his scores of 77 and 49 ’ • against Auckland he must be considered at any rate in big cricket Canterbury’s most reliable batsman. His innings was not spectacular. Indeed, it was slow, and he allowed a very large proportion of balls that should have been scored off to escape punishment. His, scoring shots, though' they only came at fairly long intervals, were for the most part faultlessly executed. His cover driving was as fiiie as one would wish to see. i

Hadlee’s success in getting a century,, was very popular, as was shown by the' prolonged applause. A little uncertain in his defence at first, he soon settled down to real batsman-like cricket. His scoring shots were well executed, and. on the whole it was a first class display of sound and orthodox batting. Cromb was a bit uncertain in his defence. and some of his scoring strokes were rather uppish. Many of them, however, were brilliantly executed, and his partnership with Beilamy, after a wicket had fallen cheaply, was a valuable one. Roberts played the bowling with much more confidence than he had shown' against Auckland, and made some good scoring strokes before falling to a weakness of chopping off balls on to his wicket. Canterbury’s advantage was increased when Wellington went in. In the 40 minutes left for play the northerners lost their first four batsmen for a total of 39. During the short time Whyte was at the wickets he rattled up 32 by enterprising and snappy strokes, chiefly on the leg side. It was his first appearance in representative cricket,, and Canterbury looked to be in luck’s way when he was snapped up off a late cut. Good Display in the Field. Wellington gave a very good display in the field. The bowling was well up to representative standard and there was more variety than on the Canterbury side. Tricklebank, a. young bowler of considerable promise, bowled with a good deal of pace and was fairly accurate in Tris length and direction, with a long run to the wicket. He has a delivery very similar to that of Cowie, Auckland’s fast bowler. * Blundell was as steady as ever and varied tiny pace very cleverly. On a perfect wicket, however, he did not look dangerous. Symes kept an end going well, and sent down very little loose stuff, while Morgan, the “googly” bowler of the •side, puzzled the batsmen considerably with his leg breaks. The fielding was good. Scores are as follow:—

CANTERBURY.—First Innings. F. W. Bellamy, c. Tricklebank, b. Blundell J. L. K<-.r. b. Trlclilebank ’J I. B. Cromb, c. .Morgan, b. Blundell .... 40 JI. L. Page. c. Tlndill, b. Symes 1 C. J. Oliver, b. Tricklebank 5 W. A. Hadlee, not out 101 A. W. Roberts, b. Morgan .... 3U P. F. Allen, b. Blundell 0 S. G. Lester, c. Ell. bl Blundell 2 S. Andrews, c. Tlndill, b„ Lamason .... 2 JI. Graham, run out 0 , Extras 18 Total «23 Bowling Analysis.—Blundell took tour wickets for 113 runs; Tricklebank, two’for 51); Symes, one tor 40; Lamason, one tor 22; Morgan, two for 39; Riley, none, for 32. WELLINGTON.—First Innings. JR. A. Whyte, c. Lester, b. Roberts ... 22 E. W. Tindill, 1.b.w., b. Andrews .. 7 G. Ward. b. Roberts 5 ,C. P. Wareham, b. Lester 1 J. R. Lamason, c. Kerr, b, Bellamy .... 22 J. A. Ell, c. Bellamy, b. Roberts .... 41 R. T. Jlorgan, c. Page. b. Bellamy .... 8 W. Tricklebank, c. Lester, b. Bellamy 33 L. E. Riley, c. Oliver, b. Bellamy 15 E. ,1) Blundell, e. Andrews, b. Bellamy 1 I. A. 11. Symes, not out 0 Extras 6 Total 155 Bowling Analysis.—Roberts took three wickets for 55 runs; Andrews, one for 21; Lester, one for 21; Graham, none for 10; Bellamy, live for 31; Page, none for 11; Second Innings. Tindill. not out 11 Whyte, b. Roberts 0 Ward. b. Graham 13 Ell, not out 5 Extras 4 Total for two wickets ....i 33 OTAGO SCORES 278 Auckland in Good Position By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, January 1. Play is at an interesting- stage in the Plunket Shield cricket match between Otago and Auckland, which commenced at C.arisbrook on Monday, and was continued to-day. The wicket had been covered as a protection against heavy rain which bad fallen during the weekend. but when nlav was begun it was lifeless. Batting under conuitious which offer-J

ed bright opportunities for run-getting, Otago had lost five wickets for 206 when rain ended play at 3.30 on Monday afternoon. When play was resumed to-day, with the wicket still giving no aid to the bowlers, the remaining Otago men went cheaply, and the inniugs closed for 278. When stumps were drawn Auckland had lost five wickets for 216. The Opening Batsmen. Under the conditions which prevailed Otago might have been expected to make a larger, score than 275, and it was the fact that the batsmen, in the main, got themselves out, rather than good bowling by the visitors, that kept the runs down. Saxton, after having had experience of the Plijnket Shield game.in Wellington, was given an opening position with Cavanagh, and the manner in which both of them faced the bowling gave promise of bright scoring. Facing Townsend, however, Cavanagh was out l.b.w. to a ball which he intended should go for four, and when Saxton was out to a simple slip catch off a hall that should have been left aloue; Otago was iu by no means a promising position. Elmes played confidently, and Badcock batted in his usual breezy style, scoring 32 in 24 minutes, hut with four down for 93 Otago was still not happily placed. The position was vastly improved, however, by the partnership of Uttley and Leader, vtho “dug in” to good purpose and added 92 runs before a separation was effected. It was a .great misfortune for Otago that Uttley should have been run out when he was reaping the benefit of his unusually slow start, but it was even more unfortunate that rain should have stopped play at a time when the bowling had been completely mastered and ail indications pointed to Otago pinking a large total. The play also contained its disappointments when play was resumed to-day. Both Leader and Chettleburgh sacrificed their wickets in an effort to score quickly, and the running-out of Dunning was followed by the dismissal in a similar manner of Smith, who playing in his first Shield game had made a remarkably promising start. At least five of the dismissals could be attributed to ill-judged efforts to score quickly, and these, with the three run-outs, provide an explanation of Otago’s dismissal for a score that was not so large as it should have been. Townsend’s Good Average. The only bowler who could secure more than one wicket was Townsend, English professional, , who obtained tlie good average of five for 83 Generally, the Auckland fielding was sound, but it was marred by the dropping of two simple catches. Auckland’s batting differed from that of Otago, in that the visitors stubbornly refused to take risks and the fact that only 39 runs were scored off Badcoek’3 35 overs was indicative of the slow rate of scoring. Mills, who, nevertheless played a highly valuable innings, was so restrained that he sorely tried the patience of the crowd.

He was at the vyickets for three and a. half hours in' making his 70' runs. Whitelaw was equally, unenterprising, and Weir, who' was associated with Mills in a partnership whir'll added' 82 for the second wicket in 99 minutes, was seldom tempted to open his shoulders. It was a slow afternoon's cricket, but it placed Auckland in a position of requiring only 63 runs for a first innings lead, with five wickets in hand. -Following are the scores:— OTAGO.—First Innings. V. G. Cavanagh, 1.b.w., b. Townsend .. 13 C. Saxton, c. Whitelaw, b Bush »O K. Uttley, run out 62 C, Elmes, c. Vivian, b. Cowie 22 F. T. Badcock, c. Mills, b. Townsend .. 32 V. Leader, b. Townsend IS V. J. Chettleburgh. b. Townsend 21 J. A. Dunning, run out 3 L. Smith, run out G. It. Dickinson, not out 10 J. B. Wallace, b. Townsend .. 21 Extras '. 17 Total . 278 Bowling Analysis—.Cowie took one wicket for 44 runs; Matheson, none tor 23; Bush, one for off; Townsend, five for S 3; Vivian, none for 35. - „; AUCKLAND.—First Innings. ; , J. H. Mills, cj Smith, b. Badcock 70 P. E. Whitelaw,-1.b.w., b. Dunning .... 22 G. L. Weir, c. Cavanagh, b. Dunning .. 15 R. G. Bush, c. Clark, b. Dickinson .... 30 11. G. Vivian, not out t ............ 21 L. F. Townsend, c. Dunning, b. Elmes 11 M. Wallace, not out 6 Extras ...... 11 Total for five wickets 210 Ifowling Analysis.—Dickinson took one wicket for 41 runs; Badcock, one tor 39; Smith, none for 22; Dunning, two for 89; Elmes. one for 23; Chettleburgh, none for 11. - , HAWKE CUP MATCH Manawatu in Good Position Against Poverty Bay Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, January 1. Manawatu, after having won the Lord Hawke Gup from Taranaki recently, were called upon to defend a challenge from Poverty Bay to-day. Poverty Bay won the toss, and had the use of a good batsman’s wicket. Reeves and Fraser opened, but the former went early. Fraser, however, batted well, and later had a good partner in P. Dow,' the partnership yielding 61 runs in quick time. At lunch the visitors were in a fair position with 114 for three-wickets, but upon resumption R. Hatch and Gallichan, were practically unplayable, and seven wickets realised only 66 more runs, R. Hatch clean bowling five batsmen in eight overs for 29 runs. Robertson and Olliver gave Manawatu an excellent start. S 3 runs being made within three-quarters of an hour. Robertson batted brightly, and was ably backed by Olliver, wjiose first scoring strokes were five fours. Rain halted play when Manawatu had 109 for one wicket. Following are the scores: — POVERTY BAY—First Innings. Reeves, c. Norris, b. R. Hatch 2 Fraser, b. R. Hatch 61 Robertson, 1.b.w., b. Gallichan 1 12 Boon, e. A. M. Ongley, b. Gallichan .. 8 P. Dow, b. R. Hatch 41 E. Dow. b. R. Hatch 18 James, b. R. Hatch J> Wells, b. Galliclian “ Lockett, b. R. Hatch 9 Sharp, not out J Blatliwa.vt, st. Olliver, b. Galliclian S Extras jTotal 180 Bowling Analysis: R. Hatch took six wickets for 4v; N. Galliclian, tour for 63; Berquist. none for 29; K. Hatch, none for 13; A. M. Ongley, none tor IS. MA NA WATU—Firs t Innings. Robertson, c. Blathwayt, b. Sharp .... 3S Olliver, not out 'll Cutler, not out -0 Extras 1° Total, for one wicket 109 Bowling Analysis Blathwayt, none tor 29; Janies, none for 1(1; E., Dow. none for 8; Sharp, 1 for 22; Robertson, none tor 24.

ANNUAL MATCH

Wanganui v. Wellington

The annual match between the Wellington Mercantile Cricket League and the Wanganui Cricket Association was commenced at Athletic Park yesterday. .After a tine morning rain commenced to fall in the afternoon shortly after the game had commenced.ami an hour of play was lost. By 6 o’clock, when stumps were drawn, Wanganui were all out for 173 runs, while Wellington had tost one wicket for 19 runs.

Wanganui won the toss and elected to bat on a perfect wicket, the outfield of which was fast. Jewell, the Wanganui

captain, opened the innings himself with Thrush to the bowling of E. T. H. Robinson and E. Swain. The first over had just been completed when a light drizzle drifted across the ground, malting conditions unpleasant for the fielding _ side. Play was later adjourned for 15 minutes and when resumed the steady fall of wiUkets continued at intervals, three wickets being down for 55 runs. Rain made the wicket easier and the total was raised to 71 when the fourth wicket fell. Another adjournment was necessary, this time for 45 minutes, and when play was again continued the wicket was twopaced and inclined to kick. Thomas, who had batted really well tor Wanganui, and Condliffe, the Wellington wicketkeeper, were both injured and had to retire. Towards the end of the innings the iail commenced to wag, and Thomas, who had returned, and McDougal, both gave the score a lift along to 160 Wanganui were all out a little later for 173. At stumps Wellington had lost one wicket for 19 runs. Play will be resinned at 10 o’clock this morning. i WANGANUI.—First Innings. Details are as follow:— R. J. Sewell, b. Swain I G H. Thrush, run out 17 C. Byers, std. Condliffe. b. Swain .... H W. A. Davidson, 1.b.w., b. Foley 11 C R. Holland, b. Foley 14 It Thomas, b- Robinson • ••• 34 L. A. Wilson, 1.b.w., b. Swain 8 W Evans, c. Swain, b. Aldridge ...... 4 G. McDougal, h. Robinson 27 C. Smith, b. Swain 6 II I.owe. not out ..... 1 Extras 33 Total 173 Bowling Analysis.—Robinson took two wickets for nine runs: Swain, four for 52; Foley, two for 23: James, none tor 10; Aldridge, one for 26. WELLINGTON.—First Innings. N Aldridge, not out 9 O. Johnson, c. Evans. I). Holland 10 Extras 0 Total for one wicket 1®