AUCVKLAND BEATS CANTERBURY

Evening Star, Issue 20060, 28 December 1928, Page 13

AUCVKLAND BEATS CANTERBURY

' NORTHERNERS’ ALL-ROUND SUPERIORITY [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 27. Canterbury entered on tlio third day’s piny in their match with Auckland with an almost hopeless task before thorn. The local men to-day gave :i much better batting display than they hud given in the first innings, and to some extent made amends for their earlier failure. There i.s no doubt that weather conditions • on the first day handicapped them considerably, but even allowing for this, Auckland clearly demonstrated their all-round superiority. The weather kept fine, though it was far from being ideal cricket weather. A cold easterly blew across the ground all day, and only at rare intervals was the sun in evidence. There was only a moderate, attendance, the sum of £45 representing the gate takings. The continuation of Canterbury’s second innings saw some fine hatting by two Old Boys’ representatives, Merritt and Page. Merritt’s feat of top scoring was exceedingly popular, especially as it was unexpected. Any doubts as to his batting ability were completely dispelled, for be played an innings of which any batsman in the | team would have been proud. Not the 1 least meritorious part of his knock was the man in which he curbed his desire For a hit. Ho had a go at two or three which he missed, but they were oil the wicket. His defence was sound and thorough, but what was especially pleasing was his enterprise. He picked out the hittable ball with great judgment, and many of his: scoring strokes were as good as anything in the match. Page is entitled to equally high praise. He was always in an aggressive mood, and it, was only very accurate bowling that kept him in restraint. He showed sound and careful defence, and his scoring strokes were, with lew exceptions, high class. His and Merritt’s batting stood out as a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing display by Canterbury. Burns shaped like a class batsman . during the short time ho took to make 23, especially in regard to his scoring strokes. His off driving was especially good. Newman played a lot of sound and good cricket for his 17, and against pace bowlers he looked as though he could stay there all day, but ho was not nearly so confident to Bowie, y’s bowling. Of the others Hamilton batted very soundly until he was unlucky enough to be run out. His defence was distinctly good, but he did not make the most of his scoring opportunities. The Auckland attack was of a high | order right through, Allcott, Weir, ' Dunning, and Player were a quartet that always required watching, and. not at any time during the innings | was the bowling loose. Then Bowley, with his liiieky slows, always seemed a likely wicket-getter, though one had a feeling that such, tempting stuff would be soundly trounced in club cricket. The Auckland fielding was as good as the howling, and the two made up a line exhibition of cricket. Auckland were set thc_ easy tusk of making 78 runs in tiieir second innings. They made them without the loss of a wicket, hut the Canterbury bowling was so good that they had lo y fight- for runs all the way, and it took' them an hour and twenty minutes .to get the runs. Mills made his 30 in a

manner that suggested Canterbury wore lucky to get rid of him so cheaply in the first innings. One could not but" admire the confident and easy manner in which he met the best of the howling, and iiio loose ball was trounced in equally approved style, Rowley was not quite so sound, but when Rowley retired hurt Postles appeared to find no difficulty in playing the bowling, good as it was. Details:—

Total 254 Bowling analysis.—Player, no wickets for 15; Weir, four for 73; Dunning, two for 47: Allcott, one for 50: Bowley, two for 52.

AUCKLAND. First innings ... 330 Second innings. Bowley, retired hurt ... 20 Mills, not out ... 30 Postlcs, not out ... 16 Extras ... ... .12 Total for no wickets ... ... 78 CANTERBURY. First Innings ... 153 Second Innings. Brosnalian b Dunning ... ~> Crawford c Dunning b Weir ... ... 4 Roberts b Weir 0 Page c Dunning b Weir ... 76 Newman b Bowley ... 17 Hamilton run out ... IS I Merritt e Mills b Dunning ... ... 84 Evans c Rountree b Allcntt ... ... 0 1 Read st Rountree b Bowley ... 7 Cunningham not out 3 Burns b Weir ... 23 Extras ... 17