PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 20062, 31 December 1928, Page 7

PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

OTAGO V. AUCKLAND HOME SIDE BATS I Fresh from its ten wickets victory against Canterbury,, Auckland commenced its second Plunket Shield . match oi the season at Carisbrook this ' morning against the Otago eleven ■which, also playing its. second shield game, did so well in drawing with Wellington last week. The weather was line tor the commencement of play, the sun shining through the clouds. There was a fair attendance at the outset, which increased as the morning progressed. '■ The wicket was fairly easy, there being little nip in it. It was improving as the morning wore on, and A. W. Alloo, winning the toss Irom Auckland’s skipper, C. F. W. Allcott, Otago elected to bat. Leader replaced Douglas in the Otago team, the latter having injured his hand in the Wellington match. ~ Messrs A. Downes and W. Butler jvere the umpires. PLAY DETAILED. Play, commenced at 11.10, EL C Alloo and A. Knight bjeing Otago s opening pair The former faced Dunin*T, whose fourth ball ho banged to the square leg boundary, this being the only fniitUil shot oi the over. Allcott bowled from the pavilion end, his hrst over being a maiden. Dunning was sending down a lasusli hall and keeping them on the wicket. H. C. Alloo played a maiden to fmu. Kumht opened his account with a short drive to cover for a single oil Allcott, was getting some turn ou. Alloo was disinclined to take chances, and played out the remainder of tho over. Knmht glanced Dunning to square leg for ”1 single, which was the only run of the over. Dunning was muring them a. bit, sending down a slower one occasionally, but both batsmen were playing steady cricket. Allcott bowled his second maiden to Knight, and Alloo placed Dunning aiieefy through the covers for a brace. Allcott was keeping Knight quiet, another iruiiden resulting. Dunning bowled his second maiden, but in Allcott’s nest over Knight made a welltimed drive to the off tor a brace, 10 being hoisted after twenty-four minutes’ play. Knight made a pretty late cut for 2, and Dunning bowled a maiden to Alloo. Auckland’s ground fielding so far had been crisp ami clean, tho field being well placed and runs difficult to get. Both Dunning and Allcott were bowling very Lmdily, tho latter sending down another maiden. Dunning was bowling the leg theory and maintaining a good length, but his second Cecil Alloo turned to lino leg for a single, which broke a spell of quiet batting. Allcott bowled his fifth maiden, fourteen overs having produced gnly 13 runs. Knight drove Dunning to the on lor u single, and notched another single off Allcott’s first ball. He then square cut Dunning for a single, which was all the over produced. Dunning was pitching them dead on the centre pin and breaking away, the batsmen finding him difficult to play. With 16 runs showing after forty minutes’ play Player took over Irom Allcott at tne pavilion end, his first being a maiden. Alloo drove Dunning to the on for a single, and the Aucklander beat Knight with a ball that turned a shade too much and skimmed past the wicket, a bye being run. Player bowled his second maiden, and Alloo turned Dunning to square leg for a single. After fifty minutes’ play Knight hoisted 20 by giving a full tons from Dunning short shrift, despatching it to the oft boundary. The nest he treated similarly, driving past the bowler for 4. This was the most expensive over so far, 9 being scored off it, Dunning’s eleven overs having produced 20 runs. Following Player’s third maiden, Bowley replaced Dunning at the Cargill road end, and Knight off drove his fourth for a single. The last ball of the over Alloo lifted dangerously to the on, Mills just failing to get under it. Alloo pulled Player’s fourth to square leg for a brace, 30 appearing on the board. He dealt similarly with the hist ball of the over for another 2. Knight placed Bowley to the off for a single, and Alloo drove through the covers for another f. Player bowled his fourth maiden, and only 1 came off Bowlcy’s next. Knight was shaping confidently, but went forward to a Teg break from Bowley, which beat the bat, the Grange man just failing to get his foot in before Rowntree lifted the bails. 36 I—l 9. Knight was at the wickets sixty-nine minutes, his score including two 4’s. He was batting well when he was dismissed. Blunt was the incomer, and opened with a single to leg off Bowley. Alloo square-cut Player for a single, which was all the over produced. Alloo added another single off Bowley, 40 appear- , mg. Blunt patted Bowley down the gully for a brace and Alloo drove a short one from Player through the covers for 4, reaching 20. Blunt drove Bowley to long-on for 4, which brought 60 up. Alloo notched a single off Player and Blunt drove Player to the on for a single, Horspool failing to gather cleanly. Blunt "laced Bowley nicely through tho cove for a single, : but be played outside the first ball of Player’s next over and Rowntreo brought off a good catch. 53—2—9. Eastman came in and snicked his first into Rowntree’s hands, tho latter taking a fine catch. 53—3—0. Loader partnered Alloo and played out the over. Player’s ten overs included six maidens for 11 runs and two wickets. He was bowling very accurately and maintaining a good length, the batsmen being chary of taking any liberties with him. Alloo notched a single off Bowley, and Player bowled another maiden. Leader snicked Bowley past the wicketkeeper for 1, and Player bowled his third successive maiden, Leader facing him. Cecil Alloo drove Bowley to longoff for a single and in Player’s next over ho cut him through the slips for a single. He followed up with a neat square cut for 1, and Leader won applause with an off drive winch also produced a single. Alloo pulled an off ball from Bowley nicely to leg, Player having bowled a maiden to Leader. Otago had been batting 108 minutes for 60 runs, which was the total when ’Allcott came on again at the Cargill road end in place of Bowley, his over to Leader being fruitless from Otago « point of view. The luncheon .adjournment was taken at 1 p.m., Otago having 60 runs on for the loss of three wickets—H. O. Alloo (in) .28 and Leader (in) 2. The batsmen through-

trundlers, who had been bowling very consistently all morning. Kowntree’s wicketkeeping was a feature of the morning’s play, his stopping being first class, while he stumped Knight and brought about the dismissal of Blunt and Eastman with great catches. After the lunch adjournment, play was resumed in light rain, and without addition to the score, H. C. Alloo was caught by Rowntreo off Player. Details:

CANTERBURY V. WELLINGTON [Pur United Press Association.] CHIRSTCHURCH, December 31, , The Plunket Shield match Canterbury v. Wellington commenced this morning. The weather was fine, and the wicket good. Wellington won the toss, Dempster and Foley opening. With the last ball of Read’s second over, Foley was clean bowled. Lamason filled the vacancy. When his total was 3, Dempster was missed in the slips, and the ball went to the boundary. The score was 18 when Lamason was smartly caught behind the wicket off Cunningham. Lowry went in. The batsmen were adopting cautious tactics. Lowry’s score was 13 when he was dropped in the slips. Lowry stopped out and drove Merritt for 4, bringing 50 up after nearly an hour’s play. Just before reaching 30, Lowry nearly played Merritt on to his wickets. Dempster was now scoring freely. Lowry twice caused derisive laughter by attempting to. kick a ball from Merritt,

OTAGO. —First Innings.— H. C. AIloo c Rowntree b Player 2S A. R. Knight stumped Rowntree b Bow lev iy R. C. Blunt c Rowntree b Player y L. G. Eastman o Rowntree b Player u V. Leader not out ••• ‘2 Extras 2 Total for four wickets ... ~60