BOWLERS ON TOP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20129, 26 December 1939, Page 9

BOWLERS ON TOP

SHIELD CRICKET AUCKLAND’S POOR START SMALL WELLINGTON LEAD WEAK BATTING DISPLAY (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The bowlers were in'.the ascendant on Saturday when the Plunket Shield cricket match between Auckland, the holders of the trophy, and Wellington opened at the Basin Reserve on a firm wicket and a fast outfield. Tlie weather was fine but a piping north-westerly wind enabled the bowlers to swing the ball in the air. During the day 21 wickets fell for 316 runs. It was the weakest display of batting ever seen on a firm wicket in a Plunket Shield match her.?. When Wallace, the Auckland captain, won the toss the 3000 spectators settled down confident of seeing some bright batting. They were dumbfounded when the whole side was dismissed just after the luncheon adjournment for the paltry total of 134. Wallace, was the only batsman to shape with confidence. He hit the first ball he received up against the pickets past cover and scored rapidly with forQeful drives and hooks, but when 47 he spooned one from Lamason to Du Chateau at cover. Pritchard, Lamason and Ashenden bowled well for Wellington and Tindill took three catches behind the sticks. It was expected that Wellington would pile up a. respectable score, but they only managed to head the Auckland total by 30 runs. Du Chateau and Hepburn gave the side a good start by putting on 44 for the first wicket, but Cleverley and Weir then made a good bowling spurt, and it was only resolute hitting by McLeod and Pritchard in the dying stages that enabled the Wellington score to reach 164. Great Recovery Auckland staged a great batting recovery whtn play was resumed in perfect weather at 2 p.m. yesterday. Resuming Auckland's second innings with one wicket down for 18 runs, Sale and Pearson made a magnificent stand for the second wicket, which put on 146 runs. Sale was the Pearson was soundness personified, more enterprising of the pair, but After having been at the wickets for 127 minutes, Pearson, who had hit one six and three fours, played one from Pritchard on to his sticks. Wallace, who had done well in the first. innings, was very subdued, taking half an hour to score seven singles and whs then caught by McLeod in the slips off Pritchard. Sale played a masterly innings of 135 minutes, ■ finding the boundary 12 times with powerful off and caver drives and brilliant hook and pull shots. The tea adjournment was fatal to him as he was clean bowled by Pritchard shortly after the resumption. He scored 97 in bright and breezy fashion and the crowd of about 4000 people was sorry to see him miss his century. Weir played an enterprising innings, which included one six and five fours. He was at the wickets for 7 minutes for his even half-cen-tury. ... . ... The other batsmen failed to stay and. when stumps were drawn at 6 o’clock, nine wickets were down for 254. rUns.-,. It was a disappointing batting .effort after the splendid start aiffde by Pearson and Sale. - Reputation Enhanced Pritchard enhanced his reputation as the best fast bowler in the Dominion bv capturing five wickets for 61 rilns off 19 overs. He kept up a good pace and made the ball lift at times, catching Pearson a severe blow over the heart. He clean bowled Pearson, Sale, Burke and Weir, and had Wallace caught in the slips. He also took a brilliant catch in the slips to dispose of Bladford. Ashenden was always doing something with the ball jn securing four wickets for 68 runs, off 17 overs. Other bowlers tried were not impressive. Details: — AUCKLAND. First Innings. P. E. Whitelaw, c Wilson, b Pritchard 2 H. T. Pearson, b Ashenden .. 6 V. S. Sale, c Tindill, b Lamason .. 14 W. It Wallace, c Du Chateau, b Lamason 47 G. L. Weir, b Pritchard .. • • 10 V. J. Scott, c McLeod, b Lamason 7 A. M. Matheson, c Wilson, b Ashenden 8 C. E. Burke, c Tindill, b Pritchard . 3 J. A. R. Blandford, not out • • 14 D. C. Cleverley, c Tindill, b Pritchard • ■ • • 2 J. Cowie, run out 0 Extras 21 Total • ■ • • • • • ■ * B4 Bowling

Second Innings. P. E. Whitelaw, lbw, b Ashdenden 0 H. T. Pearson, b Pritchard -■ 53 V. S. Sale, b Pritchard . 97 W. M. Wallace, c McLeod, b Pritchard • • " ' G. L. Weir, b Pritchard • - • • 50 V. J. Scott, c Wilson, b Ashenden 11 A. M,..Matheson, b Ashenden 0 C. fe. Burke, b Pritchard .. • • J J. A. R. Blandford, c Pritchard, b Ashenden .. 11 D. C. Cleverley, not out .. - - 4 J. Cowie, not out • • • • 8 Exttas 10 Total lor nine wickets • ■ ■ • 254 BofVling.—Pritchard took five

0. M. R. w. Pritchard ... 13.7 0 45 4 Ashenden ... 8 1 29 2 -Iamason .. • ... 6 1 24 Wilson ... 3 1 15 0