WICKETS TOPPLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20133, 30 December 1939, Page 7

WICKETS TOPPLE

WELLINGTON BATSMEN 84 FOR SIX WICKETS CROMB BOWLS WELL CANTERBURY ATTACK (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Canterbury and Wellington, with first innings’ points to their credit, met as leaders in the Plunket Shield cricket series at the Basin Reserve to-day. The weather was fine, warm but cloudy, with a light northerly wind. The wicket seemed easy, but was on the soft side, and Wellington took the initial advantage of the first strike after winning the toss. James is twelfth man for Canterbury. Roberts headed the Canterbury attack to Hepburn and Du Chateau, and succeeded in getting a dangerous nip off the pitch. Occasionally Hepburn took a single off the first over and another off the first from Meß'ae, and then sent Roberts to the fence through the slips" for the first four of the match. Hepburn Beaten . Wellington suffered a setback, however, when a semi-yorker from Roberts whipped past Hepburn. The score then was only 10, of which Hepburn had made seven. Du Chateau was joined by Wrigley. but he did not appear comfortable against Roberts and was forced to be content with singles. The left-hander, Mcßae, kept a good flight and steady length, the first five overs yielding only four runs. Du Chateau, who was getting more of the bowling, started to liven up against Roberts, but the slow outfield reduced several good shots to singles. He reached double figures, however, with a weighty drive through the covers.

Wrigley batted patiently. Du Chateau had a lucky escape at 13 when lie was dropped at second slip by Davis off Mcßae, who was still keeping the runs to one. He compensated by driving the second ball from Davis, who had relieved Roberts, to the long-on boundary. Wrigley, who had been at the wickets for 39 minutes for two, went leg before to Mcßae with the Wellington total at 27, and was replaced by Tindill. Tindill Hits Out The advent of Tindill with a display of brisk hitting and snappy running between the wickets brightened the play considerably. He opened with a brace of threes off Davis, then two twos, a string of singles, and another three off Cromb, who had relieved Mcßae. The last three brought up 50 after 73 minutes, but any hopes that Wellington had of better scoring were dashed by Cromb, who was getting a remarkable turn off the wicket. He set a leg trap for Du Chateau and succeeded with the last ball of the first over, Davis taking a catch. —523—25. The last ball of the next over curled round R'ainbird’s pads, and in Cromb’s following over McLeod, who had not opened his score, was beaten with a sharp break from tho off. Five wickets were down for 60. Cromb had taken three wickets for six runs. Wilson went in the slips when Roberts returned, and at lunch the score was 84 for six. Tindill was batting confidently at 37. Details:—

WELLINGTON First Innings

Du Chateau, c Davis, b Cromb .. 25 Tindill, not out 37 Rainbird, b Cromb 1 McLeod, b Cromb 0. Wilson, c Davis, b Roberts .. 10 Lamason, not out 9 Extras 2 Total for six wickets .. .. 84