CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1932, Page 6

CRICKET

SHIELD CRICKET CRITICISED

AUCKLAND V CANTERBURY GAME AUCKLAND, December 29. In an editorial the “Star” says:— “The best of cricket goes foaming over rapids and does not, like the weariest river, wind somewhere safe to sea. After Auckland’s record in 1931-32, tiieir good showing against Canterbury at the week-encl will be pleasant news to local cricket lovers, but there will be a good deal of disappointment at tlie tame ending to the match. Why did not Weir fiing his bat at fortune? To score 267 runs in two hours and thirty-five minutes was certainly a formidable task. The game was 'already lost on the first innings. There was nothing to lie gained bv playing for a draw, but there was an outside chance of scoring a victory that would make hearts beat high, and for years would have been freshly remembered.

The Auckland captain, however, did not even alter his batting order so as to best meet the challenge. Nevertheless, fortune was kind t 0 him for tlie first two men scored 80 in under 50 minutes. But Weir did not seize his advantage, and the tone of the game dropped into flatness. Vivian the most brilliant, batsman in New Zealand, was kept back until the last few minutes,- and Dacre was not sent in. It is not every side that contains two players' cf such punishing powers. A daring captain would have sent the quickest scoring men in early, and told them to go for runs. If the team had died it would have died game and brightness would not have fallen from the air.”