CRICKET.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 426, 30 December 1911, Page 3

CRICKET.

The Taumarunui players have just concluded an enjoyable tour, the opening game being played at Waihi on Boxing Day. The piayers return to Taumarunui to-day. It was hoped that some good practice would be got in at Te Kuiti during the holidays, but the extremely wet weather experienced throughout the past week prevented any attempt at cricket. The players are all anxious to get going and a match with Taumarunui is eagerly looked for at an early date. Up to the present, however, there has been little opportunity for practice and before undertaking a serious engagement the players require to get in a good deal more time at the practice nets. Canterbury and Otago had a most interesting struggle for the Plunket Shield this week, the game terminating on Thursday in favour of Canterbury by three wickets. In the first innings Otago notched 302 mainly through the agency of Hopkins, who piled up 132. Canterbury's first innings was sensational. Four wickets were down for 60 when Carlton and Lusk stopped the rot. The succeeding batsmen did much better and the innings eventually totalled 264. Otago in the second innings were mowed down like corn before the sickle, the total only reaching 52, thus leaving the Shield defenders only 91 to get. The necessary runs wree obtained with three wickets in hand and the team retained the Shield.