A BLOW TO THEIR PRIDE

NZ Truth, Issue 1205, 3 January 1929, Page 12

A BLOW TO THEIR PRIDE

Auckland Gave The Raspberry To Canterbury

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative.)

Canterbury . cricket supporters must have been about as happy as ' a prohibitionist m a beer garden after the Plunket Shield match with Auckland. The pride of the north strolled m X by ten wickets after one of the tamest 'games played m the flat X city for many years. True, conditions for the most part favored the visitors; but conditions were not altogether responsible for the feeble batting display. '

CYRIL ALLCOTT won the choice' of innings and naUiraily told "Curly" . Page to do the fielding. Conditions \vere ideal and the wicket was perfect/but after an hour the clerk of the weather took a hand and added to ' Canterbury's . troubles with a drizzling rain.'." The sodden ball and the greasy outfield had its effect on the Canterbury bowling and Cunningham, Read and

Merritt had,. no end qf trouble m keeping control. Missed chances, coupled with the steady drizzle, spoilt Canterbury's chances m the game. As it was Auckland should have scored more than 264 for 5 .wicket's. '••.'■■ On the second day m fine weather, Cunningham struck his best form and took 4 wickets for 12 runs, Auckland's last 5 wickets adding only 66 runs. Gillespie : gave one of the , soundest displays seen at I/m caster Park for many years.' .His. 76 was compiled m thorough style, skilful footwbrk-result-ing m a number of clever placements. Cyril Allcott, • Auckland's skipper-; had two bleihishes m his 69 m snicks through the : slip's off Cunningham. Apart from this his knock was. sound, his off-driving being very powerful. • Judging by ..-the 'manner m which he Compiled his 28, Whitelaw, the Auckland, colt, 7should do well for his province.. ;..■ He was decidedly nervous, but re -■' vealed a Ayristy cut, and showed skill m dealing ..with the leg. theory. .7 . Canterbury's supporters Were hot left, long m suspense about the batting strength of l!he . team. After an inglorious display, the side was disposed of for 153 runs, a poor total on a good wicket. "Curly,7. Pa ge, alone revealed" any artistry and ability as a batsman. ;'.""' Page is One of the most attractive batsmen iri New Zealand/ and is probably one of. tho cleverest exponents in' the^country of on-side cricket. ,

Canterbury's second knock produced 254, leaving the northerners Avith 78 to get, which they accomplished without loss, although Bowley had to retire us the result of a nasty crack on the fingers from a sharply rising ball from Newman. Mills never looked like, getting out. He revealed great artistry m compiling an unbeaten 30. /Bill Merritt has been batting m great

style m club cricket, and gave a taste of his ability m Canterbury's second innings. He hit the ' only two sixes of the match', 'one 'off Bowley, and the second off "Weir. His bowling was full of guile, but too many full tosses were lobbed up. 'Lan Hamilton, who gave great promise last year when he secured his New Zealand cap, has not been batting well this season.- Some evidence of this was\sho"\yn m his cramped stand at the wickets.; '-''■„ Bill Cunningham bowled well. He was coming through fast off the wicket at times, and turned several surprisingly sharply. G. L: Weir, who took 5 wickets for Auckland, has an easy action and sAvungthem both ways. He maintained a consistent length, and several times came throug i fast. Bowley . and Newman staged an interesting duel. Newman. was dismissed twice by Bowley, who m turn played one on from Newman. Bowley was delightfully free . m his second knock, but. a rising- ball from Newjnan rapped him across the fingers causing him to retire. J. . A.' Dunning, a graduate from Oxford University, took 5 wickets for 44 runs m Canterbury's first innings and 2 for 47 m the second. - .A medium to. fast right-hander,- he swung sharply at times, and varied his paco cleverly, but several -appallingly poor strokes gave hini wickets. • j