PLUNKET SHIELD

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 118, 11 January 1932, Page 5

PLUNKET SHIELD

(Press Assn,

canterbury beats auckland with eight wickets in hand WEIR'S FIGHTING INNINGS

By Telegraph — Copyright).

AUCKLAND, Saturday. The Plunket Shield cricket match between Canterbury and Auckland was Won to-day by Canterbury by eight wickets. Requiring 95 in their second venture the visitors eompiled 98 for the loss of two wickets. With the overnight seore of 55 for one wicket, and much leeway to make up, Auckland resumed its second innings in peffect weather. Weir (3) and Frater (37) began confidently to the bowling of Cromb and Merritt. The slow bowler's length varied, while Cromb struck a good length, and the batsmen were content to play him. However, they gradually got set, and the score mounted slowly, despite changes in bowling. Weir pulled Lester's first delivery to the fence, and raised the hundred amid applause. Weir then opened out and drove Burrows. Auckland's sto'cks were raising when Weir atteflipted to drive a ball from Burrows which kept low and hit the middle stick. His fighting innings had pleased the Auckland supporters. The partnership had put on 84 runs. With Gillespie in, seoring slowed down. The fieldsmen were keen and vigilant. Frater reached 70 by squarecutting Merritt to the fen'ce, but after a single Gillespie swung at a fulltoss, missed, and was given out. - Vivian's Pavilion Six Vivian came out, and amidst great applause lifted Burrows into the. pavilion for six. When he faced Merritt, Page spread a eordon round the fence. In Burrows' next over Frater played the ball, Vivian ran up, Frater urged him back, but the wicket-

keeper had the bails off. In Merritt's next over McCoy played on to the wicket. Frater jumped out to Merritt, and was well outside the crease when Burns flicked the bails off. Frater had played an exeellent innings, with good shots all round. Clark came on and helped McMillan to wipe out the southern lead, but the home side had only four wickets in hand. Then McMillan patted the ball and Merritt leaped to make a lefthanded catch. M^theson started well, although caught by Crawford off a no-ball from Merritt. Cromb's good length kept the batsmen wary, and Merritt's reverse break always troubled them. Just before lunch Clark reached forward to a ball that turned away, and Burns secured another victim. Cleverley and Matheson formed a valuable last-wicket partnership adding 56 runs. The New Zealand fast bowlei' hit merrily for an unbeaten even half eentury. Auckland's innings closed for 256 leaving Canterbury 96 runs to win. Crawford and Kerr opened Canterbury's second innings and played steadily, though confidently. Crawford was beaten by McCoy before the tea adjournment and soon after the resumption Kerr lost his wicket to the same bowler, Roberts and Cromb had no difficulty in gathering the required few runs left to win. Details: — AUCKLAND First Innings - 56 Second Innings Whitelaw, c Cromb, b Merritt 13 Frater, st" Burns, b Merritt ...... 74 Weir, b Burrows 51 Gillespie, Ibw, b Merritt 8 Vivian, run out 7 McCoy, b Merritt 0 McMillan, c and b Merritt 7 Clark, st. Burns, b Merritt 10 Matheson, not out 50 Smith, c Roberts, b Merritt 8 Cleverley, c Burrows, b Merritt 8 Extras 20 Total 256 Bowling: Merritt took eight wickets for 105, Burrows one for 56; Cromb none for 56, Bellamy none for 2, Lester none for 17. CANTERBURY First Innings 218 Second Innings Crawford, b McCoy 29 Kerr, c Cleverley, b McCoy ...... 47 Roberts, not out 11 Cromb, not out' 8 Extras 3 Total for two wickets 98