SATURDAY’S PLAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 247, 9 January 1928, Page 11

SATURDAY’S PLAY

AUCKLAND BATTING SLUMP PAGE PRODUCES BEST FORM Even with six Auckland wickets down for 152 as the result of the first day’s play, optimistic local supporters hoped that the four remaining men would be able to carry the shieldholders’ first innings total over the 200 mark and within reach of Canterbury’s 244 when play was resumed on Saturday morning. All prospects of a substantial addition to the overnight’s score, however, were quickly dispelled when Read got to work with the ball and added three more wickets to his bag. Mills, not out for half a century, and G. L. Weir looked as if they might do the trick, but the Canterbury bowling was even more deadly than when the innings commenced. Mills gave one possible chance off Read and then made up his mind to leave the bowlers’ stuff alone in future. After adding a hard-fought for 14 to his score he succumbed to a ball from Read which came off the pitch higher than usual, by tipping it gently into Hayes’ waiting hands. The stylish lefthander, while having two distinct “lives,” played patient, fighting cricket making use of all the oppbrtunitles which came his way, pulling and driving forcefully and displaying fine wrist work in beautifully-executed glances and cuts. Weir played solidly for his nine, falling shortly after Mills to Read’s trap when he cut one low down on the off for the Canterbury keeper to take a fine catch. LAST TWO MEN HIT OUT Matheson raised dying hopes by stepping out fearlessly to Read and placing him over the heads of the fieldsmen for a boundary. Scott, the last man in, scored with a similar Stroke off Merritt and 15 runs were added for the last wicket, when Merritt clean-bowled Matheson for 10. While at school these colts met in Heathcote-Williams Shield matches and to-day they are rivals in the big cricket of the Dominion. Matheson had revenge in Canterbury’s second innings when he clean-bowled Merritt. Canterburj' - commenced its second strike an hour before lunch, Page sending out Gregory and Hamilton. This time Hamilton was the more aggressive batsman and rar. up 26, while his partner scored 10. Hamilton was going nicely, sending up a boundary in Weir’s first over, only to be skittled with the last ball. Auckland realised that it had been considerably fortunate in getting Page for a “duck” in. the first innings, and for 15 minutes he fought hard to open his score, but was unable to get the ball past the keen field. When he did get going, however, he soon showed that he meant to make amends for his initial failure. Gregory mis-hit Anthony to fine slipi where the everready Bowley snapped up a dazzling catch. MATHESON GETS MERRITT As a reward for his fine 37 in the first innings Merritt came in as No. 2 batsman, partnering Page. Merritt got one or two well away for singles, but he was never comfortable facing Matheson. Then and Page were together and the spectators sat up in their seats with renewed interest. Three good wickets were down for 52, and ever-fluctuating fortune had swung once again in Auckland’s favour. Newman was not content with staying at home to. Matheson’s

“kickers” like most of the other batsmen had been, but went out and attacked them. Page was livening up, and giving every drive the full weight of the bat, running quickly into the thirties. The Canterbury coach survived an appeal for 1.b.w., and then slammed Matheson to the fence. The pair continued-to play bright cricket, taking the total from 53 to 92 when Dacre tried a double bowling change. Weir went on at the terrace end and had Newman beaten all the way with a fast one off the pitch. The Hants man's 13 was a bright effort while it lasted, and the Auckland bowlers may count, themselves lucky to get him for small scores in both innings. Partnered by Jacobs, Page again attacked the bowling, stepping out to Weir. Jacobs ran up two fours in succession after he had been a quarter of an hour at the crease, but the Eden colt’s next ball he deflected high and wide into the slips for Anthony to dive for ,a brilliant one-handed catch. HUMOURS OF THE GAME Nixon, the Canterbury team's hitter (a tall left-hander) opened with a hard straight drive off Weir which went to the fence. He played some very fluky strokes after that, however, the ball often going in the opposite direction to which he meant it. He and Evans indulged in a deal of smart running between the wickets, which added a touch of humour to what was not a particularly bright game, when the swiper upset the umpire in the course of one of his dashes back to safety. Nixon continued to score, mainly with big. hits, but his partner Page slowed down, and fell shortly after, l.b.w. to Cooper. The Canterbury captain’s \76 had taken just over two hours to make, which was not slow scoring, compared with the rate for the match so far. Page scored soundly all round the wicket, pulling and square-cutting most effectively. After tea the tail-enders went in, but did not repeat their handy stand of the first innings, and Canterbury was all out for 251. Mills and Bowlev opened, for Auckland, with the local

team faced with the stiff task of getting 298 runs or losing its hold on the emblem of cricket supremacy in New Zealand, the Plunket Shield. After 15 minutes’ play, however, an appeal against the Tight was upheld, with eight runs on the board. WEIR PROVES HIS WORTH G. L. Weir proved his worth as a bowler for Auckland, by capturing four wickets for 48 runs. He overcame that nervousness which took the sting out of his bowling in the first innings and bowled with all the success which has characterised his as yet short career in club cricket. Hamilton, Jacobs and Newman, three of Canterbury’s best batsmen, were included in his bag. In the light of Saturday’s performance it appears that Auckland has at last found the bowler she has been looking for for so long. But while Weir was taking the wickets Matheson was rocking them in successfully at the other end, and keeping down the runs, and the local side also owes a lot to him. Cooper, Bowley, Player and Anthony each secured one wicket. It is not so much better bowling that Auckland wants, but a smartening up of the finer points of fielding. Had all the reasonable chances of running out been taken on Saturday there is little doubt that Canterbury's total would have been kept under 200. Behind the wickets, Scott, if not brilliant, was very solid, and apart from missing a most difficult chance of stumping Hayes, gave a good display. He had to .take some very bad returns at times. Dacre, Bowley, Anthony and Cooper .were brilliant, and Matheson, Gillespie and Weir also made few mistakes. Matheson took two brilliant catches. Alan Player evidently had an off day In the field, while even the reliable Dacre offended badly on one occasion by throwing in to the wrong end.