THE PLUNKET CRICKET SHIELD.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9694, 19 January 1910, Page 3

THE PLUNKET CRICKET SHIELD.

The Plunket Shield was presenter to ti:e New Zealand Cricket Counci 1 during the 1906-7 cricket season, with the condition that it was to be awarded to the province that, in "the opinion of the Council, had the best record for that season. Many of the delegates to the Council claimed that Auckland should be the first possessor of the shie.d, hut oihers thought that Canterbury's claims were para mount, and on a vote being taken the championship shield was h'pv<cl over to the Canterbury Association. The Aucklanders were not long in putting in a challenge, and the first shield match was played at Haste/ Park in December, 1907. Canterbury batted first and made an excellent start, the first three batsmen, Lusk 66, Patrick 26, and Reese 26, making 118 between them. The remaining batsmen, however, failed ratoer badly, and the total only reached 190. Auckland made light of this, and aided by two splendid innings by Relf, 157, and Hemus, 148, they reached the fine score ofj>39. Canterbury could only notch 214 in their second attempt, Auckland thus winning by an i.mings and 135 runs, and taking the shield back with them. Otago then challenged Auckland's supremacy, and the match was played in the northern city in December, 1908. Otago started well with a first innings score of 338, to which Auckland responded with 196. Going in again the Southerners, only reached 159. This left the holders 302 to get to win, but losing several wickets cheaply they adopted stonewalling tactics, and a magnificent stand by Haddon, 57 not out, and Cummings, 24 not out, enabled them to play out time on the third day, and the match was drawn. This w#3 a position never contemplated by the conditions, as all matches were supposed to be played out. Otago, however, had agreed tj the match being limited to three days, and the shield remained with Auckland. There was a lot oj; bitter feeling owing to the way in which Auckland was alleged to have wasted time on the last day, but the Otago team had themselves to blame, for by their dilatory methods they appeared to fail to appreciate the fact that they must win the match to.dispossess Auckland of the shield. Fol* owing closely on this, Canterbury made another attack on ttie shield, going north in January last year. They met with very cruel luck, however, lor after Auckland had made 239pl£n a good wicket, a soaking rain throughout the night left Canterbury cb bat on a sodden pitch, and they were disposed of for I'l2. Auckland fared even worse in their second attempt, being disrrised for 32. This left Canterbury 220 to get, jnd after a memorable tussle, in tfhich Anthony, 63, 3umphreys, 20, made r a great itruggle to get the runs, Auckland icored another victory by M2 runs. [Tie next shield match —that with Wellington last month—is of so re:ent a date as to hardly require re:apitulation. Suffice it to say that, joing in first, Wellington could only otal 140, to which the holders re)lied with 223. The challengers 'ailed dismally in their second innngs, only putting up 108, and Auckand made the 16 runs required withlut loss. There was a young man or weak ch#s«. < Who risked for ;i cure of the best; i LUNG BALSAM he took, 1 His cough it off shook, ' And now .His warm thanks doth attest Barraclough's Acacian Lung Balsam, Price 1/6 and 2/6 I