CRICKET

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 28, 30 December 1932, Page 10

CRICKET

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCHES. WELLINGTON, Dec. 30. The second series of matches for the Plunket Shield will bo commenced to-morrow, when Wellington will meet Canterbury at Christchurch, and Auckland will engage Otago at Dunedin.

Otago are at present leading for the Shield with 8 points, by virtue of their outright victory over' Wellington this week, find Canterbury gained 5 points by defeating Auckland on the first innings. A MISSED OPPORTUNITY. Under the above heading the Auckland Star says, referring to the cricket match between Canterbury and Auckland in the Plunket Shield series:—“The best of cricket goes foaming over rapids and does not, like the weariest liver. wind somewhere safe to sea. After Auck--land’s record in 1931-32, the good showing against Canterbury at the week-end will be pleasant news to local cricket lovers, but there will be a good deal of disappointment at the tame * ending to the match. Why. did not Weir fling his bat at fortune? To score 267 runs in two hours and thirty-five minutes was certainly a formidable task, but the effort was worth making. The game was already lost on the first innings, there was nothing to be gained by playing for a draw, but there was an outside chance of scoring a victory that would make hearts beat higher and for years been freshly remembered. The Auckland captain, however, did not even alter his batting order so as to best meet the challenge. Nevertheless fortune was kind to him, for the first two men scored 80 in under 50 minutes, but Weir did not seize his advantage, and the tone of the game dropped into flatness. Vivian, the most brilliant batsman in New Zealand, was kept back until the last few minutes, and Dacre was not sent in. It is not every side that contains two players of such punishing powers. A daring captain would have sent his quickest scoring men in early and told them to go for the runs. If the team had died it Would have died game, and brightness would not have fallen from the air.” OTAGO TEAM TO MEET AUCKLAND Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Dec. 29. The following team will represent Otago against Auckland in the Plunket Shield match to commence here on Saturday:— F. T. Badcock (captain), A. R. Knight, D. Smith,- D. A. R. Moloney, V. G. Cavanagh, S. E. Elmes, J. A. Dunning, T. Chettleburgh, R. W. Coupland, W. Hawkeswortn, V. Leader, and W. A. Priest twelfth man. G. R. Dickinson is available, but it is understood that his non-selection is due to.the fact that he did not travel to Wellington. COLLEGE TOURING TEAM. Per Press Association. HAWERA, Dec. 29. The annual cricket match between South Taranaki and Victoria University College resulted in a draw. Victoria College in their first innings made 232, and Taranaki 195 in their first innings. Victoria College declared at 157 for six wickets in their second strike and Taranaki had lost two for 49 when stumps were drawn. FRIENDLY GAME. The following teams will play a friendly game at the Sportsground tomorrow (Saturday) at 1.45 p.m. — A. M. Ongley (captain), O’Keefe, Lang, McKay, Diedericli, M. A. Ongley, Penman, K. Hatch, J. Ongley, Millen, A. Cutler, Penny. I A. McVicar (captain), Gallichan, Robertson, Berquist, F. Cutler, Fletcher. C. McVicar, Olliver, S. Cutler, Sandman, Holz.