OTAGO'S HUGE TASK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 306, 28 December 1931, Page 5

OTAGO'S HUGE TASK.

Second Innings Against Canterbury.—Good Start in Face of 311 Deficit. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. A huge task faced Otago when they resumed their Plunket Shield match against Canterbury in sunny weather to-day. They were 311 runs behind on the first innings, but, despite this fact, they made a brave showing for the first hour and a half this morning, and put on over a hundred runs for the loss of one wicket. Badcock and Cherry opened Otago's second innings. Badcock quickly opened out, and cut Cromb for 3 and Burrows for 4. Cherry was more restrained. Merritt replaced Burrows, and Badcock continued to l>afc beautifully, though he gave a hard chance which Talbot dropped. He reached 30 with a single off Merritt. The partnership ended when Cherry tipped one from Cromb, and it was held by Page" in the slips. 49—1 —13.

Blunt opened with a coyer drive for four, off Merritt, and 50 appeared after 45 minutes. Talbot replaced Cromb, bufc w the batsmen continued brightly, and Merritt proved expensive. Lester also failed to keep them quiet. The hundred went up in 70 minutes. Blunt, who was shaping confidently, was 34, while Badcock was 77. Century to Badcock. Brisk cricket continued with frequent boundaries, despite keen fielding, the runs coming at the rate of one hundred an hour. Badcock reached his century after 105 minutes enterprising batting "and immediately went for a hit. He paid the penalty and was caught "by Powell off Cromb. His partnership with Blunt had produced 127 runs. Knight was the newcomer. Scores:— OTAGO. First innings 161 Second Innings. Cherry, c Page, b Cromb ..-. 3 13 Badcock, c Powell, b Cromb ...... 105 Blunt, not out . 75 Ivnight, not out 9 Extras 9 Total for two wickets 211 CANTERBURY.—First Inningt. Hamilton, lbw, b Blunt 10 Kerr, e Badcock, b Moloney 89 Roberts, c Hawesworth, b Smith .: 77 Talbot, e Moloney, b Coupland .... 72 Page, c Elmes, b Coupland 24 Cromb, lbw, b Blunt '51 Lester, run out 42 Powell, b Badcock 80 Merritt, c Elmes, b Coupland ....... 20 Burns, b Badcock 27 Burrows, not out 8 Extras ........ ...... 16 Total '' 472 Bowling: D. Smith took one wicket for 58, F. T. Badcock two for 57, J. A. Dunning none for 84, R. C. Blunt two for 71, C. J. Elmes _ none for 41, D. A. R. Moloney one for 53, W. D. Coupland three for 72.