OTAGO ALL OUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 25

OTAGO ALL OUT.

A MODERATE TOTAL.

CANTERBURY OPENS WELL

ONLY 143 BEHIND AND TElf WICKETS INTACT. ■ (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUXEDIX, Friday. Dnnedin cricketers have not been enjoyuig one of the most successful seasons on record so far, but members of the Otago Plunket Shield side, along with a sprinkling of spectators at Caris•brook to-day, could have had no complaint to make against the conditions tor the match with Canterbury. There was brilliant sunshine all day, with a light north-easterly wind to temper the heat, and the wicket and outfield were in splendid order.

these circumstances it was expected that the Otago batsmen would have taken advantage o£ the opportunity when V. G. Cavaiiagh won the toss, but they made a disappointing start, three good wickets being lost lor only 32 runs. Cavanagh was responsible, for a fair recovery, and the total .was 266 when'the last wicket fell.

Canterbury batted for an hour aud a half, in. which time the opening pair scored S3 runs by good cricket. The honours of the first day-Went to the visitors. Mulcock's Packed Leg Field. ' < There .were not many in to-, day's - play;* S. Mulcock, the Canterbury .medium-paced* bowler,"-who has "made x a specialty of leg theory, was the destructive .agent early in the day, '.dismissing A. R. Knight, G-. J. Robertson and D. A. R. Moloney in quick succession, and at that 6tage having three wickets for 12 runs. Bowling to a packed .-leg field and with a breeze to x suit him, Mulcock was swinging the ball disconcertingly, and the batsmen appeared unable or without sufficient enterprise to play him confidently in front of the wicket. He was the mainstay of the Canterbury attack, bowling 37 overs in long spells for five wickets and 97 runs. Those five wickets, incidentally,' the best in the side. \ New Skipper Aggressive. K. F. M.-Uttley and C. J. Elmes looked like staging a. recovery for the fourth wicket, both batting well before lunch, but Elmes was out immediately play was resumed, and another wicket followed without addition to the score. Cavanagli (who had taken over the captaincy from Uttley) at once adopted more aggressive tactics, and it was bad luck for .Otago when Uttley was run out when responding -to a call for a sharp single. His 50 was a good innings, and after his first 30 runs he was beginning to hit the hall with some power, and go for his strokes con-, fidently.

T. C. Eraser stayed with Cavanagh for •a /while, and then unexpected support wa!b provided by It.. Silver, the pace bowler of the side. He and Cavanagh added 64 runs for tlie ninth, wicket, both scoring freely.

Cavanagh was playing dashing cricket by this time and his century appeared certain until with his total at 89; he was given out leg-before to Mulcock. He was fortunate in that an easy chance was, missed when he was only 12, another slightly more difficult when he was 28 and a very difficult one when he-was 58. Apart from these blemishes he played his very best cricket in compiling his biggest score in Plunket Shield cricket.. It was a "worthy captain's innings. • Silver was last man out with a well made seven to this- c/edit. Apart. from Alulcock's swingers Canterbury's attack was by no means impressive. The fielding was very keen and the ground work good.

Kerr Regains Form. v /The display of the Canterbury opening pair, J. L. Kerr and 1 ? . W. Bellamy, was mosk hopeful for the visitors. Neither appeared greatly troubled by the Otago bowling, although there was a fair variety in the time available and. in the last 30 minutes of the day they seemed, quite satisfied to along quietly and take no chance of losing a wicket. Kerr showed a return to his best form, making his strokes with beautiful crispness and ease. He was 48 at stumps, Bellamy having scored a quiet 28 in the same time. Early in the afternoon there was a istoppage of play for a minute or two while the players stood in silence as amark of respect to the memory of Mr. James Clark Baker, a former Otago and New Zealand representative cricketer and Otago (Alhambra) footballer,. whose funeral took place to-day. Scores:— OTAGO.—First Innings. K.'.F. M. Uttley,- run out .. . .50 A. R.' Knight, ib Mulcock,- . - 6 G. J. Robertson, c Webb, b Mulcock 5 D. A. R. Moloney, c Bellamy, b Mulcock . • • 7 C. J. Elmes, c and b Mulcock 30 V. J. Leader, c Webb, b Davis 1 V. G. Cavanagh, -lbw; ib Mulcock S9 C. H. Mills, c Kerr, jb Newton .... 0 T. C. Fraser; Ibw, b' Cromib .. — - ..20 R. Silver, c Mulcock, b*Davis ■ •• • v G. Lemin, not out V.....: 8 Extras . ... 1...... i* Total ....... . ? .. •(. • • ;•'• •*• • • 266 Bowling: /'E. Mulcock took-five wickkets for 07 runs; H. Davis, two for 75; F. \V. Newton, one for 49; J. B. Cromb, one for 34; F. W. Bellamy, none,for 7. CANTERBURY.—First Innings. J. L. Kerr, not out 48 F. W. Bellamy, not out 28 Total - for no-wickekts .. >r. S3