CRICKET.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20772, 4 February 1933, Page 20

CRICKET.

--—-♦ PLUNKET SHIELD. FINAL GAME COMMENCED. CANTERBURY MAKES 272. (ifSKBS ASSOCIATION TEI-SiIBAJI.) DUNEDIN, February 3. After a drizzle through the night me wickot was, easy when tho Plunket Kliield match, Canterbury v. Otago, was '•ommenced at Carisbrook this morning. The weather was very threacening earlier, but when play started at 11.10 o'clock conditions improved gieatly. Canterbury won the toss, the op-jning batsmen being Kerr and I'owell, but the former soon fell to a Z<jo6 ball from Smith that swung from 7he off and took his leg stump. Powell md Roberts were very restrained the bowling of Dickinson and Smith, but when they had been relieved by Badcock and Dunning, Powell delighted the spectators with Mime vigorous hitting. The Otago skipper set a leg-trap, but Powell counteracted this by lifting him well into the outfield. He played very attractively until he was caught in tho deep held by Moloney. He had one life •said his score included six fours and cm- six. Only 19 runs had been added when l/unster was bowled by Badcock, after inving given an easy chance to Chettkburgh off the same bowler at silly Kiid-ou. The century came up after H 7 minutes' play, at which time Page Miid Roberts wore playing very carefully. Rapid changes of bowling were made by Badcock, but although the batsmen had some uncomfortable moments tfce score mounted slowly, Roberts reaching 50 after being at the 4'i-easo for 106 minutes. The Otago cfHtch was bowling very well, and several times had both the Canterbury wen badly beaten, while after lunch Dunning also was throwing down an awkward break from the off. » Roberta Out to Fine Catch. When Roberts had scored 56 he patter back an uppish one from Badcock. and Dunning hurled himself oh the ground to take a beautiful catch. A total of 138 runs was on the board and Padeock had taken three for 38. Roberts always waited for the right ball to hit, and hit it hard, using principally a forceful square cut. The partnership yielded 67 runs. A few balls later Page got under one from Badcock, and was well caught at long on by Coupland. Page was in Jty>r over jrn hour for his 16 runs and •ras never comfortable. Five wickets w«r© down for 143. Cromb and Bellamy scored slowly against very accurate bowling, and the hitter had only seven runs on when he stepped in front of a straight one from Dickinson. 169 6 -7. With ©romb and Merritt together the rate of ttoring livened up, and both bats»»#it piared attractive shots all round the wicket Two rapid changes ot bowling took place, and Chettleburgh mimed Cromb off a hard low one off kit own bowling. When 200 runs were en the board Smith was brought on again with a new ball, and in his see- . ond over got Cromb leg before with eoe that swung in from the leg. The partnership had added 47 runs in 30 minutes and provided the brightest batting of the day. . Until his dismissal Cromb did not look like going out and attacked all the bowlers with confidence. He occupied the crease for 70 minute*. Seven wickets weve now down f»r 216 runs. Merritt Aggressive. Merritt continued in characteristically aggressive fashion, and partnered by O'Brien carried his score to 50 Before he fell a victim to Dunning, who fook a brilliant catch off his own bowling. The remaining batsmen did not last long and the innings closed with the seore at 272. Of this total 31 were Ixtras, owing largely to the great amount of leg theory bowling. > As usual, the burden of Otago's attack fell on Badcock, who bowled 42 overs, including 18 • maidens, for 74 runs and six wickets. Whether he waa exploiting the leg or off theory he was consistency itself, and had every batsman in difficulty at some stage. Although .he secured only one wicket, Dickinson, the express bowler, • was in fair form, and was unfortunate in that the wicket did not suit him and in having a number of catches missed. Of the remaining bowlers the most sucaessf ul waa Smith, who got a fair turn of speed, and an awkward swing accounting for two important wickets. The Otago fielding had a good number of faults, but it was fortunate that the patches dropped did not affect Canterbury's score to any great extent. Otago Opens. Otago's opening pair were Knight and Cavanagn, who commenced in confident fashion to the bowling of Cromb and Barrows. They were very comfortable i|ml scored freely until Merritt was brought on. The googly bowler soon had the batsmen in trouble and bowled ttivamagh wit,h the last ball of his first 'diver with a well-disguised off-break. JStnight put up some opposition far a ifnte but was beaten when he had scored 20 by a similar ball, making no attempt to play it, as it appeared to be going well outsido the off stump. \ f'ifty-threo runs were up for the loss of l no further wickets when stumps were ■ flrawn, the not out men being Moloney ■ and Leader. # ! Cromb, who bowled 10 overs lor 15 ! runs, maintained an excellent length \ and frequently whipped in from the off with disconcerting sharpness. The Cani terbury fielding was very 7 keen except | for one lapse, when three separate over- * throws came from one ball, enabling the batsmen to run four where only a i single should have been scored. I Scons:—

'{ Bowlinj Analysis—Dickinson, 21 overs, 7 i maidens, 40 run», I wickot; Smith, 8 overs, j 1 mt-idttw, 16 rung, 2 wickets; Badcock, i <3 ews, 18 maidens, 74 runs, 6 wickets; 1 Dunning, 33 overs, 7 maidens, 51 runs, 1 wickot; Coupland, 10 overs, 3 maidens, 30 [ ftitiß; Moloney, 6 overs, 1 maiden, 13 runs; t Chettleburgh, 2 overt, 17 runs.

iro»M!«»» 16 runs; Burrows, 2 overs, 6 runs; <ftria*rt«, 9 over*, 8 runt; Merritt, 6 overs, jj. nkisfca, U xtuui, 3 wicket*.

|) CANTERBURY. Firat Innings. Kerr, b Smith .. a Powell, o Molouoj, b Budcock .. .. aa Robarta, o Dunning, b Badcock .. 3d : Dumter, b B«dc©ek .. 7 [ P*g«, o Couplsnd, b Badcock .. lfl j Cromb, lbw, b Smith .. 52 i Betkmy, Ibw, b Dickinson .. 7 , Mtrritt, o and b Dunning .. 60 j O'Brien, o Dickinson, b Badcock .. 11 ; Burns, o Dickiraon, b Badcock .. 1 • Barrow*, not out .. 0 ij .;■. .2Mn* ... 31 Total .. 272

OTAGO. Firnt Innings. KaigM, b Merritt ».. .. 20 CftrMMfcfc. b Morritt .. 10 WaloBtf, i not out .» 9 Leader, not out .. 5 Eitr»» .. .... .. 9 Tot»l for two wickets .. 53 Bowltac Analysis—Cromb, 10 ows, 3