OTAGO'S GOOD START

Press, Issue 22599, 3 January 1939, Page 7

OTAGO'S GOOD START

MILLS SCORES A CENTURY AUCKLAND LOSES TWO FOR 53 BATSMEN’S WICKET FOR FIRST TWO DAYS (rSESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) , DUNEDIN, January 2. The first two days of the Plunket Shield match between Otago and Auckland, being played on the Carisbrook ground, have sufficed to re-establish the Otago side in firm favour with supporters of the province. By batting for most of the two days and scoring 427 and then capturing two of the most valuable Auckland wickets for only 53 runs in the last three-quarters of an hour to-day, it proved that its form in the Wellington match was actually too bad to be true. Otago’s was a good score sheet, there being only one of the first eight batsmen who did not reach double figures, and only one ran into three figures. G. H. Mills, wicketkeeper of the side, scored 121. going in No. 7 and being last out. He was associated with A. R. Knight and T. C. Fraser in two valuable partnerships worth 89 and 08 respectively, and when lie had passed the 100 mark he went hunting for runs. There was not a chance in his innings until he skied an easy catch on the leg side in trying for a big hit, and he batted for 290 minutes. The innings was notable for him in that it was his first century in either first-grade club cricket or representative matches, and if he can recapture his top form behind the wickets, it will establish him as an extremely valuable Plunket Shield all-rounder. ... „ The next biggest individual score was G. J. Robertson’s 73. a typically dogged innings. Robertson went in first with K. F. M. Uttley and set about wearing the bowling down, a task which he did most successfully. D. A. R. Moloney was batting in the form which has won him such a high reputation when he was badly run out. His 48 was a model innings, and at that stage he looked like going on to a big score. C. J. Elmes and Knight each contributed a useful 30, and then Fraser worried his way through a scratchy start and added a good 54. At no stage could the batting be called sparkling, although conditions were all in favour of the batting side. The first day’s play was interrupted by showers of rain, and the Auckland bowlers had a greasy ball as well as a very greasy wicket to contend with. The weather was bright until late in the afternoon to-day, and apart from the fact that few balls kept low the wicket gave the batsmen every chance. There was plenty of time, however, and against such a strong batting side as Auckland the only reasonable tactics were to dig in and score as heavily as possible with the pace at that stage a secondary consideration. Those tactics were followed out to the letter. The Auckland attack was not impressive. There was very little variety. The slow left-hander, H. G. Vivian, was practically the only contrast to the pace of J. Cowie and the medium-paced bowling of A. M. Matheson and G. L. Weir. Cowie did not bowl at full pace on Saturday, being handicapped by the wet approach but to-day he came through more quickly and looked more like the bowler who was rated in England last year as one of the world’s best. He bowled 36 overs in the innings for five wickets for 79 runs, and always looked by much the most dangerous of the bowlers. Inaccurate Returns Matheson and Weir were like Cowie, not consistently accurate; but Vivian was treated with respect. The Auckland fielding was good without being brilliant, and the wicketkeeper, C. K. Jackman, had to cover a lot of ground to gather returns. Auckland’s start was not encouraging. There 4 were 45 minutes’ play left when P. E. Whitelaw and A. J. Postles opened,

and Whitelaw was out, caught behind the wickets, In the first over. W. M. Wallace gave a delightful exhibition of confident stroke play for 35 minutes, in which time he made 35 runs, and was then bowled off his pads, and it was left to the steady Postles and H. Pearson, to play out time. The light was hot good when Auckland batted, but Wallace’s innings, brief as it was, was really the highlight ot the match to this stage. He shaped with the .utmost confidence, and played strokes ail round the wicket as though’ he had been batting for hours. Moloney matched him for stroke production, but Wallace was aggressive from the first ball sent down to him.

Otago's fielding was keen, but although J. Purdue and Robertson each ■ got a quick wicket, the attack did not appear menacing. The fast bowlers could not equal Gowie’s pace, and Wallace was playing them so confidently that a double change was soon made. Robertson quietened Wallace and then bowled him off his pads. . Otago’s prospects must be considered excellent. Even with Whitelaw and Wallace back in the pavilion the visitors are capable of scoring heavily, and the match is in an extremely interesting position. The play was watched by a fair crowd «n both days. The gate takings on Saturday totalled £7l, and there was an attendance of nearly the same size today. Conditions were almost perfect when Uttiey and Robertson went out to open Otago’s innings on Saturday morning. Cowie and Matheson were new-ball bowlers. Cowie was rather erratic, and after each had scored singles Uttiey belted a very short one through the covers for four. The wicket had rolled out wonderfully well. The outfield was in perfect order, and the weather dull but very mild, and there was only a suggestion of breeze to assist. Cowie.

Cowie’s fifth over was the first maiden of the day and there was a change, Vivian taking over from Matheson. Uttley was out in the next over, the sixth bowled by Cowie, when he dragged the ball into his wicket. Saxton did nothing to alter the position, being bowled second ball. Cowie had both wickets for 18 runs in six overs. Moloney started well and for 50 took 52 minutes. An adournment was taken for rain just after 12 and, on resuming. Scott and Weir were the bowlers. The total at lunch was 70. There was more rain during the luncheon adjournment. Moloney on the resumption was batting quietly but hitting his strokes beautifully. With the total at 117 Otago had bad luck, Moloney being foolishly run out. Robertson was batting doggedly and reached 50 in 158 minutes. He gave two sharp chances behind the wickets when in the sixties. Elmes got most of his runs with a powerful hook shot and was out when he appeared to snick one on to his pads to be given out Ibw. Weir was being used a lot and his first over after tea accounted for Robertson, the bowler being given an easy catch. Robertson’s 73 had taken 198 minutes and was most valuable in spite of its slowness. The rain became heavy at 5 o'clock and stumps were drawn with Otago’s total 209. and Knight 17, Mills 16. Wicket Fast To-day

The weather was fine, with a light breeze and a fast wicket when the innings was resumed to-day. Mills and Knight continued to score slowly, Knight being particularly cautious.. He took 80 minutes, for 13 runs and was smartly stumped with the total at 268. Mills had livened up and ran up to 50 by bright cricket. - Fraser started very shakily and Mills also' slowed down. Cowie was bowling with more pace, but the attack did not look dangerous. At lunch the total was 278. Mills being 56. Fraser remained uncertain until he reached the twenties, but then he played better strokes and the scoring became faster. Mills was not aggressive but was moving ■ along steadily. Cowie broke the partnership by bowling Fraser with the total at 365. With Leader in Mills moved towards his 100 very slowly and was 96 at tea. He reached his 100 in the third over on resuming and the pair began to look for runs. Cowie bowled Leader and with the tail-enders in Mills opened out. The innings ended when he skied an easy catch to backward square leg. Otago’s 427 had taken 559 minutes. Auckland began its innings with Whitelaw and Postles in a dull light, and Whitelaw snicked the third ball of Purdue s opening over for Mills to take a leg-side catch. Wallace started with great confidence, his first scoring strokes being two. three and four. He was scoring very quickly and was responsible for 20 of the first 21 runs. Robertson steadied him a little, and got his wicket when a good length ball came back off his pads. Postles and Pearson cautiously played out time. In spite of tills good start the Otago bowling did not look particularly dangerous. Scores:—

OTAGO First Innings K. F. M. Uttley. b Cowie .. ..17 G. J. Robertson, c and b Matheson .. 73 C. K. Saxton, b Cowie .. .. 0 D. A. R. Moloney, run out .. .. 48 C. J. Elmes. Ibw, b Weir -. ... 34 A. R. Knight, st Jackman, b Vivian .. 33 G. H. Mills, c Pearson, b Matheson .. 121 T. C. Fraser, b Cowie .. .. 54 V. G. Leader, b Cowie .. • - S R. Silver, b Cowie .. ‘

J. Purdue, not out .. .. • • 3 Extras .. -• •• "i Total -. -• ... 427 Fall of wickets; One for 37, two for 37, three for 117, four for 172, five for 1/8. six for 267. seven or 365, eight for 38/, nine for 397, 10 for" £27. BOWLING ANALYSIS O. M. R. W. IJ. Cowie .. • • 36 „ 1 15 o A. M. Matheson ... 38.3 8 94 2 H. G; Vivian .. 27 3 55 1 G. L. Weir .. 30 1 98 1 V. Scott .. •• 7 7 23 A. Postles .. ..8 1 32 S. Sale -. -.5 1 15 Matheson bowled one no-ball and two wides. AUCKLAND First Innings Whitelaw, c Mills, b Purdue .. 0 Postles, not out .. • 11 Wallace, b Robertson ■ ■ .. 35 Pearson, not out .. •• •» Extras .. • • ..4 Total for two wickets ..53 BOWLING ANALYSIS O. M. R. W.' Purdue .. •• 4 0 14 1 Silver .. •• 3 2 JS ? Robertson ..4 0 10 1 Moloney .. .. 4 1 9 0