BATSMEN IN CONTROL

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29401, 31 December 1960, Page 11

BATSMEN IN CONTROL

Otago Prospects Brighter (New Zealand Press Association) "NEW PLYMOUTH, Dec. 30. Allowing the initiative to slip away during the last 45 minutes of play, Central Districts appeared to be in trouble at the end of the second day’s play in the Plunket Shield cricket match against Otago at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, today. Otago will start tomorrow 166 runs ahead with three wickets in hand. And the wicket could be very much a spinner’s delight. In reply to Otago’s 162 in the first innings. Central Districts compiled 222, due mainly to an excellent attacking innings of 84 by D. N. Macleod. Otago began its second innings five minutes before lunch and in four hours 15 minutes of batting compiled 226 for seven wickets.

The Otago tail-enders took control of the indifferent bowling during the last hour of play and, aided by several dropped catches, improved Otago’s chances of forcing an outright win considerably. Much will depend on the wicket tomorrow. Both the Otago spinners, A. M. Moir and J. C. Alabaster, turned the ball sharply early in the day, and there is little doubt that the outcome of the game, will depend very much on them.

Central Districts successfully headed Otago on the first innings by 60 runs, but it was certainly disappointing in that only Macleod handled the bowling in a really convincing manner. He carried his overnight score of 52 to 84 before he touched a swinger from the fast bowler, F. J. Cameron. Macleod batted attractively from the time he -and B. F. Hastings continued the Central Districts innings and it was indeed unfortunate for his side when he was dismissed. Hastings tried hard to take over Macleod’s role, but he was never really happy against the spinners and it was not surprising when he fell to Moir. Scores:— OTAGO First innings .. .. ... 162 Second Innings J. W. D’Arcy, c Reade, b Yuile 10 R. L. Long, c Colquhoun, b Smith 79 R. A. Proctor, b Smith .. 3 S. N. McGregor, lbw, b Beard 22 W. A. Robertson, run out .. 4 B. Sutcliffe, run out .. .. 49 J. C. Alabaster, c sub, b Beard 11 A. M. Moir, not out .. ..18 T. Flaws, not out .. .. 17 Extras (4 wides, 2 byes, 2 leg byes, 5 no-balls) .. 13 Total for seven wickets 226 Fall of wickets: one for 40. two for 62. three for 88. four for 109, five for 160, six for 183, seven for 191.

CENTRAL DISTRICTS First Innings G. W. Lowans. c Flaws, b Cameron .. .. 8 L. R. Reade, st Flaws, b Moir .. 41 D N. Macleod, c Flaws, b Cameron .. ' .. .. 84 K. F. H. Smith, b Moir 6 B. Hastings, c Sutcliffe, b Moir 7 B. E. Congdon, lbw, b Alabaster 11 B. A. Yuile, lbw, b Alabaster .. 11 D. D. Beard, c Sutcliffe, b Alabaster .. .. .. 17 G. A. Bartlett, b Alabaster .. 0 I. A. Colquhoun, not out .. 22 J D. Henderson, run out .. 0 Extras (5 byes, 7 leg byes, 2 no-balls) .. ..15 Total .. 222 Fall of wickets: one for ,15. two for 76, three for 110, four for 145, five for 159, six for 176, seven for 189, eight for 189, nine for 222. Bowling

Bowling O. M. R. W Bartlett .. 20 6 50 0 Beard .. 33 15 67 2 Congdon .. 6 4 10 0 Yuile .. 13 4 39 1 Smith .. 14 5 35 2 Henderson .. 3 0 12 0

o. M. R. W. Cameron .. 30 13 40 2 Woods .. 13 5 30 0 Long .. 9.4 2 23 0 Alabaster .. 23 8 57 4 Moir .. 23 6 57 3