Otago In Good Position In Game Against Auckland

Press, Volume C, Issue 29402, 3 January 1961, Page 12

Otago In Good Position In Game Against Auckland

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Jan. 2. Otago ended the first day of its Plunket Shield match against Auckland at Eden Park today in a strong position, thanks mainly to fine innings from B. Sutcliffe, S. N. McGregor and J. W. D’Arcy. Sutcliffe scored 89, McGregor 71 and D’Arcy 31, enabling Sutcliffe to declare at 269 for nine wickets and give Auckland 13 minutes at the crease.

Auckland started confidently, but on the second last ball of the last over S. G. Gedye was brilliantly caught by T. Haws, the wicketkeeper, from F. J. Cameron’s bowling and Auckland was 14 for one. Haying conditions suited the batting side throughout the day. The pitch had rather more grass than usual for Eden Park, but from the very first ovgr it was obvious that there was little lift or life for the fast bowlers, while the spinners later showed that any turn they could gain came slowly. However, even in spite of the excellent ground conditions and a warm sun and cooling breeze, much of the earlier Otago batting was uncertain. D'Arcy scored his runs handsomely before lunch, being especially severe on J. T. Sparling, who was three times hooked for boundaries in two overs. McGregor batted well, too, but the others were most uncertain and by taking two excellent catches, an equally good stumping and a leg before decision Auckland had taken four wickets for 74 at lunch. Sutcliffe started batting after lunch and with McGergor put on 97 runs in wonderful fashion for the fifth wicket. Neither batsman seemed troubled by the bowling and the runs came steadily at one a minute. Just when he seemed certain to reach a hundred McGregor played at, and missed, Sparling and E. R. Tovey, the Queenslander who is keeping wickets for Auckland, stumped him. Sutcliffe, imperturbable and often showing his best strokes, lost J. C. Alabaster and A. M. Moir rather quickly, but then found Flaws •an admirable partner and together they scored 57 for the eighth wicket and took the score to 257. Haws was by no means the junior partner, for he hit five fours in his 27. Indeed, Sutcliffe was fairly subdued st this stage, but rushed from 70 'to 80 very quickly and then toward 90. However, possibly because he was anxious to have Auckland bat before stumps, he tried to force the pace and picked the wrong ball. An attempted drive was sliced to backward of point and Gedye held the catch. Sutcliffe batted 220 minutes and hit

one six and seven fours. McGregor also hit seven fours. , About 1200 people watched the match and the estimated takings were £230. Scores:

OTAGO First Innings R. Long, c Deas, b Clark .. 8 J» W. D’Arcy, c Deas, b Sparling 31 R. Proctor, st Tovey, b Norman 7 S. N. McGregor, st Tovey, b Sparling .. .. .. .71 A. W. Robertson, lbw, b Norman 4 B. Sutcliffe, c Gedye, b Harris 89 J C. Alabaster, c Tovey, b Clark .. .. .. 11 A. M. Moir, lbw, b Cunis ~ 3 T. Flaws, b Sparling .. ..27 F. J. Cameron, not out .. 8 D. J. Vear, not out .. 1 Extras (byes 7, leg-byes 2) 9 Total for nine declared .. 269 Bowling O. M. R. W.

AUCKLAND First Innings S. G. Gedye, c Flaws, b Cameron 10 R. M. Harris, not out .. ..4 _ Total for one wicket .. 14 Fall of wicket: one for 14.

R. S. Cun is W. B. Norman . 22 32 7 13 56 1’ 54 1 L. A. Clark 38 16 51 3 J. T. Sparling . K. R. Deas 43 6 15 1 84 11 3 0 R. M. Harris . 5 2 4 1

Bowling „ , „ O. M. R. W. F. J. Cameron .. 2.5 0 10 1 D. J. Vear ..2 1'4 0