PLUNKET SHIELD Outright Victory For Northern Districts

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30026, 10 January 1963, Page 10

PLUNKET SHIELD Outright Victory For Northern Districts

(Nrw Zealand Pres* Association)

PALMERSTON NORTH, January 9.

Northern Districts dodged the showers which at one time threatened to abandon the game and beat Otago by 69 runs in a Plunket Shield cricket match at Hamilton today. Otago, set to score 276 for victory, was dismissed in midafternoon for 206 after being four wickets down for 33.

Only during a sparkling fifth-wicket partnership of 100 between L. R. Pearson and P. C. Semple did Otago seem likely to reach its target. Pearson batted attractively and forcefully for 00 and hit nine fours. Semple was more restrained but his innings was valuable. He showed admirable concentration for 27 in 128 minuter and was rarely in trouble. He had the misfortune of meeting an awkward ball from the off-spinner, G. D. Alabaster, which had him leg-before-wicket There was stern resistance from T. Flaws and some lusty shots at the end by R. G. Anderson, who soon had 27 alongside his name and was left not out when the innings closed. The off-spin bowling of Alabaster and N. Puna had a big bearing on the final result However, not all the honours went to Northern Districts and Otago won credit from the fighting spirit of its middle order and tail-end batsmen. A feature of the game was the neat tidy wicket-keeping for Northern Districts by E. C. Petrie, whose form this season is again outstanding.

Northern Districts’ fielding was much improved and some exceptionally fine catches were h?ld. It was Otago’s first defeat in four visits to play Northern Districts at Hamilton. Scores:— NORTHERN DISTRICTS First innings .. ..181 Second inning* (for eight declared) .. .. 222 OTAGO First innings .. ...108 Second Innings U A. Watt, c Alabaster, b McGregor .. ..18 R. A. Holloway, c Petrie, b Barton .. ..7 R. Hendry, lbw, b Barton .. 1 S N. McGregor, c Puna, b Hoskin -.7 L. R. Pearson, c Stone, b Puna .. .. 69 P. C. Semple, lbw. b Alabaster .. •. 27 J. C. Alabaster, b Puna .. 0 T. Flaws, lbw, b Puna .. 26 F. J. Cameron, c Barton, b Alabaster ..5 R. G. Anderson, not out .. 27 J. Hill, c Alabaster, b Hoskin .. ..7 Extras (wide 1. bye* 7, __ leg-byes 4) 12 Total .. ..206 Fall of wickets: one for 25, two for 26. three for 33, four for 33, five for 133, six for 133, seven for 140, eight for 150, nine for 188.

Auckland Game Abandoned (NX. Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, January 9. Rain washed out play on the third day of the Plunket Shield cricket match between Auckland and Central Districts ait Palmerston North today. Several inspections of the wicket were made and at 2 pjn. play was officially abandoned. Auckland won on the first innings. Scores were: Central Districts 115, Auckland 157.

Bowling 0. M. R. W Hoskin .. 20 9 39 2 Barton .. 26 7 63 2 McGregor .. 8 1 30 1 Alabaster .. 18 5 31 2 Puna .. 17 5 31 3