Otago Batsmen Subdued By Determined Attack

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30633, 26 December 1964, Page 15

Otago Batsmen Subdued By Determined Attack

(From Our Own Reporter)

DUNEDIN, December 25.

The first-class cricket season opened quietly at Carsibrook today, but Canterbury, which had taken seven Otago wickets for 139 runs at close of play, could hardly have wished for a more successful start.

Tight, accurate bowling on a most placid pitch, and a good all-round performance in the field combined to leave Canterbury very well positioned.

Perhaps the wicket was a little slow for stroke-making and the lush green outfield halted the well-driven ball very quickly, but there was little to favour the bowlers, and for most of the day the Otago batsmen laboured unprofitably.

They occupied 160 minutes before tea to reach only 73 runs. The batting would have been drab indeed had not G. D. Alabaster shown a keen and admirable desire to punish anything thrown up to him. But if the day’s play was frequently slow and often uneventful, there was much to admire in the maiden firstclass appearances of several players. Sharp Success Two notable successes were P. A. Sharp, for Canterbury, and G. M. Turner, for Otago, while the new Otago coach, K. A. Ibadulla, is obviously an extremely competent batsman .eager to keep the game moving, and with the equipment to score many runs for Otago. Canterbury will be fortunate if Ibadulia’s wicket is captured as cheaply in the second innings. S. N. McGregor took 119 minutes over his 34, and usually looked sound until he tried to drive a yorker from R. C. Motz. There was, thereafter, little of note from the Otago batsmen, other than the obvious promise of Turner and the particularly bright display of Alabaster. Minor Onslaught Alabaster, when opportunity offered, attacked with firm decision, and he seemed capable after tea of assuming control as he launched a minor onslaught on B. Andrews. But he was very well taken by Sharp. In Dunedin, high hopes are held for Turner, only 16, and still at school, and it may well be that these hopes will be fully realised. Turner found two fieldsmen within touching distance when he came in to face two balls remaining in an over from Motz. The second, a bouncer, he stepped quickly inside, and did his best to hook over the square-leg fence. He then batted with surprising maturity and excellent technique. Played His Shots He used his feet to Sharp an unusual sight during this day—kept his head well down, and his bat and pad were seldom far removed. He had trouble penetrating the

strong cover field, but he kept playing his shots.

He batted for 54 minutes and in this time made a definite impression. He was out lbw to J. W. Kiddey, using only his front pad, with his bat high over his shoulder. Used wisely in short spells, Motz was in very good form for Canterbury. He was always accurate and attacking, did not overdo the shorter ball, and bowled decidedly fast at times. Kiddey, as usual, gave nothing away, and Andrews often moved the ball in quite sharply. But to the off-spinner Sharp went much of the honours, notwithstanding the reluctance of most of the Otago batsmen to attack. Varied Bowling He was unable to turn the ball other than quite slowly, but Sharp varied his length, flight and direction intelligently. And his figures indicate fully his dominance over the batsmen. Two hard catches, both off Motz, went to ground late in the game, but it was a good day for Canterbury in the field, and the throwing, led by K. Thomson,, was of a high standard throughout.

OTAGO First Inninng K. Ibadulla, lbw, b Andrews 17 R. L. Murdoch, lbw, b Sharp 16 S. N. McGregor, b Motz .. 34 L. R. Pearson, b Motz .. 0 G. D. Alabaster, c and b Sharp .39 G. M. Turner, lbw, b Kiddey 10 J. C. Alabaster, b Motz .. 11 P. H. Barton, not out .. 4 R. G. .Anderson, not out 4 Extras (leg-byes 6, no-balls 2) .. 8 Total for T wickets .. 139 Fall of wickets: One for 21, two for 60, three for 63, four for 80, five for 123, six for 123, seven for 139.

Bowling 0. M. R. W. Motz .. 22 9 35 3 Andrews .. IS 5 33 1 Kiddey .. 21 9 18 1 Sharp .. 27 15 33 2 Thomson 4 1 11 0 Gearry .. 2 1 1 0