SPARLING 7 FOR 49 Otago Spun To 19-Run Defeat

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30642, 7 January 1965, Page 9

SPARLING 7 FOR 49 Otago Spun To 19-Run Defeat

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 6. Auckland defeated Otago in the Plunket Shield match at Eden Park today by 19 runs with only seven minutes to spare—making a magnificent recovery in the last hour when it seemed as if Otago would cruise home to its first shield victory’ in five vears.

The drama began when Otago, needing 212 runs to win in 206 minutes, scored so fast that by tea it was 102 for one. By 4.30 p.m. it needed 83 runs in 88 minutes, with nine wickets in hand. I Then, in a fantastic burst of bowling by J. T. Sparling, backed by brilliant catching, Auckland fought back to take the last six wickets for 30 runs in 42 minutes. Ibadulla Hits 71 The heroes of Otago were K. Ibadulla. the opener, with a brilliant 71, and G. D. Alabaster, with 43. Sparling finished with the outstanding figures of seven for 49 from 29 overs. The day started quietly, Auckland taking only 10 minutes to remove the last Otago batsman at 300. giving Auckland a lead of 58. Auckland needed quick runs in its second innings if Sparling was to make a reasonable declaration, but tight bowling by F. J. Cameron and P. H. Barton made this difficult.

The first half-hour brought 18 runs, the second, 42, and the run-making was ahead of the clock. J. C. Alabaster was thrashed by T. W. Jarvis, who raced past his 50 and into the 70s. Fair Declaration Sparling had to bat on to 2.04 p.m. before he was satisfied with a fair declaration, leaving Otago 206 minutes in which to score 212 runs. Otago went for the runs from the start, 18 coming from the first over. Ibadulla played some magnificent strokes, hitting the ball terribly hard, while R. L. Murdoch, his young partner, also began to hit out. They went to 50 In 28 minutes and at 60 Otago needed 152 in 180 minutes. Ibadulla led the assault and scored 44 in even time. Then Sparling came on to bowl, immediately at an awkward length, and the scoring rate dropped. Murdoch chopped a ball on to his stumps and McGregor was promoted in the list to help maintain the rate. Lifted the Siege By tea, Otago was 102 for one. needing 110 runs in 120 minutes. Later, 93 were needed in 100 minutes, 91 in 90 minutes. and McGregor helped to lift the siege by hitting Sparling for four. Then Sparling struck, getting Ibadulla to edge the ball and S. R. Speed, the wicket-keeper, juggled and held the catch. G. D. Alabaster kept the runs with the clock before Sparling had McGregor caught by Speed

Three for 145, 67 runs needed in 66 minutes.

L. R. Pearson was run out at 150, and Sparling struck two more decisive blows, having R. Hendry and J. C. Alabaster caught at slip by Jarvis —162 for five. 168 for six. Went For Big Hit Forty-four runs were still needed, 40 minutes left, and only G. D. Alabaster left as a man who could score them. He hit J. D. Behrent for 4,2, 1. but then went for a big hit and Mclntyre held the catch at long on. Seven for 181, 28 minutes left, and now Auckland was chasing wickets rather than Otago chasing runs. P. H. Barton was bowled by Sparling, F. J. Cameron went for a big hit and was bowled by Mclntyre, and B. D. Milburn stopped one ball but popped up the next and Morgandived in and held the catch at full stretch only a yard or two from the bat. AUCKLAND First Innings, 358 for six declared Second Innings S. G. Gedye, b Cameron .. 10 T. W. Jarvis, c Milburn, b Cameron .80 J. T. Sparling, c Ibadulla, b Barton .25 R. W. Morgan, c and b Ibadulla ..22 J. D. Behrent, b Ibadulla .. 4 P. B. McGregor, not out .. 7 H. T. Schuster, not out 1 Extras (3 leg-byes, no-ball 1) J Total for five dec. .. 153 Fall of wickets: one for 29, two for 70, three for 140, four for 142, five for 149.

OTAGO First Innings K. Ibadulla, c Morgan, b Milliner ..53 R. L. Murdoch, c Jarvis, b McGregor ..50 R. Hendry, run out 18 S. N. McGregor, b Morgan 15 L. R. Pearson, c Mclntyre, b Morgan .. 81 G. M. Turner, c Gedye, b Morgan ..2 G. D. Alabaster, run out .. 2 P. H. Barton, b Sparling .. ■ 0 J. C. Alabaster, c Speed, b Cunis . 45 F. J. Cameron, c Morgan, b Cunis 2 B. D. Milburn, not out .. 8 Extras (byes 1, leg-byes Is, no-balls 8) .24 Total .300 Fall of wickets: One for 91, two for 132, three for 142, four for 155, five for 172, six for 180, seven for 183, eight for 267, nine for 284. Bowling O. M. R. W.

Second Innings Ibadulla, c Speed, b Sparling ..71 Murdoch, b Sparling 24 McGregor, c Speed, o Sparling .23 G. D. Alabaster, c Mclntyre, b Sparling ..43 L. R. Pearson, run out .. 4 R. Hendry, c Jarvis, b Sparling 1 J. C. Alabaster, c Jarvis, b Sparling 0 Barton, b Sparling 2 Turner, not out .. 6 Cameron, b Mclntyre . 3 Milburn, c Morgan, b Mclntyre 0 Extras (byes 11, leg-byes 4) ..15 Total ..192 Fall of wickets: one for 77, two for 130, three for 145, four for 150, five for 162, six for 168, seven for 181, eight for 183, nine for 192. BOWLING

BOWLING 0. M. R. W Cameron 17 3 56 2 Barton .15 2 38 1 J. C. Alabaster 6 0 36 0 Ibadulla 7 1 19 2

Cunis .. 33.4 10 64 2 Millener .. 27 11 45 1 McIntyre .. 27 14 36 0 Sparling .. 27 8 65 1 Morgan .. 21 6 49 3 McGregor 9 3 17 1

0. M. R. W Cunis 6 0 32 0 Millener 4 0 26 0 Behrent .. 11 3 25 0 Sparling McIntyre .. 29 . . 18 8 49 39 7 0 Morgan 2 0 6 0