Accurate Bowling Keeps Otago In Harness

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30943, 27 December 1965, Page 12

Accurate Bowling Keeps Otago In Harness

(Kew Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON.

Otago struggled to score 138 for six against Wellington on the first day of their Plunket Shield match at the Basin Reserve on Saturday.

Otago was tied down by accurate bowling on an unresponsive pitch, and its 138 took 261 minutes. The top scorer was the Pakistan professional, K. Ibadulla, who scored 65 in 231 minutes.

Heading a fine fielding display by Wellington was H. A. Morgan, who helped to run out two batsmen. The mainstays of the Wellington attack were N. Huxford, who had a 15-over opening spell, and L. C. Butler, with his left-arm spinners. Butler bowled 10 successive maidens in his 32 overs, and continued unchanged from the northern end for three hours. He had 19 maidens in his 32 overs, conceded only 30 runs and took two wickets. Defensive Ibadulla He had all the batsmen tied down, none more so than Ibadulla, who played one forward defensive shot after another when facing Butler. However, while the Wellington fielding and bowling did much to limit the scoring. Otago’s inept batting was a factor. No attempt was made to force the pace. Huxford and A. R. Taylor opened the Wellington at-

tock in a heavy atmosphere. G. D. Beer and Ibadulla both played and missed on more than one occasion but the wicket was dead.

G. P. Bilby, at second slip, and P. T. Barton, in the gully, made some fine saves, and after 55 minutes with the score 27, Beer snicked Huxford and Dick made no mistake.

Rain stopped play shortly afterwards but the covers were no sooner laid than they were lifted, and Butler was brought into the attack. Turner Settles Down

The 18-year-old, G. M. Turner, had moments of discomfort against Huxford but once he settled down he stroked the ball attractively, if not forcefully. Otago’s 50 came up in 91 minutes, with Ibadulla 28 not out. Most of his runs came from turns to leg and midwicket, although as his innings progressed he never missed an opportunity to unleash a fine looking squarecut.

With the score 71, Turner played to mid-off, called, was sent back by Ibadulla and a

magnificent throw by Morgan found him out of his ground Turner’s 20 had taken 80 minutes and tea was taken a few minutes later with the score 74 for two and Ibadulla 40 not out. Showed More Life The Pakistani showed a new lease of life after tea when he cut Taylor backward of point for four and then turned him to mid-wicket for two. S. N. McGregor, the new batsman, started flashing at balls outside the off-stump and Taylor was rewarded when he found the edge. McGregor was in for 32 minutes for his four runs.

Ibadulla, who spent 21 minutes on 47. reached his 50 in 184 minutes, and seven minutes later Otago’s 100 came up. R. Henry fell to Butler when he played forward and popped the ball into D. O. Neely’s hands, and G. D. Alabaster fell a victim of another fine throw from Morgan.

Then Ibadulla, attempting to sweep Butler into the grandstand, missed and was out leg before wicket.