Otago Has First Shield Win For 5 Years

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30980, 9 February 1966, Page 15

Otago Has First Shield Win For 5 Years

(Xew Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN. Long spells of magnificent spin bowling by the Alabaster brothers on a turning pitch at Carisbrook yesterday brought Otago its first Plunket Shield outright win in five years when Central Districts was beaten by 98 runs after being set 220 to get in three hours.

Otago declared its second innings closed with seven wickets down for 144 after the batsmen had been in the toils of Central’s slow bowlers, B. W. Yuile, V. Pollard and M. E. Chapple.

There was a time just before tea when it appeared as if Central were going to dispute the issue. However, the Alabaster brothers finally dictated the terms and Otago won with six minutes to spare. The off-spinner, G. D. Alabaster, took the major bowling honours with six for 45 off 33 overs. He took all his wickets for 29 runs in the final session. PERFECT FOIL His brother, J. C. Alabaster, proved a great foil at the other end, sending down 30 overs and taking three wickets for 48 runs, being rested only for three overs during the afternoon. From the time that Central took up the bowling attack yesterday morning, with Otago 21 for no wicket in the second innings, it became

evident that a decision could be reached. K. Ibadulla took nine runs off the first over bowled by R. O. Collinge to give an indication that Otago was going to chase after runs.

But in his second over of the morning the fast left-arm bowler had Ibadulla caught in slips, the wicket falling at 30, and almost immediately Chapnle brought both Yuile and Pollard into the attack and the flow of runs almost halted while both howlers were making the ball turn i and lift. ! By lunch, Otago was five down for 96, with only G. M. i Turner, who made 95 in the first innings, appearing at all comfortable against the allspin attack. After lunch, Otago added another 48 runs in an hour for the loss of two further wickets before the declaration came. Turner was unbeaten on 48 while J. C. Alabaster also scored a good double for the match, with 32 runs in 50 minutes. Central’s second innings began disastrously when B. L. Hampton was caught behind in J. P. Flaherty’s first over, but semblance of order had been brought about by tea, when the score was 41 for one wicket. SIMILAR DISMISSALS The last 20 of these had come up in even time, M. J. Shrimpton and B, E. Congdon beginning to exercise some measure of control over the bowling. But J. C. Alabaster opened oroceedings in the last session by inducing Congdon to offer a simple caught and bowled chance, and then G. D. Alabaster brilliantly dismissed Shrimpton in the same manner several overs but few runs later. From that point Central batted in an attempt to save the match while the two spinners bowled to completely attacking field placings. With less than 40 minutes to go it seemed as if Otago were going to be denied the win, with Central only five down, but it took only another 30 minutes for the Alabasters to wrap up the innings.