Semple Scores Winning Run

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31568, 4 January 1968, Page 11

Semple Scores Winning Run

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN. One hour of play, which ended with P. C. Semple sweeping a delivery from N. Puna to the fence for the winning runs, was sufficient for Otago to beat Northern Districts by six wickets yesterday.

When play resumed Otago needed only 44 runs with seven second innings wickets standing to win outright.

Otherwise, Semple’s innings was without blemish and he scored 31 of the 44 runs needed yesterday.

However, Northern fought hard to the end and gave nothing away. Puna, who began the day with two wickets after the umpires corrected the official score sheet which showed G. D. Beer as run out instead of stumped, sent down 12.4 overs yesterday for 22 runs and commanded respect in al! of them. NORTHERN DISTRICTS First innings 137 Second innings .. .. 168 OTAGO I First innings 186 Second Innings W, L. Blair c Kennedy b Puna 10 G. D. Beer si Mountain b Puna .35 S. N. McGregor run out o R. W. Hutchison st Mountain b Stone 17 P. C. Semple not out .. 51 G. D. Alabaster not out 6 Extras (1 leg-bye) 1 Total (for 4 wickets) 120 Fall of wickets: One for 42, two for 42. three for 52, four for 98.

The task was accomplished for the loss of one more wicket and at the close, Otago was 120 for four.

It was fitting that Semple, the only Otago batsman to sobw how spin bowling should be played, should score the winning runs. He was 51 not out, to add to his 33 of the first innings. He might have been dismissed earlier to the bowling of Puna when he moved down the wicket and missed the ball, but the Northern wicketkeeper, L. Mountain, failed to take the stumping chance.

Bowling J. D. Smith 0 3 M 0 R is W 0 N. Puna 30.4 14 47 2 K. D. Kennedy 21 0 39 0 J. R. Carson .. 1 0 1 0 P. D. Stone 7 2 14 1