The Plunket Shield

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31579, 17 January 1968, Page 14

The Plunket Shield

There is little doubt that Central Districts, which yesterday won the Plunket Shield, was the best team in the contest. Its batting was consistently sound, on occasion brilliant; to supplement the highly successful spin bowling of V. Pollard and B. W. Yuile, there was an adequate pace attack; and in the field the young Central Districts team left its rivals well behind. Its performance this season gives Central Districts the unusual distinction of winning the contest in two consecutive seasons, a feat performed only once in the previous 20 years. Regrettably, Central Districts’ success did nothing to enhance the stature of cricket in this country. It was a great pity that the vital match with Canterbury should have developed along the dreary lines it followed. Here was a game which was probably won with the toss, for first use of a very docile pitch gave Central Districts a decisive advantage. No doubt defensive bowling by Canterbury contributed to the painfully slow scoring rate of the Central Districts batsmen, Canterbury’s assault troops, its pace bowlers, being disarmed by the sluggish pitch. Central Districts can hardly be blamed for building up so massive a score, no matter how laborious its methods: the team needed only to beat Canterbury on the first innings to ensure retention of the shield. But cricket was not well served by its shield final. The game today cannot afford such ponderous play.