Otago Crashes To Innings Defeat

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32235, 2 March 1970, Page 15

Otago Crashes To Innings Defeat

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

Otago tumbled ignominiously to an innings defeat at Carisbrook on Saturday afternoon. Although the bowling of J. Inverarity claimed five of eight wickets to fall in an hour, the form of K. O’Keefe, at the other end, was of much more moment so far as New Zealand’s test prospects are concerned.

I From the wreckage of the day Otago salvaged a few treasures—a very fine innings by L. R. Pearson, some really good fast bowling from M. G. Webb, and a second sound display by G. M. Turner. The Australians started the day at 293 for four. 11l ahead, and declared at 376 for nine. When Otago reached 114, just after tea. with only two wickets down, defeat seemed a remote prospect. But O’Keefe, who bowled magnificently. was so dangerous he persuaded the batsmen that they should get quick runs at the other end, and with all respect to Inverarity, he simply collected the revenue O’Keefe wrung from the batsmen. It was a remarkable double

for Inverarity, who scored a century on the second day. He bowls slow-medium lefthand, and turns the ball from leg. Although he bowls regularly for his club team, he has only an occasional over for his state, mainly because of the presence of G. A. R. Lock, the former England test player. If Otago's batsmen had applied themselves diligently, they could have saved the match, but again there was a remarkable acceptance of disaster. At the start of the day, Otago was only four overs short of a new ball, and the Alabaster brothers bowled first, and quite ably. J. C. Alabaster, who had not had an over on the second day, did not turn the ball sharply, but he was tidy, and his figures suffered when fieldsmen let the ball through, two or three times, to the boundary. G. D. Alabaster bowled Inverarity off his pads when only nine runs had been added, but G. R. Davies and J. Mac Lean scored freely, until Webb came on, a little belatedly. Webb mast certainly rexleemed himself, after his violent inaccuracies with the wet ball the previous day. He bawled Davies with one which pitched only a little short. Davies went back to hit it into the covers, but was badly beaten by )>ace. O’Keefe w’as magnificently caught by little Milburn, diving to his right, and that left the Otago ’keeper only one short of a century of dismissals. Mac Lean was obvioustv unhappy when facing Webb, and edged a catch to Pearson in the slips. G. Watson gave iG. D. Alabaster a hard chance at point, off Webb, and the Otago captain made a very good attempt to hold it. The innings was closed at the fall of the ninth wicket, Webb having taken three during the morning, and K. O. Campbell having at last won some toward for his determined efforts on, the second day. Pearson delighted the eager crowd. Massive of build, he drove and cut with beautiful timing and tremendous power. He raced away from Ttfefner, leading 27-0 at one stage, although at that point Turner had faced only six balls In 40. ' . Pearson’s most profitable stroke was the cut, his best one a cover drive frbm the back foot, played late, and with a lordly wave of the bat. In just over an hour he made’43, Otago 57, and it was a tragedy when he was run out. He/ondrive and called Turner, -bht was sent back. He had time to go past half-way and almost back again before the wicket w»as broken. It was an easy single. Turner, sound of- defence as usual, also played some handsome drives, but in half-check-ing one of them he was caught and bowled by G. Chappell, who had a long spel'l of training in the arts of off-spin. Watson also bowled some off-spinners' arid the Australians are obviously searching for this asset to balance their bowling. ■ ' After tea, more practical Exercises replaced the experiments. O’Keeffe and Inveraftty claimed three wickets, aiL at 114, and after that it. wgl swift procession. Some/oU the batsmen played an attacking short or two, but they were all in too much of a hurry to plunder Inverarity, who is very useful, if only an occasional bowler. O’Keeffe’s command of spin and his control at his bntk pace were admirable. On a pitch taking a little turn, as on Saturday aftfernoodj he is extremely dangerous. O’Keeffe took an athletic return catch from Milburn to end the game 55 minutes before the scheduled close, the winning margin being an innings and 50 runs. OTAGO (First innings 182.) '■ Second Innings ■ L. R. Pearson, run dut .. 43 G. M Turner c and b Chappell . 32 B T Freeman b O’Keefe 12 R w Hutchison c and b Inverarity .. ..22

K. O. Campbell e Mae Loan b Inverarity 0 P. C. Semple c Trimble b Inverarity 9 G. D. Alabaster c Chappell b Inverarity 4 L. D. Hollands e Chappell b O’Keefe 10 J. C. Alabaster c Chadwick b Inverarity 3 B. D. Milburn c and b O’Keefe 2 M. G. Webb not out 2 Extras (1 wide. 2 leg byes 2 no-balls) . 5 Total 144 Fall of wickets: One for 57, 2/87. 3/114, 4'114, 5/114. 6/123, 7/132. 8/137, 9.140. Bowling: Lillee. 4. 0. 22, 0; Renneberg, 3, 0. 19, 0; Chappell, 13, 5, 25, 1; Watson. 10, 4. 22, 0; Davies. 2,0, 11. 0: Inverarity, 9,2. 28, 5; O’Keefe, 8.1, 5, 12, 3. AUSTRALIA First Innings D. Chadwick c Milburn b Webb 28 S Trimble c Turner b Webb o A. Turner c Milburn b Webb 16 J. Inverarity b G. D. Alabaster 108 G. Chappell lbw B. Campbell 82 G. Davies b Webb 88 J. Mac Lean c Pearson b Webb 23 G. Watson c Semple b Campbell 19 K. O’Keefe c Milburn b Webb 0 D. Renneberg not out 0 Extras (1 wide, 5 byes, 2 leg-byes, 4 no-balls) 12 Total (9 wkts dec.) 376 Fall of wickets: 1/10. 2/31, 3/55, 4/183, 5/302. 6/351, 7/358, 8/360, 9/376. Bowling: Webb 22, 2. 114, 6; Campbell, 25.5 , 4. 102 . 2; Alabaster, 9,0, 28. 0; Hutchison, 6, 0, 30, 0; Alabaster. 17, 3, 66, 1; Pearson, 6, 0. 24, 0.