Otago content with draw, bats all day

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32810, 10 January 1972, Page 18

Otago content with draw, bats all day

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON.

With the Plunket Shield more than half-way won, the Otago cricket captain, G. D. Alabaster, took no chances against Wellington at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

After Wellington had declared at 103 for nine in reply to Otago’s 195 for six, Alabaster let the Otago second innings occupy the rest of the day. His refusal to declare enabled G. M. Turner to score 101 not out—his 16th firstclass century, his second against Wellington, and his first at the Basin —but it did little to advance the cause of brighter cricket. Although Alabaster was still left holding all the aces as far as the shield race was concerned, he probably could have given Wellington a chase without any risk. At one stage yesterday Wellington might have been given a target of 150 in about even time.

TIRING BOWLERS Even allowing for the fact that Otago’s pace bowlers, M. G. Webb and B. Andrews, might have been too tired to be as devastating as they were in the first innings, a total of 150 at a run a minute might have been beyond Wellington’s ability.' But Wellington would have had no option but to go for the runs, and against the spin of Alabaster and his brother, Jack, might have got themselves out.

Webb continued his rout of the Wellington first innings yesterday, switching to the northern end to bowl another 10 overs, and he finished with seven for 49. His pace was simply too much for the Wellington batsmen, many of whom showed serious . deficiencies in technique. , His victims yesterday were B. E. Congdon, caught behind I by B. M. Milburn, and B. R. . Taylor and W. D. Greenstreet, I who were both bowled. But . for a gritty innings of 25 by the shield newcomer, J. . Coney, Wellington would . probably have not avoided ; the follow-on mark. 1 FEW BAD SHOTS The only other sparkle in ' a dismal Wellington innings came from Taylor and I. Therkleson; they had some bold shots in their brief stays at the crease. In the Otago second ; innings not even some fine batting by Turner and W. R. Blair could prevent the frequent bouts of restive slow clapping by the rapidly dwindling crowd. Assisted by some “friendly” bowling, Turner and Blair had no trouble putting on 112 for the opening partnership in 106 minutes.

Blair, a hard-hitting lefthander, raised his 50 in 94 minutes and Turner, blossoming after another of his

circumspect beginnings, arrived at the same mark seven minutes later. Blair went as soon as he had reached his 50, but Turner carried on methodically and inevitably to his century in 199 minutes. Some of his shots, particularly the drive, were superb, but it was a pity that they were produced in a situation that did not matter.