Otago, Auckland in rapid processions

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33418, 27 December 1973, Page 18

Otago, Auckland in rapid processions

(yew Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN. Otago collapsed against the spin bowling of 11. J. Howarth and was dismissed for .128 in the first innings of its Plunket Shield match at Carishrook yesterday, with Howarth taking seven for 42.

But Auckland fared little better, and at the close was six down for 101, to the pace bowling of G. B. Thomson, M. G. Webb and G. A. Powell. i On a pitch which produced ■uneven bounce, and on a day iwhen the stiff breeze from the north-east aided bowlers, Auckland might well have been dismissed before the end of play. FIGHTING RECOVERY When its sixth wicket fell i the score was only 69, but a most watchful innings of 31 not out by G. P. Howarth, who batted under difficulties after sustaining a painful blow on the mouth when fielding, and stout resistance from R. S, Cunis enabled) Auckland to recover. The two Auckland spin-1 ners, H. Howarth and R. W.: Morgan, each passed a tier-: sonal milestone when Otago batted, Morgan, who had two for 19, took his total of wickets in first-class cricket to 100 when he bowled W. K. Lees. Howarth brought up his 200 when he claimed his first wicket yesterday. UMPIRE'S WARNING

There was an explosive start to the day’s play. In his third over Cunis appeared to have R. N. Stewart caught’ behind, but his appeal was turned down even though Stewart looked as if he were going to walk. Cunis had reason to feel most disappointed but he won no friends for the obvious umbrage he took when directing his spleen at both Stewart and. to some extent, the umpire. Mr L. H. Harmer.

Mr Harmer had the last i word, however: he cautioned j Cunis for running on the j wicket. But Cunis also had j his satisfaction; in the same) third over he had Stewart' caught in the slips with the; total 15. It was the only!

Otago wicket to fall to a pace bowler.

: Howarth and Morgan, [helped by some rank bad strokes offered by the bats|men, did the damage. R. Hendry, until he was out •trying to sweep against the [spin, had been batting particularly well before his dis!missal in such rash fashion. He went close to lofting Howarth over the mid-wicket boundary in one over, and in ) the next on-drove hint effortlessly for 6. ] Auckland, too, suffered iearly set-backs. T. W. Jarvjs and M. G. Burgess were both leg-before, J. D. Riley went to a superb catch in the covers by H. C. Sampson, and A. E. W. Parsons was out to a fine catch at short squareleg by Blair. And so from a position of strength Auckland rapidly lost ground until G. Howarth and Cunis became associated in their unbroken stand of OTAGO First innings W. I. Blair c Cunis b I{. Howarth .. 16 R. N. Stewart c Burgess b Cunis .9 11. W. Anderson r Sutton b H. Howarth .. 13 W. K, Lees b Morgan .. 18 R. Hendry b H. Howarth .. 26 H. C. Sampson c and b Morgan 18 B D. Milburn c Dykes b H. Howarth 3 G. A. Powell e Morgan b H. Howarth .2 M. G. Webb e and b H. Howarth .. 2 S. P.ooek si Dykes b 11, Howarth 5

G, B. Thomson not out .. 0 Extras (b 5 lb 3, nb3) .. 11 Total 128 Fall of wickets.—ls. 39, 47. 85. 89. 112, .115. 119. 126, Bowling.—Cunis. 8. 4 .18. I; Sutton. 7. 0, 17. 0; H. Howarth, 22.1 5. 42, 7; HounseU. 4. 0. 20, 0; G. Howarth. 4. 3,1, 0: Morgan, 14. 4, 19, 2. AUCKLAND First innings T. W. Jarvis lbw b Thomson 6 J. R. Riley c Sampson b Thomson 19 M. G. Burgess lbw b Webb 6 A. E. W. Parsons c Blair b Thomson 15 R. W. Morgan b Webb 1 G, P. Howarth not out .. 31 R, 11. Dykes c Milburn b Powell 7 R. S. Cunis not out .. .9 Extras (b 3 lb2, nb2) .. 7 Total for 6 wickets ..101 Fall of wickets.—9. 18, 41, 44. 56. 69.

Bowling.—Webb. .13. 0, 39. 2; Thomson. 8,1, 28. 3; Powell, 7. 2. 16. 1; Booek. 5. 1. 11, 0.