FINAL PLUNKET SHIELD CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 97, 19 January 1924, Page 8

FINAL PLUNKET SHIELD CONTEST

WELLINGTON V. OTAGO NORTHERNERS PUT UP BIG SCORE CENTURIES BY BAKER AND KORTLANG COLLINS AND McGIRR EACH 50 NOT OUT By Tblegiiaph—Press Association. Dunedin, January 18. The deciding match in the Blanket Shield competition was commenced today on the C’arisbrook ground. The wicket was excellent, the outfield fast, and the weather fine. Wellington won the toss and batted first. Their batting was sound, but not brilliapt, and the scoring was comparatively slow. Hiddleston and Baker Open. The opening Wellington pair were Hiddleston and Baker. At 6 Baker put one from Dickinson into the slips, where Knight (fielding for . Douglas) threw himself sideways, and it seemed that he took the ball, but as his elbow struck the ground’the ball jerked out of his hand, and Baker survived. Dickinson. who had been bowling against the wind, changed ends, and off his first over.with the wind got Hiddleston I.b.w. 35 —I—lB.1 —18. . Hiddleston did not seem to like Dickinson at all. and played off his pads a good ball from the fast bowler just prior to his dismissal. Kortlang Opens Crisply, Kortlang was next, and he batted With more crispness than the other two, and 50 went up for 50 minutes play. Then Baker, at 23, gave another chance off Dickinson, this time to Galland behind the sticks. The first four from a drive was scored by Kortlang off Alloo. After th'e game had been an hour in progress, a late cut by Baker off Sheplierd went nigh, just out of the reach of Blamires. Shepherd was being hit by both batsmen, but continued to hgve faith in himself. Neither Blamires nor A. Alloo met with any success with the bail, and Dickinson, who had been spelled for a dozen overs, came on again. Baker scored his. 50 in 85 minutes, Kortlang then being 24. At the luncheon adjournment, 140 was iro for one —Baker 80 and Kortlang 32. 4 At the luncheon Adjournment 140 was nv for one—Baker 80 and Kortlang 32 Brighter Batting—Better Bowling. The afternoon’s play opened with brighter batting in spite of the fact that the bowling was better. Both Blamires and Dickinson were swinging in from the off. Balter revelled in anything on the leg side, scoring repeatedly with leg glances. Kortlang nulled several balls from the off to the leg boundary. Baker Reaches Century. At 98 Baker snicked one into the Slips just out of the reach, of Blamires and then completed his century for 140 minutes plav. At 175 after the adjournment, Douglas took the ball from Dickinson, and bowled a maiden over. Baker drove Blamires to the off to Douglas, who just failed to bring off a good catch low down. Kortlang hit a full toss from Blamies to the leg boundary and brought his score to 50 for 125 minutes at the crease. 200 went up for just under three hours batting. A four to Kortlang, who was now scoring faster than Baker, established a 200 partnership for just under three hours. A chance from Baker Blamires napping in the slips and 250 went up for three and a half hours play. Kortlang's Century. Shepherd took the ball again, Kortlang sending the first two into the slips—one for four and the other for two, making his total 98. Alien he drove him to the leg boundary for four, bringing up his century, atd the total to 260. A. Alloo took the ball, and Kortlang’s first uppish stroke went into the hands of Cherry at mid on. .262 —2—103. The partnership had lasted three hours for 227 runs. With the departure of Kortlang the scoring slowed down and the spectators appealed to Baker to have a hit. At the adjournment 281 went up for two —Baker 134. Watson 7. ’' Watson hit hard on resuming, the policy attracting applause, and 300 went up for four hours 15 minutes nlav. A. Alloo then placed the field well out and sent down a loose ball to Watson, who drove it to Shepherd at mid-off. the Otago captain holding the ball. 307-3-29. Baker Coes. Collins was next. Baker continued to play with the utmost care, but a hall from A. Alloo that kept low was too much for him. 316—4 —143. Baker gave only one chance that could lie de’ cribed as an easy one—to Blarnircs in slips. There was come ,doubt as to whether he was not out when Knight held him while falling. His exhibition in the main was of sound cricket, if not bright. Dempster, who joined Collins, did not last, a breaking ball from A. Alloo bearing him all the wav. 322 —5—4. McGirr and Collins got going, and the score mounted steadily. , A. Alloa sent down a ball that McGirr lifted high to the boundary, where Dickinson missed a running catch. Collins at 31 ■ hit Douglas hard into Dickinson's hands at square leg, the chance not being accepted. McGirr Hits First Six. McGirr hit the first six of the day off Douglas. Dickinson then took the ball from Douglas and dropped McGirr off his own bowling. Four hundred went ,up at 10 minutes to six, and Dickinson sent a full toss to Collins, who skied it over the slips’ heads McGirr raced Collins to 50 by one run, then Collins got his half century, and stumps were drawn. Scores: — WELLINGTON. First Innings. Hiddleston, 1.b.w., b. Dickinson .... 18 Baker, b. A. Alloo 143 Kortlang, c. Cherry, b. A. Alloo 113 Watson, c. Shepherd, b. A. Alloo 29 Collins, not out - 50 Dempster, b. A. Alloo 4 McGirr, not out 50 Extras 20 Total for five wickets ... ... 417 Bowling Analysis.—Dickinson took one wicket for 1'22 runs (one no ball) ■ A. Alloo, four for 108; Sheplierd, none for 41 ; Blamires, none for 61; Douglas, none for 64 (one no ball). Hutt senior eleven v. Old Boys will be:—McKay, Beard, Aldersley, WakeJin, Neazor. Maclaren. Nunn. Hughes, Pringle, Patton, Lockett.