CRICKET HONOURS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 156, 30 December 1926, Page 5

CRICKET HONOURS

OTAGO AND WELLINGTON

VISITORS IN HOPELESS POSITION

WELLINGTON TOO STRONG ALL KOUND.

A great finishing touch to Wellington's second innings in the Plunkot Shield matcli with. Otago at the Basin Reserve placed the Shield holders iti an evoa stronger position for a first "leg in" this season. Wellington had an advantage ci 241 runs on the first innings, and when the second innings was concluded just as "The Post" was going to press yesterday the lead had been increased to 020 runs, mainly as the result of two splendid partnerships for the ninth and tenth wickets. Where the leading batsmen had mostly been unable to repeat their bis scoring of the first innings, those late on the list came to lisrht with an exceptionally fine scoring performance, the last; two wickets improving the score by 210 runs. James and Brice were associated in a great last-wicket stand, in which the veteran held his end up in commend able fashion until James, who was batting attractively, obtained his century. ■ Brice then opened his shoulders, and gave an entertaining display of big hitting before being beaten by Alloo, who wi<s the bowler to meet with best success for Otago. James's performance in carrying his bat for 107 was his best to date in Plunket Shield cricket. He had a rousing reception as he was carried shoulder high from the ground. The last-wicket partnership, as stated yesterday, is a record for Plunket Shield cricket, beating the previous best of 105 by 33 runs. In making their final reply Otago found that heavy scoring, which was badly needed, was no easy matter against a solid attack and a keen field. When stumps were drawn for the day they had lost six wickets for 122 runs, which left theni still 49S runs in arrears and only four wickets in hand. Details:— WELLINGTON. First innings 448 1 Second Innings. Worker, c Green, bA. W. Alloo .... 25 Hiddleston, c and b A. W. Alloo .... 21 Kortlang, c Blamires, bA. W. Alloo .. 0 Dempster, b Blunt •_. 6 Lowry, b Torrance 44 Lambert, c and b Blunt 25 M'Girr, c H. C. Alloo, b Torrance .. 11 Hollinga, b A. W. Alloo .., 23 James, not out 107 Badcock, st Green, b Blunt 35 Brice, b A. W. Alloo 70 Extras (wide 1, byes 5, leg-byes . 5, no-ball 1) 12 Total 379 Fall of wickets:—One for 33,,tw0 for 33, three for 46, four for 56, five for 118, six for 128, seven for 142, eight for 169, nine for 341, ten for 379. BOWLING ANALYSIS. O. M. B. W. Dickinson 11 — 68 — A. W. Alloo .... 28.6 8 94 5 Blunt 25 3 113 3 Torranoe 13 3 47 2 Zimmerman 0 1 15 — Shepherd 2 — 15 — Blamiros 2 — 12 — H..C. Alloo .... 1 — 3 — OTAGO'S BIG HURDLE. Faced with the formidable task of making 620 runs to avert defeat, Otago commenced their second innings at 3.13 p.m. Shepherd and Blunt opened to the bowling o£ Badcock and M'Girr. The first four overs by Badcock cost nothing. Each batsman opened with a single off M'Girr, and Blunt subsequently drove a ball to the on for three. A little move scoring was made froni" M'Girr's bowling, and eventually another boundary hit'brought 20 up. With the total at 23, M'Girr (none for 19. in five overs) was relieved by Lambert. At the end of Lambert's over, which cost only one run, the tea adjournment was taken. The score was 24—Blunt 12, Shepherd 9. Badcock carried on the attack after tea, and with his third delivery he dismissed Shepherd; 24—1—9. < FAIR PROGRESS. The newcomer was Knight, who defended well until he drove a ball from Badcock to the boundary, adding two more rung off the next ball. JM'Girr was bowling at the northern end, and except for a good shot. by Blunt for foui1 he was not expensive. Blunt made steady progress, and kept a keen eye on those of M'Girr's deliveries which showed a tendency to kick, as he had previously been struck in tho body by one. The total was advanced slowly to 45, and then Brice rei placed M'Girr (none for 26 in twelve overs). Brice's first over was a maiden. iln Badcoek's next over Blunt brought 50 up with an off-drive for three. The innings had been in progress for 67 minutes. Badcock was given relief after bowling thirteen overs (one wicket for 21), Hollings being called on. A couple of singles came froni his first over, and in : Brice'a nest Knight punched a ball to the boundary. Blunt was batting soundly, and from each bowler he made an occasional scoring shot, driving one ball from Brice to the boundary, and placing a couple of balls from Hollings clear of slips for three apiece. Just afterwards Blunt was unlucky to lose his wicket. A vising ball from Brice struck the batsman |on the hand and was deflected to leg, ; where Lambert accepted the catch. Blunt had given another sound display in scoring SS; 72—2—38. TWO MORE TO BADCOCK. Cherry and Knight were associated for ; the "-third wicket, but their partnership ,' was productive of no more than ten runs. i Hits for three and four respectively were i made by Cherry, otherwise there was little i scoring. At 82, Badcock replaced Hollings I (none for 12 in foiir overs), and this j change was a very effective one. Knight i was dismissed as the result of a splendid I and successful effort by Hollings to take a catch in the slips; 82—3—19. Dickinson joined Cherry, and no sooner had he opened his account than Cherry was bowled by the Wellington coach; 85— 4—ll. Ota^o were faring badly,- and with four good wickets lost the remaining batsmen had a big responsibility to shoulder. A. W. Alloo and Dickinson made some headway, taking the score past the century mark. TWO WICKETS TO M'GIRR. At 104 M'Girr replaced Brice (one for 25 in nine overs), and after each batsman had scored a single, Alloo notched a boundary to the off. Dickinson reached double figures with a two to leg off Badcock. He then snicked a ball through the slips for two, but in tipping one from M'Girr he was smartly eaughjt by Hiddleston; 115^5—13. The visiting captain, Blamiros, filled the vacancy, and opened with a single. Alloo added a few more runs, but when his score was 19 he was clean-bowled by M'Girr; 122—6—19. Zimmerman joined the captain, but was not long at the crease before an appeal against the light was upheld. Stumps

were drawn with the total still at 122 for six wickets. Details:— OTAGO. First innings 207 Second Innings. Shepherd, b Badcock •) Burnt, o Lambert, b Brice 38Knight, c HollinßS, b Badcock 10 Cherry, b Badcock 11 Dickinson, e Hiddleston, b M'Girr 13 A: W. Alloo, b M'Girr 19 Blamires, not out 2 Zimmerman, not out 0 Extras 11 Total for six wickets 122 Fall of wickets:—One for 24, two for 72, three for 82, four for 85, five for 115, six for 122. BOWLING ANALYSIS. O. M. B. W. Badeock 20 8 36 3 M'Girr 13 1 37 2 Lambert 1 — 1 — Brice 9 2 25 1 Hollings 4 — 12 —