ROUT OF OTAGO

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 21, 26 January 1931, Page 3

ROUT OF OTAGO

MERRITT'S BRILLIANCE

(By Telegraph—Press 4 Association.)

DUNEDIN, 24tb. January.

Otago were disposed of for 71 in th» first iunings of the Plunket Shield match with Canterbury, and again collapsed for the same inglorious total in the second innings, and the match was over at tha end of the second day. Canterbury ia their first innings on Friday haS made 228, and on Saturday added 193 in their second innings. By their rout of Otago for a second time they gained a hollow victory by 279 runs, chiefly owing to brilliant bowling by Merritt (six for 23), ably supported by Cromb (two for 21).

When Otago resumed on Saturday morn-j ing the weather was brilliantly fine and the wicket in excellent order. Merritt and Read, - however, quickly finished off the innings, which realised only 71. Canterbury again went in, but started badly, Hamilton falling lbw to Badcock with only 5 runs on the board. With, 3 runs added, Hawkesworth took, a brilliant catch behind the wickets off Dickinson, which accounted for Roberts. Talbot then fell lbw to.Dickinson, who was rocking them in at a rare pace, and three wickets were down for 8 runs. Dick* iuson at this stage had secured two wic kets for no runs. With the totalafc 11, Ken1 was snapped up behind the wicket* by Hawkesworth off Dickinson, who had now taken three wickets for 1 run.

Canterbury appeared to be on the run. With the score at 27, Page, the Canterbury captain, touched one from Dickinsoa and was well taken .-by - Blunt at first slip.

Cromb infused a bit of life into th» drab proceedings by turn-ing Badeock to leg for 4, and driving" him through tha covers to the track. Jacobs was also going well, but with the total at 53 Blunt took another brilliant catch at first slip off Dunning, which sent Jacobs baclt. Cromb reached 50 in 48 minutes by lift* ing Cameron to the square-leg boundary. After playing a sound and enterprising innings for 69, Cromb fell lbw to Badcock. Merritt livened up the game by hooking one from Badcock out of th« ground, and repeating, the dose off tha next ball with an on-drive, 15 coming from the over. After reaching 30 in quick time, Merritt was boiyled by> Dunning. Coupland was given a trial, and, got Doreen in his third over lbw, and then'caught Read off his own' bowling, and' the innings closed for 193. Dickinson. Badcock, Dunning, and Coupland bowled well for Otago. Set 332 to get to win, Otago •' again made a sorry showing with the bat. The Otago men found the bowling of Merritt much too good for them. s Off 13.3 overs the fjoogly merchant secured sis wickets for 23 runs. He was well supported by Cromb, who took two for 21. The following are the scores:— ' CANTERBURY. First innings - 229 Second Innings. . J. L. Kerr, c Hawkesworth, b Dickinson : 9 I. M. Hamilton, lbw, b Blunt 0 A. W. Roberts, c Hawkesworth, b Dickinson 1 E. A. Talbot, lbw, b Dickinson 0 M. L. Page, c Blunt, b Dickinson .... 9 J. B. Cromb, lbw, b Badcocks 69 .1. Jacobs, c Blunt, b Dunning 2 S. G-. Lester, not out Si W. E: Merritt, b Dunning 31 N. Doreen, lbw, b Coupland 18 R. Read, c and b Coupland 0 Extras 20 Total ■.'.' • -19* Bowling Analysis. 0. M. R. W. Dickinson 22 10 54 3 Badcock 17 2 62 3 Blunt 9 1 18 0 Dunning 14. . 4 20 2 Cameron 3 • 1 11. 0 Coupland 24 0 8 2 OTAGO. First Innings. J. Shepherd, lbw, b Talbot • R. Cherry, c Hamilton, b Talbot .... 1 R. C. Blunt, c Doreen, b Read 6 D. A. R. Moloney, b Merritt 2 J^ Dunning, b Cromb 18 D. Cameron, b Merritt <> V. G. Cavanagh, b Merritt 6 P. T. Badcock, lbw, b Merritt ,0 R. Dickinson, b Read 7 R. W. Coupland, c Jacobs, b Read .. 6 W. Hawkesworth, not out 8 Extras 8 Total "I Bowling Analysis. O. M. R. W. R, Read 12 0 32 3 Talbot. 7 3 9'^ 2 Merritt S .. 2 14 4 Cromb 4 2 SI Second Innings. R. Cherry, b Merritt 13 J. Shepherd, c Merritt, b Read 8. J. A. Dunning, Ibw, b Merritt 27 R. Dickinson, c Doreen, b Merritt .... 1 R. C. Blunt, b Cromb -... 6 D. A. R. Moloney, b Merritt ........ lo V. G. Cavanagh, run out • 1 F. T. Badcock, b Cromb ° R. W. Cdupland, b Merritt 0 D. Cameron, not. out 0 \V. Hawkesworth, b Merritt ...; 0 Total - ......'.,. "t

Bowling Analysis. 0. M. R. Bead 8 1 Talbot 5 3 Merritt 13 3 Cromb 11 3 E. 23 4 23 .21 w. 1. 0 6 2