BRIGHT CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 7

BRIGHT CRICKET

WELLINGTON'S DISPLAY

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH

GOOD START BY OTAGO

' (By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, January 24.

.Cricket of a bright and venturesome type was provided in the Plunket Shield match between Otago and Wellington at Carisbrook today. The wicket offered the batsmen every opportunity of making runs, and only a northeasterly breeze gave the bowlers any assistance.; The visitors made good use-: of winning the toss,, scoring 319 in fast time. Otago made an excellent start, the first wicket falling at 100, and at the drawing of stumps four were down for 162.

■The fact that 481 runs were scored during the day illustrates the willingness'of the batsmen on both sides to take' advantage of their scoring opportunities. With the wicket playing so truly they were able to attempt forcing shots with confidence, and few matches in recent years have provided so many instances of batsmen making good scores in such quick time. In a measure this was explained by the weakness in the bowling of both sides, for with not more than three exceptions the bowlers failed to perform up to expectations. | A SURPRISE. J. R. Lamason's choice of C. Parsloe as D. A..H. Moloney's opening partner occasioned some surprise, for the tall left-hander in previous seasons has been as low as number nine. It was perhaps'the fact that Parsloe was the only left-hander in the side that was responsible for the experiment, which would not have been succesful had Parsloe not had the good fortune to be dropped twice. Moloney opened so well that Otago must be considered fortunate in dismissing him by means of the new lbw rule when he was still short of double figures. It was mainly due to a delightful knock by J. Ell that Wellington was able toy recover from its early loss. Stepping into the bowling from the start he rattled on .47 in only 50 minutes. Most of his seven fours came from, beautifully-timed square cuts and he also gathered runs cleverly by finding gaps, in the on-side field. With four wickets down for 95, Wellington's position was not yet secure, but M. A. O'Brien and Lamason assured' the visitors of a respectable total when they added 96 for the fifth wicket. O'Brien at the start of his innings was rather uncomfortable, and he swung at Badcock when his score was only 13, arid sent the ball high into trie outfield. The catch, however, was misjudged, and from that stage he was a much improved player. Lamason's was a fine display. Hitting ( 11 4's, he was at the wickets for only j 88 minutes, during which he revealed ( marked ability to hit hard in front of i the;wicket. , Wellington had lost eight for 243 when N. Gallichan and B. I Griffiths became associated in another ( useful partnership, during which 70 < runs were added. Griffiths, after a i shaky start, played soundly for his 28. i Gallichah's was a valuable innings at 1 a .vital stage and,, .though he should 1 have been dismissed at 26, he impressed by .reason of the soundness of his play and his strength on the on- E side. He made his runs in the good time of .79 minutes, hitting six 4's. Wei- ( lington's total of 319 was compiled in just under four hours. ' OTAGO BOWLING. F. T. Badcock and J. A. Dunning were the only Otago bowlers to show the form that was expected of them. Badcock's display in the morning was » one of the best that he has yet given for the province. Keeping a fine length he made the ball swing with . they wind and,- with any luck, would £ have been even more successful. In c the afternoon he was less dangerous, r but at this stage Dunning, who had taken two for 27' in his first spell in t the morning, was able to command the c respect of the batsmen at one end. He took four valuable wickets, and j was unlucky in having two simple j catches missed off his bowling. 2

G. Dickinson bowled without his usual fire., and at periods his pace was much ' below his fastest. C. Elmes was disappointing, his general display giving the impression of staleness.

The Otago fielding, too, was below its: usual standard, and' easy catches were missed. ■ ■ .

A. Knight's grand display of hard hitting, combined with the soundness oi C. Saxton, enabled Otago to make an excellent start. In only 63.minutes at.the wickets Knight made 68, pulling and driving in great style. He hit 10 4's and when he was dismissed Otago's total,stood at 100. The advantage was partly lost, however, ■when Saxton went at 121 and Elmes followed without scoring.

There was only a brief lull in the rate of scoring, for when Badcock went, to s the wickets he launched a characteristic attack on the bowling and the result was that Otago reached 150 in 22 minutes under the time required, by Wellington to obtain the same number of runs. Badcock's 25 runs were made in only 11 minutes, and his dismissal came when he was caught in two minds and gave the easiest of catches to mid-off. F. Kerr, who was undefeated with 25, was confident from the start and shaped better than on any previous appearance for the province. Otago is now in the position of requiring 158 runs for a first innings lead with six wickets in hand. BLUNDELL'S ABSENCE. The .inability of E. D. Blundell to take part in the match seriously reduced the visitors' bowling strength and, all were, more or less expensive. "While Parsloe was the steadiest of those upon whom the brunt, of the attack fell he was unable to take a wicket, and J. Ashenden, although he disposed of Badcock, was faced with complete confidence. Griffiths, the slow bowler, took two valuable wickets, but was frequently costly, no fewer than 17 runs being scored ofF one of his overs. Gallichan, the slow to medium lefthander, was, given only two short turns with the ball. In the field the visitors gave little away, and Blandford impressed with a fine leg-side catch and an equally quick example of stumping. The attendance was small and little more than £30 was taken at the gates. Scores:— WELLINGTON. First Innings. D. A. R. Moloney, Ibw, b Badcock 9 C. Parsloe, Ibw, b Dunning 25 J. Ell, c Knight, b Badcock 47 M. A. O'Brien, st Mills, b Dunning 51 S. Ward, b Dunning 2 JV E. Lamason. b Dunning 71 J. A. R. Blandford, b Badcock .... 2 S. -Wilson, b Dickinson 10 N. Gallichan, Ibw, b Badcock G2 1. Griffiths, c Knight, b Dickinson 2C J. Ashenden; not out 0 Ixtras 12 Total 310 Bawling.—G. Dickinson took two wlcliets for 71 runs, F. T. Badcock four ter'9l, J. A. Dunning four lor 79, L.

Smith none for 32, C. Elmes none for 34. OTAGO. First Innings. C. Saxton, st Blandford, b Griffiths 37 A. Knight, c Blandford, b Lamason 68 F. Kerr, not out 25 C. Elmes, b Griffiths 0 F. T. Badcock, c Lamason, b Ashenden 25 V. G. Cavanagh, not out 2 Extras 5 Total for four wickets 162 | Bowling.—C. Parsloe took no wickets I for 30 runs, J. Ashenden one for 48, B. i Griffiths two for 61, N. Gallichan none I for 11, J. R. Lamason one for 7.