PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 155, 29 December 1936, Page 9

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH

OTAGO BATSMEN FAIL

MATCH WITH WELLINGTON

A much brighter weather outlook—whatever the wicket held in store —favoured the Otago and Wellington cricket representatives lor the conclusion of their Plunket Shield match at the Basin Reserve today. Already two playing days ha.d been lost, and the washout of yesterday left the wicket and ground in a very damp condition, though drying this morning.under the influence of the sun and a light southerly wind. The visitors, with 93 runs on the board for four wickets, faced the day requiring 156 runs for a win on the first innings. Unless there were any sensational developments it appeared that the match would be decided on the first innings.

A slow and easy wicket, more damp 1 at one end than the other, was likely : to be of benefit in the early stages of the match, but the ball had to be ( punched hard for runs. The batsmen, ■ however, were content to take matters cautiously, but during the pre-lunch : play the visitors found it difficult to ] make much progress against a varied • medium to slow attack. In less than an hour and a half the Otago side was dismissed for 142 runs. OTAGO'S INNINGS. Play was resumed at 11 a.m., Dunning (2) and Mills (2) continuing ; Otago's innings to the bowling of Gallichan and Blundell. From the first few ovei-s there was but little scoring, the batsmen covering up a good deal, exercising extreme caution, and patting the1 wicket almost as much as they did • the ball. An occasional forceful stroke was made, and one of these by Mills sent the ball sailing dangerously close to silly mid-off. It was a splendid '■ cover drive by Dunning which brought 100 up for Otago, the reaching of that point in the innings having taken 109 minutes. Blundell was keeping the batsmen very: quiet, and off this bowler Mills (at 5) had a "life," Lamason, fielding close in, failing to hold the ball. With the total at 102 Gallichan was changed round to the northern end to bowl : into the wind in place of Blundell, : Lamason taking up the attack at the southern end. Only one run had been scored from Blundell's four overs this morning. An on-drive by Dunning off Lamason looked promising, but : Blundell at close range made a fine . save. A later delivery by Lamason • beat batsman and 'keeper and went ' through to the fence for byes. Success came Lamason's way shortly af- ' terwards when a, ball turning from the off rapped Dunning on the pads. The appeal was upheld, and the Otago man-ager-captain was out under the new rule. The partnership had improved the account by 24 runs. 112—5—10. : UP AGAINST IT. : With half the wickets down a good deal depended upon the next partnership, in which Uttley joined Mills. The newcomer watchefl the ball well and used his feet. A strong off-drive by him sent the .ball travelling fast towards the boundary, but smart work by Griffiths in the outfield resulted in a. single only being realised for the stroke. Uttley had added another single when he snicked a ball from Lamason to the 'keeper, but the chance , was missed. Gallichan had been bowl; ing steadily and he reduced Otago's chances when Mills endeavoured to hit across one and was bowled. Mills had held the fort for a long time, but made only 11 runs. 118—6—11. The track was not suited to the fast bowlers, and McGregor had not been in for long when Blundell was brought, back, replacing Gallichan (three for 17 off fifteen overs). Little of any consequence happened until Moloney relieved Lamason, ■ who had taken one . for 6 off nine overs, four of which ■ were scoreless. Moloney's first de- ] livery was pushed slowly to point. Uttley raced down the track and, there , being no move from his partner for ] what seemed to be an impossible run, ] he was easily run out. He had had a chance, but in this instance Uttley threw his wicket away. 123—7—7. ; ' NO TAIL-WAGGING. ; Scandrett was next, and it was then ] that McGregor made an eager search 1 lor runs. A loose ball from Moloney received what it deserved—a smack ] to the boundary. The same batsman £ later sent one from Blundell to the out- •, field for 2, and this brought 130 up. Some more confident hitting was , made by McGregor, and Scandrett also < made some scoring strokes. The , bright interlude was not for long. At £ 140 Lamason replaced Moloney and j quickly disposed of Scandrett. (140— B—s). Groves was next but he soon lost McGregor. Griffiths was brought on for the first time today, and he I required only four deliveries to clean up the tail. Lamason made a running catch when McGregor lifted one in the direction of mid-off, and Parsloe made j a good catch when Silver (last man) hitt-a ball to deep square-leg. The remaining six wickets today had added only 49 runs.. . * . -\ The wicket suited the slow bowlers, ( and they came out with the best fig- c ures. Gallichan took three wickets, . and should have had a fourth when Uttley was caught by Ward in the slips. ( The umpire's view was obstructed by . the bowler and the batsman was given not out. WELLINGTON AGAIN. There was twenty minutes' batting for Wellington before lunch, and Tin- f dill and Moloney made a confident be- C ginning. The Otago captain tried five J bowlers in the short period before the adjournment, but nothing was achieved. , Moloney ran to double. figures with some attractively-made strokes, including a drive to the boundary. Tindill, too, met the ball well and did his part in making Wellington 20 up at lunch— Moloney 12, Tindill 7. Both Tindill and Moloney played with confidence when play was resumed after lunch. The wicket had rolled out quite well for Wellington's second innings and the batsmen generally hit the ball forcefuly, though without realising much. The fieldsmen were kept busy, but neither Groves nor Silver could make much r impression upon the batsmen. Even- t tually, however, Moloney snicked a t ball from Silver on the leg side and was caught by the 'keeper. 34—1—16. McLeod opened his account straight away and both he and Tindill showed signs of forcing the pace. Tindill did not reign for long. Moving forward to Silver he was struck low on the pads and the ball rose into the slips. There was- an appeal and Tindill was out—bowled. The ball evidently had £ touched the wicket in its flight, though t it was hard to realise that that had c happened. 39—2—19.

Lamason, the Wellington captain, joined McLeod and wasted no time in collecting runs. Some of the captain's ofl-drives were made splendidly and with good results. McLeod brought 50 up with a powerful straight drive to the fencg, but later he was kept on the defensive by Elmes. Several

bowling changes had been made. Dunning had come into the attack and he was succeeded by Groves. _ By 2.40 p.m. Wellington's score had* reached, 66 for two wickets—Lamason 15, McLeod 15. Lamason-was forceful, and with a square cut to the ropes and a late cut for 2 he left the 20 mark behind. For a time the scoring rate slackened, though Lamason was doing his best to get the ball away. When Silver was brought back a big hole was knocked in Wellington's batting. His first delivery this time caused the bails to fall and McLeod was out. 78—3—18. Ward was next, and was bowled in the same over without scoring. 78 —4—o. That was the position at 3 p.m. Blandford was dismissed after making a single, Wellington's score then being 80 for five wickets. WELLINGTON. First Innings 249 Second Innings. Moloney, c Mills, b Silver 16 Tindill, b Silver 19 McLeod, b Silver 18 Lamason. not out 22 Ward, b Silver 0 Extras 3 Total for four wicketa 78 Silver at this stage had taken five wickets for 15 runs. OTAGO. First Innings. Badcock, b Parsloe 8 Knight, c Blundell, b Gallichan .. 33 Kerr, b Parsloe 0 Ernies, c Moloney, b Gallichan . 42 Dunning, Ibw (new rule), b Lamason 10 Mills, b Gallichan 11 Uttley, run out 7 McGregor, c Lamason, b Griffiths 12 Scandrett, b Lamason 5 Groves, not out ' 2 Silver, c Parsloe, b Griffiths .. 0 Extras: Byes 1; leg-byes 2, noballs 3 12 Total ...' 142 Fall of wickets: One for 10, two for 10. three for 88, four for 88, five for 112, six for ,118, seven for 123, eight for 140, nine .for 142, ten for 142. Bowling Analysis. O. M. R. W. Parsloe 9 3 32 2 Blundell 20 5 44 0 Tricklebank ..3 0 5 0 , Gallichan ..... 15 6 17 3 Griffiths ..... 4.4 0 15 2 Lamason 10 4 8 2 Moloney ....... 3.'., o'9 0